Childbirth Recollections
Chapter 9: Of Husbands and Sons
A/N: yes, I'm finally going to tell you who she's married to. After this, there's only going to be one or two chapters, but I hope you'll all keep reading. That's why I haven't been telling you who Kel's husband was. I was afraid you'd go 'Oh, ok, that's all I wanted to know, I'm not reading anymore' or 'I don't like her husband, I refuse to finish the story'. SORRY!
When the Lady of Kennan died, both Cleon and Alexander were devastated. Alexander had no one to look after him, so he was sent to Risa's relatives. Cleon knew his son needed a mother, and so he approached one who he knew would love Alexander as if he were her own.
'Kel,' Cleon's voice came out as a whisper. He cleared his throat, and tried again. 'Kel?'
'Cleon?' Kel sounded surprised. 'What are you doing here?'
'I- I need to talk to you. It's important, and I need to know how you feel.'
Kel looked wary, and even in her memory, she could feel her apprehension growing. 'What is it?' she asked in a suspicious tone of voice.
'You heard that my mother has died?'
'Yes, Cleon, I'm so sorry.'
'Well, now my son, my little Alexander has no one to call mother. He's living with Risa's family, but they regard him as nothing more than a nuisance. He's not even four, Kel. How can he understand that no one wants him?'
Kel's eyes were wet with sorry for the poor child, and yet, even as she felt sorrow or the child, she had a sense of what Cleon was going to say next, and the truth was, she had no idea how she would answer. She had found a piece of paper in her chambers many months ago, and she had no doubt in her mind as to who had sent it.
'Kel, please look at me.'
She did.
'I never stopped loving you. You know that, don't you? I hated the act that you were to ill to make the wedding. Risa didn't care. She hated you; she resented you, and tried to turn Alexander against you. But you've met him. He loves you more than he ever loved his mother. I love you too. Darling, will you marry me, for both my sake and for that of Alexander?'
There. The question had come, just as she knew it would. And from the bottom of her heart, the answer came. Just one word.
'Yes.'
The wedding had been a secret, with only a few select guests. Kel and Cleon had agreed to keep her name as it was until it was time to reveal their marriage. And soon after, Alexander moved into Mindelan, his name changed to Alessandro, so none would suspect. Cleon took leave from the army to spend with his new wife, under pretence of having an emotional breakdown in the wake of news of the 'death' of his beloved son, the last of his family.
The midwife had arrived at Mindelan. By some freak chance, she had brought vervain with her. As she was admitted into the healing room, Alanna discovered that she had no healing power. That meant that it was up to Alanna herself and Neal to save Keladry, if it could be done at all.
Behind her, Neal's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he collapsed from over exertion and exhaustion, as a result of having nothing to eat for twelve hours and using almost all his magic. Having finished his custard tart would have made all the difference.
Alanna hadn't noticed. She threw the vervain into the fire. The flames turned violet, and the Goddess's voice emitted from them.
'There is only one way to save Keladry of Mindelan and Kennan—'
A/N: Oooh, scary stuff. I told you the custard tart was important! So, now you know who the husband is! Please, read and review. This chapter has been a long time coming!
Danicakate