04. Afternoon - In 24 Hours: Septych - Fiction[NET]
Deyanira remained at her mothers for the entire afternoon. Throughout it she half wished she could go home but at the same time she half dreaded ever going home again, she had not a single clue of how she was going to tell Nathanial. She wasn't sure how he'd react to the news. He was like her, he accepted their fate and what was expected of them, but he didn't agree with it and in their house he didn't put up with most of the rules. Now things would have to change as well and he hated change. She didn't want to be responsible for something he hated.
She was usually irritable and rude whenever the doctor came by for a visit but this time she let him inspect her without a word. She didn't care for his diagnosis, as soon as she had heard her mothers happy squeal and babble she, like her mother, already knew the answer, all she needed was for her mother to confirm it. She was pregnant. With a boy, as well. Deyanira was sure of it. A crazy part in her mind was already running with the thought of names and she tried to ignore it. She tried to be upset as she ate her cheese and grapes but instead she only felt numb. She wanted to go and see Kaede, her friend would know what to say which would make her feel better, Kaede would know what to do to take her mind off things. But she couldn't. Now she was trapped in her mothers clutches until it was time to return home and tell Nathanial, but she didn't know if she could put up with the babble of which room they'd now have to redecorate for much longer. It was too early to be thinking about these things! If her mother had her way they would be back at the house now, already preparing the room, even before the husband had even been told about his own child!
"I'm getting a headache." Deyanira moaned, lying down on the chaise lounge. "Mother..."
"You won't be able to whine like that when you have your own children. They'll be the ones whining unladylike." her mother gently chastised but sent a maid to get a cold flannel anyhow. She was too overjoyed by the news to care now; her daughter’s work was almost done. "Now, I'll need a word with your cook. You'll need to avoid certain foods now and eat a lot more of others. And we'll need to get you fitted for some new clothes soon as well, I'll have to make an appointment."
"I'm not fat yet." Deyanira replied, grumpy. "Can't I just sleep? Sleep sounds good."
The maid returned with the cloth and placed it on Deyanira's forehead, bowing slightly as Deyanira sighed a thank you in relief. There was silence. Deyanira's mother watched her daughter with a soft smile, feeling proud like only a mother could. She was going to be a grandmother, a parents best dream come true.
“Have you thought of any names yet?” she asked Deyanira, hoping her daughter would soon warm to the thought of having a child like she knew she would.
“I want Nathanial to pick something out…” Deyanira mumbled as she fell into a nap. “…Whatever he chooses, I want.”
Nathanial frowned, wondering why he couldn't keep his mind and thoughts at bay. Usually at work he was able to focus on his job and those around him he instructed and watched over but today he just couldn't sit still nor could he concentrate. Something felt wrong, and while the feeling in his gut had been wrong before it didn't stop him from trying to figure out a way he could leave work early, as soon as possible, to go and check on his Nira to settle the feeling that something was wrong. She was probably fine. She'd be in that little room, slowly forgetting how grumpy she was as she lost herself in a book. It would be silly to rush home, what would he say when he got there? She was tough enough to look after herself, she had proven that many times though - if he went to check on her it might only make her annoyed.
He moved his group on to bow and arrow training and picked up a quiver himself, stringing it. Shooting would take his mind off it all surely, he’d have to concentrate on keeping his eye on the target… he hadn’t missed the centre for months now, and he couldn’t ruin that -
His shot went wild, hitting the white board around the bulls’ eye, missing completely. Quite embarrassing really, but he was too annoyed to care.
The day slipped by slowly and when it was finally time to go home he took most of the journey at a jog, anxious to get home. The feeling still hadn’t left him that something was wrong and all he wanted to do was to make sure Deyanira was safe and well and normal. If anything had upset her he’d be angry, a strange feeling as she could retaliate by herself and yet… he just wanted to protect her. He never thought he’d feel that way about anyone, not even his King and the Kingdom, that was only work, not necessarily something he felt deep within his mind and soul.
He finally made it home and ran up the stairs to the second floor without even taking off his boots and cloak. He checked the bedroom, the special hidden room, the study, but she was nowhere to be found. It was nothing to worry about, he was sure, but it was also ironic that the one day he had the strange feeling like he needed to check on her would be the same day she wasn’t in a room she usually always was.
He ran down the stairs again and into the kitchen, catching the attention of a maid.
“Lord Nathanial, I had no idea you were home early! My apologies - let me-“
“Where’s Nira?” he asked, cutting in and not caring for the fact he shouldn’t refer to his lady in such a casual manor.
“She’s with her mother at the other estate.” The maid replied, bowing. “She is due back soon though, would you like something to eat or drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m going out to find her.” There was something wrong now, he knew that instantly. There had to be something wrong if Deyanira had to see her mother for some reason.
“I really think our Lady will be home soon.” The maid cut in pointedly, her head down. “It would be best for our Lord to wait here, should I draw a bath?”
Nathanial paused, knowing there was something he didn’t know.
