So, I'm rewriting/reposting these chapters because I feel like my chapters are too short. I feel like that will also help me ease back into writing this story instead of churning out craptastic chapters out of guilt. In this chapter I'm ignoring that Gwendal was clueless when Nicola went into labor because it's important to the plot. So without further ado, here's Passion's Captive chapter one.
All of his life Gwendal von Voltaire had been a responsible young man. He had always strived to receive top marks in all of his classes as a child. He never wasted his efforts on things like parties and other frivolities. There was simply no time when one's mother was the Maoh and one had to be perfect. Even after his younger brother, Conrart, was born he still never wavered in his role as the perfect son. After becoming an adult he had taken on many of his mother's duties within the kingdom and he had found himself with even less time for a social life. His mother often scolded him for putting his social life on hold, but there simply was no time for such things in his life.
Gwendal often wondered what his life would have been like if he had been born into a poor family. He imagined that he might be married right now. Perhaps even with a child or two. He never shared these musing with anyone except his old tattered journal that his childhood friend Anissina had given him many years ago. Which is where we find our protagonist today, sitting in his quiet office with his journal opened in front of him.
Gwendal rubbed his eyes tiredly. He had been up since dawn finishing some paperwork that his mother had left to him yesterday so that she might attend a soiree. He had tried to convince her otherwise. Her pregnancy was nearing its end and a party was the worst place for a woman that heavily pregnant. It was just after 7 in the evening and he was ready to have a quick, peaceful dinner and then retire for the evening. As fate would have it, any notions of quiet or solitude were thrown out of the window as Anissina burst into the room,
"Gwendal! How long have you been in here? A week?" He sighed deeply and attempted to will away the headache he could feel coming on. Seeing that she was going to get no response, Anissina grabbed his arm and pulled him from the room. She began to pull him towards the medical wing of the castle when he stopped her,
"Where do you think you're taking me?" She rolled her eyes at him and gave him an unamused look,
"To the medical wing. Your mother just went into labor and she requested you be there." Gwendal paled considerably and followed after her without a word. The pair could hear shouting from down the hall. When they arrived, it quickly became apparent that the child would be arriving soon. The whole kingdom had been in a state of perpetual celebration after hearing that their beloved queen was to give birth to the daughter that she had always wanted. It had been predicted by the royal healer, a young man about Gwendal's age that he had yet to meet. In his opinion all of that fortune telling business was the exact kind of nonsense that he had no time for, but his mother prescribed to it and it made her happy so Gwendal wouldn't question it. He opened the door and stepped into what could very easily have been called chaos. His brother was holding their mother's hand as she sobbed that she was in pain. Their stepfather, Lord von Bielefeld was nowhere in sight. Healers were running about as though they were headless chickens and a man that Gwendal assumed was the Royal healer himself was trying to ease the pain in Her Majesty's midsection with healing magic. Gwendal approached the man,
"Is there anything that I can do to help?" The man gave him a relieved smile and nodded,
"Thank the Great One. We're in need of some towels and hot water. Unfortunately my staff are highly incompetent and forgot to stock the cabinets." He shot the floundering demons a disapproving glare,
"There should be some towels in my office just down the hall and you can find a faucet with hot water there as well." Gwendal nodded and took off at a sprint down the hall. He retrieved the items and brought them back to find that his mother was in the final stages of labor. He handed the bowl of water to the Healer and was instructed to give the towels to Conrart,
"Thank you very much. I appreciate your help, but can you wait in the hall with Lady Anissina?" After the panic and mayhem he just witnessed, Gwendal was more than happy to oblige. He shut the door behind him and sank to the floor.
