Clank!
Clank!
Clank!
Trevor sat at the desk in their room holding his head in his hands. A single candle sat at his elbow offering its meager light and casting long shadows on the walls. Ever since the birth of their little one they had been staying in the castle for Sypha's comfort while she recovered. He glanced over at his wife sleeping soundly in their bed, the babe tucked protectively at her side. Thank God the two of them were sound sleepers. For Trevor, however, too many years spent living on the run either from his persecutors or Dracula and his night creatures, trained him to be a light sleeper. Any loud or unusual sound had him bolting upright in a moment.
Clank!
Trevor's body jolted once more.
He had no idea why that dipshit Alucard was going at it with hammer and tongs down in the dungeons at this hour, for it must be the dhampir, no one else would be so abominably rude. Five in the morning was way too early to be woken up especially when one had a newborn keeping them up half the night.
Clank!
A low rumble emanated from Trevor's throat.
He couldn't help himself from smiling though, whenever he thought of his child. The little fella was doing great. He was a voracious nurser and was already gaining weight. He had a strong grip and a thick shock of black hair that stuck out at all angles. 'Just like his father's,' Sypha often reminded him with a scowl. Sypha could never get the child's hair to stay flat, no matter how much she tried to tame it with her fingers, something she often attempted with Trevor's mane as well, to no avail. Trevor closed his eyes and smiled at the memories. He loved the feel of Sypha's fingers running across his scalp and tugging at his hair, especially when…
Clank!
He closed his eyes as the awful sound bounced around in his head.
He loved the feel of her silky tresses as well. He looked back at the bed to see her auburn hair splayed out over the pillow and across her face. She was beautiful. Her hair was much longer now than when he first met her. He had always wished the Speakers wouldn't dress the girls like boys. After he had returned from the dead, it didn't take much to convince her to let her hair grow. She would do anything for him and he, her.
Clank!
Trevor winced.
Stretching, he rose from his chair and went to the bed. He climbed in next to his wife. Peering down at her and his son, he gently brushed the loose strands of hair from the velvety skin of her face, tucking them behind her ear. Wrapping an arm around her belly and placing his hand protectively on their child he buried his nose in her hair, breathing in her scent, and attempted to fall back to sleep.
Clank!
Clank!
Clank!
"Fuck! This will never do!" he cursed to himself as he carefully climbed out of bed once more.
Clank!
He paced around the room running his hands through his hair (making it stick up even more).
Clank!
"Aaaargh!" he growled, clenching his fists and glaring up at the ceiling. He stormed toward the door. If he was going to be up, he might as well go and see what was available to eat in the kitchen.
When he was halfway down the stairs, he realized the clanking had stopped. Trevor threw up his hands in defeat, "Now he stops! But it's too late, I'll never be able to get back to sleep!"
He continued on to the kitchen. Just as he was about to pass the stairwell to the dungeon, someone emerged. Trevor raised his eyes from the floor to glare at the intruder.
….oOo….
As Trevor lifted his head, Alucard had but a moment to hide what he held in his hand. Quickly he stashed it behind his back and plastered on a fake smile with which to greet his friend.
He had stayed up all night to finish the combat cross and it had just now been completed. He was taking it upstairs to show it to Greta when he stumbled upon Trevor.
"Trevor!" exclaimed he.
"You!" growled Trevor, stalking up to the dhampir, forcing him to back up against the wall. The bladed instrument clanged against the stone wall, but Trevor paid it no heed. Standing with his hands fisted at his sides, he glowered down at Alucard and asked, "What on God's good earth possessed you to hammer away on your forge at this hour!? You're damn lucky you didn't wake Sypha and the baby or I would have your pointy toothed head on a platter!"
"I – I," Alucard tried to come up with a good excuse but he could not. However, at that moment he saw Greta approaching from over Trevor's shoulder. "Greta!" he said as he sidled away from Trevor, who took a step back and turned to look at the new arrival, "Did I wake you too?" He shot her a desperate grin and a wink.
