Rosa stirred awake, still feeling exhausted despite sleeping undisturbed for the entire night. Her body still ached, and her stomach never settled from the evening prior. Her eyes opened more, seeing that Balder was no longer in the bed next to her. She was surprised she had not felt him move whenever he had departed from the warmth of the thick covers. Though after their big event that transpired not even a full day ago, she can understand why she can go the whole night without being awoken.
She didn't have to wonder long on where her husband had wandered off too when she heard a distinct soft humming emanating from the other room, followed by the sounds of their newborn wonder. It was obvious that despite Balder's angelic music, it was not calming her in any way.
"My little sunshine, do you not like my singing? Your mother always seemed to like my singing…" Balder's voice was calm, much more at ease than Rosa has ever heard before. A peaceful aura that could be heard through every word.
With a tired smile, Rosa pushed herself out of the comfort of the soft bed, feeling the cold wood flooring on her bare feet. She pulled one of the heavy blankets with her to wrap around her naked body. The heat from the nearby fireplace was all the more relieving to feel in the winter's morning.
She crept around the corner of the open doorway into the smaller connecting room where their daughter slept. A small and simple cradle in a rather empty room. But they made do with what they had.
Balder had his back turned, as he cradled a newborn Cereza in his arms. He wore only his sleep attire, his long Sage robes draped over a nearby chair. He rocked her gently as he tried to soothe her. But to no prevail, as she continued to stir and whine.
"Oh my dear sweet child, what's wrong?" Balder said, still pertaining to that calm tone, but feeling desperate to try and remedy his daughter's small cries.
"She might be hungry," Rosa spoke up, leaning against the wooden doorframe. Balder turned, jumping more than he would have liked to.
"I'm sorry, I hope I didn't wake you," Balder approached Rosa, a squirming Cereza in his arms.
"You didn't, I should have been up by now anyway. The morning sun is already so high in the sky. I would have slept the entire day away," Rosa said, her voice echoing the fatigue her body still felt.
"And you deserve to. My moonlight, you still look so tired. Do not push yourself," Balder released one hand from under Cereza and cuffed Rosa's cheek. Her black hair sprawled wildly across her shoulders, unkempt.
"Are you saying that I look ghastly?" Rosa scoffed, looking mildly offended.
"I'm saying you did a wonderful job, and you deserve to relax all day without worry," Balder leaned and planted a soft on her lips.
"I could not have done it without you," Rosa came in closer, placing a hand on Cereza, gently grabbing ahold of her tiny adorable hands.
Since Rosa had spoken, her small cries lessened to just small coos.
"I believe she just wanted to see her mummy," Balder said, gently passing her over Rosa.
She brought her in close, the brightest smile filling her face as she watched her small newborn's eyes slowly open to look up at her.
"Hello little one," Rosa breathed, still so amazed to finally see her greatest treasure come true. Nine months and a whole day of neverending labor pains to finally bring her into their lives.
Cereza looked up, her curious eyes looking around as she took in her new world. Balder leaned in to be within her field of vision. Cereza focused on his face, and for a moment just stared, expressionless. Then her cheeks curled up into a big grin, cooing happily.
"Hello Cereza, it's me, daddy," Balder wore a similar beaming grin, barely able to contain his excitement. Out from under the grey blanket Cereza was swaddled in, one of her hands reached out towards his face, her fingers flexing in a gripping motion.
Balder leaned in closer, her hands then smacking and gripping his cheeks, before attempting to grab his eye molecule. Balder let out hearty laugh.
"Oh little one, Daddy needs that too see. I bet you just like how shiny it is, don't you?" Rosa said, gently rocking her, pulling her away gently so she didn't yank the small golden eyepiece from Balder.
"I should probably go and get more kindling for the fire. More snow could be coming in, and I don't want to be caught up in a storm without the proper supplies we need," Balder rose back up, his head swiveling towards a glass window, seeing the couple of feet of snow that covered the ground.
"Balder…" Rosa hesitated, which then in turn caused him to look back at her. Hearing her tone shift brought a frown to his face. "When do you think we will be leaving? We cannot stay here much longer."
