They were walking along the Sidra when it happened.
Feyre collapsed.
Rhysand caught her just barely, panic rising at a dizzying speed. Ever since she'd casually told him she was pregnant, he'd not left her side, setting their duties on the rest of the inner circle, despite her protests.
She wasn't even half way through the year long fae pregnancy, but she gripped the bottom of the small hump in her stomach, gritting her teeth.
Rhysand felt her pain through the bond and was about to shout for a healer but she grasped his arm-hard. "Don't-" she gasped. "It's just cramps."
He bit his lip and carried her home.
X-X-X-X-X-X-X
It was less than a week later when Rhysand ignored her protests and called a healer. There had been blood in her underwear and the cramps had only gotten worse.
Madja was immediately rushed to the scene, the inner circle looming like vultures outside of the room. Rhysand knelt by the bed when she came in, a hand carefully on Feyre's stomach, protecting the little boy growing within. Feyre had tears in her eyes from the pain, and desperately covered his hand with her own.
Madja swept into the room, slamming the door before Mor could push her way in. "Tell me what's happened."
Rhysand did, and the parts he couldn't explain Feyre did. Madja's face was a cool mask of stone throughout it all and she nodded only once. "High Lord, I need you to leave."
"Excuse me-" Rhysand was instantly on his feet, but Feyre's hold on his hand kept him from launching himself at the healer.
"I can't have you distracting me or the lady and peering over my shoulder like a mad cat. You may wait outside with the others."
"But-"
"Rhys," Feyre said, sitting up and wincing. She laid her palm against his cheek. "Please. I'll be fine. We'll be fine."
Rhys silently battled with himself, knowing damn well that the healer couldn't kick him out but Feyre could. He looked desperately at his mate but she held no pity.
He thought instead of the image the Bone Carver had given Feyre, the child that would be there's no matter what. That glimpse into the future. "Okay," he said, kissing his mate only once. He kissed her belly too. "Okay," he said again and left.
The moment the door closed behind him, he was bombarded with questions. Mor and Cassian leapt first, Azriel trying to sneak his shadows passed the shield Feyre had put around the room. Amren grabbed the door handle but it was already locked. Nesta only stared blankly.
Elain and Lucien had gone to the Day Court to raise their two children, but they would no doubt be packing depending on how today went. Elain also wanted to be there for the birth but Feyre wasn't due for another eight months.
Rhys didn't know what to say to his family, didn't know what to say to himself. So he only sat against the door and waited.
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
It had been a while since she'd shut him out like this-out of her mind, out of their bedroom. Rhysand paced outside of the door, knowing damn well he could break it or winnow inside, but also knowing damn well Feyre would hate him for it.
"Feyre darling," he pleaded to the closed door, "please, let me in."
Only silence answered him.
It had been hours-hours. It was noon when Madja came and nearly eight now.
After Madja had left without answering anything, the door had stayed closed. Rhys held onto fragile hope but feared the worst the moment the door opened again.
The inner circle didn't ask any questions and neither did Rhysand when he saw Feyre's face.
"I need to talk to you."
Rhys nodded, slipping with her into the room. He closed the door.
His mate stared at the floor between them, lips wobbling slightly. It was only when he wrapped his arms around her that she truly began to cry. "He's gone," she whispered into his chest.
Part of him knew, but the words didn't quite strike until he looked over her shoulder and saw that there was blood on the sheets.
"It was a miscarriage," she said and, like a dam breaking from too much pressure, he began to cry too.