Chapter 45 A/N I don't own Merlin! Kind of just broke this chapter in half because it got pretty long, hope you like! Read, Review, let me know what you think.
"Adalberto!" Cassie called out, knocking on the door. After a while of no answer she gave up and turned to leave, finding herself face to face with the serving girl, Sara. "Oh! Hello, you wouldn't happen to know where your father went?"
"He should be down there, on his rounds. Can I help you?" she said drily, only adding the 'my Lady' after the strange look Cassie gave her.
"Yes. I was wondering if he knew of a wet nurse. Taran's getting hungry and I think Lady Eleanor's just finished feeding Elaine." Cassie said slowly, her eyes imperceptibly narrowed in confusion at her hostility.
"Can't nurse him yourself? Below your blood status, Princesa?" she spat.
"I don't know what I did to you. I'm sorry if the way I told you about your family was harsh, but there's no need for such hostility. And as for your question, no I cannot nurse him myself because he is not mine. I am not able to." Cassie replied stoically, not letting the woman see how much her words hurt. "Now, is there a woman who can feed him, or will I have to get goat's milk?" Cassie asked once again, bouncing the crying baby on her hip.
"There's a few in the village." she replied, glaring at her.
"Thank you." she said, turning on her heel and going down to the village, thinking about what she could have done to make this woman hate her so.
"Majestad? Que hace aqui?"Adalberto asked after a while of her wandering through the village and asking around about who could nurse Taran.
"I was looking for a wet nurse. He's gotten rather hungry, I'm afraid, and I can't find someone who is able to feed him."
"Sixth house on the left. Aldith just had a stillborn a few days ago, so please be gentle."
"Thank you, Adalberto. I will." she told him with a relieved smile, going towards the house in question and knocking on the door, forgetting about asking him about his daughter.
"Yes?" she asked through the slightly open door.
"Aldith? May I come in?" Cassie said gently.
"Of course, my Lady." Aldith said quickly, opening the door completely and stepping aside with a bowed head.
"I-I was wondering if perhaps you couldn't nurse Taran. He's really hungry and I can't find anyone else." Cassie asked nervously.
"Yes, of course, my Lady. Taran, you said?" she asked as she took the 10 week old in her arms and went to the back to feed him.
"Yeah, that's his name."
"It's a lovely name, what does it mean?"
"It means god of thunder, or lightning. I can't remember, truthfully." Cassie answered gently, ignoring her choked voice.
"Didn't you name him?" she asked in confusion.
"No, I didn't. His parents died last week, I've been taking care of him and his brother while I can find them a family.
"That's very noble of you, my Lady."
"It's been rather hard if I'm being honest. Before they died, I'd never fed a baby, let alone tried to raise two boys. And finding someone to nurse him was rather difficult as well."
"L-lucky I was able to help." she said, forcing the conversation.
"Thank you. You didn't have to, but I'm glad you did."
"It's a relief actually, I haven't been able to stop producing any milk and expressing it is rather uncomfortable. But not as much as keeping it in." she said as she came into view with a satiated baby. "Forgive me, my Lady. I forgot my place." she said quickly with blushing cheeks.
"Nothing to forgive. I'm Court Midwife in Camelot, I'm used to this talk. That's probably Alex and his new friends right now." Cassie said with a giggle as shouts of joy and laughter were heard through the window. "Thank you, again. He may not be mine, but everytime he cries, it hurts."
"I know what you mean, I felt the same with my little brother when he was born six years ago, my Lady." she said kindly.
"Would you mind very much nursing him while we're here? I could speak with the Lord and Lady of the lands and you can come up to the manor to nurse and I can pay you an-"
"Of course, my Lady. I'll nurse him." she said with a tight smile, opening the door and saying goodbye while Cassie walked out with him towards the manor.
"Did you like her?" she cooed at the boy as she slowly walked up. "I did. She's very nice, now I have to talk to Owaine, see what he thinks. And then I have to ask her and her husband, can't be doing something and getting poor Alex's hopes up if they don't want. And then we have to see if Alex wants. But that's only if this is a good idea, which I'm not entirely sure of. And who knows, I might just be completely mad! Talking this out with a baby, yes I am." she laughed lightly at the boy who had fallen asleep in her arms.
"Tired of being outside?" Owaine asked as she wandered into the house, walking up to her and giving her a chaste kiss.
