8 . 1 . 08
Okay, in this chapter you are going to find out how old one of the characters is. This is your last chance to vote in the poll!
I am not an expert at childbirth. Forgive me any misreprentations, and, as always, feel free to correct me. Especially your mum, ElvishKiwi. If she has anything to say, please let me know. A healthy dose of humility keeps me sane.
I'm going to give out a special prize to anyone who can tell me a very prominent characteristic of Roderic that (surprisingly) hasn't been mentioned yet.
I'll write you a one-shot about anything you wish, as long as I know the subject matter.
CLUES:
He only deviates from this habit once in the whole story.
No one else in the story shares this habit with him.
A reader mentioned this characteristic in reference to another character (one who was only in two chapters) but it was applied falsely.
MAY THE MOST OBSERVANT READER WIN!
He seemed to stand straighter and said firmly, "Because," and kissed me deeply on the lips.
I was surprised, but didn't push him away like the other man. I let him kiss me and he stepped away, and whispered, "Oh Lord, I shouldn't have done that. You must be so angry."
I shook my head.
He said, "You had to have been a little offended then."
Again my head shook back and forth.
"Then… you must be…"
He struggled to find the right words to describe my awkwardness he was sure I had experienced, but I finished,
"Extremely happy."
The Days to Fly --Crayola Color Sky
"Here you go," Jody said anxiously, "hot water."
"Thank you," Kayla said quickly, taking the kettle from him in the doorway to the bedroom.
"Rags, Jody!" Hallie called from inside the room.
Jody dove for the shelf on the kitchen wall, grabbing a pile of rags and rushing back to meet Hallie in the doorway. He barely missed running into Kayla; she pressed herself against the wall in the nick of time. Hallie took the rags and shoved him out of the room, so quickly that he actually did run into Kayla, and only saved her from a scalding fall by a lucky catch. He caught her about the waist and steadied her, muttering a quick, "Sorry, sorry!" and collapsing onto the nearest chair.
The screams coming from the bedroom did nothing to calm his anxiety, and he was quickly on his feet again, pacing. His nerves were raw. After being ill for two weeks, and bedridden for another five days recovering, she had gone into labor. Thankfully, she had some warning, and Jody had ridden toward town at a frantic pace to gather some women. Kayla and Hallie had been ready first, so they were the two that accompanied him back to aid Celeste.
She had been in labor for four hours now, and still no baby. The women explained to him hurriedly that she was just weak from the sickness, that nothing was wrong, but her cries of pain sounded anything but weak.
Why is childbirth this horrible? he thought, pacing in a more irritated pattern. What did she do to deserve this much pain? He continued to obstinately push away any thoughts that the baby might be sick or d—worse.
It's fine. He's fine. She's fine. The baby is fine. Celeste is fine.
Kayla appeared at the doorway, her apron flecked with blood.
"Jody, you need to calm her down," she said rapidly.
He froze.
"I'm not going in there."
"Jody," she said sharply, "the baby is twisted around. Hallie and I need to concentrate on getting it turned around, but Celeste is panicking. Hurry!"
She vanished. Jody followed her in, bracing himself. He jogged into the bedroom and artfully ignored everything except Celeste's pained and scared face. It was more gaunt and pale than it had been while she was ill, which made him swallow a few times nervously.
Hallie wrung her hand out of Celeste's grip and joined Kayla at the foot of the bed. Neither of them so much as glanced his direction as he knelt by Celeste's head. Her chest was heaving, and her breaths were shaky.
"Calm down, girl," he said, taking her hand.
She squeezed his hand tightly and forced her rolling eyes to stare at him.
"Jody," she gasped, "I'm going to die."
The statement, spoken in a serious tone, took him off guard.
"No you're not," he refuted immediately. "Don't ever say that. You're going to be fine. Kayla and Hallie know what they're doing."
"Take care of the baby, promise me."
"Stop it. Breathe, Celeste. You're not breathing."
She sucked in a breath and heaved it out, then her face contorted. She clung to Jody's hand.
"Ready – push," Hallie intoned, her hand against the top of Celeste's bare stomach.
Celeste screamed, making Jody wince, and pushed, fully cutting off the circulation in Jody's hand. She started to hyperventilate and her eyes started rolling.
"Celeste, girl, calm down," Jody said in panic. "Breathe slowly, come on."
She stared right at him with her huge, terrified eyes, shining a brilliant green.
"Celeste, breathe slowly," he repeated.
"Jody!" Kayla snapped. "Calm her down!"
"I'm trying!" he snapped back.
He clasped her white hand in his other hand, completely engulfing it.
"Listen to me. You need to calm down and breathe slowly. You're going to be just fine."
