Author's note: Well, here you go guys… the second chapter. Note to readers: The first chapter was like a post-prologue thingy if you know what I mean. This chapter and the one's after take place nearly a year before that and up to that time. Just thought I would clarify so y'all know!
I'd like to thank a lot of
people: Cait for her constant reassurance and her own writing inspiring mine,
Sara cause she's just one of the coolest, Katy, Kathy (story bout K & J
perhaps?) and Kiri.
One thing I do have to say to
one particular "review/flame" that I got because I need to explain why the
title is That Faithful Night rather than That Fateful Night which was what
this un-knowing person decided to review and say rather than be polite and
e-mail me her/his thoughts. The reasoning behind the title "That Faithful
Night" is simple; one of the several definitions for "Faith" in the dictionary
is complete trust. To not completely ruin my story I must say this: the trust
in the Rascal/Adira relationship changes over the course of their relationship
together due to circumstances that occur during their relationship and that is
why the title of my story is "That Faithful Night." The title will also be
further explained in this chapter alone. So read on! If anyone has any
questions, you are all free to e-mail me – My e-mail address is Moonlight81584@aol.com. Thank you all for reading my story!!
Into the wild blue,
Set
me free oh I pray,
Closer
to heaven above and
Closer to you.
- Cowboy Take Me Away,
Dixie Chicks
Adira Cassia Gibran, first and only daughter of Lord
William Alexis and Lady Amalfia Terezia Girbran of Veldine, was sixteen and was
about to begin her final year as an Adept in healing. She had planned on
catching up on her reading that evening, but it was one of those Indian
summers. It was September 15th, 654 and it was hot! After sitting
down at her desk for fifteen minutes, Adi huffed around her palace suite and
looked for her sandals; deciding that she would go to the park, thinking she
would be able to read there. Adira's suite consisted of two rooms; one large
enough for her bed, vanity table and a door to the privy; the other being her
study filled with her desk and work table, which was piled high with bandages,
needles, thread and various oils and herbs for healing. Her entire room was
done in pale green and white; the rooms painted white with a border of pale
green wines and leaves. Her bed had a pale green quilt and comforter made with
goose down.
Adira of Veldine was known at the university for her
exotic beauty. Half-tortallan and half-carthaki, Adira's skin was the pale
color of coffee, mixed with cream. Adi was petite; small boned yet slightly
muscular. She stood at 5"4, a height she had obtained at the ripe old age of
thirteen and her lips were red and full. Adira had amazing emerald eyes that lit
up and the black hair that came from being part of the Veldine line. With seven
piercings (three in one ear, four in the other) and a tattoo of a yamani symbol
for life on her shoulder, she looked like many of her fellow university
students; well, at least the ones who were commoners.
When she finally found her sandals, Adira quickly
slipped them on and walked out the door, closing and locking it behind her. She
walked briskly from her palace suite to the park, not wanting to be stopped by anyone.
As she approached the tree she planned to sit under, she passed a rowdy group
of squires and then her tree came into view, with a young man sitting under it.
"Excuse me?" asked Adira.
"Yes?" said the young man after looking up.
"Would you mind if I sat down?"
"No, not at all. A lady is much more interesting than
a book. I'm Rascal Sky by the way," he said as she pat a spot of grass next to
him, obviously wanting her too sit down.
Ah well,
thought Adira.
"I'm Adira Gibran," said Adi as she sat down next to
him.
Rascal bowed his head and responded, "Nice to meet you
Adira." Rascal smiled and got back to reading his book as Adi smiled and opened
her own book, titled "Methods of herb-lore involved in Healing During Battle."
But Adi's eyes wandered the pages and she found herself staring at Rascal.
Rascal appeared to be about 5"11 or so with blonde hair and blue eyes which
were set into a strong boned face above a profound nose and pale pink lips. He
was lanky, like most male scholars and was intently reading his book.
Rascal looked up at Adi and grinned as he closed his
book and asked, "So Adira, are you a knight?"
Adi blushed, "Gods not. I'm an Adept in healing with a
concentration on battle wounds at the University. What about you?"
"I'm a senior Adept Sorcerer. What year are you?"
"I'm a senior also. How old are you?"
"Sixteen, you?" asked Rascal with a grin.
"Sixteen," Adi responded.
"Cool," said Rascal as he brought his hand up to Adira's
face and brushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear.
