Okay, I know you have been waiting for like ever, and I finally decided to work on it. But only because I don't have any homework. Know that. And this chapter will be about Buri. Told from mostly Raoul's POV. I just love Raoul.
Disclaimer: bold: me, not bold: that lady from who wants to be a millionaire.
"This question is for a million dollars. Do you own this? A: yes, b: no, c: partly, and d: all of the above." "Ok…I choose a" "Is that your final answer?" "No! Uh…I need to use a lifeline. I choose…uh…call a friend. My friend Sarah." "Ok, we will have Sarah on the line momentarily. –Bleep-" "Sarah? Your friend Hallie is on Blondes Who Want To Be Millionaires. And she has a question for you." "Ok, Sarah, here is the question…uh…oh yeah…ok…here goes…Do you own—" "I'm sorry, but you ran out of time." "Oh darn…Ok…hmmm…I know it…its…D! Final answer!" "Mmm, no, I'm sorry, but d is not the correct answer." "What was it? "B." "So that means I don't own this?" "You are correct." "Ah…gotcha…"
THIS CHAPTER GOES TO EVERYONE WHO LOVES RAOUL AS MUCH AS ME.
"Raoul Of Goldenlake and Mallories Peak, Knight Commander of the Kings Own!" The watchman called out, alerting New Hope's residents of who approached. Raoul was galloping as fast as he could to get to Kel. He had wonderful news. He was almost at the gates…five more seconds…and…there. He was finally there. Raoul leaped off his horse and nearly killed himself in the landing. Waiting for him on the ground were Tobe and Neal.
"Hello Sir," Neal said. But he didn't get a chance to say anything more, because Raoul shoved past him and hurtled in the direction of headquarters. Raoul was almost to headquarters when he saw Kel emerging from the building. He didn't slow down one bit. He was way to excited. BAM! He slammed into Kel, sending her flying twenty feet and knocking the wind out of her. It took a moment for Raoul to realize what had happened. Once he did, he rushed over to Kel and knelt.
"Oh, Kel! Are you okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Kel gasped and wheezed. "Sir, no offence to you, but I prefer your jousting when your actually on your horse." This startled a laugh from Raoul. He helped her up, and dusted her off. Only to nearly knock her down again when he pummeled her with a hug. "Um sir?" Kel managed to squeak out. "Is there any particular reason you are trying to kill me today?" Not really paying attention, Raoul let her go, and cleared his throat as if to make an announcement.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, there is a reason." He said in a very formal tone that sounded an awful lot like Oakbridge. "My dearest flower, my pearl, my moon, my sun, my wife, is pregnant."
"That's wonderful!" exclaimed Kel, a wide smile breaking her serious mask. "But sir, those names only work if you use them one at a time…"
"Oh, right." Raoul replied. "I'm starving." Raoul said at random. "and come to think of it, I need a bath too…"
"Um Sir?" Kel asked him.
"Yes?" Raoul replied, his head in the clouds.
"When was the last time you did eat?"
"Well…yesterday." He replied again, tapping his chin. Kel raised her brows. "Right before I left Steadfast."
"And you came all the way here just to tell me your wife is pregnant." Raoul just nodded his head, a huge smile on his face. "Without food," another nod. "For twenty four hours."
"Yes."
All Kel could do was stare. And stare. And stare. "Well then we'd best get you to the mess hall," Said Kel.
"Oh yes!" Said Raoul in turn, slinging his arm through Kel's and dragging her to the mess hall.
(((Two Hours Later)))
Kel and Raoul were still in the mess hall when the dinner bell rang. Neal, Merric, and Dom who, was helping –cough flirting with cough- Kel. Neal, Merric, and Dom, were halfway through their meals when Raoul got up for another tray-full of food.
"That's his fifth one." Kel told her friends.
"If he eats another one, he'll explode!" Cried Neal.
"Or we'll have to roll him back to Steadfast…" The others burst into laughter. Once the cooks had started to serve pie, Raoul decided he was full, and it was safe to talk to him. All of the knights present had learned a very important rule that night. Never talk to Raoul while he's eating. But of course Dom already knew that one.