No more than 20 minutes had passed when they heard the shrill cry of an infant. Anissina smiled at him and patted his shoulder,
"Your little sister. Now you can be over protective of her instead of pestering me with your worries." He just gave her a light smile. The door opened up and the lilac haired man from before stepped into the hall,
"It appears my prediction was wrong. Congratulations are in order. You have a new younger brother, my lord." Gwendal stood and followed the man in. His mother was lying on the bed with her hair plastered to her face with sweat. Conrart was in the chair next to the bed holding a tiny bundle with their mother's blond curls sticking out. He made his way over to the bed to see how Cecilie was feeling. She smiled weakly up at him and reached for his hand. He kneeled and grabbed her hand,
"You did well, mother. We're all proud of you." She laughed lightly,
"It seems you were right Gwen. Fortune telling predicted wrong. I should have known it would be a boy." Gwendal looked across the bed at his two younger brothers. It made no difference to him whether her third child was male or female. It was his sibling and he would protect him until his dying breath. He stood and moved to rejoin Anissina and the fair haired healer,
"Thank you. You helped my mother through this unharmed and the child is healthy as well. You have my eternal gratitude my good sir." The man smiled at his praise,
"You are most welcome and please, call me Gunter. I am Gunter von Krist, my lord." He stuck out his hand and Gwendal shook it. His heart leapt at the contact and he averted his eyes so that Gunter would not see the blush now adorning his face,
"I must get back to my duties now. I will return tomorrow to see how mother and the child are." He turned and sprinted out the door and back to his office.
Out in the corridor, Anissina stood waiting for him. She noticed the shocked look on his face and laughed loudly,
"What's gotten into you, Gwendal? You look like you just saw a ghost." He swallowed the lump in his throat and stuttered out,
"No-nothing. Everyth-thing is going g-great." Dropping to his knees, he let out a shaky breath and let his head fall back against the wall. The redheaded woman dropped down next to him,
"It bothered you that badly to witness a child's birth? Goodness Gwendal, you're not going to be like this when you get married and your wife gives birth are you?" Gwendal drew in a sharp breath. His hands were shaking and Anissina grabbed them,
"What is it Gwen? You can tell me." He shook his head roughly,
"No. It really is nothing. I think it's just been a long couple of days and my adrenaline is running out." His friend smiled at him,
"Let's go get dinner, shall we? It should just be the two of us." He followed after her into the dining room.
The next morning Gwendal awoke to sunlight hitting him in the face. At first he just let the feeling of pure bliss roll over him, but when he realised what time it must surely be, he shot up and darted about the room finding his uniform. He made his way quickly down the hall to the baths. He paused at the entrance to catch his breath. Upon entering, Gwendal realised that there was already someone there. As they were on the complete opposite side, he quietly removed his clothing and sank into the water. However, this person must've had acute hearing for they slowly made their way back in his direction. He sank lower into the water hoping to avoid notice. He had no time for pleasantries this morning. Out of the mist came the enchanting lilac haired Gunter. Unfortunately for Gwendal, the man did notice him. Giving a small tired smile, Gunter sat down next to him,
"Ah. Lord Gwendal. What a pleasant surprise. I didn't realise that you were here this morning." Gwendal grunted in response,
"I overslept this morning or I would already be in my study." Gunter hummed in thought,
"Well that won't do at all. You must get more sleep. It would be unfortunate if you were to fall ill. Here." The medic placed the back of his hand against Gwendal's forehead. The dark haired younger man felt his face heating up again. Satisfied in his findings Gunter admonished Gwendal,
"You're face is red and you have a slightly elevated temperature. You should rest today. Your office and duties will still be right where you left them tomorrow." Gwendal laughed hollowly in response,
"I fear the world would end if I were to take a day off. I already don't trust the kingdom in the hands of Lord von Bielefeld." He looked shocked at his own admission as did the pale beauty at his side,
"Your stepfather? Why ever not? He seems a respectable man to me." Gwendal moved to stand,
"I shouldn't have said anything. I forgot my place. Excuse me." As he turned, Gunter grabbed his wrist,
"Forgive me for prying, but I wouldn't mind if you were to tell me. One needs someone to vent their frustrations to every once in a while, no?" Gwendal sighed and resumed sitting. He was silent for a few moments before speaking again,
"I believe that he is up to something. The way that he looks at other women when he thinks that nobody is looking is disconcerting. Even last night, Conrart, a child, had to guide mother through her labor in his stead while he was gloriously absent. He wasn't present for the birth of his own son." Gunter nodded in understanding but let Gwendal continue,
"He doesn't care about his wife or child. The excuses that he gives mother for times when he has been gone from important functions are shady at best and full of holes. I have no doubt in my mind that he is taking another woman into his bed." Gwendal finished his confession in a pained whisper as though admitting it made it even more true. They sat in an awkward silence for several minutes before Gwendal slowly stood,
"I really must return to my duties. Thank you.. for listening." Gunter smile sadly at the boy,
"Anytime you need someone to talk to, my office is always open." Gwendal said nothing as he made a hasty retreat from the baths.