“Sure, I test all young women for it as soon as they come in, I need to know not to give them certain things otherwise. Unless that's the reason they're there of course. Madanach, you don't look so good.”
“She can't be,” Madanach whispered, the unfairness of it all hitting him. “She can't!”
“Is this not good news?” Styrr said softly. “Did you not want to...?”
“Of course I wanted to, but at my age... Sweet gods, it'll be half-blood, I'm not even going to see it grow up, this isn't... this isn't fair!”
“I know,” Styrr said gently, and Madanach guessed he must have seen this sort of thing hundreds of times. “I'll put some potions aside just in case... if Liriel hadn't said anything, there's a good chance she didn't know either. You talk it over with her and then both let me know what you decide.”
“I will. Thank you,” Madanach whispered. “Can you see yourself out? I need to be alone...”
“Of course,” Styrr said, taking his leave. “Blessings of Arkay on you both, Madanach.”
Madanach waited until the priest was gone before collapsing on the bed, shattered. The obvious choice, the rational choice, was for Liriel to get rid of it. Single parenthood, the child losing its father young – how old was Ancalime? She'd just lost her father, she was clearly devastated, Madanach didn't think he'd live another thirty years. That was leaving aside the Skooma addiction. Gods, Liriel didn't even know about that yet. And her father was dead, and there was still her mother to deal with, what happened to Ancalime no one knew but Madanach had a feeling they'd end up raising her with the girls. That was if Liriel still wanted him as a husband after this, doubtful to say the least.
But his heart was saying otherwise. His heart was filling his head with visions of a chubby little golden-skinned pointy-eared half-blood baby, and not all the trying to talk himself out of it was helping. He wanted that baby, wanted to get to know it, see it grow up, actually raise a child to adulthood and knowing it couldn't happen because of his own damn mortality... it was breaking his heart and now he knew how she felt. Time ticking away, no longer on his side, and he didn't want to die any more, he missed Kaie yes, but he was no longer quietly counting the days until he could finally die and be reunited with her. Not with a baby that would need a father.
He'd need to have a long conversation with Liriel. And Nepos and Eola and Keirine and the girls and sundry others. But if this all worked out... yes. For his pregnant wife and his child-to-be, he would do absolutely anything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Poor Meryndor. I did want to save him but the rest of the fic goes easier with him gone. Poor Cali as well, the poor child's heartbroken - but also very resilient.
Poor Madanach and Liriel too. Their heads and all previous rational discussion have said 'no, no children, not fair on the kid'. But their hearts are going 'baby!' Next chapter, time for Madanach and Liriel to have a Serious Talk.
Re: Thicker Than Blood 10.8
“She can't be,” Madanach whispered, the unfairness of it all hitting him. “She can't!”
“Is this not good news?” Styrr said softly. “Did you not want to...?”
“Of course I wanted to, but at my age... Sweet gods, it'll be half-blood, I'm not even going to see it grow up, this isn't... this isn't fair!”
“I know,” Styrr said gently, and Madanach guessed he must have seen this sort of thing hundreds of times. “I'll put some potions aside just in case... if Liriel hadn't said anything, there's a good chance she didn't know either. You talk it over with her and then both let me know what you decide.”
“I will. Thank you,” Madanach whispered. “Can you see yourself out? I need to be alone...”
“Of course,” Styrr said, taking his leave. “Blessings of Arkay on you both, Madanach.”
Madanach waited until the priest was gone before collapsing on the bed, shattered. The obvious choice, the rational choice, was for Liriel to get rid of it. Single parenthood, the child losing its father young – how old was Ancalime? She'd just lost her father, she was clearly devastated, Madanach didn't think he'd live another thirty years. That was leaving aside the Skooma addiction. Gods, Liriel didn't even know about that yet. And her father was dead, and there was still her mother to deal with, what happened to Ancalime no one knew but Madanach had a feeling they'd end up raising her with the girls. That was if Liriel still wanted him as a husband after this, doubtful to say the least.
But his heart was saying otherwise. His heart was filling his head with visions of a chubby little golden-skinned pointy-eared half-blood baby, and not all the trying to talk himself out of it was helping. He wanted that baby, wanted to get to know it, see it grow up, actually raise a child to adulthood and knowing it couldn't happen because of his own damn mortality... it was breaking his heart and now he knew how she felt. Time ticking away, no longer on his side, and he didn't want to die any more, he missed Kaie yes, but he was no longer quietly counting the days until he could finally die and be reunited with her. Not with a baby that would need a father.
He'd need to have a long conversation with Liriel. And Nepos and Eola and Keirine and the girls and sundry others. But if this all worked out... yes. For his pregnant wife and his child-to-be, he would do absolutely anything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Poor Meryndor. I did want to save him but the rest of the fic goes easier with him gone. Poor Cali as well, the poor child's heartbroken - but also very resilient.
Poor Madanach and Liriel too. Their heads and all previous rational discussion have said 'no, no children, not fair on the kid'. But their hearts are going 'baby!' Next chapter, time for Madanach and Liriel to have a Serious Talk.