"So Raoul, what brings you to New Hope?" Neal asked him.
"Buri's pregnant." Raoul said, bursting with pride.
"Congratulations!" Dom burst out when Neal didn't day anything. Everything was quiet for a moment.
"Um, not to be rude or anything, but shouldn't you be with Buri? Not here with us?" Neal asked, breaking the silence. Raoul thought about it for a minute before lurching up and bolting out of the mess hall.
(((Four Hours Later)))
The door to Buri and Raoul's rooms burst open to reveal Raoul himself. Buri, caught by surprise, leapt up and pressed her dagger to Raoul's throat. But once she realized it was him, she threw down her dagger and leaped into his arms and kissed him deeply. He returned the kiss just as deeply, savoring the warmth.
"We have to start thinking about the baby." Buri mused after a comfortable silence. "I've been thinking about it since I found out."
"Ah. The day we found out. I remember it like it was yesterday." Raoul said with a happy sigh.
"That's because it was yesterday, you dolt."
FLASHBACK(((Bur's POV)))
Buri was in the infirmary, accompanying Raoul because he was daft enough to approach a griffin, just to get his helmet. Buri shook her head at her new husbands folly. Even though he was the infamous Giantkiller, he was still no match for a griffin. The griffin had created a gash down the length of his left leg. Or was it his right? She couldn't remember. Anyhow, she was waiting patiently for the healer to get over the fact that he was healing Raoul and get on with it. She was in a hurry to get back to her room and write to Thayet. She had some very important news to tell her. But she supposed she should tell Raoul first…
"Um, honey?" Buri began tentatively, well aware that the healer was eavesdropping. Or dropping some eaves…depending how you look at it… "I have something to tell you. I'm pregnant. I found out this morning." Buri finished, holding her breath. Forgetting his injury, Raoul sprang out of bed and scooped her up in his arms.
"That's wonderful!" he cried, half running half skipping out of the infirmary. The healer just stared after the couple, very confused. He hadn't even gotten to heal the knight commander yet. Two minutes later, they returned, Buri dragging a complaining Raoul by the ear.
"Sit," she commanded. He sat. "And let the nice man heal you."
END FLASHBACK"Ahhh," Raoul sighed. "Good times, good times." Buri just rolled her eyes at him.
(((Two Months Later)))
Buri was back at the palace, training the new rider recruits. She was out in the pony coral, overseeing the process of picking mounts. Some of the trainees were doing terribly; they would shrink away from the horses, hide in corners, or stand there like trees. Buri shook her head and started towards a female trainee and yelled at her for a minute, then paired her up with two ponies. The she moved on to the next unsuspecting trainee. All the while rubbing her ever-growing stomach.
(((Two More Months Later)))
Buri was just sittin' there. Minding her own business, when outta the blue came this band of fifteen Scanrans. They were well muscled, tanned, and were only wearing skimpy loincloths. And on top of all that, they were armed. Very well armed. She didn't know they got into the palace, but she intended to find out. She un-sheathed her sword and approached the soldiers from behind. When she was one step over two feet from them, one turned around with lightning speed and snatched her by the wrist, and wrenched the sword out of her hand. Where was the Giantkiller when you needed him? Probably off eating or something.
"We want the baby!" The leader said, his large muscled body coming closer.
"No!" Buri screamed, and stabbed him with her belt knife.
"We want the baby!" The solder yelled again, between clenched teeth.
"No! No! No!" Buri screamed again, close to tears, as she fought to escape the soldiers bruising hold..
"The baby is ours." Said the soldier coldly, prying Buri's arms away from her stomach.
"No!" Buri sobbed, tears streaming down her face, "Raoul! I need you! Raoul!"
Hands shook her awake, and Buri found herself pressed up against a broad chest.
"Don't let them take my baby," She whispered between sobs. "Don't let them take it."
"I wont. Don't worry. I wont."
(((Two more months later)))
Buri was running about Goldenlake looking an awful lot like a chicken with its head cut off. She was stressing about the baby, the war, the baby, Raoul, the baby…
"Oh Raoul!" Buri cried, as they were walking to the dining hall that night for dinner. "We aren't nearly ready enough for the baby! I mean we don't have a room set up, we don't have clothes, we don't have toys, we don't have anything! I mean we could—aft leasht ftried…" Buri kept on going even though Raoul had put his hand over her mouth. "We aren't good—" This time Buri shut up, for Raoul had placed his lips upon hers.