She kept staring at his face, and her breathing slowed.
"Keep it up!" Hallie said encouragingly. "A few more minutes and we'll have a new baby!"
A few minutes stretched into a few hours before a wailing child was held up triumphantly.
"It's a girl!" Kayla squealed, rubbing the blood and slime off the newborn with a damp rag.
"And she's got a fine pair of lungs," Hallie added, also cleaning her off with a wide smile.
"Ten gold she's as pretty as you," Jody whispered to Celeste, mopping her sweaty face with a wet cloth.
Celeste's head was drooping like she was about to fall asleep, though she was making a valiant effort to remain conscious. Kayla wrapped the baby in a clean rag while Hallie remained at the foot of the bed, saying something about "stitching her up." Jody did not want to know.
Kayla handed the baby to Jody.
"Congratulations, Pops," she said with a hug that meant more than the light words.
He looked down at the squirming, screaming creature in his arms and barely kept from making a face. He was sure that the women would sentimentally assert that the tiny female had Lee's nose, or cheeks, or chin, but Jody couldn't see any resemblance to his best friend. She looked like a shriveled little alien.
"Isn't she cute?" Kayla cooed.
"Yeah," he said quickly, handing the baby to Celeste. "Adorable."
Kayla helped her sit up and accept the bundle, her exhausted eyes bright with anticipation. Jody took one last look at the wriggling girl and smiled. For an alien, she isn't too bad, he admitted.
"Oh, oh," was all Celeste could manage, in a quiet voice covered by the baby's wails.
As if sensing that her mother was holding her at last, the girl quieted some. Celeste beamed, rocking her jerkily. Two tears dripped onto the rag.
"What's her name?" Hallie asked, appearing at her side and washing her hands in a bucket of warm water.
Celeste looked up at Jody.
"I was thinking, Jody – how do you like Mara Leigh?"
"Whatever you want," Jody said, taken aback that his opinion would be asked. It wasn't his child. "I think it's a beautiful name."
"Mara Leigh Jeanette Flannlin," she said, touching the girl's red nose. "The name's bigger than you are."
She yawned.
"You'd better get some sleep…" Kayla said, and that's the last thing Jody heard before he passed out of sheer exhaustion with his head next to Celeste's.
Samantha found Roderic in the library every day after their first conversation, for the last hour of his allotted two in the evenings. She would clean the room, dusting shelves and oiling them until they sparkled like new, and once again added a different perspective to his ideas.
This time, however, he found her ideas less strange and surprising. Seeing how the country people actually lived gave him a new foundation to ground her beliefs into. She found his new acceptance strange.
"What have you been doing?" she asked, corking a bottle of polish. "You sound like you've been touring the country in disguise."
"It is those dreams I told you about," he said, chuckling at the thought of traversing the countryside in a guise. "I am not stupid. I can put two and two together."
"You're very smart, forget stupid," she said with a smile, "but sometimes you amaze me, that's all."
"I highly doubt my capability of amazing people, but I thank you all the same," Roderic said with a grin.
"Don't sell yourself short," she scolded, pocketing the bottle and winking. "You're the most amazing person I know."
"I pity your choice in friends," he quipped.
"And you got feisty too!" she exclaimed. "I swear, you're like a whole new person."
She sat down beside him.
"And I like the new Roderic."
"That is wonderful," he replied with only a little nervousness, "because I am not going to change back."
"Was that some obstinacy I detected?" she asked with mock surprise.
"Perhaps it was," Roderic said contemplatively. "Anyway, you had better leave, yes?"
"Not particularly," she said evasively. "Why do you always try to shove me away when we talk about you? You seem just as bad as Katharine."
"I apologize," he said, furrowing his brow. "I did not realize I had been doing that."
She put a hand on his arm, her skin pale against his own.
"You can pick up faults from anyone. I don't blame you," she said seriously.
"I am glad you do not hate me because of one unsavory character trait," he said, trying to lighten her unusually solemn persona.
"I could never hate you," she said softly.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"I must go; it was lovely to talk to you, as usual," he said, faint warning bells starting to sound in his head, though he wasn't quite sure why.
"You're doing it again," she said, taking his hands and smiling ingratiatingly.
"I apologize, I really must go. I have an appointment," he said, the alarms ringing louder in his ears.
He had never been more grateful for Johnathon's nightly meetings than at that moment.
"I've decided on my reward," she said, wrapping her calloused fingers around his hands and drumming them on the inside of his wrists.
The sensation sent chills up his spine and forced him to look at her eyes. She was very close to him, and he could smell the scent she wore. A sweet, fruity smell of some variety pervaded his senses.
"What did you decide?" he asked faintly, struggling to clear his head.
