A/N: "Honey, you are growing up. You need to read something like Gone with the Wind or Shakespeare if you're going to read. You know, something that will get you into a good college." -Idiot parent to her teenage daughter 2 tables down from me at dinner tonight. Almost threw my dystopian novel with a grad school acceptance letter bookmark at her, but then I realized that would be an insult to the novel.
If anyone was wondering, I removed 4 expletives from the above before hitting 'post'.
Aubrey: I miss Halt and Lina too. Yeah, Calvin messed up. Being separated from Elizabet will be harder for him than anything, as she's the last of his family.
TheRanger'sDaughter: I thought I'd be gone until July at least, but...you know the plot bunny and my span of patience. Yes, the story will take a turn for the best. That would be cruel to end this series by just making everyone sad and depressed the entire time.
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.
Reese stood next to Russ in Lorelei's recovery room. Gabe stood next to his bride's bed gently stroking his fingers through her hair. Her burns still caused her too much pain for him to hold her hands, and a nasty scorch across her face made touching her cheek impossible. She could handle him stroking her hair so long as he was gentle.
The girls had put some effort into preparing Lorelei for her wedding. She wasn't ready to leave her bed, let alone be submerged in water. They'd done their best to wash her hair and arrange it so Gabe could play his fingers through the locks without hurting her. Lorelei's sisters had found a clean linen robe and trimmed it with blue embroidery. It'd taken more time to get the robe on her than it had her first wedding dress.
The two sisters stood opposite of Russ and Reese. Lindsey and Laramie stood with their eyes down. They were taking Lorelei's condition better than their parents, who had stopped coming to visit after seeing her burns became too much. The priest stood at the foot of the bed. Sean and Kineta huddled in a corner with their arms around one another. Kane and Gabby stood near them. Kane rested his hands on Gabby's hips from behind while she cradled her broken arm with her good one. Robin stood next to them holding Anne's hand.
This wedding had been meant to be a grand event. Now it was just a few people gathered in a recovery room while day-to-day operations resumed throughout Roscrea.
"I pronounce you husband and wife," the priest announced softly.
No handfasting ceremony. No presentation of the cavalry. No feasting, dancing, or drinking after the vows. Nothing but Gabe carefully leaning over Lorelei's bed and brushing his lips against hers. Reese had to turn his head for the kiss. Clearly even just that pained Lorelei. Gabby already had the tea needed to help her sleep ready.
"I love you," Lorelei whispered with a tear rolling from the corner of her eye. Gabe gently wiped it with his shirtsleeve. He quietly reached for the cup Gabby had prepared on the table next to her bed. He held it to her lips, tilting it just enough for her to be able to drink. Once she swallowed the last of the dose he set the cup aside and knelt next to her. He stroked her hair once more, careful not to touch the burns. He kissed a patch of unburnt skin on her forehead.
"I love you too, Lorelei O'Carrick," he whispered. Others in the room took their cue to leave. They gathered just outside the medical wing entrance. No one really said much. The priest was first to duck out. Next were Kane and Gabby, Kane due to his need to lie down for his back and Gabby because she wanted to check on Maggie. Robin volunteered to guide her mother. Anne held her small cane in one hand and clutched Robin's tunic with her other. Robin moved Anne's hand to Kane so that she could rest with him. Today was Maggie's first day being scaled back on her warmweed dosages and she was already in a mood.
Just as Reese was going to suggest to Sean and Kineta they go check in on Calvin's trial, Carissa showed up.
"The trial was too much for Elizabet," she said without formal acknowledgement from her superiors. "She passed out. Hazen is taking her up to her room."
"I'll go," Kineta immediately volunteered. She rushed off towards Elizabet's apartment.
"Did he take the offer to move to Araluen?" Reese asked.
Carissa shook her head.
"He was stupid enough to reject?" Sean clenched his fists.
"He hasn't decided at all yet," Carissa explained. "Everything kind of faded after Elizabet collapsed. He's been put back in the cell to think. Mason and Scout will go collect his answer this afternoon."
"How is Tammy?"
"She went to be with Elizabet. The trial was upsetting for both of them."
Reese watched Sean wordlessly turn to join his wife in comforting their widowed daughter.
"Prince?"
Reese looked over to one of Lorelei's sisters. He wasn't sure which one she was.
"What is the term in Araluen? You don't use 'Your Grace', do you?"
"It's 'Your Highness'," Reese answered warily.
"Your Highness," the second sister giggled. "Would you care to meet us for tea later? We can arrange for…"
"Your Highness, your presence is needed immediately," Russ interjected. Sarcasm dripped from every syllable. "Please, come at once."
"Maybe another time," Reese told the sisters before following Reese down a random hallway. "Thanks."
"We'll just say you owe me," Russ laughed.