"Buri, don't worry about it." Raoul told her gently.
"Don't worry about it!" Buri shot back. "How can I not worry about it? We aren't prepared in any way!"
"You still have four months before the baby is due." Raoul pointed out.
"Oh."
(((Three months later)))
(((Raoul's POV)))
Midwinter that year was bright. Tortall had won the war against Scanra. There were parties, banquets, and balls galore. Of course this was torture for Raoul, but good ol' pregnant Buri, miraculously convinced him to go to the ball on Midwinter's Eve. How she did it exactly, nobody knew. But there were rumors. Some say she threatened him with divorce. Other said she bribed him. And still others said the look she gave him when he said he didn't want to go was threat enough. But however she did it, he was attending. Grudgingly I might add.
The ball was well under way, and Raoul was trying to slide behind one of the wall hangings. He was doing beautifully up till now.
"Raoul of Goledenlake," Buri scolded, "What are you doing?"
"I…uh…err…"
"Just as I thought," Buri concluded with a smug smile. She then grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him onto the dance floor. A very impressive feat for one so pregnant. Buri paired him up with a young convent lady, and paired herself up with a lord. And so (grudgingly), Raoul began to twirl the lady across the dance floor. Applause sprang up throughout the ballroom, getting louder as Raoul spun the lady in more and more complicated steps. Buri was doing just as fabulous.
Then suddenly, she stopped moving and a very fat lord blocked Raoul's view of her. Raoul stopped dancing, and pushed his way through the crowd. It took five painfully long minutes before Raoul reached her. Buri was lying on the floor, clutching her stomach.
"I think…I'm going…into…labor!" Buri said in between gasps. Without hesitation, Raoul scooped her up and carried her out of the ballroom. But he reached a roadblock in the hallway. He tried to shove his way through but with no success.
"MOVE!" Raoul roared, using his battle voice. This time he had a clear path through the hall. Once he reached the infirmary, he started shoving his way to Duke Baird's office saying: "Lady with a baby coming through," But to Raoul's displeasure, Baird wasn't in his office. Neal was. "Where in the name of the Black God is Baird!" Raoul yelled at Neal who was sitting happily at his father's desk sipping tea and looking through papers Raoul wasn't sure he was supposed to be looking at.
"He's at the ball," Neal said, raising an eyebrow at Buri. "Do you need help?" Neal asked hopefully.
"No!" Raoul said, a little to fast and to soon.
"Well, why ever not?" Neal asked, a smile on his face.
"Well, because—Neal, I don't have time for this! My wife is in labor!"
"I know. I have eyes. But I must assure you I am a highly qualified and certified healer with four years experience at—"
"Just get on with it!" Raoul yelled at him, at the end of his patience.
"Yes sir, right away sir."
(((Two hours later)))
Two hours later, a wrinkly baby girl was brought into the world.
"See, I told you I could do it!" exclaimed a very proud Neal.
"Yes, yes, whatever," replied a distracted Raoul.
"Hmpfh," Neal snorted and left the trio to their business.
"Honey, what do you thing about Adeline?" Buri whispered, thoroughly exhausted.
"I think its…perfect." Raoul murmured. "Absolutely perfect."
TAH DAH! –Bows- it's about time huh? I mean I haven't updated this in like forever! Well, REVIEW PLEASE!
P.S. Please excuse any typos. It's all my computer's fault.
ATTENTION! IF IT WONT LET YOU REVIEW, SAYING THAT YOU'VE ALREADY REVIEWD THIS CHAPTER, YOU CAN E-MAIL ME IF YOU WANT, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ALREADY DID...SEE I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT I ALREADY HAD A CHAPTER 5 AND THEN I MOVED IT TO ANOTHER STORY...SO YEAH...E-MAIL ME IF YOU WANT... go to my profile page for my e-mail...i really doubt anyone will actually do this...SARAH MADE ME SAY ALL THIS!