Authors Notes: Just cause someone just reviewed me and said something nice. Heres a new story :D. Thank you for the reviews. I'd love to hear more.
A Soft Triumph
Chapter 13
On our backs
4 years later
The wind was crisp, but warm. The leaves on the trees were bronzing in the cold weather. Winter was drawing ever nearer, and the life that Eve had been brought into was slowly becoming whole.
Demon rounded the bend at full speed, and Percy's horse Valiant came in quickly behind hers. Both horses fighting to be first. Demons black hide was blinding in the sunlight. Percy wasn't sure how Eve got the horses hide to shine like it did, but he had wished she would do the same to his horse.
"Come on papa!" Eve egged Percy on who laughed loudly as he kicked Valiant into motion.
"You think you can beat me?" He asked as Valiant pulled ahead.
"Well we've already left the others behind." Eve said and turned to look at her father for a moment seeing the crowd at the finish line. "I hate to tell you this father. But I've been lying this whole time." She said and giggled as Percy seemed confused by this.
"How do you mean?"
"I've only been pushing him a little." Eve said and gave Demon one last kick before he shot off ahead by a horse length at least.
"Oh you little minx!" He laughed only to look on in horror as Eves horse missed his footing and she was thrown.
Eve sat up in bed and looked around her room. Sweat beading on her forehead and tears ran down her face. The scream that had escaped her she hoped was unheard. Her father had been distant of late and she didn't want to take up his time with her mother who was heavy with child.
But there it was...those ever faithful foot falls as the door swung open and Percy ran over to her.
"Are you alright?" He asked his hand resting on her forehead.
"I'm alright...was just a stupid dream." She said and looked up at him as he nodded. He had only been home for a few days having been called to Paris on some 'official matters' which was probably something to do with his 'business.' He however planned to stay home till Margeurite had there child.
"Is mom alright? Did I wake her?" She asked Percy shook his head.
"No but whats happening has been weighing heavily on her. Your nightmares are growing in intensity, and its worrying her. Do you remember what happened?" Percy asked. Eve nodded and sat up.
"We were racing...Demon lost his footing and threw me...I woke up before I hit the ground." Eve said and looked up when she heard something like a gasp from Percy as he ran his hands over hers. She took his and squeezed it softly.
"Like I said...just a dream. Nothing...Nothings wrong."
"Are you afraid that this baby is going to take up your time with us?"
"No...thats not it. I plan to help out as much as you do Papa." Eve said and looked down at her hand in his. Its true, that wasn't the problem.
"Thats a good girl." He said kissing her forehead. "If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen...hiding..." He said and chuckled when Eve shook her head.
"Why are you hiding?" Eve asked and stood up seeing the sun peak over the tree tops.
"Making your mother her favorite breakfast." He said and walked back out again. Eve looked in the mirror and then stopped grabbing her fathers wrist before he walked out.
"What is it sweetheart." He noticed that her face had turned a different shade of pale. He then saw it too...blood. Although he just rolled his eyes and walked out of the room. "I'll go wake your mother...she'll explain this better then me." He said and walked out. Eve swallowed hard and looked down at the blood on the bed. Once again, she's pulled her mother from sleep.
Her mother could be heard talking to her father as she walked into the room.
"Out Percy, this is womanly stuff." She said and pushed the man who put up his hands, waved at his daughter, and left the room to the ladies of his house.
"I'm sorry." Eve whispered looking at her mother who shook her head.
"There isn't anything to be sorry about. Its not like you did this intentionally my love. Now...lets get you out of those cloths, and I'll show you what you need to do." She said and pulled the rope by the bedside.
A lady walked in moments later with a bowl with hot water. Apparently Percy already informed them as to what was needed.
"My Lady breakfast is being prepared as we speak, the young lady will be tended to. Now go eat!" The woman said. She had been sent in to replace Coraline. This woman was a little more forceful, but was very loyal to the case.
"Oh dear one...another dream?" And obviously a little more understanding then the last. Her deep red hair drifted well past her waste line, and her bright green eyes were just as bright this morning as they were the day before.
A few moments later Eves bed was striped of its sheets and she was clean and in her warmer dress. A light green, and brown which seemed to suite her colors. Long gone was her childish favorites. Even the bear she loved so much sat in a rocking chair in the corner.
The first year was a trial, specially with her misunderstandings of the noble ways, and her fathers desire to go from London to Paris often to save people from there untimely deaths. She viewed her father as a hero and never voiced her opinion about him leaving her and her mother behind at the manor without him. She would occasionally see any one of his Lieutenants and they would send her fathers love and wishes. Even on occasions giving her gifts from afar.
One night...when he came home to spend time with his ladies did something more drastic happen that caused Eve to tell of her concerns...since then she hadn't spoken of it. 'You leave us both alone to fend for ourselves! What would you do if you came home and we weren't here?' The wound creating words were instantly regretted, but never apologized for. She refused to apologize for something she meant to say. But it doesn't stop her from feeling bad about it. Since then, she had been troubled. It got worse when Percy announced that his beloved wife was with child and to be born in the beginning of Winter. With this so near...
She closed her eyes and then looked in the mirror in front of herself. She was already starting to get a womanly figure. She hoped this revolution was almost over...that way her father could retire, and care for his family like a normal noble.
She quietly walked out of her room and into the hallway where she could hear talking from the dining room. She knew who was in there, because he was suppose to be here. She walked past the dining hall where they were and out into the lounge. She wasn't to hungry, and she wanted to go riding.
Inside the Manor
"You don't think she's jealous of the baby do you Percy?" Margeurite asked looking around at the man she adored.
"No I asked her last night, she seemed to be surprised at the mention of such a notion." He said sitting down next to his wife and ran his fingers over the rather large bump on her waste. She sighed putting her head on his shoulder as he did so. It seemed to calm the child down.
"Well I'm sure she'll love being a sister." Percy said sitting back looking up as Lord Dewhurst walked into the room.
"I never knew your daughter could ride so...elegantly." He said motioning to the stables.
"Riding? But I only just left her in her room." Margeurite said looking out the door to see Eve riding along down a horse trail.
"I think...I know whats wrong with her." Percy said and walked out of the room. "Stay with Lady Blakeney Tony...she doesn't need to be alone right now." He said and kissed Margeurite on the forehead. He ran from the room toward the stables.
"Tony...do you think...Eve has started to resent us?"
"Good Lord Milady...why would she do a thing like that?" Tony asked seeing Percy riding half saddle out of the stables.
"She doesn't like Percy leaving us alone. I think it has something to do with her abandonment issues." She said and looked around at Tony who didn't have anything to say about this. For a long moment Tony seemed very distant.
"Shes afraid somethings going to happen to him, and leave you all alone?" He asked and looked around at trail Percy disappeared down.
"Yes...its a fear of my own too, I just take it better then she does. She's only 12 Tony." Margeurite said and ran her hand down her swollen stomach before walking back to the table for an apple.
"Well...I guess she'll have to learn. I don't suspect this will continue on forever Milady...but I still don't see an end to all this." Tony said and put another pillow behind Margeurite.