“Yes, fine.” He eventually agreed. If he was being told to wait there would be good reason for it. He hoped the reason though would be one not cause for alarm though. He paced while the maid drew the bath. He was worried.
<--- 03. Morning || 05. Evening --->
She was usually irritable and rude whenever the doctor came by for a visit but this time she let him inspect her without a word. She didn't care for his diagnosis, as soon as she had heard her mothers happy squeal and babble she, like her mother, already knew the answer, all she needed was for her mother to confirm it. She was pregnant. With a boy, as well. Deyanira was sure of it. A crazy part in her mind was already running with the thought of names and she tried to ignore it. She tried to be upset as she ate her cheese and grapes but instead she only felt numb. She wanted to go and see Kaede, her friend would know what to say which would make her feel better, Kaede would know what to do to take her mind off things. But she couldn't. Now she was trapped in her mothers clutches until it was time to return home and tell Nathanial, but she didn't know if she could put up with the babble of which room they'd now have to redecorate for much longer. It was too early to be thinking about these things! If her mother had her way they would be back at the house now, already preparing the room, even before the husband had even been told about his own child!
"I'm getting a headache." Deyanira moaned, lying down on the chaise lounge. "Mother..."
"You won't be able to whine like that when you have your own children. They'll be the ones whining unladylike." her mother gently chastised but sent a maid to get a cold flannel anyhow. She was too overjoyed by the news to care now; her daughter’s work was almost done. "Now, I'll need a word with your cook. You'll need to avoid certain foods now and eat a lot more of others. And we'll need to get you fitted for some new clothes soon as well, I'll have to make an appointment."
"I'm not fat yet." Deyanira replied, grumpy. "Can't I just sleep? Sleep sounds good."
The maid returned with the cloth and placed it on Deyanira's forehead, bowing slightly as Deyanira sighed a thank you in relief. There was silence. Deyanira's mother watched her daughter with a soft smile, feeling proud like only a mother could. She was going to be a grandmother, a parents best dream come true.
“Have you thought of any names yet?” she asked Deyanira, hoping her daughter would soon warm to the thought of having a child like she knew she would.
“I want Nathanial to pick something out…” Deyanira mumbled as she fell into a nap. “…Whatever he chooses, I want.”
Nathanial frowned, wondering why he couldn't keep his mind and thoughts at bay. Usually at work he was able to focus on his job and those around him he instructed and watched over but today he just couldn't sit still nor could he concentrate. Something felt wrong, and while the feeling in his gut had been wrong before it didn't stop him from trying to figure out a way he could leave work early, as soon as possible, to go and check on his Nira to settle the feeling that something was wrong. She was probably fine. She'd be in that little room, slowly forgetting how grumpy she was as she lost herself in a book. It would be silly to rush home, what would he say when he got there? She was tough enough to look after herself, she had proven that many times though - if he went to check on her it might only make her annoyed.
He moved his group on to bow and arrow training and picked up a quiver himself, stringing it. Shooting would take his mind off it all surely, he’d have to concentrate on keeping his eye on the target… he hadn’t missed the centre for months now, and he couldn’t ruin that -
His shot went wild, hitting the white board around the bulls’ eye, missing completely. Quite embarrassing really, but he was too annoyed to care.
The day slipped by slowly and when it was finally time to go home he took most of the journey at a jog, anxious to get home. The feeling still hadn’t left him that something was wrong and all he wanted to do was to make sure Deyanira was safe and well and normal. If anything had upset her he’d be angry, a strange feeling as she could retaliate by herself and yet… he just wanted to protect her. He never thought he’d feel that way about anyone, not even his King and the Kingdom, that was only work, not necessarily something he felt deep within his mind and soul.
He finally made it home and ran up the stairs to the second floor without even taking off his boots and cloak. He checked the bedroom, the special hidden room, the study, but she was nowhere to be found. It was nothing to worry about, he was sure, but it was also ironic that the one day he had the strange feeling like he needed to check on her would be the same day she wasn’t in a room she usually always was.
He ran down the stairs again and into the kitchen, catching the attention of a maid.
“Lord Nathanial, I had no idea you were home early! My apologies - let me-“
“Where’s Nira?” he asked, cutting in and not caring for the fact he shouldn’t refer to his lady in such a casual manor.
“She’s with her mother at the other estate.” The maid replied, bowing. “She is due back soon though, would you like something to eat or drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m going out to find her.” There was something wrong now, he knew that instantly. There had to be something wrong if Deyanira had to see her mother for some reason.
“I really think our Lady will be home soon.” The maid cut in pointedly, her head down. “It would be best for our Lord to wait here, should I draw a bath?”
Nathanial paused, knowing there was something he didn’t know.
“Yes, fine.” He eventually agreed. If he was being told to wait there would be good reason for it. He hoped the reason though would be one not cause for alarm though. He paced while the maid drew the bath. He was worried.
<--- 03. Morning || 05. Evening --->