Adira smiled, "Thanks."
"Your welcome," said as he ran his hand through his own
hair and scooted closer to Adira.
Adi raised an eyebrow as Rascal put his arm around her,
"How bout we play tag?" she said as she stood up and tapped him on the
shoulder, "You're it."
Rascal rolled his eyes and stood up as Adi giggled and
started to jog away. Rascal ran after her and tagged her, but Adi immediately
tackled him onto the ground. Lying on top of Rascal, Adi smiled meekly and bit
her lip while Rascal looked into her eyes and said, "Let me do that." Rascal
slowly sat up while Adi sat in his lap and then put his hand under her chin and
kissed her lightly on the lips.
Adi smiled and kissed back. As their kiss became more and
more passionate, Adi thought Well this is quick.
Rascal stopped and grinned before he proceeded to stand
up and pull her into his arms. He put his mouth close to Adi's ear and
whispered, "Want to go somewhere?"
Adi smiled and nodded as she and Rascal started to walk
briskly up the hill, though the occasionally did stop to continue kissing each
other. As they made their way down the hall to Rascal's room, Rascal slowly
unbuttoned Adira's shirt. He then stopped at a door, whispered several words
unknown to Adi and opened the door. Walking slowly into the room, Adira found
herself staring out onto the city. Large bay windows lined one wall of Rascal's
bedroom, form floor to ceiling. The room was pained a dark blue, with nearly
all the furniture upholstered in dark blue and a creamy tan.
Rascal led Adira over to the bed and sat down as he
finished taking Adira's shirt off, kissing her chest and stomach. He layed her
down and in the time that followed, took something of hers that she'd had for a
long time.
*****
Several
hours later, one could find Adira wrapped in Rascal's arms and beginning to
wake up. Adira rubbed her eyes and then shifted her position with Rascal's
arms, making him stir.
Rascal opened his eyes and smiled, "Are you okay?"
Adira grinned, I'm okay, I think. A little…"
"A little what?" asked Rascal.
" A little apprehensive I guess," said Adira, frowning
slightly.
"About?"
"Well, this. I mean we met *tonight* We had sex, but maybe
I'm the only one who feels that one; we did this too fast and two; that I want
to try and start a relationship together," responded Adi as she sat up in bed.
Rascal raised an eyebrow and smiled, " We can try it out.
I mean the girl who I thought I was seeing is apparently dating Seth Corganne,
which I guess is alright. So yeah, I'd like to date you." Adi smiled slightly
and nodded as she got up out of bed and started to search for her clothes. "I
am serious Adi. But let's see how this works out okay?" he said as he pulled
his boxers on and tried to stop Adira from pulling her breeches on.
Adi stopped and sat on the bed, not looking in the
greatest condition; especially with her breeches all the way on, no breast band
and her hair tousled.
"Please stay Adira," said Rascal as he knelt down beside
her.
Adi shook her head, " I really should get back. I have a
class tomorrow at eight thirty. I'll see you later Rascal." And with that Adira
stood up to find her breast band, only to have Rascal sit her back down on the
bed with him next to her.
"Adi please?" said Rascal with a pleading look in his
eyes. "I want you to stay. And if it's allright with you, I'll wake up at
six-thirty and make you breakfast. That gives us two more hours of sleep. Please
stay."
Adi frowned and said, "I guess. I mean if I was getting
too serious…"
Rascal smiled and said, "No Adi, you weren't. I just want
to make sure this was something you wanted."
Adi grinned, "It is, as long as you want it too."
Weeks went by and Rascal and Adira continued to stay
together; either at Rascal's dorm room or Adira's suite in the palace. They
frequented the Dancing Dove, where Adi met several people including Melusine
Desjardins, her fiancée Ian Corganne as well as Ian's brother Anthony and his
fiancée Ariel Serentiy. Adira had a brief confrontation with Rascal's
sort-of-ex-girlfriend Ane, but soon learned that she was a nice person and
after all, had nearly handed Rascal to her once Ane started seeing Seth
Corganne.
Adira's only concern was that she hadn't had her period
since that first time she had sex with Rascal, which was nearly two months ago.