"I was out for a while, wasn't I?" Cassie asked, worrying her lower lip. "Did I miss lunch? How embarrassing, I shouldn't have been out for so long,"
"Alys said you were trying to find a wet nurse for Taran. Did you?"
"Yes, and she agreed to do so while we're here. Actually I wanted to talk to you about that."
"But first, lunch." he said with a chuckle as her stomach had chosen that exact moment to rumble loudly, making her blush furiously. "Come on, my Queen."
"Oh, this looks delicious." Cassie said as she started eating.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Owaine asked after a while.
"Hmm, the wet nurse I found. She just had a stillborn and I think maybe they might want to consider taking in Taran and Alex. I don't know the husband, haven't met him, but she seems like maybe she might like that."
"Well, did you ask her?"
"No. I wanted to talk to you first, before I mentioned anything to her. Do you think it's a good idea?"
"I wouldn't know, Cass. I grew up here, but it's been a long time since I lived here, and I don't pretend to know every single villager." he told her softly.
"Yeah, I guess I understand that. If only a little. Mother never let me outside the palace gates, much less let me play with any of the townspeople." Cassie said.
"We can always go speak with them tomorrow. After Katharine gets here."
"Oh, I'm so excited to meet her!" Cassie squealed, then said in a softer voice as Taran stirred. "What time is she meant to get here?"
"In the morning. She set out two days ago with her husband and children." he answered, smiling at her happy chatter for the rest of the day.
"Where's Alex?"
"Out playing with the village kids. He found a wooden sword and has been there all day." she told him fondly, going out to walk in the gardens while Owaine held Taran in his arms.
"We should go find inside in a bit," he said as the baby began to fuss and sneeze, "I don't think he likes being out here very much."
"I think it's the flowers, Alys and I were out by the pond earlier and he was fine there." Cassie said conversationally as they wound their way to the edges of the garden and towards the pond.
"Well, how old are they supposed to be before they start crawling? Maybe we can put him on the grass and see?" Owaine said with a glint in his eyes.
"Much, much older, love. Don't even think about it." Cassie said with a giggle, taking the baby from his arms and sitting down by the shade of the tree.
"Oh, but I were a painter, to capture how beautiful you look right now." Owaine said, a seductive smile playing at his lips.
"Well, you're not a painter, and I'm not a model, so leave your gallant lines put away." Cassie said, returning his smile with a teasing one. "Let's just enjoy the peace of the shade and the pond."
"I'll endure anything, so long as you're by my side."
"Endure?" Cassie repeated with a quirked eyebrow.
"Yes, I'm not much for lazing around and doing nothing. I like action!"
"Well, I can send you on your way to train with Arthur, I'm sure he's with your brothers right now." Cassie said offhandedly, looking out over the smooth unbroken surface of the water.
"Like I said: Anything so long as I'm with you." Owaine repeated with a wink, leaning over and kissing her deeply before breaking off with a chuckle at the sneezes coming from the boy in her arms.
"Guess he doesn't like it when you kiss me." Cassie said amusedly, a glint in her eyes.
"I think he's hungry, actually." he commented, seeing how Taran was looking to suckle.
"Come on, let's go find Aldtith." Cassie said with a giggle, handing him the baby and standing up, entwining her fingers with his and walking down to the town. "Maybe you'll see what I saw."
"And what did you see?"
"Can't tell you, because then you'll go looking for it."
"Okay, whatever you say, Cass." he said, chuckling and walking on ahead of her, laughing at her huff of annoyance as she sped up.
"I really hate being so short, I have to practically run to keep up with you." Cassie mumbled as he slowed down with a deep chuckle.
"And I'm not even that tall, my Queen. Most of the knights are taller than me." he said, straightening up self-consciously.
"No, those men are giants. They make me feel like a nine year old again, having to look up at them when I speak to them." Cassie said, trying and failing to hide her smile.
"Fun to train with though. Heard that Prince Arthur had to fight a bear of a man in their last tournament, would have loved to see that fight. He's a very skillful swordsman, the best among us."
"You should tell him that. Maybe his head will grow to be as big as Merlin says it is." Cassie said teasingly.
"Eh, he knows. It's why he trains so hard, to fight alongside us should the need arise."
"He's a good prince. He'll be an even better King."
"He could be a better prince, a bit arrogant, if you ask me."
"Don't let him hear you say that, my knight. He'll hurt you for wounding his pride."