She smiled, pink mouth sliding into an honest expression of amusement, and shook her head a little, throwing her hair over her shoulder.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Samantha," he said, trying to move back, but her hands kept him in front of her, still staring into her liquid brown eyes.
She stared back, then, very slowly, released his hands. He tried to step away then, but he stayed still, transfixed by the curve of her jaw and the gleam in her eyes. She took a step forward and put her arms around his waist, laying her head on his chest.
"Samantha," he said weakly, "stop. You cannot ask for anything like that. I ammarried."
She turned her head slightly and kissed his chest though the layers of fabric. He felt his breath hitch and his heart race at the action, and there was suddenly an internal battle raging. On the one hand, his marriage was only for legal reasons, and Katharine would probably be thrilled to have proof that he wasn't interested in her. Samantha was all for making her dream a reality.
On the other hand, ever since his argument with Katharine, he'd decided that the morals he learned weren't negotiable, even when it made someone else happy. He was married. Marriage was something to be taken seriously, and something to be honored. Obviously, a part of honoring the marriage is remaining faithful to your spouse.
But does the rule still apply when your partner does not care?
A rule is a rule.
It is not a rule, it is a promise you made to your spouse. If they release you, you are free.
It does not work like that.
"We cannot do this, Samantha," he managed to choke out.
"No one would care," she whispered, tilting her chin up to catch his eyes again.
Her mouth was parted slightly in a way that drove his unsteady thoughts mad. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Just once...
He pressed his mouth against hers hungrily, burying his hands in her hair. She responded immediately, hooking one hand on his shoulder and running the other through his curls tantalizingly. They broke apart, panting for breath. Her eyes were lit up and she licked her lips.
"You taste as sweet as you act," she said under her breath, and pulled him into another kiss, twisting her fingers into his hair.
All thought abandoned him and he floated in the heat of the moment, overwhelmed. They broke apart again a few moments later.
"No, no, oh no," Roderic said, realizing what he had just done and scrambling backwards in a panic. "No. That did not happen. Nothing. By the – I am late. Samantha – no. What can I say? I am sorry."
He fled the room, leaving Samantha standing with a ghostly smile on her flushed face. He ran, feet pounding the marble and breath coming in sporadic gasps, with no intention of meeting Johnathon directly.
I have to pull myself together. Oh in the name of peace –
He interrupted himself, focusing on running off the thrill of emotions still coursing through him. He flew past maids and butlers, ignoring their polite greetings, finally finding himself in a deserted corridor, where he collapsed against the wall, chest heaving, but still standing. He shook his head violently, almost knocking himself over and further disturbing the order Philip had established in his hair that morning.
He ran his hands through the mass spastically, then clenched his fists at his sides and gritted his teeth. He could no longer keep the thoughts at bay.
"What were you thinking?!" he shouted, voice echoing down the hallway.
He slammed his head against the wall until he saw stars and momentarily forgot what he was angry about.
Ah, the momentary respite.
"Are you stupid?!" he yelled hoarsely. "Are you daft?"
His shaking legs gave out and he slid down the wall until he was hugging his quivering knees.
"Whatever happened to morals? You're acting like you're sixteen again! You're twenty-nine! She's nineteen! Do you have any self control?"
Unbidden, a vivid memory of what had just taken place overcame his mind and he was left limp in a crux of confusion.
That was wrong. I know that was wrong. By the blood, it felt good though. Why do I feel like I finally did the one thing I've been waiting for? What is wrong with me?
He wrapped his arms around his legs and buried his head in his knees, succumbing to the wave of guilt he knew was coming.
I knew what was right and what was wrong. Why did I screw this up? Why am I so idiotic?
He felt a hot tear slide down his nose. His heart clenched painfully.
"Roderic? Are you alright? I heard some yelling… I know you're a big boy now, but checking up is good occasionally."
The droning voice grew closer, but Roderic didn't really hear it.
"Roderic?"
His head snapped up wildly, and his eyes traveled from the hem of a navy blue dress, up to the forest green bodice, then onto the stricken face of Katharine. He felt another tear trickling down his cheek and quickly wiped it away, stumbling to his feet.
"Yes, yes, I am fine," he said, running another hand through his hair.
She blinked.
"Um, good," she said slowly, then seemed to regain her footing as they started walking. "I don't imagine you as a 'moping in an abandoned hallway' kind of person. I'm never wrong, so don't make it a hobby, hm?"
"It did not give me the fulfillment I hoped it would," he said, recovering himself adequately enough to flash a quick smile. "Do not expect to see that again."
"I'll take that as a promise," she said with a laugh, turning left once they reached the main corridor. "Where are you off to?"
"Johnathon," Roderic explained, turning right.
