33: What Would We Do, Baby

Chapter 33 of "A River Trembles", Book Two of The Môrdreigiau Chronicles

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The story began in A Grail for Eidothea. You really need to catch up to make sense of A River Trembles. Go on, save this post and go have a binge read. You deserve it.

Llyr and Eidothea argued. Maeve started training them on better understanding their Chosen Court bond, including identifying emotions and who the person is thinking about.

Emrys’ thought broke my concentration. The story I sung to Eidothea stuttered to a stop. :Rhiannon? Would you join me for dessert tonight?:

I agreed, rather curtly.

:Who was that?: Eidothea asked.

I shrugged. :Even I cannot prevent interruptions while I sing. I’m sorry it made me lose my place. That doesn’t usually happen.: It didn’t. Why had Emrys’ thought thrown me off? :It’s just a dinner invitation,: I fibbed. Even dessert for two sounded too intimate to me. Yet I had agreed to it. :Where was I?:

Much later that night, I made my way to a small salon at the end of the hall. The softly lit room cast the corners into cozy shadows. The windows lay open to the night beyond. Emrys rose from a couch littered with large pillows. Before him on the low table, lay dessert. Small glasses, a decanter that glowed with its contents, and two small bowls containing my favourite sea-fruit. When did he learn that?

Emrys gestured for me to sit with him. :I’ve been remiss in not thanking you for all your hard work in uncovering the truth about … what happened to Gorawyn.: He seemed reluctant to speak of her.

I sat and accepted a full glass from him.

:Don’t worry.: He smiled. :It’s not the strong stuff.: He raised his glass. :To you, Rhiannon. For your persistence, the confidential way in which you handled your questions, your brilliance in putting it all together.: He paused. :And, I hope, you have forgiven me for not taking responsibility in finding out the truth earlier.:

Tears lodged in the back of my throat. :You were in mourning. We all were.:

With his free hand, he reached out for me, and I slipped my hand into his. :I’ve—I’ve missed you this past week.:

:You’ve missed me? Me?: I withdrew my hand, taking a gulp of the mead. It was pleasantly warm.

:Why are you so surprised?: Emrys leaned forward. :Rhi, I missed our late night conversations, our meetings to discuss your progress. I’ve missed being with you, hearing from you.:

:You—you never reached out.:

Emrys placed his glass on the table, untouched. :Rhi, I see the way you look at me. You’ve even sat with me while I was ill. Twice, by my reckoning. You accept my embraces if briefly but you keep me at arms’ length. I assumed at first it was because of Gorawyn, but—: His gills heaved and settled. :I like you, Rhiannon. Really like you.:

I examined his face, wishing I had his discernment for truth. :Truly? I thought you couldn’t stand the sight of me, that I reminded you of all the pain…:

:You did, but I got to know you, Rhi. The quiet, gentle you, the fiercely defensive you. The loyal friend. The sweet singer. If you don’t feel the same way, I understand, but I had to tell you.:

:I thought you were lonely. I didn’t think you wanted me.: I wrapped my arms across my body. My heart pounded so hard I couldn’t think, couldn’t dare dream he spoke true. As a bard, I decided to speak the truth. :I’ve been lonely too, and…and I dared hope after that kiss… but you retreated and behaved like it was a mistake. I thought maybe you just needed a body like you did on solstice night.:

He groaned. :You rejected me that day and … and…: His shoulders slumped. :I have no excuse. Something consumed my every waking moment and I wasn’t ready to share it. It was you in particular I wanted when I kissed you. I’ve come to believe that you weren’t just a body to slake my need upon solstice-night.:

I couldn’t believe it. I took a deep breath. :When you kissed me, I was afraid. Afraid of being used and afraid of losing myself in you. That kiss…:

Emrys leaned forward. :This one?: he murmured. His mouth covered mine in a soft kiss, that ended with his capturing my lower lip between his.

He pulled back slightly and I leaned in, my arms going about his neck, my body falling into his. We kissed for a long time, until satisfied, we pulled apart.

I couldn’t tear my gaze from him, stroking his cheek, his hair, eyeing his lips.

:Rhi, I need to tell you something.:

I stilled. :What more can there be?:

He smiled ruefully. :You know the night that didn’t happen? I’m afraid there’s proof that it did.:

I frowned. How could there be proof?

:In fact, I’m delighted there is. I’m carrying your child.:

I stared at him, searching his features to see if he teased me. My heart swelled in disbelieving joy. :A child? This is not supposed to happen. We have to be bound together, handfasted.:

:In a sense, we were, we are. We joined hands to find out what happened to Gorawyn. She—and you—have given me what I have longed for.:

I held him at arm’s length, taking in all of him, gazing down at his belted waist, his stomach still rounded instead of flat. :That is why you were unwell.: Then I remembered his sister’s attack. My gills flattened and I struggled to breathe, suddenly dizzy. :Oh by the Lady! You nearly died. Is the child all right? Are you?:

He reached over and stroked my hair. :Yes, all is well. I had my healer check as soon as you left me that morning. He monitors my health and the child’s. What you witnessed later was my body adjusting to our child’s presence, not food poisoning.:

:You lied to me then,: I murmured. I reached for anger but failed. Somehow we’d made a child. A child!