Ever astute, Greta caught on quickly. "I planned to get up now anyway," she replied, wrapping her shawl draped arms about him and deftly taking the newly forged weapon from his hand. She planted a kiss on his cheek and said, "I need to be sure everything is totally ready for the feast today." Resting her head on Alucard's shoulder, she smiled at Trevor and asked, "How is the little guy doing?"
By now they had all learned that any reference to his child would melt whatever dark mood (usually induced by lack of sleep) the new father happened to be in.
"He's sleeping soundly," Trevor answered with a proud smile. Then shooting a dagger laced glare at Alucard, he added, "amazingly enough."
Alucard gave a weak smile and apologized, "I'm sorry. I was, uh, just finishing something up."
Greta withdrew her arms from Alucard, the weapon securely hidden in her shawl. "I am going to go and dress for the day," she said, "Why don't the two of you find yourselves something to eat in the kitchen." As she was walking away she turned back and, pointing a finger at the two of them, she warned, "But don't you dare touch any of the food for the party or I'll have both your heads on a platter!"
Both men stared at her as she walked off. Alucard leaned toward Trevor and said out of the corner of his mouth, "She will too," he swallowed, "She's quite good with a sword."
Trevor glared at him. The two turned and entered the kitchen.
Wishing to keep him from asking more questions, Alucard prodded him as he went to search the pantry for something to eat, "What time does the archbishop arrive?"
"About eleven," Trevor answered, grabbing plates and glasses and a bottle of milk. He took a seat at the big worktable, "with the ceremony to take place at noon."
"What's this about you asking him to sanctify the church grounds?" Alucard asked accusedly, emerging from the pantry and crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the door frame.
"What?" Trevor replied with a smirk as he poured two glasses of milk. "You afraid you're gonna burn your little tootsies when you walk on it?" he teased.
Alucard narrowed his eyes at him, "You're testing me," he said and turned back to the pantry.
He emerged a moment later with two loaves of bread, a wheel of cheese and some ham.
"Yes," replied Trevor, "I want to know if your human half can save you."
Alucard tossed Trevor a loaf and placed the rest of the food between them.
"I live in the daylight, asshole," he defended, cutting off a hunk of cheese, "I'm human enough. I don't need to be subjected to any of your bloody experiments."
"You just stayed up all night working on some shit," Trevor pointed out, waving one hand and stuffing food into his mouth with the other, "maybe you prefer the darkness."
"If I am going to stay up all night I prefer to be engaged in some more pleasurable activity," Alucard grinned mischievously, "Maybe I banged on my forge all night just to get even with you."
"Mmmmm," grumbled Trevor while gulping his milk. He started to cut a slice of ham.
"Are you and Sypha ready for the ceremony today?" Alucard diverted, reaching for the slice of ham Trevor had just cut.
Trevor shot him a dirty look. "We're all set," he replied, dramatically cutting another slice for himself and throwing the knife down with a flourish, "I did my one job. It took me some time, but I did eventually find the Belmont family christening gown down in the hold. Our little one will be the fifth generation to wear it. What about you? You and Greta have been slaving away I see, her over a hot stove," he indicated the shelves around the room piled with various foods, "and you over a hot furnace," Trevor said, indicating Alucard's blacksmith apron.
"Oh," he replied, untying the apron and removing it, "I think we're ready. Hopefully all will go off without a hitch. That darling little boy of yours will be getting quite the welcome from the town of his birth."
Trevor smiled proudly once again.
"How does it feel to be a father?" Alucard asked him sincerely.
Trevor's smile faded. "Scary as shit," he answered, glancing up at his friend. "I don't know how to be a father, and mine isn't around anymore for me to ask."
"I can relate to that," the dhampir answered taking a sip of his milk, "At least you had a normal father when you had him."
"True," chuckled Trevor. "Sypha's mother died when she was young, so we'll both be figuring it out together, I guess."
"You'll do fine," Alucard said clasping his friend on the shoulder and shaking him slightly back and forth.
They ate for a few minutes in silence.
"You know," the god father to be added, "that boy of yours already has the Belmont broad shouldered frame," he punched his friend in the arm. "Poor Sypha," he facetiously, lamented, "It was almost harder for her to get the shoulders out than the head. More brawn than brains that kid, just like his father." Alucard smirked and looked sidelong at Trevor as he took another bite of his food.