Deciding that it was time she got a pregnancy test, Adi went to a city healer
for the test and was told to go back two days later for the results. She went
to Rascal's dorm after taking the pregnancy test to tell him about the
possibility of her being pregnant. As she knocked on the door to Rascal's room,
the door swung open to reveal an empty room, save the note that was on his dresser,
addressed to Adira.
My love,
It seems I am unwanted at this time;
At the palace or among our friends
Please forgive me but I have moved
Into a small apartment in the lower city of Corus.
Come and see me my love
-Rascal
423
East Corus Way
Lower
Corus
Adi folded up the note and proceeded right towards Mel's
room where she knocked on the door until a slightly tousled Mel came to open
it.
Adi cringed, "Oh Mel. I'm sorry."
Mel smiled, "Oh don't worry about it. What's up?"
"D'you know what happened with Rascal last night? He left
his dorm room and moved into Lower Corus 'cause he felt 'unwanted'."
"Oh you didn't here?" asked Mel with wide eyes. "He said
some *rude* comments, and I mean *very* rude comments about Ariel and I so Anth
and Ian ruffed him up a bit 'cause he was being an asshole."
Adi frowned, "He really can be rude sometimes. I'm sorry
he offended you guys."
Mel smiled, "Oh don't worry about it. Just make sure he
doesn't say the same to you. After all, you are his girlfriend."
Adi grinned, "I'll try."
"Alright then, I better get back inside," said Mel with a
grin. "We wouldn't want Ian to get restless."
"Of course we wouldn't! I'll see you later Mel, tell Ian
I say hello," said Adi as she started to walk down the hall.
"I will. Talk to you later Adi."
"Bye!" Adi then left the palace and proceeded to go into
the city to find Rascal's new apartment. After nearly an hour of searching,
Adira finally found her boyfriend's apartment. After knocking for nearly ten
minutes with no result, Adi took a piece of parchment out from her bag and
wrote her lover a note.
Rascal,
I came by and knocked
But you obviously weren't here.
We have something important to discuss.
Come and find me,
I'll be at the palace.
All my love,
With that, Adi walked slowly back down the stairs and up
towards the palace, silently contemplating what she would tell Rascal if she
was in fact pregnant.
*****
Five days later Adi sat on a stool in the Dancing Dove,
wishing she could get profusely drunk, though knowing she couldn't. Adi's
pregnancy test had come back positive, and she had no intention of having an
abortion. The baby was due June 2nd, though it was frequent that in
the Veldine line that the women had their babies anywhere from four to six weeks
early. So Adi expected to have the baby anywhere from the end of April to the
middle of May.
"Lady Adira," said the healer. "You are two months along
in pregnancy."
"I am?" responded Adi as the color fell from her face.
"Yes ma'am." The healer said without looking up from her
charts. Would you like to know whether you're having a boy or a girl?"
Adi hesitated before responding with a, "Yes ma'am."
"You're having a boy, miss."
Taking a sip from her lemonade, Adira twisted her stool around,
only to be faced with her friends, Mel and Ariel coming into the bar.
Mel waved, "Hey Adi!"
Adi smiled, " How's it going guys?"
Ariel grinned, "Great! How bout you?
"I'm getting along."
"Nervous about end of the term exams?"
Adi made a face, "That's not the least of my problems."
"Problems with Rascal?" asked Mel. "Everyone seems to
have problems…"
"Not exactly," interrupted Adi.
Mel sat down next to her and said, "So what'd the
problem?"
Adi grimaced and responded," Everything's okay… I guess."
"You guess?" asked Ariel as she sat down on the other
side of Adi.
"Well um. I went to the healer the other day to get a
pregnancy test cause I hadn't gotten my period in over a month. Yesterday I
went to get the results back, and it turns out that I'm nearly two months
pregnant," said Adi as her eyes began to fill up with tears.
Mel hugged Adi, "Aw hunny. I'm so sorry. Everything'll be
okay. Have you told Rascal yet?"
"I haven't even seen him since he had that fight with Ian
and Anthony last Saturday!"
"You haven't?" asked Mel as she pushed a piece of hair
out of her face.
"No I haven't. He moved out of his dorm room, saying that
he felt unwanted and such. I knocked on the door of his apartment in Lower
Corus every day and no on answered!" said Adi as she undid the loose bun on the
back of her head and let her hair fall down to her waist.
"So
what are you going to do?" asked Ariel as she took a strand of Adi's hair and
began to braid it.
