Two chapters in one day? What is this nonsense?
This idea came to me late last night and wouldn't leave me alone.
*Warning: This may be somewhat triggering.*
It was late. Much too late for little girls to be up, but something woke the tiny redhead. And she didn't like it.
It was crying. Muffled by a wall. She knew it was crying. And she knew who was crying even if she wasn't familiar with it. Her mother.
It sounded like she was trying her very hardest not to cry, but it wasn't working well.
Was she okay? Kari desperately wanted to know. Her mother never cried. The little girl was sitting up in her bed, listening.
She heard her daddy start to talk. She couldn't hear exact words, he was being quiet on purpose, but she could hear the tone of his voice. It was gentle and soothing, like someone was hurt.
Her mother whimpered a little and there was a short silence before her father spoke again.
Kari slipped silently out of bed and sat by the door to hear better. She couldn't hear everything, but it was better than being in bed.
"-going to be okay." Her daddy said.
She couldn't make out her mother's response, but it sounded like she might have been in pain.
"I know...here."
"No," her mommy replied, sounding oddly emotionless. "... change... rid of..."
"...don't care... here."
There was some shuffling and movement and then silence for a few moments.
Her mother spoke first. She sounded extremely upset. "...wrong with me?" Was her mommy sick?
"Nothing... with you. It's alright... Don't apologize... Not your fault." What was happening? Kari felt tears prick her eyes. She wanted her mama to be okay.
Her mother suddenly hissed in pain. It frightened Kari considerably.
"...alright... I've got you..." her father's voice faded behind her mother's trying not to cry noises. Kari, terrified, crawled back into bed and hid under the covers.
Mama didn't get out of bed in the morning, worrying the little girl more.
"She's not feeling well," her father told her the next day when she asked where her mother was and why a healer just left their house. "She'll be in bed for a few days." She was only four, but she knew that wasn't all there was. Especially because he looked sad. She knew no one was going to tell her the real reason her mother was crying the night before though.
When she saw her mother, she didn't look unwell, just tired and a little bit sad. Kari painted her mother a picture to cheer her up. It was a painting of Stormfly. She loved it. So did the Nadder. Toothless was beyond jealous and it was funny when he pouted. She couldn't spend too much time with her mother though. Her mother needed rest supposedly.
Three days later, after the healer came to their house, her mother was out of bed again. She still looked somewhat sad.
The moment Kari saw her out of bed, she ran to give her a hug and her mother picked her up and held her like she might have lost her if she didn't.
"My precious little girl," her mother whispered softly. "I love you so much, Kari."
"I love you too, Mama." Kari was confused a little. It wasn't like they hadn't seen each other.
Kari didn't understand it, but her mother seemed to like Kari more in her arms than out after she was well again, even if she didn't say it out loud. Kari was asking to be carried again because somehow it made her mother feel better.
Even her father was being strange. He was even more protective over Kari and her mother than usual.
In a week or two, everything pretty much went back to normal. Everything was fine until someone brought up babies to her mother in the Great Hall one night.
She left the room rather upset and her father went after her.
How strange. Kari thought they liked babies.
A/N: In case it's not clear, Astrid had a miscarriage in this chapter.
I'm not sure exactly where this sad idea came from, but it's here. I'm sure they would tell Kari eventually, especially if she asked, but not yet. And Kari won't push it. Astrid strikes me as the kind of person who doesn't like to show weakness, but certain things push her over the edge.
I'm not even out of school yet, so I've never experienced this, but I've heard and read things about it. It's terribly sad and I'm sure it hurts more emotionally than physically. I really wish this kind of thing didn't happen to people, but it does and it's awful. I'm so very sorry if any of you has gone through this.
If you ever need/want to talk about anything, my PM box is always open.
Thanks for reading. Prompts are accepted.