His hands slid from my hair to my cheeks, caressing while he explained. :I wasn’t ready to share it. I thought you wouldn’t want to hear it, but then I realised we had always talked about Gorawyn, never about that night, never about what, if anything, was in our hearts and I knew I had to give you the chance to share your heart first.:

:And if I had told you I didn’t love you?: The thought gave me chills.

He grinned, looking boyish. :You haven’t said you do love me yet.:

I frowned, fixing him with a glare. Those words would come later. I had to know if he’d cut me out from our unborn’s life.

His smile faded. He gathered my hands in his, holding them tight. :If it turned out you didn’t care for me, I wouldn’t have told you until after the birth. I’ve no expectations we’d raise the child together.:

I nodded, overwhelmed. I knew how badly he’d wanted children. Gorawyn had too. I’d never considered a child, being devoted to my vocation as bard. :A child,: I breathed. :Ours.: My gaze tracked down his body, returning to his belt and swelling belly.

:Do you want to touch her?: he murmured. :She flutters within.:

:She?: I looked up at him startled.

His smile returned. I decided I preferred this delighted expression. :Our child might be male, but I amuse myself that she might look like you.:

I shook my head, my hair falling forward, hiding my face. :I can scarcely believe it.:

He tucked my hair behind my ear, drawing my gaze up to his. He looked at me with adoration. :Believe it.:

:It would be my honour to walk with you in this.: I stroked his cheek. :You won’t be alone in this, mi cariad.:

His face suffused with joy.

:But right now,: I continued, :I would like your belt untied, and mine.: Our lips were barely a whisper apart. My gaze flicked up to his eyes. :Would that be possible?:

Emrys pushed apart my robe, and then his. My hands slid down his chest, over the seam of his pouch to his belly, where the softness protected our unborn child.

:We must keep it secret for now,: he murmured, his hands roaming and rousing. :The child hardly shows but soon she will. I want Eidothea on the throne before that happens. Robes are very good at concealing as it turns out.:

I pulled a face, unseen against his shoulder. :I noticed.:

:So has Eidothea, but she thinks I’m getting old and gaining weight.: He grinned. :I’ve let her think that.:

:I think we should stop talking.:

:Cornelian ap Tregallas requests an audience,: the steward intoned. :He would not say why, only that it was of great importance.:

Emrys glanced at me. I knew I had paled. I gripped the table’s edge.

:Can’t he bring it to the next court session?: Emrys asked. :He can’t wait?:

:I already checked, Esteemed.: The chief steward looked pleased to have anticipated the Esteemed’s question. :He said it is of an intimate, personal nature.:

I felt ill. I took a deep breath. :Arrange it. See that Elin Grealseeker, Maeve and Llyr are also present.: At Emrys’ questioning eyebrow, I explained. :If it’s personal, my grandmother should be there. If it’s some scheme, perhaps a united front will dissuade him.:

:Unlikely,: murmured Emrys.

I had to agree. :That is,: I added, :if it meets with the Esteemed’s approval?:

Emrys nodded. :You know I want the two families to be at peace. It will not happen unless you meet.: To the steward he added, :This afternoon. Please arrange it.:

The afternoon arrived too quickly. I sat with Emrys, Grandmother and Maeve in a large meeting room near the Great Hall.

The steward entered. :The Tregallas family are here.: He bowed. :Llyr ap Peredur sent that he cannot attend.:

I sat forward. :Why?:

The steward shrugged. The Esteemed bade the Tregallas family enter. In the meantime, I sent Llyr a furious thought. :Why are you not here?:

:I have a conflicting appointment that I cannot break. It is for the Chosen Court’s success. Maeve is with me.:

I could not argue with that. I smoothed my expression as Cornelian ap Tregallas entered, trailed by his wife and son.

The Esteemed bade them sit. :What is of such importance, Cornelian?:

:As you may know, Esteemed, the Tregallas family has spent generations searching for the Greal—:

Emry’s silenced him with a raised hand. :You’re not bringing that up again? The dispute regarding the Greal is settled.:

:As to that, what you may not know is that the Queen’s mother and I worked together for a little while.:

My eyes narrowed. :You were competitors. Work together? Unlikely:

:Need I remind you that’s exactly what you did with my son?:

I sucked in a breath, my gills flattening. He smirked at my paling face.

I gritted my teeth. :So you admit I found the Greal.:

Cornelian put an aggrieved hand to his forehead. :My own blood dares to so hurt me.:

OK, who called it re Emrys being pregnant? I mean, I threw in a trope or two there as hints. The title makes a little more sense now, huh.

Is there any interest in how dreigiau môr procreate? I did start down this track way back before most of you were reading The Môrdreigiau Chronicles. Is it time for an update?

Seadragon Reproduction (because I wanted to know)

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