The Nursery, Villa De Karkaldwin, Pryldahn, 1438 ATC
"... I think it's because I was pregnant for two years, Venser. That's fifteen months of extra development. I'm not surprised that she's extra bright, and can use magic already. Plus, I had been travelling for almost half the pregnancy, so I had to take medicines that would make me impervious to seasickness, and my family's blood allows us to fully control our metabolism." Sedna Rosarian tied her ebony hair back in a simple braid looked at Elanaea playing with her baby half sister Rowena and half brother Asher. The daughter Sedna had with Venser had bright, grass green eyes and long black hair, and wore a crystal bracelet on one wrist that blocked her from using her unstable baby magic, the Rosarian bloodline was strong with it.
"Venser, what is it that makes your children so happy?"
''Musta been really shitty... Carrying her for over a year whilst hunting for the Dragon's Head and a few other places. And I didn't know for a while, kinda… Well, it's complicated.'' Venser Karkaldwin said relaxing lazily where he sat on the floor, legs crossed.
''Lots of love, getting out and doing stuff, not letting any tempers come to me or anything, teaching them about life. Ahem, I know it's kinda frustrating... Having them here, and then in Montpelier, and then the tavern... Just moving all around.''
"Venser, I carried her even after I gave birth. All mothers do. And no, I didn't even know I was pregnant until I got morning sickness, which was about... I can't remember." Sedna sighed and looked at their daughter.
"I don't know what to do. I thought she was happy with me, but now that she's with you and her other siblings... I'm not sure she can go back to living with me alone anymore. How are we going to raise her if you are the only one who can make her truly happy?"
Venser's head shot over to her, and he rose up sat beside her on the couch. ''What? You make her happy, you're her mother! Her brother and sisters make her happy. Ya know,'' He paused and let out a sigh, turning around in his seat to point at an introcate red and yellow advertisement with Venser's handsome mug on it. The words, ''Karkaldwin's Fine Cannabis'' in text above it. Plastered in his own home, pretty much every room, of all places.
"Venser, it's not the same and you know it. I just feel like if I let her stay with you for a while, she'll have a well-rounded childhood. I just want what is best for her, you know? I know it's hard to believe, but we have a child together, so maybe we need to nut out how we are going to raise her. Together. Not, 'she lives with one of us while the other just visits.' She needs a home where both of us are present." Sedna looks over at the advertisement. "Are you serious? Your chin doesn't look like that. Why'd they make it look so squared? Why do you have that in here and I hope to god your children don't know what cannabis actually does."
''Sort of. I've told them never to chew on the crops or anything. And well... It's good enough.'' Venser shrugged and then held up a finger, shaking it a bit.
''Yes that's exactly right! Which is why both of you should move up north and live with me and the rest of the family on uhhh… Here. Villa De Karkaldwin! Yeah, that's what I'm calling it now.''
Elanaea turned her attention away from her baby siblings to to her parents seated nearby, and she attempted to stand and walk towards them, but knelt down and began to crawl towards them, babbling happily.
“Allow me, Sedna.” Venser got up again and picked up baby Elanaea, sitting back down beside Sedna. He lifted their daughter to his shoulder, patting her back gently. ''Hey there... That's a good baby… Happy baby.” Slowly, she rested her head on Venser’s shoulder, hiccuping every few seconds, one of her tiny hands trying to grab at his beard.
Sedna leaned over and kissed Elanaea right on her cheek. “Mommy loves you, my darling. You be a good baby for youf father and... Your extended family.”
Venser nodded and nuzzled her little cheek. “You're going to be so happy here with us. Both of you.''
Elanaea closed her eyes with a content coo as her parent’s watched over her.
''Yes. I've been meaning to speak to you about that...'' Sedna said letting out a sigh, sitting up and adjusting the light hunter's tunic she wore. ''As well as... When I get it all sorted out.'' She did not like the idea of Venser sleeping around like a man strumpet, having many wives and many other children.
She blinked her azure blue eyes and sighed, giving Venser a cold, silent look, before it warmed up again looking to their little girl. Meanwhile Venser peered past them and watched Rowena and Asher roll a ball back and forth to each other on the floor.
They heard Elanaea suddenly give a small snore and chuckled, lifting her up into a nearby crib and covering her with a thin blanket. “Nap time... Sleep well, my little love.” She kissed her cheek again before she suddenly opened her big, grass green eyes and yawned, wiggling a bit.
She then sat up and started happily gurgling with her right hand up, the magic negating bracelet slipping off somehow and a ball of blue light forming in her palms. Venser moved past Sedna and walked over to her crib and booped Elanaea's nose, startling her enough for the light to fade away and for Sedna to bend over and retrieve the bracelet, sliding it back over her wrist and tightening it.
“No, no, love. You need to keep this on. Magic is not a toy.”
Elanaea sniffled, looking up at her parents who smiled lifting her from her cot. “Maybe when you're older I’ll teach you how to properly use it. But, for now, let's get some milk into you before your nap, hmm?”
Elanaea squealed at that idea happily her stomach rumbling.
After a long day of relaxing with the family. A motherly warmth spread through Elanaea's chest as she looked upon her slumbering child in the crib, all tuckered out after exploring all she could of her new home. It didn't take long for the little girl to descend serenely into dreamland. The child's eyelids stayed closed save for the occasional flicker, her little black locks falling softly against her head and onto the pillow.
A smile curved the exiled princess's lips, and she held a hand to her chest, tilting her head as she just silently stood there, admiring her own little bundle of joy as she slept. Elanaea's chest rose and fell gently, a small contended smile still on her face. She had her Floppy with her, which was of course her beloved stuffed raven beside her. Her favorite sky blue blanket covered the majority of her body.
