Post by Katty on Jan 11, 2015 15:51:10 GMT 10
Title: Chains
Rating: PG
Warnings: n/a
For: Griff
Prompt: Someone has a scandalous oops!Baby
Summary: AU!Tusaine fic. The Duchess consults a midwife.
Notes: Griff I know how much you love playing in this AU space, so I hope you enjoy this ficlet!!
- - -
The midwife resisted the urge to rub her temples. Instead she surveyed her charge and said softly, “There is no mistake, your Grace.”
“Check again,” the girl snapped angrily. “It must be a mistake. It can’t be.” Her violet eyes flashed – with fear or anger, the midwife wasn’t sure. Perhaps it was both.
“I did,” she replied firmly. “You are with child, your Grace.” She pressed a cup of soothing tea into the girl’s hands. “Drink this,” she ordered.
It was hard not to pity the girl. Everyone knew her story; captured, discovered and shamed. It was the turning point of the war with Tortall, and when the warrior-Duke reclaimed the Drell Valley, he named his reward to his brother, the King; her.
Alanna of Keir was the teenage prize-bride of a spiteful man. And now, it seemed, she was pregnant.
The tea sat idle in the girl’s hands, and the midwife could see her panic building. She placed a hand on the Duchess’ arm. “Drink the tea, child,” she coaxed. “For the babe, if not yourself.” Finally, the girl obeyed and sipped from the cup.
When she had collected herself, the girl pulled a necklace from under her dress. Pulling it over her head, she passed it to the midwife. “This was supposed to prevent any children,” she whispered.
Probing the charm with her magic, the midwife sighed. She placed it on the table in front of her, the fine gold chain pooling next to it. “There is no magic in this,” she said heavily. She hesitated, before continuing carefully, “Sometimes wives – or husbands – will replace a working charm with a copy. When one wants a child, but the other does not.”
Alanna slammed the table in front of her and swore. “My Gift is bound,” she cried. “He must have known I wouldn’t be able to feel a difference.”
The Duchess’ magic prison was whispered about in certain circles. Duke Hilam had the finest mages in the Eastern Lands restrict his bride’s sorcery. The midwife glanced at the dull gold wedding band on the girl’s right hand; rumours were that it was chain to dampen her magic. After her last escape attempt, she had been further confined to the Palace and was escorted everywhere by body-women sworn to the Duke. Even now, they lurked outside the shielded workroom door, barely respecting a demand for privacy.
The midwife hesitated. “Does – does he mistreat you?” she asked quietly. “If he is violent and cruel, the Goddess’ temple will take you. You may have his child there…” the woman trailed off. Any child of a royal Duke would be ripped from its mother’s arms upon birth.
Smiling bitterly, the girl toyed with the hollow charm on the table. “Hilam can never know of this child.” She rose from her chair, and placed the charm back around her neck. “I must be gone before I show.”
The midwife reached across and grabbed the Alanna’s arm. “It would be treason,” she whispered urgently. “A royal heir - they would kill you.”
“You misunderstand,” Alanna said. “This is no royal heir.” She straightened her back and shook out her skirts. “The father has means. He will help me escape.”
“Wait,” the midwife instructed. She pulled several packets of herbs from her stores. “Take these with you. The white pouch will make a tea to help with the early sickness,” she instructed. “Hide it in your bodice.” She pressed a blue packet into the girl’s hands. “Carry these ones out. They are to help with your cycle, tell your shadows that is all I aided with. Let no one know the truth.”
She watched as the girl stuffed the herbs down her front. “Goddess bless you and your child, Your Grace,” she said.
Alanna smiled back at her as she opened the door. “Thank you for your kindness, Mistress. I won't forget it.”
The midwife watched the door shut, feeling as if she had aged a hundred years. Knowing she must be gone before the girl was, she wearily reached for a box to begin packing.
Rating: PG
Warnings: n/a
For: Griff
Prompt: Someone has a scandalous oops!Baby
Summary: AU!Tusaine fic. The Duchess consults a midwife.
Notes: Griff I know how much you love playing in this AU space, so I hope you enjoy this ficlet!!
- - -
The midwife resisted the urge to rub her temples. Instead she surveyed her charge and said softly, “There is no mistake, your Grace.”
“Check again,” the girl snapped angrily. “It must be a mistake. It can’t be.” Her violet eyes flashed – with fear or anger, the midwife wasn’t sure. Perhaps it was both.
“I did,” she replied firmly. “You are with child, your Grace.” She pressed a cup of soothing tea into the girl’s hands. “Drink this,” she ordered.
It was hard not to pity the girl. Everyone knew her story; captured, discovered and shamed. It was the turning point of the war with Tortall, and when the warrior-Duke reclaimed the Drell Valley, he named his reward to his brother, the King; her.
Alanna of Keir was the teenage prize-bride of a spiteful man. And now, it seemed, she was pregnant.
The tea sat idle in the girl’s hands, and the midwife could see her panic building. She placed a hand on the Duchess’ arm. “Drink the tea, child,” she coaxed. “For the babe, if not yourself.” Finally, the girl obeyed and sipped from the cup.
When she had collected herself, the girl pulled a necklace from under her dress. Pulling it over her head, she passed it to the midwife. “This was supposed to prevent any children,” she whispered.
Probing the charm with her magic, the midwife sighed. She placed it on the table in front of her, the fine gold chain pooling next to it. “There is no magic in this,” she said heavily. She hesitated, before continuing carefully, “Sometimes wives – or husbands – will replace a working charm with a copy. When one wants a child, but the other does not.”
Alanna slammed the table in front of her and swore. “My Gift is bound,” she cried. “He must have known I wouldn’t be able to feel a difference.”
The Duchess’ magic prison was whispered about in certain circles. Duke Hilam had the finest mages in the Eastern Lands restrict his bride’s sorcery. The midwife glanced at the dull gold wedding band on the girl’s right hand; rumours were that it was chain to dampen her magic. After her last escape attempt, she had been further confined to the Palace and was escorted everywhere by body-women sworn to the Duke. Even now, they lurked outside the shielded workroom door, barely respecting a demand for privacy.
The midwife hesitated. “Does – does he mistreat you?” she asked quietly. “If he is violent and cruel, the Goddess’ temple will take you. You may have his child there…” the woman trailed off. Any child of a royal Duke would be ripped from its mother’s arms upon birth.
Smiling bitterly, the girl toyed with the hollow charm on the table. “Hilam can never know of this child.” She rose from her chair, and placed the charm back around her neck. “I must be gone before I show.”
The midwife reached across and grabbed the Alanna’s arm. “It would be treason,” she whispered urgently. “A royal heir - they would kill you.”
“You misunderstand,” Alanna said. “This is no royal heir.” She straightened her back and shook out her skirts. “The father has means. He will help me escape.”
“Wait,” the midwife instructed. She pulled several packets of herbs from her stores. “Take these with you. The white pouch will make a tea to help with the early sickness,” she instructed. “Hide it in your bodice.” She pressed a blue packet into the girl’s hands. “Carry these ones out. They are to help with your cycle, tell your shadows that is all I aided with. Let no one know the truth.”
She watched as the girl stuffed the herbs down her front. “Goddess bless you and your child, Your Grace,” she said.
Alanna smiled back at her as she opened the door. “Thank you for your kindness, Mistress. I won't forget it.”
The midwife watched the door shut, feeling as if she had aged a hundred years. Knowing she must be gone before the girl was, she wearily reached for a box to begin packing.