fandomania | The Adventure continues...

Our eggs:

¤

Our hatchlings:

The Story:

I picked up Loysa and the three of us went into the cottage. After I settled her into her crib, I heard Donal splashing in the bath tub. I joined him in the hot, steaming bath.

“Love, I don’t think that I am up to anything physical at the moment.”

“Dearest, I don’t think I am either, but I love looking at your body. You are so beautiful you could be a sculptor’s model.”

“So are you, my love, but I do not want to share your beauty, as I see you now, with anyone. I am a sculptor, and I know that you will be my muse once we find a permanent place to live, but your beauty will never be for public display. Only just for me.” I blushed.

We spent quite a few minutes just luxuriating in the soothing hot water, allowing our tired bodies to revitalize.

Looking at his body, I noticed that there was only a fine white scar over his heart. Whatever I had done, it had healed him well, with just a faint reminder of what had happened. I pointed this out to him.

Donal started to examine me closely. “Whatever you did also healed your wounds. I only see similar fine lines on your cheeks and there doesn’t seem to be a bruise on you…” He stopped speaking because his body showed the both of us that he wasn’t as tired as he thought he was.

“Whatever shall we do about this?” I asked coquettishly. Donal, being the man that he was, showed me what to do despite our exhaustion.

Later, with our hungers replete, we lay spooning in bed. I felt so safe and loved within his arms.

“I saw you for the first time at the Spring Festival in Kansari." Donal said, reminiscently. It was about seven years ago. You were so beautiful. You took my breath away.”

“You saw me then? If I remember correctly, I was pregnant with the twins then. I would have been six months gone then. I was as huge as an ox, and about as graceful too.”

“No, you were very graceful. You did not waddle at all. You looked like you were floating. And, oh so beautiful. I envied your husband. Once I lost sight of you in the crowds, I went back to my father’s studio and did a sculpture of you as Anthusa, the goddess of fertility, with several children at your feet, a baby at your breast and your belly round with child. I was very inspired by you. My father, who rarely complimented anything that I did, said that it was good.”

“I looked for you again the next year. I was determined to find out who you were, but you weren’t there. But you came the year after that. I found someone who knew who you were. You had just been given the position of Dragon Ward. I tried to talk with you, but you disappeared again before I could get near you. I left for Rawn-Devu several months later.”

“I was rarely allowed to leave the house without my husband, and then only for official purposes. When he wasn’t available, I had to take several of his guards with me at all times. I doubt if you would have been allowed anywhere near me.”

“When you walked into the apothecary shop, so beautiful and pregnant again, I thought you were a gift from the ghods. I had to, somehow, get you to take me with you. I wasn’t going to lose you again.”

“You haven’t... What happened to that sculpture?” I asked after a pause.

“I don’t know. I left it at home when I started on my misguided pilgrimage. I didn’t think to ask about it when I saw my family in Rawn-Devu.

“I love you, Patra. I love your spirit, your compassion, your passion and your body. You are like an exquisite alabaster rose. I love you and I love how you love me. I am amazed that you love me.”

I smiled at Donal. “Isn’t it obvious that we are meant to be together?”

“Yes, indeed, we are, my love.”

We cuddled some more. Donal got this far away look on his face. “When your mourning period is over, I am going to ask you to marry me. By then, we should have found a new home and I can open a studio. I am sure that I can attract a patron or two or keep a good flow of clients. I should be earning enough then to be able to properly support you and the children. I won’t be able to give you the life style that you had in Freedonia, but I promise that you will not want for anything. I promise that I will do everything in my power to make you happy. And, hopefully, five or six years from now, if you want to that is, we can make a child that is ours.”

I looked at Donal. “And what happens if your plans go array? What would you think, if, let us say a year from now, I should get pregnant? What would you think then?”

Donal looked solemn and nodded his head. “Good point. I have been very irresponsible lately. I should be taking precautions so that I don’t get you pregnant before we are ready and can afford more children. I promise that from now on we will take care not to have any accidents.”

“Accidents?” I shouted, hysterically.. “You think making a baby is an accident?”

I got out of bed, quickly dressed and rushed out of the room.

“Patra! Love! I didn’t say that! Patra?” Donal exclaimed, puzzled.

Nora and the children were in the kitchen area, preparing supper. Orlando was sitting by the fireplace in the sitting area, reading a large tome, as usual. When the children saw me emerge from the bedroom, they quickly surrounded me, seeking my attention. We went over to a large chair, and we all squeezed in together as I let them chatter on about all the things they did and saw at the festival. Donal came out of the bedroom a few minutes later, but I refused to look at him. I didn’t want to talk with him. I was too upset.

An hour later, Nora announced that supper was ready. Everyone got up and walked over to the table, where Nora had placed steaming bowls and platters of food. I am sure that the food was delicious, but the smells made my stomach turn. I tried to ignore it. But I quickly realized that I couldn’t. I hastily made excuses and then ran for the privy. I barely made it there when I began to puke. I didn’t stop for more than five minutes.

“Patra? We need to talk…” I heard Donal say, but I couldn’t respond as I continued puking. “Love? Are you alright?”

“Go away!” I managed to get out between paroxysms.

“No!” And he easily forced open the privy door. I couldn’t do anything but continue to retch. “Oh, ghads, Patra, you are sick! I’ll have Orlando go for the doctor.”

“No!” I gasped. “I’ll be okay, eventually. I don’t need a doctor.”

“Yes, you do! I …”

We heard footsteps approaching and Nora’s voice, saying, “Here you go, sir, for your lady. A bowl of clean, hot water and a wash cloth to wash her face afterwards, plus a clean towel. I’ll be right back with a nice hot mug of ginger tea to help settle her stomach.”

“Nora? You knew she was sick and you didn’t say anything to me?”

“Oh, sir! That’s not for me to say!” And she walked back into the cottage.

Donal sounded puzzled. “Patra? Love? Just how long have you been sick? Why haven’t you said anything to me?”

I leaned exhausted against the privy door. The retching had stopped for the moment.

“Donal. I am not sick”

“What? Are you crazy? Do you think I am stupid or something?” Donal exclaimed angrily.

“I am not that kind of sick, Donal. I am pregnant.”