"You saying you think he can beat me in a swordfight?" he challenged.
"You said so yourself, the 'best among us'." Cassie replied with a smile.
"It's settled then, tomorrow. Me and Prince Arthur. You'll see who's better."
"At least I'll see who's cockier!" Cassie said with a giggle, blithely dodging out of the way when he reached out to playfully shove her.
"Challenge accepted. We'll know by lunchtime tomorrow."
"Let's just go find Aldith and Alex." Cassie said, giggling all the way down the street until she arrived at Aldith's.
"My Lady, my Lord." a man said, bowing when he opened the door.
"Hello, is Aldith home?" Cassie asked with a sweet smile.
"No, my Lady. Her brother came and dragged her out just before you arrived, but she should be back any moment, you're welcome to wait. Come on in." he answered opening the door further and letting them in. "Take a seat, would you like something, water, maybe?"
"Yes, thank you." Cassie told him sweetly, accepting the cup she was given by the man.
"My Lord?"
"Thank you…" he said, nodding as he accepted the cup from him.
"Col, my Lord." he said, answering their unasked question.
"You have a lovely house, Col." Cassie said sweetly.
"Thank you, my Lady. It was my father's before it was mine. He used to shoe the horses before he passed."
"Was your father Nikolas? I remember him. He used to shoe our horses. Good man, is he still around?" Owaine said, leaning his arm on the table and asking him amiably
"No, my Lord. he passed away four years ago." he said. "Winter sickness, he had a cough that just wouldn't leave.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"It's fine, my Lord. I-"
"Col! Help me with him! He fell into the thorn bush and he won't wake up." Aldith said through the door f as she tried to open it.
"What happened?" Col asked, forgetting the nobles for a moment and throwing the door open as she rushed in half carrying, half dragging the boy behind her.
"I-we were playing with the wooden sword and he lost his footing and fell into the bush really hard." a small boy who had Aldith's eyes said, tears falling down his pale face.
"Alex?!" Cassie asked frantically, her eyes going wide in worry as she and Owaine stood up.
"My Lady, my Lord. h-help me take him over to the bed while I get Adalberto." she said as she gingerly put Alex down on the floor and ran out.
"What's your name?" Cassie asked gently, kneeling down to be eye level with the young boy while she watched Owaine and Col lay Alex down on the bed gently.
"D-Dicun, I didn't mean for him to get hurt, I swear!" he stuttered out, the tears falling harder as he tried to hold back the sobs shaking his small frame.
"I know that, accidents happen. There's no need to cry." she said softly, gently wiping the tears off his face and rubbing her hands soothingly up his arm. "Alex will be fine, Adalberto will see to that. He's a very good healer, and it's probably just the pain that makes him want to be asleep. Come on, let's get you to your mother." she said kindly, squeezing his arms gently.
"A-are you angry, my Lady?" he sniffled timidly.
"Of course not! I promise. Come, let's give Adalberto some space to check him over." Cassie said, standing up and nodding at him as he and Aldith hurried in the door.
"I-I'll take him over, my Lady. You should stay with your son." Aldith said, taking her brother's hand and turning to go.
"Aldith! C-can you take Traran as well, he was getting hungry and he might take some of my attention." Cassie said quickly
"Yeah." she said quietly, taking the baby in her arms and leading her younger brother out the door as Cassie went to stand beside Adalberto.
"I'll leave you as well." Col said, turning to go out the door.
"Stay. It's your home and they might need you. None of us know where anything is." Owaine said, grabbing his arm before he could go any further.
"¿Cómo está, Adalberto?" Cassie asked worriedly in Spanish.
"Do you have tweezers, Col? There's thorns I need to take out." Adalberto said, preferring not to answer her question while he was there.
"Yeah, one second." he said, quickly rifling through the meager belongings he had and handing an old pair of tweezers over.
"It'll be awhile before I have them all out, can you go for some water in that bucket?" Adalberto said, motioning towards the bucket in the corner with his head as he took the first thorn out gently.
"I'll be right back, my Lord." he said, grabbing the bucket and quickly running out the door.
"The only hope he has is with magic, your Majesty. He's got internal bleeding." Adalberto said gravely, looking at her expectantly. "I-I would, but my magic is practically non-existent. I can do very little of it."