"Rosa, you just gave birth, we don't need to rush things right now. We should wait until you have your strength back."
"I understand, but we might not even have a week. We have been gone far too long...I know your clan must be suspicious. My Umbra sisters probably won't see my disappearance as strange. I had told them about my departure. But the rumors about us before we had left...It's possible they are onto us now."
Balder returned to his soft smile, placing his hands up onto Rosa's shoulders.
"My moonlight, you have been paranoid about this throughout our entire journey. If they had found out they would have acted upon it already," Balder tried comforting her, but he was taken aback when she moved out of his arms as nicely as she could.
"I am not being paranoid, Balder," Rosa said, her voice now turning stern. The sudden inflection in her tone caused Cereza to whine once more. Her small arms flailed about.
Rosa quickly turned her attention back to her, hushing her a warm 'sorry' and rocking her back and forth until she had calmed back down. She wrapped the blanket around her a little more tightly, bringing her in closer under her own blanket.
With a deep sigh, Rosa turned back to Balder, arms crossed as he kept the blanket tugged close to her.
"We have talked about this so many times already, Balder. I don't understand why it is so hard for you to believe. I know you had witnessed it, just as much as I had. Towards the end, we were so...careless about hiding it," Rosa said, approaching Balder who still looked surprised from her sudden change in mood.
"We were lucky to find this place, so secluded from either of the valleys. But it's only a matter of time...now with our little one here, prying eyes will see all they need too, and both sides will come for us," Rosa pressed herself against Balder, finding comfort from his warm body.
Balder wrapped his arms around her to bring her in closer.
"We could still be diplomatic about it...the Lumen Sages have always-"
"Balder-"
"Why not give it a chance?"
"Why are you so persistent on this? You are no fool, so why do you assume that there is a chance of peace with them. It is the most sacred rule between both clans, and we broke it to the highest degree we could...our little one will never find comfort or love from either side. Because she is not fully Umbra or Sage," Rosa said, exasperated.
Balder looked down at her, with a furrowed brow. He swallowed hard before he could find the words to say.
"It's not easy for me. To just let it all go. The Lumen Sages, the Laguna, the Sunset Valley...it is the only thing I have known my entire life. My truest family that I had grown up with. To just...walk away from it is still a terrifying thought to have. I'm petrified, knowing it is probably the only solution we have now...and it does not make it easier."
Balder's eyes lowered, averting his gaze from Rosa to Cereza. She could see the sorrow wallowing in his subtle grey eyes. Rosa's heart melted, her frustration turned into guilt as she wanted to take back her words. She reached up a hand and turned his face up towards her.
"I know it won't be easy. I should never have expected you to just give it all up so easily. It had always been my dream to get away from it all...but your life has been a much more dedicated one. I'm sorry Balder," Rosa's voice returning to her soft and kind tone returned all the tranquility to Balder. It still amazed him how quickly she can swap between such a loving and caring woman, to a serious and volatile fighter.
"You are right though...The possibility of peace is practically a fantasy at this point. You and our little Cereza are what matters to me, and if it means running away then so be it," Balder pulled Rosa in even tighter, tucking his head down to rest on her shoulder.
He could feel her smile return on her face as they embraced. The wood crackled within the fireplace and the sound of the winter wind blowing against the frost-tinted windows.
"Where would we go? There are so many places I've always wanted to visit," Rosa's fatigue was catching up with her again, her words slow and mumbled as she rested her eyes while pressed against her husband.
"Hmmm...that's a good question. It's so silly that we haven't really talked about this until now," Balder said, a small chuckle escaping his lips.
"Well, we seemed more preoccupied with remaining hidden and surviving each day because of it," Rosa said flatly.
"True, but still, where would we go?"
"France?" Rosa's voice perked up, backing up slightly to meet his gaze again.
"Hmm...maybe. My French is lousy, it wasn't the easiest language I learned."
"With the time we have in our immortal lives, language should never be a problem. Spain?"
"It is beautiful there, I've never been able to visit."
"Would you like that little one?" Rosa lifted Cereza back up, her curious eyes still wandering about.