"Ain't that the truth," Trevor replied, self depreciatingly, "except that the boy will be smart. He has Sypha for his mother."
"That's right," conceded Alucard, "any brains he has will have to come from her."
The two broke into laughter.
….oOo….
After finishing their early morning repast, Alucard convinced his friend to try and get some more sleep. While Trevor shuffled drowsily off to his wife and child, Alucard made his way to his own room to find Greta. She was dressed beautifully for the day. As god mother, she would be more in the limelight than anybody, well, besides the baby. It would be her job to take the baby to the 'church' and hold him throughout the ceremony.
Traditionally baptisms were held within two or three days of the birth and the mother was often in no condition to be present, so the care of the child fell on the god mother. They would keep to the latter part of that tradition. However, after five days recovery, Sypha was feeling up to the task and was determined to attend. As a matter of fact, she was anxious to get out of the room in which she had been stuck for all those days and was desirous to return to her own cottage. Trevor was there now getting it ready for their return later that day.
Greta was in front of the mirror, putting on the finishing touches of her up do. She smiled at Alucard when he entered and explained, "I have to wear my hair up or that little tyke will pull it to bits with his vise-like grip."
Alucard approached and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He smelled her intoxicating scent and placed light kisses on the sensitive skin behind her ear. "You look lovely," he told her.
"Stop it, Alucard," she said between giggles, "I don't think we have time for this."
"Hmmm," he grumbled and dropped his hands to his sides, "You are right," he sighed, "I came here to get the christening gift. I'm going to ride out and meet the archbishop, for I must get the armaments blessed before the ceremony."
He turned to find that Greta had already laid out the Morningstar whip and the combat cross on the bed for him along with his best suit of clothes. When his eyes fell on the garments, he realized that he needed to clean himself up. Five days slaving away at his forge had made him very sweaty and stinky indeed.
Following his gaze and reading his mind, Greta spoke before he did, "I've ordered you a bath. It should be here momentarily."
"How do you do that?" he asked, amazed, "How do you know what I'm thinking before I even think it?"
"Woman's intuition," she replied with a shrug, "It is a skill that all your book learning will never teach you." She winked at him.
"Humph," he pouted. But his eyes quickly softened and he thanked her for having everything ready for him.
After some time of delicious silence Greta left to oversee the final preparations for the day. As she was walking out the door the servants were arriving with Alucard's bath water.
Later, as Alucard donned his best suit of clothes, he debated wearing his gauntlets. Trevor would tease him ceaselessly if he knew that Alucard was afraid to handle the armaments after they were consecrated. In the end Alucard convinced himself that the gloves were necessary for horseback riding and so on they went. He placed the repaired Morningstar whip and the newly forged the combat cross in his saddle bags and left for the stables.
He mounted his favorite stallion and rode off to meet the archbishop. As he passed Trevor and Sypha's cottage on the way out of town, he smiled broadly and waved in case either of them saw him out the window. They would likely wonder where he was off to in such a hurry and on such an important day.
….oOo….
The archbishop and his entourage were about five miles out of Belmont when they were startled by the sound of approaching hoof beats. Some of the guards drew their swords at the sight of the dhampir but the bishop admonished them, reminding them that the Domnul of Belmont was the son of Vlad and Lisa Tepes. He had saved Wallachia from Dracula and his night hordes and was owed some respect.
"Domnul Tepes," the archbishop called out from his horse as the Lord of Belmont approached, "How kind of you to ride out and meet us. Is all well in Belmont?"
"Yes, Your Grace," replied Alucard, with a bow of his head, "Your arrival is anxiously awaited."
"That is good to hear," the bishop replied.
"I have a small matter I wished to discuss with you, Your Grace," Alucard explained, "We can talk while we ride, if it pleases you."
The archbishop nodded his assent. As they rode along, Alucard explained the tale of the Holy weapons he had in his possession and the need for them to be reconsecrated. The archbishop gladly agreed and they stopped right there in the middle of the roadway to perform the rite.
The bishop's assistants helped him unpack the necessary items.
