7. Headaches
The twins went to bed early that night, complaining about more headaches and feeling exhausted. Once Willow Jr., Monrow, and Viola were also asleep, Willow and Varhog snuggled together on their sofa. Varhog held his infant son Rayhog—whom they called Ray—on his broad chest.
Willow asked, "Varhog, do you have any idea what all of these strange headaches could mean? Will and Var have been having them for weeks now. I'm starting to get really concerned."
Varhog chuckled. "Do you really want to know what I think, or would you rather be surprised?"
Willow creased her brow. "What do you mean?"
"Can't you guess, Eartheyes?"
Willow regarded Varhog and thought for a moment. "My brain must still be fuzzy from the recent birth," she finally admitted. "I can't think of any explanation for that silly grin you're giving me."
Varhog's grin widened. "Very well. I will share my suspicions. I think the twins will soon start growing horns."
"Really?" Willow gasped with wide eyes. "Why didn't I think of that? Now that you've said it, it seems so obvious! How wonderful! Will they soon bud? Did you experience the same thing before yours started growing?" Willow reached out a hand and ran it around one of Varhog's impressive horns.
"Yes, for several weeks before my thirteenth birthday I experienced recurrent headaches. I woke up one morning after an early bedtime to discover that my horns had started budding that night. Of course, in the Urgal village everyone—including me—knew what the symptoms meant, so I was anxious for the morning when I would awaken with the beginnings of my horns. I wouldn't be surprised if Will and Var woke up tomorrow to realize the same thing. I've been keeping my thoughts to myself—and asked Grintuk, Breetuk, and the other Urgal Riders to do the same—so it would be a surprise for them." His happy expression clouded somewhat.
"Why do you seem worried, sweetheart?"
"I suppose I've often wondered if Will and Var might prefer not to have horns. Their skin has always continued to resemble yours, though it's slightly paler. And their eyes are that amazing, shimmering, golden brown all of our children have. They look just like tall, handsome, strong human boys. I've wondered if they would resent that growing horns would obviously make them stand out and be different."
"Different from humans and elves, but the same as the Urgralgra we're so often living among," Willow reminded him. "They'll be thrilled, Varhog! You know how much they adore you and want to be exactly like you. And how much I've always hoped they would grow horns. How does the skin of their forehead look right after? Will it be bloody?"
"Only a little. The horns emerge gradually, so it isn't a huge opening all at once. About as much as when new teeth cut through a baby's gums." He glanced down at Ray, who turned his face toward Varhog's chest while working his fingers into his mouth. "He's starting to get hungry," Varhog said with a gentle smile. "I love when they're so small and fit in such a tiny little bundle on my chest."
"Even I can fit curled up on your chest," Willow teased. "Grintuk just might be able to as well."
Varhog chuckled and handed Ray to his mother, who gave her baby an enthusiastic kiss as she accepted him.
"Hello, precious!" she crooned in her sing-song baby voice. "But I know what you meant," she continued to Varhog as she began feeding the baby. "And it's perfectly delightful when they're this tiny. It seems like this stage is even shorter with every new baby since there's so much more happening. I worry that if I even blink, when I open my eyes again, he'll already be one and walking around with the rest of them. Can you believe we already have six?"
"It's wonderful, Eartheyes. Two at a time for the first two pregnancies made it seem to go all the faster. But it didn't really put us in the lead, since the twins' insistent nursing made the gaps between so much wider. And nobody can keep up with Bree and Grintuk. I think after the first five came in five years, they finally decided to pay more attention to what they were doing. Now their babies have only arrived every two years."
Willow laughed with him. "True. And so many sons! I'm glad Brin and Ginnee have each other."
Varhog watched his wife and son for a time. When he returned his gaze to Willow's face, she was staring at him with a tender look in her eyes. "What?"
"Can't you guess, Yelloweyes?" she asked, using his earlier words.
"I actually can." Imitating her voice, which always earned him a laugh, he said, "'I love you more every day, Varhog. I'm so grateful for what a sweet father you are." He changed his voice back to his normal deep tones to finish, "And that you're still the most amazing lover in the world."
Willow laughed delightedly, just as he expected. "My face is an open book," she said with mock regret.
"Or I just hear the words often enough to have them memorized," Varhog returned. "You know I feel exactly the same. But I changed my voice when I did because you are still the most amazing lover in the world."
"No one can hope to match an Urgal ram, but I will always be grateful that I'm fortunate enough to experience it so regularly. Do you think Will and Var will inherit that ability? Or experience the strange phenomenon created by kissing?"
"I suppose they won't know until they're married, though it might be wise to warn them about the kissing. That could lead to a potentially awkward situation, but only if they kissed a girl they loved enough to want as a mate."
Willow smiled and leaned into him. "Ray's as efficient as Will and Var ever were. He's already finished. Shall we turn in?"
"Certainly. You must be exhausted. Taking care of six children all day is far harder than the most strenuous labor I could even conceive of inflicting upon myself during Dragon Rider training."
"Not with two mini-Varhogs around to help me all day. The boys literally never let me do anything but sit here and nurse Ray. And Monrow and Willow Jr. are the same. They even take him potty, take care of Vi, and bring me food. I'm only allowed to get up and use the washroom. You have trained them well, Yelloweyes. I actually might need some exercise to get me relaxed and ready to sleep."
Varhog stood and scooped Willow up, catching on to her true meaning. "I might be able to help with that," he said, walking with her to their bedroom and closing the door behind him.
-:-:-
The next morning, Will and Var woke at about the same time, as they nearly always seemed to do. Will groaned and pulled his pillow over his head, which was when he noticed the dark brownish spots on his pillowcase.
"Var, what did you put on my pillow last night?"
"I was wondering the same thing," Var said, turning toward Will's bed. "Did you sleep walk into the corner of a cupboard or something last night? You have some lovely bumps on your forehead."
"Look who's talking," Will griped. Then he reached up to feel his forehead. He slowly sat up at the same time as Var, who was likewise touching his forehead. They stared at each other, knowing it was as good as staring into a mirror. Then, as if thinking the same thing, they both sprang up and dashed over to the mirror, each pushing to get their face in front of it.
"Horns!"
"We started growing horns!" Will shouted. "That's the best!"
"Let's go show Mother and Father!"
-:-:-:-
