AN: Alrighty then, here's a new chapter. It's similar to the last one, an OC with a surprise father. I was working on Wyldon/Vivenne, and this one just popped into my brain, so the Stump will be next. Please leave a review, and enjoy!
Review Returns:
pinky: Thanks! Darking Girl: My Gift is green, like Neal's. 'Cause he's so… sexy. Lol. Actually, if sexy is what I'm going for, I'd have to pick Dom's-eyes-blue. Anyways, thanks for reading! Mage of Dragons: Thanks for reading! Contorce: Thank you very much. Aly the Trickster: I made Neal like that based on a line in LK where he's putting that curse on the man who beat Tobe. Kel said he liked to play the part of heartless noble, even if he wasn't. Thanks for reading! Pandora of Ithilien: I try. Thanks for r and r ing. X17SkmBdrchiczxx: I thought it was ironic. Thanks for reading. Spy In Training: Thanks for reading! Tawni butterfly: Thank you so much for reading! Cry of the Wolf Child: I really want to do a Beka one, but I'm still working on it. I think I need to read the book again. The first time it's strictly to enjoy, and the second is to glean info for writing. Anyways, that's my problem. Thanks for reading. JaDe-ViPeR08: Thanks for the review. Steelsong: Thanks! Meena: I'm going to put your suggestion on my list. I think you'll like this chapter, though. Thanks for reading. –star-wars-girl-402-: That's an idea to ponder. Thanks for R&Ring.
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Tell Him
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Chapter Twenty-One: Lideah of Warmani
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Lideah rested her head against the cool glass as she gazed out of the window. Below, the university's courtyard was bustling with student, happy to be on summer holiday.
Since the Scanran War had ended two years back, the young men had returned. Many had been called to serve their duty in the regular army, and many had returned with wounds. But with time wounds heal, and the men returned to their studies at University. Still, it wasn't uncommon to see a student who was missing an arm or a leg.
Peace had also been declared with the Copper Isles, after many, many years of being at odds, ever since a luarin princess, a lady called Josaine, had been killed on the day of King Jonathan's coronation. A Tortallan delegation had traveled to the Isles for the crowning of their newest queen, Dovasary Balitang. Among the delegates was the Lioness, Lady Knight Alanna of Pirate's Swoop, Josaine's killer.
Lideah's beau had also gone along with the Tortallan travelers, and she missed him sorely. With a sigh she gathered up her sensible shoes, slipping them onto stockinged feet. Everything about Lideah was sensible: shoes, spectacles, clothes, her sparse makeup, even her hair fell in sensible waves around her shoulders.
Lideah looked into a mirror and made a face at her sensible self. Sometimes she felt like there was another person inside of her, a person who would burst out at any minute and dance away.
That was the wonderful thing about her lover. When she was with him, Lideah felt like she really could be that person, his Liddi, and when he was gone, she slowly lost Liddi and became sensible, serious Lideah once more.
Yet, she couldn't be Lideah, not anymore. She was changing and Lideah would never do the thing that Liddi did. Lideah would never get pregnant with the first boy who paid her any interest.
Liddi sighed again. On a whim she picked up a scissors and began to trim her hair. Playing with her tresses reminded her of the first time he kissed her. Her sister had begged her to try a new hair treatment, and the effects were… interesting.
He brushed a tear from her cheek. Lideah blushed. The hair tonic had done what it was supposed to do; her hair was shiny and easy to comb, but now it was also a pure sapphire-blue.
"It matches your eyes," he said gently. Lideah gave him a light smile. "You're the prettiest blue-haired maiden I've ever met." He leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against hers.
When Liddi was done, her hair was several inches shorter. The waves, free of the old weight, sprung into soft curls that brushed her shoulders. Liddi then proceeded to dig through her closet until she found a dress that her sister had gave her. It was more in-style than her usual outfits, and it didn't even remotely match the baggy grey sweater that Lideah always wore.
She put on more face-paint than usual, then glanced at her reflection in the mirror. It wasn't a total transformation; after all, her shoes were still sensible, and she couldn't see without her glasses. But Liddi felt like she looked more grown-up, more matronly.