Robin stood with Daniel and Julia while Gabby examined Maggie. Will hovered in the corner while Alyss cleaned up whatever game she'd been playing with her granddaughter.
"How are you feeling, Maggie?" Gabby asked as she pressed her palm to Maggie's cheek.
"My head hurts," Maggie grumbled. "Can I have more medicine?"
"No."
Gabby's answer may be a bit too firm for a child, but Maggie needed firm. Robin sighed. She hated seeing Maggie in this condition. Usually the little girl was running, scraping her knees, climbing trees, and demanding her father give her rides on his horse. Now all she cared about was the hourglass and warmweed.
"Still in your sleeping gown?" Gabby asked as she felt down Maggie's arm. She'd already discussed allowing Maggie to wear comfortable clothing with her parents and grandparents. Until Maggie truly woke up it was best she stay in her sleeping gown. It'd help her stay cool and make it more difficult to hide stolen doses. Maggie, however, had been told she could get dressed whenever she wanted. All she needed to do was ask.
"Please can I have more medicine?" Maggie begged, ignoring Gabby's question.
"No."
Maggie huffed. In a fit of frustration she slapped Gabby's hand away, striking her injured arm in the process. Gabby hissed with pain.
"Maggie!" Julia exclaimed. She rushed to her daughter. Robin went to her mother and guided her to her feet.
"Sorry," Daniel said, resting his hand on Gabby's good arm just a moment before going to help his wife with their daughter. Maggie erupted into a full blown fit. Will intercepted, taking Maggie by the shoulders and forcing her to be still. Alyss went to stand with Gabby. She put a hand on Gabby's good arm, biting her nails on the other.
"How long until she gets out of this stage?" Alyss whispered.
"I don't know," Gabby admitted, still rubbing her injured arm. "Maggie's young. Weaning her off dependency is going to be difficult."
"But not impossible," Alyss said quickly. "Right?"
"It won't be impossible," Gabby assured her. "Robin?"
"I'm here," Robin spoke up, meeting her mother's hand with her arm.
"Would you take me to Maggie?"
"Sure that's a good idea?" Robin asked, looking over to Maggie. She'd broken down to tears in her mother's arms.
"Just…block her if she tries to hit my arm again."
"Alright."
Robin led her mother to the huddle and guided her good hand to Maggie's shoulder. Maggie flinched as though the touch hurt her. She sobbed violently into Julia's shoulder. Julia held her tight, as though keeping her from falling apart completely. Daniel kept his arms around hers to fortify her even more. Will simply held her hands, squeezing them as tightly as she squeezed his.
"Maggie?" Gabby whispered. Maggie didn't respond in a way Gabby could acknowledge. She turned her eyes to the healer. Nothing more. Robin tapped her mother's back so she'd know Maggie was looking at her. It was a signal their family had developed before Robin was born. "I'm proud of you. You're doing so well. How does an early dessert sound?"
Maggie looked away. She mumbled something unintelligible before she was able to give a clear answer. "Good."
"Great. We will get word to the kitchen. What sounds good to you? Chocolate? Strawberries?"
"Chilled cream?" Maggie asked. For the first time since she returned they could hear hope in her voice. It didn't last long. She went back to trembling in her mother's arms before she could show too much progress, but it was progress. Julia looked ready to cry herself as she readjusted her grip on Maggie and kissed the top of her head. Daniel kissed Julia's neck, using her hair to hide his own tears of joy. Will stood up and immediately went to find a maid who could fulfill the order.
Gabby searched for Robin. Robin intercepted the search but putting her wrist in her mother's open hand. Gabby leaned close to Robin's ear and dropped her voice to a whisper.
"Find Will."
Robin obediently went to find him. Clearly her mother needed to speak with him out of earshot of the others, or perhaps just Maggie. She found Will outside sending a young servant off to the kitchens. He nodded to Robin and Gabby as they approached.
"Yes?" he asked.
"I have something new for you to try," Gabby told him.
"Swap warmweed for sweets?" Will guessed.
"Yes."
Will nodded. "I'll do my best. Thanks Gabby. For everything. Now, you should get back to Kane and take your own medicine. She got you pretty good."
Robin glanced to her mother's arm in the sling. How typical for her mother to ignore her own pain to help a child with theirs. Maggie had indeed gotten her good. There was even some swelling within the splint.
"Robin, I'll need some ice," Gabby whispered once they were at the door of the guest room their family had taken refuge in.
"That bad?" Robin asked as she guided her mother to the bed her father was already resting on. Kane watched them with mild curiosity as they crossed the room. Robin helped her mother remove the sling once she was sitting down. Gabby hissed with pain when Kane simply brought his arm around her. "Ice. Right."