"I think she'll be happy no matter where we go," Balder said.
"Oh! There's also Denmark."
"Still seems too close to Vigrid...it's also considered a land much closer to Paradiso, much like Vigrid is," Balder puzzled.
"Closer?"
"The Laguna like to make their presence more known in some regions than others. Vigrid, Denmark, Sweden...they all seem to be filled with angels. Well, only Sages and Umbra can see them, but that would be a problem for us."
"I had never thought of that...Inferno seems to pick and choose on its own accord where it will place its demons and its influence. Where ever sinners reside, I suppose. But that would be anywhere now wouldn't it," Rosa's sarcasm appeared at the end. Balder's chest heaved up with a single laugh.
"I suppose we will always run into danger now, we'll find Paradiso and Inferno in every corner of the world," Balder said, his hand twirling some of her raven-black hair between his fingers.
Rosa remained silent for a moment, her eyes still looking down at Cereza. Balder's head tilted to the side, his brow furrowed as he waited to see what she'd say.
"I need you to make a promise," Rosa's voice droned with a low.
"What is it?"
"I need you to promise me. That no matter what happens, whether it be angels, demons, Lumen Sages, or Umbra. That you will protect Cereza at all costs from them. And if any harm does come to her, they will be shown no mercy."
Balder was stunned, pulling himself back and looking down at her. Her heavy eyes looked up into his, her expression unwavering.
"Rosa...the Laguna would never stoop so low to do something like-"
"It does not matter. Whatever prenotions we have about either Paradiso or Inferno means nothing now. I need you to promise that you are willing to do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it means going against everything you knew or believed in."
Balder's mouth hung open, obviously flustered by the pertinent question. He moved his gaze from Rosa's eyes to the small newborn in her arms. Her wandering eyes eventually fell upon him, and for the first time, he saw his daughter smile up at him.
The question resonated with him as the answer fell into place. He looked at Cereza and saw his purpose. A purpose he felt he was searching for when he had become a Lumen Sage. He wanted to be graced with the gifts of Jubileus, the privilege of immortal life to spread the wonders of the light to everyone. To do good in his own way, but to find happiness in it all.
Cereza was his happiness, this small child that would grow up to be just as strong and capable as Rosa and himself. To lead her own path, her own life. But seeing her now, this fragile thing that has just begun life, made him realize the severity of the question Rosa had asked.
"I promise. On my honor as a Lumen Sage, and as a father, that no harm will come to her. Not from Paradiso or Inferno," Balder's pale hand brushed the top of Cereza's head as she continued to smile up to him.
He turned back to Rosa to see her melt back into her calmer self, satisfied with the answer he had given. Their tender moment was interrupted with Cereza cooing once more, seemingly wanting more attention from her two parents as she stretched her arms out.
"She has so much spirit," Balder chuckled, leaning back down to her eye level. Cereza seemed to move her grabbing arms back to Balder, her coos turning to whines.
"At least she doesn't play favorites quite yet," Rosa said with a hushed tone, carefully placing Cereza back into Balder's arms. He cradled her as her whines lessened, reaching up to try and grab his Lumen Watch resting around his neck.
"How about another song, little one? I did not get to sing you one before. I'm sure you'll like this one. Your mother does..." Balder's grinned, watching as Cereza continued to smile up at him. Rosa tilted her head with an intrigued smile.
"Moon river, wider than a mile. I'm crossing you in style some day."
Rosa looked up, her face blushing a soft red as she reminisced on the song. Balder's deep voice swimming through the song effortlessly. Cereza's happiness never fled.
"Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker. Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way. Two drifters, off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see."
Balder waltzed around the room, rocking Cereza gently to the rhythm of the song. Rosa couldn't help but sway with him.
"We're after the same rainbow's end. Waitin' 'round the Bend. My huckleberry friend. Moon river…"
Balder's slow dance stopped in front of Rosa, one of his free hands reaching out and cuffing onto Rosa's warm cheek.
"And me…"
Rosa breathed out the last two lyrics, as their faces closed in once more for a passionate kiss. The frigid world around them melting away as well as their worries. Only their burning love remained.