He turned right again at the next junction, and Katharine's words hit him.
I'll take that as a promise.
Another wave of guilt swept over him and he shook his head again, gritting his teeth.
Stupid.
Final word count: 2597
Did his age surprise you? He is the oldest of the lot. Jody and Celeste's ages will be coming in soon, but we never really find out how old Katharine is. I suppose you'll just have to imagine it.--smile-- So how was the chapter? Jody? Roderic?
FaylinnNorse: Yes! If I guilted you into posting a new chapter of Golden Sands... I'm only a little bit sorry. --angelic smile-- Chapter 19 was one of my favorite chapters to write, too, so I'm glad it's one of the best. His dream mildly disturbed me,andI wrote it! Go ahead and ship them if you like. It's a dangerous ship.
ElvishKiwi: There you are! I was beginning to wonder where you had gone! Although, I am updating rather quicker than I was before, aren't I? Conveniently, I had two pairs of long/short chapters right around the holidays. I couldn't resist some quick ones. Oh, there will be another cliffie. Fear not. --wicked grin to match-- Samantha is really a lot of fun isn't she? Especially after reading this chapter? They sleep in the same bedroom basically because the fate of two countries depends on their relationship. They have to make people think they are in love, and if word gets out that they're not sleeping together, well, bad things happen. The countries break off the deal, Rijhad is overwhelmed by Philettin, Terriot starves, and everyone dies. Gloomy prospect, eh? I've given them the convenience of not-too-terrible clothes though, and a bathroom. --smile-- I love being slightly unrealistic. Katharine being freaked out was extremely fun to write, and yes the dream is strange. Very very strange. (probably more strange than you readers realize). Good eye – you're right, all his other dreams have been actual events that are happening. --hands you an extra bottle of Fanta--
Celestial Seraphim: Oh good, the dream was incredibly interesting for me to write. I mean, everyone uses weird dreams to convey deep points, right? But this dream, well, it MIGHT have conveyed a point, but we're not exactly sure what point it was trying to make. And he always has weird dreams, so he didn't take it seriously. --devious smile-- Sorry, I couldn't bring myself to post five chapters in two weeks. Glass Rose hasn't been updated in forever though... --nudge--
Bingo7: Hum, good description of Katharine. Never thought of her like that before, but you are right. Drat, that makes her sound like a stereotypical person. How irritating. --glares at Katty-- Yes, the snake tongue is odd, isn't it? Come now, you think of Samantha as a glitch? She's her own person, you know. --laugh-- That's true, what you said about men. He never really had a chance to prove to people he was a man, unless it was in the council room. And there aren't girls in there. He's a little more sure of himself now, you'll notice, even if it's not necessarily in the right direction. Jody makes me smile too. --smile-- Thank you, I'm glad you think my style is lovely. That gave me a little warm fuzzy inside.
daring2dream: You can't blame Samantha – women tend to get jealous even when nothing is happening. Does it seem as if Rod is falling for Katty? Hm... And she is weird-interesting, isn't she? Just in general. And there you go – you just found out how old I see Roddy as. --smile--
Queen Tabitha Tall: Samantha really isn't confusing at all. Perhaps she only appears so because she is different than you thought she would be? I'm not sure. Or perhaps, knowing the whole storyline helps me understand her better? I couldn't say. Hm indeed about Roddy's decision. Ah, your last comment earned me a loud shout in the ear. One of my friends asked the same thing earlier this week, and I gave her a strange look. I hadn't thought of that before – even though you are right; they are very similar. Strange how God works sometimes, isn't it? But, my friend (who happened to be reading over my shoulder) yelled in triumph. Ouch.
Mazkeraide: You'd dislike his cheating on Katty more than his falling in love with her? Well then. I wonder how many other readers feel the same way...
Clar the Pirate: You have returned! --uproarious cheering from assortment of passers-by-- Thank you for catching up and reviewing; I appreciate it. I'm glad you liked 18's title. And, of course, what would a nice peasant's winter be without risk of starvation? Especially when they live so far from everyone. --chuckle-- Try not to worry too much though.
flammingirl: Welcome to this crazy world! I hope you keep enjoying the story. You like Katty/Rod better? Why's that? (purely curiosity; I don't mean anything else by it)
Ellsbeta: 20: I think Rod and Katty are meant to sort out their differences too. We'll see how it works out... --laugh-- I hope this update was soon enough for you? --smile--
Ilovecookies15: Welcome! (Wow, that's three new readers over the Christmas holidays!) Interesting idea; I appreciate your speculation!
I hope you all are enjoying your New Year! I'm handing out freshly baked croissants this chapter, with whatever you like on them. So, REVIEW!