*Note: The font will be normal, instead of italics, but Meinrad is still dreaming.*

Chapter 23

Meinrad and Ishild lay on their backs to look up at the cloudless blue sky, watching the birds fly by. Meinrad inhales the sweet smell of spring. "I always admired spring," he said to Ishild.

"Me too," she replies and lifts herself up. Then, they hear a twig snap, and they turn to see a bear just further away from them. "It's a bear," she whispers and Meinrad looks at it.

Just then, they hear more noises and were astonished to see two bear cubs running to their mother. The two cubs play with the mother bear, but they stop when she sees Meinrad and Ishild.

She just looks at them and the cubs look at them, too. Meinrad stands up, staring at them with his moonlit yellow eyes. "Stay here," he orders Ishild and slowly walks over to the bear.

"Are you crazy?" she whispers back, but he ignores her. He stops a few feet away from the bears, but then, the cubs walk over to him. Meinrad holds out his claw and the cubs sniff at it.

Then, the mother bear growls at Meinrad, but he holds his ground, only he noticed that the bear was not growling at him. He hears Ishild, she sounded like she was breathing heavily.

"Ishild, be quiet," he warns, but her breathing did not stop.

"I can't," she replies and then, she throws up. The mother bear sniffs the air and steps back, she could smell the vomit, and it did smell awful. She gathers her cubs and walks away from them.

Meinrad exhales a sigh of relief, he was afraid the bear would attack Ishild, and he walks back to her. "Are you all right?" he asks and looks at the little pile of vomit. Ishild spits out whatever was left in her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I've been like this after the New Year," Ishild replies and stands to her feet. Meinrad feels her forehead, she had no fever, and she did look tired. He hoists her up into his arms. "What are you doing?" Ishild asks.

"I'm taking you to see Oda, maybe she knows what's going on with you," he replies and walks out of the forest. They find a lone hut in the meadow, which was Oda's place as she resided in the afterlife with Ishild.

They discover the old woman outside, tending to some needlework, and she looks up to see them. "Meinrad, what is wrong with her?" she asks.

"I was going to ask you," he replies and lays Ishild down. "She has no fever, but she said she's been vomiting for some time," he explains. Oda looks around Ishild and then takes her inside her hut.

"Stay out here," Oda orders Meinrad and he stays put.

Inside, Oda has Ishild lay down on her bed, and Oda examines her body. "How long have you been having these spells?" the wise old woman asks.

"Ever since the New Year," Ishild answers and then, Oda begins to laugh. "What is so funny?" Ishild asks, wondering if the old woman had lost her mind.

"Oh, child, I'm surprised you don't know your own body," Oda said, but Ishild was confused. "It is simple, you're with child," she adds and Ishild thought she was going to faint.

"Me? Pregnant?" she asks and Oda nods. Ishild knew some knowledge about pregnancy as she witnessed her mother's pregnancy with her brother, but she never thought it would cause so much agony.

"Look at your stomach," Oda said and shows a mirror. Ishild lifts up her dress to see her somewhat extended belly, but she barely noticed. "It will get bigger over time," Oda adds and then, Ishild lays down, again.

She wished she was happy, but she was really scared. She knew Meinrad was the father, but how would the baby turn out? Would it turn out be a normal human being or have Meinrad's appearance?

Ishild then shakes that thought of her mind, she did not care how this child would appear, she and Meinrad were going to love it. However, something did cross her mind; how would Meinrad react?

"How should I tell Meinrad?" she asks Oda. The old woman chuckles.

"Surprise him, tell him a little rascal hit you in the stomach," Oda answers, but Ishild did not want to tell Meinrad that. She knew that Meinrad would angry instead of surprised. He usually had a temper towards those who would hit Ishild.

"I'll try to think of something," Ishild replies and leaves the hut. Meinrad stands up to attention.

"Are you all right?" he asks.

"She will be fine, but just to warn you, she will be sick for some time. She does have something to tell you," Oda said and Ishild's face turns red.

Meinrad looks at Ishild with a questioning look. "I think you best tell him in private," Oda advises her and Ishild takes Meinrad by the hand and they leave. They return to the lush green forest and they stop.

They see a stag with a doe and they had a fawn. That gave Ishild an idea and takes Meinrad's hands. "Look at them," she said, pointing to the stag with his family. "How would you feel if we had a child?"

Meinrad looks at her with a confused look, but replies, "I would probably be the happiest being in the entire world." He looks back at the stag, who was staring back at Meinrad. The stag looked wise beyond his years and he leads his family away.

"I'm going to show you something, just promise me you will not be horrified," Ishild said and begins to lift up her dress. She features her belly that barely looked extended. Meinrad was confused as he had no idea what Ishild was trying to tell him.

He thinks hard and long, but then it hits him like a rock. "Could you...could you really...?" he stutters and Ishild begins to chuckle. He touches her stomach and he takes a long sniff of it. That was when an image of a child fills his mind.

Meinrad was not sure if he was going to pass out or fall down. "Oh my..." was all he could say before pulling Ishild into his embrace. "You have no idea how happy you just made me," he said to her and releases her. He then falls on his back and begins to laugh like a crazy person. Ishild joins in and they embraced and laugh like there was no tomorrow.

Meinrad knew he was sure things would different from now on and he wanted to prove that there was no barrier between him and his new family.

From the author: Surprise! Meinrad is going to be a father! *Laughs* I had this on my mind for quite a while and I think this was the perfect time. I am sure that both Ishild and Meinrad will make great parents.

Stay tuned for more!