When the archbishop approached with his aspersorium in one hand and his aspergillum in the other, he instructed Alucard, "You will have to remove your gloves."
"But your grace," argued he, "your holy water and oils, not to mention these very weapons are used to injure and kill my people."
Taking a step back, the prelate looked at him and asked with concern, "You are full vampire then?"
"No, no," replied Alucard, "only my father was vampire."
Retrieving his chrismaria the archbishop said, "Then you are a half son of Adam and, therefore, you too are called to be a child of God. What He has sanctified will not hurt you."
"Do you know this for a fact?" questioned Alucard. "How many dhampirs have you blessed?" he snidely retorted.
"Here you stand," the bishop said, indicating Alucard with his hand, "half vampire, in broad daylight," he motioned toward the sun, "and you are perfectly fine. Your human half must have some hold over your fate."
"But how can you be sure?" the dhampir whined.
"Do you believe in God?" interrogated the archbishop.
"I don't believe in God," replied Alucard, "but I'm afraid of him."
"You are afraid of God. You are afraid of holy water," the prelate listed, counting with his fingers, "I am to consecrate the new church grounds on which you are to stand and become god father to the Belmont child. Are you afraid to tread this ground as well?"
Alucard smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"And here you stand before me, asking me to consecrate these weapons. If you did not believe in the power of God, you would not be here," the archbishop concluded.
"I am here to get them consecrated because my friend believes in the power of God," defended Alucard.
"Then why not just tell him they are consecrated," suggested the bishop, "If God doesn't really exist, then what does it matter?"
"Trevor has this sixth sense," Alucard lamely explained, waving a hand, "He would know they were not holy."
"Then you must admit there is something to it," the bishop retorted triumphantly, "You battled side by side with Count Belmont and saw him conquer the powers of darkness with these holy weapons. If you think God was not at your side as well as Trevor's, you are mistaken."
Alucard just stood there contemplating the archbishop's words.
"You have witnessed the extraordinary power of these holy weapons and you fear your friend will know if they are not sanctified. You. Believe," the archbishop stated definitively, "I think you can handle a little splash of holy water."
Alucard gulped. Was the bishop right? Did he really believe?
His hands were trembling as he set down the Morningstar whip and the combat cross and removed his gauntlets. This was like a double leap of faith for him. He did believe the archbishop could consecrate the arms and believed the water and oil were holy. Did he believe that no harm would come to him? He took a deep breath. He had to believe. For the sake of his friend and his god son, he must believe. He picked up the Morningstar whip and the combat cross with his bare hands and held them as steadily as he could before the archbishop.
The bishop read through the rite of consecration, chanting the prayers and making the sign of the cross. When it came time to apply the chrism oil, Alucard closed his eyes and held his breath. The archbishop glanced at him and paused. Returning to his task he slathered the weapons liberally with the oil. It dripped all over Alucard's hands.
At the feel of it on his skin his eyes shot open. He looked at his hands half expecting them to burst into flames, or to at least burn, but no, all he felt was the cool slippery liquid. It had a very fragrant scent that appealed to him. No, Alucard realized he did feel something, a lightening of his heart as if some unknown fear or dread had been lifted away. He smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.
Next the bishop took the aspergillum and sprinkled holy water quite liberally over the Morningstar whip and the combat cross. In his zeal the droplets of water flew everywhere soaking everything within a six-foot radius, Alucard most especially.
Nothing bad came of the dhampir except a good dousing. When the consecration was over, he narrowed his eyes at the archbishop and accused, "You did that on purpose."
"I see you are still with us," the prelate shrugged and smiled, and went about packing up his things while Alucard packed his.
"Thank you," Alucard said frankly, "for everything."
The archbishop turned to him and, making the sign of the cross, he gave Alucard a blessing, "Be at peace, Ardian Tepes, and may the Lord always be with you."
….oOo….
A/N: Hungarian Baptismal traditions were found at the website "Hungarian Ethnography and Folklore" by Ivan Balassa and Gyula Ortutay. Infogalactic was my source for various other information. Quotes were borrowed from Elizabeth Gaskell's 'North and South' and Christopher McQuarrie's 'The Usual Suspects.'