Elanaea was unreservedly the most beautiful baby Sedna had ever seen, though she knew that as the mother she was more than a little bit biased. Nevertheless, she believed quite strongly it was true. Could the little darling be a handful sometimes? Most certainly, as all babies were, but caring for her was always a sweet responsibility, which was more than Sedna could say for some of her less personal duties.
But for now, the little baby slept, blissfully unaware of the outside world and all its problems. Her world was one full of adoring family, stuffed toys and fun games to play. Everything a child could ever want... Or so it seemed.
The little form in the crib stirred, and for a moment Sedna thought that her child might wake. But upon turning over just a little, Elanaea stilled and continued to sleep. The mother smiled warmly. No, Elanaea was still too tired from her long day. A moment or two passed, and Sedna heard the soft sound of heavy footsteps upon carpet coming up from behind her. She knew the gait and did not need to turn her head to know who it was. The exiled princess turned huntress felt a pair of strong arms drape around her waist from behind her.
"Aren't you going to come to bed, love?" Venser asked quietly, not wishing to wake their child. "I put you in one of the guest rooms just like you asked. And I apologize that it's not completely furnished yet... New house and all, ya know."
"In a bit. And it's all good Venser, really." Sedna replied gently, continuing to watch their daughter. She followed it with a soft sigh, hating the idea of sharing a bed with many other women along with Venser. Though, perhaps tonight he could share it with her in the guest room, and only her.
Her bearded lover nuzzled her neck for a moment, kissing her jawline and touching his cheek to hers to join her in watching baby Elanaea. "She looks so peaceful when she's sleeping," he remarked softly. "She's so beautiful... Just like you."
Sedna couldn't help but smile and turned her head to face Venser, then leaned in a little, with him nodding and following suit. The two shared a brief kiss. Exhaling, Sedna rested her head against his chest.
"I am pretty tired..." The azure eyed huntress admitted. She sighed, easing against him just a little more before turning her eyes to the face of her child once more. "Do you ever worry about her?"
"I worry about all my children. Though, I try not to... But I do."
"Mmm," Sedna responded, "I do. She's going to have to watch over my kingdom of Kynareth someday. If my parents ever allow me to come back..."
"The keyword being someday, Sedna. And if." Venser said with a sigh. "That's still a long way's off. And we're going to see to it that once that day comes, she'll be ready. Besides, she's only OUR first. Who's to say Elanaea wont have a new sister or a brother eventually? I mean shes already got her numerous half siblings now."
Sedna felt her stomach churn a bit. She wanted to have more children with him... But she didn't want Ven having children witn anyone else, but she knew his manwhorish antics and doubted there was anything she could do about it. And still a mother's concerns are rarely so easily dispelled. "I'm certain of it. This can't be forever..."
"It'll be fine, Sedna." He whispered. "I'm surprised you're even worried about this. You're smart and strong, and so will Elanaea when she grows up."
They then heard a tiny moan emanate from within the crib. They watched as their little one rolled over, then much to their relief, she continued to sleep soundly.
The parents glanced to one another, and Venser gestured to the door with a quick movement of his head, licking his lips a bit. He took the first few steps in the direction he'd indicated and, after she'd cast one last adoring look in Elanaea's direction, and Rowena and Asher fast asleep in their cribs as well inside the nursury. Sedna followed after him. Once out in the hall, Venser quietly closed the door just as quietly as he could manage, he and his lover releasing a nigh-silent sigh of relief at having made it out without awakening their beloved daughter and her siblings.
Venser flashed Sedna a little grin. "I guess those stealth maneuvers were good for something after all. You tried to show me your best when we went on that hunting trip..."
Sedna only grinned back.
"Come on," Venser said taking her arm in his. "Let's go to bed."
Sedna leaned against her lover's shoulder as they walked leisurely down the hall, the sounds of the rhythmic tapping of their feet against the reflective marble, feeling the cool night air and his warmth as they walked the villa halls of the second floor and to the guest room Ven had set up for her. It was quite a peaceful night in Pryldahn.
"I have to ask again, Sedna. Why are you exiled?"
Her stomach churned yet again, not liking to actually have to discuss it outloud.
"I've told you like five times I think... Must we go over this again?"
Before Venser could answer Sedna huffed and looked away from him.
"I saved my father, Tiberion, from an assassination attempt, got wounded and even though the highest officers knew who I was, they couldn't stop the King and Queen walking in on their savior while he was still being stitched up, so they saw a pair of breasts and black hair and knew who it was. So, I was banished across the Slender Sea, because it was easier to say that I was attempting to kill my father than tarnish the royal reputation of Kynareth and say that the princess was a rebel."
Venser blinked a few times at his annoyed lover.
"That sounds kind of complicated..."
"It really isn't, Ven. And princesses don't partake in hunts, or join the army or take up arms and save their families. Maybe some do for self defense most do not. Look... Can we just... Go to bed?"
And of course, the handsome bearded man would lean on her now, which she was always grateful for. She could never stand those men who refused to accept help of any kind, especially a women's help, steadfastly denying that anything was even wrong to begin with. Sedna smiled, grateful that the adoration they shared for each other and their daughter. Venser turned his head, glancing down at her. She realized he'd caught her staring, but she didn't bother averting her gaze. One of the perks of having a mate was that after awhile she didn't feel the need to anymore.
"I... Adore you, Ven." She told him sweetly, hesitating with her words for a moment.
Venser smiled back at her through sleepy eyes, stopping just short of the door to their bedroom. He planted a brief, but affectionate kiss on her lips.
"And I love you too, Sedna Rosarian."