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Chapter 61

Chapter 61
It wasn't the sound of the man beside her sleeping, nor the sounds coming from the nightly animals outside the window that woke her up suddenly. No, it was the soft queasy sensation of a change of magic. A shift in her own balance of power. Seraphina sat up and exhaled a long drawn breath. She'd been prepared for this feeling since she'd been old enough to understand it, Seraphina Drogo, heir to the Mechanovian throne, was pregnant.
***
When Fandral woke, Seraphina was already up, washed, and dressed. She'd contemplated not sticking around, but decided to stay. He was Fandral, he was her friend. He'd known the possibilities and he'd accepted them. She'd once given him the choice to opt out of any kids life should he father any, but back then he vowed to never turn his back on any of his children. She wondered, now that the reality had arrived, if he'd still feel the same way.
"Odd," he mused. "Normally you'd still be drooling into the pillows." Seraphina rolled her eyes, she did that a lot to him.
"I was woken early." She replied. "I'm pregnant, it's yours." She told him as if the news were nothing exciting or new. She still wasn't sure how she felt about it. Seraphina wasn't really a kids kind of girl. She didn't know what kind of mother she'd make, but this child was a blessing to her family and she would be happy in the rejoicing of her people. This could possibly be the only child she'd ever produce and if it wasn't then all the better.
"Wait, what?" Fandral counted the days on his hand. They'd only begun to sleep together again in the last three days.
"Yes. The moment your seed fertilized my egg I woke to the shift in my magic. The formation of a new life has begun, our reproductive systems are not completely understood but we at least know this much to be true. Within days of a successful fertilization the female will feel it. I've been prepared for the moment all my life since I'd come to an age were pregnancy was possible." She shrugged.
"And you are calm?" He pondered joining her next to the window.
"No point in getting worked up over it. It's a blessing, not a curse." She replied. "Does your decision still stand? Will you help me care for it?"
"Do you doubt I would?"
"No, but I think it only fair to give you the same chance to back out now. I can return to Mechanova and care for the child there." She told him. She hadn't stopped staring at him. He'd make a good father, she thought so.
"I will not abandon any child of mine." He'd put a hand on her shoulder. She half smiled. "My question to you is, what about us?"
Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "What us?" She asked. "You know how I feel about any kind of US." She warned him.
"For the childs sake would it not be better to at least keep sex between us? At least until they are older." She considered his words. Not specifically a relationship, just a sexual agreement.
"Alright, I can live with that." She agreed. After all, it wasn't as though Fandral was bad to her and he certainly wasn't a let down in the bedroom. She could survive on one bed partner for the time being.
"When do we tell your father?" Fandral hadn't officially met her father, and the thought disturbed her slightly.
"Meh, he can wait. This baby is not going anywhere and I don't need him to start in on the things I need to start and stop to make it through this pregnancy." Seraphina scrunched up her nose at the idea.
"Is the loss of children common among your people." Seraphina pursed her lips and thought a moment.
"No, I've never known of any Mechanovian who lost a child before birth. During yes, after sure, but not before. Still, I'd hate to be the first. My people count on me and my family to deliver them from the hands of death. Year after year more die and less and less are conceived. As much as I'm not a lover of having children I will cherish everyone I can get." Fandral lifted a hand to touch her, a gentle gesture which he halted knowing full wall she hated to be coddled for any reason. He retracted his hand and nodded.
"He's a father and he'll worry, completely natural." Fandral told her smiling.
"Don't you dare try to tell me what to do." She narrowed her eyes as a further warning.
"I wouldn't bother, you wouldn't listen anyway. You have that gift for just doing as you like." He smirked and she poked him.
"When I'm ready I'll tell everyone. If I tell my sister now she'll be too excited to keep the news to herself." Fandral chuckled and nodded.
"Oh!" Fandral sucked in a breath. "Seraphina, with this child wouldn't that mean your sister should no longer fear Krystoff? I mean your child is first in line for the throne not any child Cephera would have, not now." Fandral clearly was feeling pretty happy about that, but Seraphina new better.
"We live very long lives and I was already the heir. What did you think Demos and his family planned to do with us to begin with?" She raised an eyebrow. "Let's face it, if they ever get their plans to come true and sit one of their family on the throne we'll all be dead. All but Cephera, his mother hen who'd Krystoff will probably keep locked away somewhere." Seraphina scowled. She wished this pregnancy changed all that, but it didn't.
"What can be done for it?" Fandral poured up a single cup of ale.
"Nothing for now." Seraphina replied reaching for the cup and Fandral pulled it away.
"Pregnant, remember." Seraphina's face fell. She can't drink! She'd forgotten she couldn't and now the thought left her sad. She enjoyed a good drink.
(Cephera)
"Good morning." Cephera greeted the queen. Queen Frigga had wanted to have breakfast alone with Cephera today and Cephera was more than happy to accept. She loved the queen as if she were her mother. She had high respect for her.
"Good morning." She replied, her usual smile toned down with thought.
Cephera didn't question her mood as she placed herself at the small glass table outside on the queens balcony. Cephera thought it was nice for the queen to have her own chambers to keep lots of her own personal things and to entertain who she liked without bothering Odin.
Breakfast was served and Cephera's smile grew when she saw the queen had decided to try the fluffy pastries Cephera ate, topped with whipped cream and tons of fruit. "I wanted something a little different," Frigga said catching Cephera's smile.
"You won't be disappointed." Cephera boasted and began with her whipped cream and berries that were piled ridiculously high, just how she liked it.
"I have a favor to ask of you," The queen said between her first and second mouthful.
"Whatever it is, I won't say no." If Cephera had been an animal her tail would have wagged. She was excited that the queen would want any favor from her.
"You remember the time you all went to get Sif in the Sacred Mountains?"
"Yes, that was quite a few years back now." Cephera pursed her lips in wonder.
"It was, but there is still a debate as to my actions on that day. The Valkyrie are not happy I interfered. They have called me to them to discuss the events in question. As no man can step foot inside without being declared war on, it is my duty to see this through. They are outside Asgards jurisdiction when it comes to rules. Odin has always overlooked that only because they are helpful to the people." Frigga frowned.
"And me?" Cephera asked.
"I know this may sound odd, but even a queen sometimes feels nervous. I dread to go there alone and it has crossed my mind that it might do for you to learn some politics. If you come and sit with me to speak with them perhaps you will learn something of value to you in the future." Cephera did feel stunned. Frigga nervous?
"I'm honoured that you would ask me at all, my answer remains the same, any favor you want I will never say no."
"I'm glad to hear it. It eases my mind to know I'll have loyal company. Do not tell Loki where you are going, just tell him we are going for a ride together. It's been a while since I simply went for a ride." Cephera blinked and looked down.
"I'm an awfully bad liar." Cephera replied.
"Not if you're not outright lying. We are going for a ride, the destination doesn't need mentioning." Cephera returned her eyes to the queen and half grinned.

Notes

Comments

@fraychan
Then I have done my job well. :p

Yasumi Yasumi
6/15/15

Your cliff hangers wound me D:

fraychan fraychan
6/12/15

@fraychan
Keep that adrenaline pumping, still a lot to come.

Yasumi Yasumi
5/14/15

Oh god I can't even describe how happy this chapter made me. I'm feeling a slight adrenaline rush haha

fraychan fraychan
5/12/15

@fraychan
I agree, things have could been so much different if things had just come to light sooner.

Yasumi Yasumi
5/7/15