Adi grimaced, "I'm going to tell him that I'm two months
pregnant with his child, that I'm going to keep it and take leave next semester
and possibly the following one in order to deal with the pregnancy and such."
"That seems good to me," said Mel with a reassuring smile
on her face. "Is it a boy or a girl?"
"A boy," said Adi.
"What are you going to name him?" prompted Ariel.
"I was thinking Justin or Aaron. Though…knowing Rascal
we'll probably name him some Stone Mountain name," said Adi as she rolled her
eyes.
Mel frowned, "Why are you staying with him if he's such
an asshole to you Adi?"
"He's not an asshole," defended Adira. "He can be rude
annoying some…"
"And mean, and presumptuous and arrogant…" interrupted
Mel.
"Enough!" snapped Adira. "Look I know he can be an ass
sometimes, but he's the father of my child and I don't want my baby to be
fatherless. Plus, Rascal is nice to me most of the time, he's just been
irritable lately."
"Lately?" Adi, he hits on nearly ever girl near him!
Think what he'll do when you're stuck home throwing up and he needs to 'study!'
He'll be out partying with some little university chick and be all over her!"
said Ariel, practically shouting.
"Okay!" said Adira. "I get the point! You don't like
Rascal, but please let me deal with him on my own. Okay?"
"We'll try," answered Mel with a strained smile.
"Yup!" said Ariel smiling and then frowning slightly when
she saw Rascal come in the door. "Look whose hear," she murmured while Adi and
Mel turned towards the door.
Rascal smiled at Adi and then saw her look and
immediately got a perplexed look on his face.
"We need to talk Rascal," said Adi as she stood up and
took hold of Rascal's hand, leading him back outside. "I'll see you guys later!
Bye Mel! Bye Ari!"
"Bye
Adi!" they both responded.
"I hope she'll be okay," whispered Ariel.
"I think she will be. We just need to be here for her if
she's not," responded Mel as she watched Adi and Rascal leave the Dancing Dove.
*****
Adi led Rascal to the park, where they together sat under
the tree where they first met. "Rascal, I need to tell you something important,"
said Adi as Rascal slipped his arms around her waist.
"Yes dear?" prompted Rascal as he began to kiss her neck.
Adi shook him off and said, "Rascal stop. This is
serious."
"Okay honey," said Rascal looking into her eyes once
again.
Adi took a deep breath and said, "Rascal, I'm nearly two
months pregnant. With you child."
Rascal took a deep breath and whispered, "You're what?"
"I'm two months pregnant Rascal."
"Are you sure it's mine?"
"Am I sure it's yours?" shouted Adi. Whispering, she
added, "Rascal you're the only person who I've ever had sex with."
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"I need time to think about this Adi," said Rascal as he
stood up in front of her and began to pace. Several minutes later he added, "You
mean, you got pregnant the first time we had sex. Which was also the first time
you've ever had sex?"
"Yes."
Rascal grinned and picked her up with a full kiss on the
mouth and a hug in his arms, "This is great!"
"Great?" asked Adi as she raised her eyebrow.
"Yes! My parents will be thrilled," said Rascal as he sat
back down, cradling Adi in his arms.
"Thrilled?"
"Yes! I'm the first born of Stone Mountain, and now I
have an heir!"
Adi strained a smile and responded with a, "Yeah!"
"When's he due?"
"He?! How'd you know it was a boy?"
"Male instinct. So when is he due?"
Adi smiled and shook her head, "June 2nd. But
I'll probably have him early; early babies run in the Veldine line. I was seven
weeks early myself."
"How early?"
"Five, six weeks possibly."
"Really?" asked Rascal as he raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"You want to go back to your room?" prompted Rascal
nonchalantly.
Adi rolled her eyes and said, "Sure. But I'd actually
like to get some sleep. I've been up all week thinking about you and the baby."
"Really?"
"Yes 'really!' " said Adi angrily. "I had no idea where
you were or if anything happened to you!"
"Adi I'm really sorry. I just needed to get away for a
little while. Forgive me?" asked Rascal with his famous puppy-dog-face that
made Adi go weak at the knees.
"Fine," said Adi sarcastically as she smiled. "But can we
go now?" And with that, Rascal picked Adi up and walked her right back up to
the palace where they fell asleep in each other's arms as soon as their heads
hit the pillow.