"Wow," he said from the doorway. Liddi turned
"Thom!" Being in the bed chamber, she hadn't even heard him come in. She fell into his arms, kissing him lightly. "I missed you," she whispered over his shoulder. Thom entwined his fingers in her curls.
"What did you do to yourself?" Liddi grinned and pushed away to pivot so that he could see the full effect.
"Do you like it?" she asked. He nodded, pulling her close again.
"I missed you," he said between kisses to her forehead. She looked into his clear, hazel eyes. They were overfilled with warmth and love. It's now or never, she thought. Slowly, she pulled Thom to the window seat, then kneeled before him and took his hands.
"Thom I need to tell you something," she said. Her voice dropped to a low whisper. "I'm going to have a baby."
Thom's first reaction was a dropping jaw. He scanned her face with his eyes. Lideah let her eyes fall to the floor while he processed the information.
"Liddi…us, with a baby?" She nodded. Thom's hand brushed her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Are you alright?"
"I think so," Liddi said, still unable to raise her volume. "I'm a little scared, but I figured that I got myself into this, and I have to be strong enough to get through it too."
"Liddi, it's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault," Thom said thoughtfully. "Remember the spell I used to protect us?" He paused to wait for her nod. "I think that when you wore the anti-pregnancy charm that the two spells canceled each other out."
"So…you're not mad, Thom?" Again she searched his face, looking for approval. Thom dropped down to his knees beside her.
"How could I be? Lideah, I want to marry you. Let me, and I'll take you to Pirate's Swoop."
"What would I do at Pirate's Swoop? Besides, won't your mother be upset?" Thom smiled, shaking his head.
"My parents may be disappointed at first, Liddi, but they really just want me to be happy. Besides, they've gone to the desert for a few months. Mother wanted to visit the Bazhir, and Father decided to go along with her. They won't be coming back to the Swoop until after the baby is born."
"I can't be the lady of Pirate's Swoop, not after your mother," Liddi said with a sigh.
"Liddi, the Swoop needs a more traditional lady after my mother. Anyways, I love you, and that's all that really matters."
"You love me?" Lideah breathed.
"Yes, Liddi, and I'm going to love our baby too." Liddi smiled, leaning into his arms.
"I love you too, Thom," she mumbled to his shoulder.
…..
As promised, Thom married Liddi, and he took her to Pirate's Swoop. Maude, who had been Thom's nursemaid and his mother's before him, took a liking to the young lady. She helped the young couple prepare for their child. The months passed quickly, until at last, Liddi's labor began.
Thom paced the corridor outside the birthing chamber for hours. Lideah's cries echoed out of the room; the labor was difficult, and Thom was getting anxious. Maude came down the corridor with a stack of clean linens.
"How is she?" Thom asked, blocking her path. Maude smiled, shaking her head.
"So like your father," she mumbled. "She's fine, Master Thom. Now calm yourself. You're not too big for me to put across my knees."
Thom chuckled lightly.
"Who are ye' puttin' across yer knees?"
"Your son," Maude said, going back into the chamber. Thom turned, his face flushing.
"Da?"
"And your mother," Alanna said from George's side. "What have you been up to that Maude is resorting to old threats?" Thom felt his mind blank. How to tell them…
"Nothing," he chirped. Now who was resorting to old behaviors? His lie was transparent, even without Liddi's latest outcry.
"What is going on?" she demanded. Liddi screamed again, longer and louder, and now a new voice rang out. Thom grinned, glancing at his mother.
"You're a grandmother," he said, silencing her with a hug. She stood speechless, her mouth hanging open. George pulled her close with an arm around the shoulders.
"How, or more precisely, when?" he asked. The door opened and Maude handed Thom a tiny bundle.
"It's a girl," she said. Thom beamed at the baby, then made eye contact with the woman in the room. Alanna and George saw this look; it was one of true love and pure joy.
Thom turned back to his parents.
"Come, meet my girls," he said, passing into the room. He placed the baby in Liddi's arms. Her hair was damp and her face red, but she glowed more brightly than her husband. She looked up at Thom's parents, smiling.
"My name is Lideah. It's a pleasure to meet you."