"Oh. I-I understand, Adalberto. M-make sure that he doesn't see anything, please." she said nervously, pleading with both men before turning around and gently removing the rest of the thorns she could see. When she saw that there were no thorns left, Cassie cleared her mind, feeling her magic flow. "Áfeorme þá benna, ġehǣl þá stioeas, þæm blódsetenum ond þára innanwunda." ( Rough translation: Clean the wound, heal the punctures, stop the bleeding and internal swelling.)
Cassie muttered those words quietly, gathering her magic and calling it forward, directing towards the boy whose hands she held and letting it flow into him, her golden eyes not leaving his pale face. She only relaxed when he started getting some color back in his face and quickly closed her eyes when she heard the door shut and a man's voice say; "Got it!" breathlessly.
"Thank you, Col. Perhaps you should go tell Aldith and Dicun he's going to be fine, he just needed some rest, the pain was pretty strong. Lady Cassie will tend to his wounds for now, although they are just picture wounds." Adalberto said, taking the bucket from the man and walking towards the small bed.
"I'll go do that, Adalberto. I'm glad he'll be fine." he asid, adding the last to the two nobles genuinely before leaving them in his home.
"Have you finished, your Majesty?" Adalberto asked, holding a damp rag out for her to take to wipe her brow.
"Yeah, he's completely fine." she said tiredly, choking on the last.
"That was very impressive, Princesa. You're very powerful and very talented." he said, looking the boy over while she leant against Owaine and he wrapped his arms around her comfortingly.
"Thank you, but I do need my rest after. It's exhausting." she said, leaning into the comfortable warmth that was Owaine.
"What should I tell Aldith and Col?" he asked as he made his way to the door.
"The pain made him faint. Look at all the thorns I took out manually, and these are the ones I didn't see." she said, holding out two plates of bloody splinters and waiting for him to look at them.
"I've never seen a boy have so many splinters from falling into that bush. And they've been doing that for years. Col's father practically removed splinters from his son, or his son's friends, every week because they'd fall into it." Adalberto said with a shake of his head.
"Are you better, Alex?" Dicun asked timidly with tear stains on his cheeks when he, Aldith and Col walked in a few minutes later.
"Yeah, it doesn't hurt anymore. I-I broke your sword, Owaine. I'm sorry." Alex said timidly, looking at Owaine with big round eyes.
"Small secret, I broke maybe five of those when I was younger." Owaine said, leaning down and winking at Alex. "They're probably no good for anything other than kindling. Do you still have the pieces?"
"I think they're still in the bush, my Lord." Dicun answered for Alex.
"I'll see if I can't get you another sword." Owaine said with a small chuckle as Alex sat up brightly.
"Thank you, Owaine!" he said, hugging him around the midriff tightly.
"C-can he come down to play tomorrow?" Dicun asked timidly. "We won't play near the thorn bushes, promise!"
"Of course he can. Cassie'll drop him off in the morning when she comes with Taran." Owaine answered with a bright smile.
"Thank you Owiane! I-I mean my Lord." he said, correcting himself with a blush when he saw his sister's admonishing look.
"It's fine. We should be getting back now. It's dinner time and my family's expecting us.
"My Lord, my Lady. Alex, try not to fall anymore." Col said, ruffling the boy's hair as he got up from the bed and took Cassie's hand.
"Here's Taran." Aldith said softly, holding her arms out so that Owaine could take the child from them.
"Good night, Aldith, Col. Sweet dreams Dicun." Cassie said, smiling sweetly down at him while he and Alex said their goodbyes
"Goodnight, my Lady." he said with a big smile.
"I see what you mean now, Cass. We should talk to them about it tomorrow." Owaine told her, looking back in thought as they kept walking towards the manor.
"Talk to them about what?" Alex asked curiously.
"Adult things, Alex. You'll understand when you're older." Cassie said softly as they entered the manor and went to the dining hall.
"Finally! Haven't seen you all day!" Morgana said from the table with a beaming smile as everyone was laughing at something.
"Maybe you didn't look hard enough, I was in the gardens practically all day." Cassie answered with an exhausted smile, sitting down next to her and taking a bite out of the dinner.
"Yeah, well you're not leaving our side tomorrow. Even if Gwen and I have to follow you around everywhere." she said amiably as Owaine sat next to his brothers and began speaking.
"I'll probably need to sneak off to take Taran to the wet nurse, and Alex made a few friends in the village and wants to go back tomorrow to play.