fandomania | The Adventure continues...

No mother ever gets to sleep peacefully through the night. Little Jayzon was a typical newborn. Up all hours of the night for feedings, changings and general reassurance and love. I tried to keep everything as quiet as possible, so as not to disturb the others. But while my children magically slept through Jayzon's crying, Donal did not.
I would find him by my side within seconds after Jayzon's first wails. This lead to a few awkward moments, especially when I wanted to feed my son or later, in the morning, when he drew a bath for me and then wanted to help me in. I had to lay down the law to him that I needed my privacy. I suppose that helping me deliver Jayzon breached some of the privacy walls, but I had to reestablish them whether or not I wanted to. I was a married woman and Donal was not my husband. I didn't know where my husband was or if he was alive or dead, but I couldn't act like an immoral woman just because of this uncertainty.

I emerged from my bath, clean and somewhat refreshed. The children were playing tag and laughing happily. Donal was trying to shush them, quite unsuccessfully. He looked up at me and said, "I suppose that I should send them outside to play..."

"No. They are fine in here. I don't want them to see the carcass any more than necessary."

"Oh, Orlando has disposed of the carcass. The children should be fine outside."

"Orlando has returned? Where is he?"

"Outside, sunbathing in the brightest spot in the yard. And surrounded by all the hatchlings, who are trying their best to imitate him. I am not sure if he is amused or annoyed."

Our eggs:

The next few days were idyllic. The children were happy, rested and content. As were the hatchlings. They would play with Orlando something fierce. Sometimes he would allow it. When he grew tired of them, he would growl at them and send them running to me for comfort. Once they recovered from their fright, they would gradually and tentatively return to him.

Donal was amazing. He seemed happy. He was always doing things for me in ways that I had never seen my husband even contemplate doing. He was everything that I wished my husband had been, but wasn't. I enjoyed our happy time together, while I healed up, but I knew that it would have to end soon. Things were happening that shouldn't happen.

On the seventh day, Donal told me that he was going to the nearest town to buy more food, as the larder was being used up.

"While the trip may be needed, it should be more about purchasing more supplies for our journey. I am feeling a whole lot better. I think that we need to get moving again."

"But why? We are happy here. We are far enough from anywhere that no one will notice us. This would be a good place to live."

"Is it? I have hatchlings and eggs to care for. One day, they will grow up to be dragons. And you think that no one will notice them? I am sure that Gudrun had visitors on occasion. I am not sure that I would want to encounter any of them. We have been lucky so far, but I wouldn't count on that luck to last forever. We have to continue our journey to Rawn-Devu. The Queen of Freedonia commanded it. I have my responsibilities to her. And I need to find out news of my husband. If he is alive, he will be at Rawn-Devu. If he isn't, then I should hear of his fate there."

Donal's face fell somber. "Oh. Do you love him that much?"

It took me a few minutes to answer him. "No. But he is my legal husband and the father of my children."

"Then why did you marry him, if you don't love him?"

"It was an arranged marriage. I had no choice or say in the matter. Donal, you are not of the Nobility. There is no such thing as marrying for love in my class. All marriages are alliances and political maneuverings and the need for heirs to inherit titles and create dynasties."

Donal looked stunned.

"But regardless of why, I am still married. And I have to remain so until he dies. Divorce is out of the question. I would lose my children. I couldn’t live with that."

Donal looked unhappy. "I see. I understand. Well… I will go start packing …"