Alright, I wrote this chapter last night. To everyone who reviewed, thank you, they make my day. And, erm, sorry about the last chapter again. This one is rather short, but I hope you enjoy it. :) And also, just on a side note. Something that I don't like is a fic that drags on. I feel as if this story may be coming to an end in a few more chapters.
Kaiya
"Woo moo moo," she crooned softly. The baby wrapped her small fingers around her thumbs, staring unblinkingly up into her aging face.
"Who's a pretty baby? You's a pretty baby." She spoke softly, trying to cajole the baby into smiling. It really is a beautiful child. Her olive skin was fringed by beautiful soft black hair—one of the few physical traits the girl had inherited from her mother. Her face was round and soft, the deep, clear blue eyes contrasting and accentuating the dark skin.
Unlike a normal baby, though, she rarely smiled—despite many failed persuasions by most of the maunts. Only when she laid in her mother's soft green arms, staring up into the murky brown eyes, would she part her lips in a hesitant half-grin.
Whatever the baby's infatuation was with the green woman, she didn't know. Elphaba would not sing to the baby, or play with it. She almost appeared wary of it. At the moment, however, Elphaba was asleep, moaning softly into the bedcovers.
She looked over at the bed, taking advantage of the moment to observe the reticent woman. Why is she here? What are her sins? For she knew that Elphaba must, indeed, have sins. After all, only a woman in desperate need of reprieve would name their child after forgiveness. Elphaba would hide herself away from the others in a self-imposed vow of silence, going about her work in a quiet, thorough way. And through her silence, the maunt supposed that she had a lot of time to think about her regrets. It can hardly be healthy.
She was wrenched from her thoughts when Elphaba suddenly began thrashing about in her sleep, her body becoming entangled in the sheets. Her moaning became louder, more desperate. "Yero!" she cried out, anguished, her face becoming soaked with tears and sweat.
After quickly placing the baby back in its basket, she hurried over to the crying form. "Sister Saint Aelphaba… Elphaba." She placed her hand upon the soft shoulder, trying to wake her.
Elphaba's eyes flew open, full of panic. Quickly, she hid her face in the blanket, wiping the moisture off. After a few moments, she appeared from beneath the covers, her lip trembling. She bit it and a small spot of blood appeared there. Wincing, she scanned the room. Looking for Kaiya?
Sister Avariella retrieved the young baby from its basket and placed it in its mother's arms. Elphaba relaxed in the bed, sweeping the baby up to her chest and cradling it there. At the rare display of affection, she dismissed herself from the room.
• • • • •
She woke suddenly from her violent sleep. Immediately, she buried her face in the blanket to soak up the tears. Sitting up, she winced. Her face and neck were raw and sore. Her teeth caught at her lip, biting back an obscenity. An acrid taste soaked onto her tongue as a small amount of blood escaped from her lip. Grimacing again, she began to search the room for her daughter.
A middle-aged, small-framed maunt scooped Kaiya from her basket and placed her in her arms. She hugged the baby to her chest as the maunt retreated from the room.
Very softly, she sang to Kaiya in Qua'ati, recalling one of a few lullabies she had known as a girl. Kaiya, comforted by the vibration of her mother's chest, fell into a contented sleep.
Damn it Fiyero, she thought for the millionth time. I need you. You said that you would be here. You're supposed to be here. With me. With us. I trusted you. She bit her lip again, more fiercely, at the thought. Trust. She knew now that trust was a thing for fools. Never again would she rely upon anyone else.
She hugged the baby closer, putting all of her concentration into trying to love the small child cradled in her arms. The strain of it caused her head to pound. One without a soul cannot love. Your baby will never know the love of a mother.
She could feel the tiny heartbeat thumping gently against her chest. My baby has to have love. A small thought crept into the back of her mind. You mean his baby. She knew it was true. She didn't want to protect the baby for herself, to be a good mother. She didn't want to protect it because she loved it. She wanted it to be loved only because it was the daughter of Fiyero. The only one I could ever love.
Her heart wrenched. Something deep inside of her felt for this baby in her arms. It's not love, she told herself. You don't deserve to ever love again.
- - - - -
"You're awake."
He tried to focus his eyes, but found he could not. His voice was raspy. "Where am I?"
"Shh now. No, don't sit up!"
A hand upon his shoulder pushed him back onto the bed. His body ached as though every one of his bones was laced with venom.
"What's your name?" the gentle voice called from the swirling darkness.
Slipping back into the warmth of unconsciousness, he whispered, "Fiyero."