Robin raced down to the kitchen and collected ice wrapped with oiled cloth. Robin knew chefs well enough to know if she got caught getting the ice she'd have hell to pay. She also knew if she acted like she belonged none of the staff would pay her notice. Perhaps they would if this were a restaurant, but the royal kitchens with several hundred mouths to feed, whose staff rotated staggered shifts didn't pay her much attention. Robin returned to her parents. Her mother curled into her father's side using his chest to elevate her broken arm.
"I'm back," Robin said gently so her mother wouldn't be surprised. She arranged the ice over the swollen part of Gabby's arm.
"Let her sleep," Kane said gently. "She hasn't been getting much between Maggie and Lorelei."
Robin nodded. "I'll come back later," she promised. She quietly left the room, shutting the door behind her. What she'd give to have what her parents had one day. She returned to the vast apartment's main room and joined Caitlyn on the floor in front of the unlit fireplace. Caitlyn had spread out a blanket and was playing with Little Lina trying to encourage her to walk. "Has she taken her first steps yet?"
Caitlyn nodded. "She walks when she wants. She's such a stubborn little thing."
As though to prove her mother right, Lina took two steps and then promptly sat back down and crawled towards the toy Caitlyn had been bribing her with.
"How are your parents?" Caitlyn asked.
"They're resting."
"Is your mother still up for coming to manage my labs?"
"I think so. She'll just need some help navigating and all that."
"Yes. Your task."
Robin nodded. "My task."
Caitlyn teased Little Lina's ear, getting a giggle from her young daughter. "Enjoy the time with her. One day you'll wish you had more."
"You miss your mum a lot?"
"Every day. I think you would have liked her. She was a lot like your mother, you know. She had a lame foot most her adult life and never let it stop her."
Little Lina abandoned her toy in favor of crawling to Robin. Robin grinned. She genuinely enjoyed all her young cousins, but Little Lina was by far the most energetic of them all. Even the boys hadn't been as curious as she was. Robin hoisted her toddler cousin high above her head, getting a round of shrill giggles.
"Are you excited for your tour?" Caitlyn asked with a gentle nudge.
Robin grinned as she brought Lina back down to her lap. "Is it that obvious?"
"You've done such great work as Lucy's apprentice. I'm proud of you, Robin. I'm glad you've chosen this route."
Robin beamed. Lina tugged against her dress wanting attention. The child lost her grip and somersaulted back towards her mother. Caitlyn caught her. Lina laughed and clapped her hands in delight, trying to put herself upside down once more.
"How are things going with your prince friends?" Caitlyn asked. Robin blushed. Caitlyn only giggled.
"They're just friends. They're like my cousins."
"But they aren't your cousins."
Robin only blushed. Caitlyn laughed.
"How fun it is to be young," Caitlyn sighed. Lina finally got herself on her head. She fell to the side in a fit of giggles.
"Indeed."
Robin scooped Lina up and tossed her to the air. Lina squealed with sheer delight.
"Don't you go skipping youth," Caitlyn teased her. Robin brought Lina down into her lap. She hugged her tightly to her chest. Lina giggled madly, pushing her tiny hands against Robin's arms hoping to free herself.
The door opened.
"Mama!" Carter cheered. Caitlyn looked over to give her son a confused look. Carter joined her in the floor. Caitlyn gave him a hug and looked back as Tucker joined them. Robin noticed how heavily he leaned on his cane today. Bad weather must be coming.
"What are you doing here?" Caitlyn asked.
"Some issues to discuss with your sister couldn't be put off any longer," Tucker answered. Caitlyn got to her feet and went to his side. He put an arm around her. Caitlyn grinned up at him. He let her take some of his weight and the couple went to share a sofa. "I also missed the shorter child."
Robin released Lina. The child toddled over to the sofa on her feet and gripped her father's leg. Tucker pulled her up to his lap. Robin remembered cuddling in her own father's lap as a little girl. She often sat with him for stories while her brothers cleaned up dinner and her mother restocked her bag for the next round of patients. She'd spent many a night falling asleep against her father's chest, waking in her own bed the next morning when her mother's cooking stirred her from sleep.
Robin had never realized what a privileged childhood she'd had until she was older. Sure her parents traveled at times, leaving their children in the care of family friends, but having two loving parents was far rarer than she'd thought. Even within her family, her parents set an example the others couldn't touch. Carter and Lina were lucky in the same way. Tucker and Caitlyn clearly shared a deep love for one another.
"Were you ladies talking business?" Tucker asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No," Caitlyn answered.
"Where are your parents?" Tucker asked Robin.
"Resting," she replied. "Mum's been tired and Dad has his back bothering him."
Tucker nodded. He shifted to adjust his bad leg. "I know the feeling."
Robin nodded. Sometimes she wondered if her mother and Caitlyn agreed to go in with Aunt Lucy because of their husbands, but then she remembered her father was hurt after her mother started helping Lucy with her company. And joining the company opened doors to Caitlyn's research in ways the Academy never could on its own.