Chapter CL: The nest
Isabella slowly opened her eyes, finding herself back in her bed. A healer stood beside her, adjusting the blankets, while another spoke in hushed tones with Alaric near the doorway. As Alaric noticed she was awake, he moved quickly to her side, his expression softening with relief.
“Are you alright?” he asked gently.
“My baby…” she murmured, the words barely audible. Alaric’s face clouded with sorrow as he took her hand.
“Kai?” she whispered, confused, as a flicker of panic rose in her eyes. Alaric immediately understood and reassured her, “Kai is fine. He’s safe, in his room.”
Isabella blinked, comprehension slowly dawning as her hand instinctively drifted to her stomach. “I was… pregnant?” she asked, her voice trembling. Alaric nodded, his own eyes reflecting the pain of what had been lost.
Tears gathered in her eyes, spilling silently as she whispered, “I didn’t even know this time…”
Alaric looked at the healers. “Is there anything more you need to do?”
One of them shook their head. “She should be alright now, Your Majesty. She just needs rest.”
Alaric nodded and dismissed them with a wave, waiting as they bowed and left the room. Turning back to Isabella, he gently wiped a tear from her cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me about the others?” he asked softly, his voice both pained and worried. “You’ve been through this twice in the past few months, and I had no idea.”
Isabella bit her lip, casting her gaze downward. “I didn’t want to worry you…”
“Of course I should worry,” Alaric said, frustration bleeding into his tone. “You’re my wife, and you’ve been suffering because I got you pregnant. You should have told me.”
She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. “I wanted to give you another child. I felt I had to.”
Alaric’s eyes softened as he shook his head. “Why would you think that? You’ve given me four beautiful children. Yes, it would be wonderful to have more, but not if it risks you like this.”
Her voice broke as she admitted, “Because if I could give you another child with… with auburn hair like mine, maybe people would stop questioning Kai. And… maybe it would mean I wasn’t cursed.”
Alaric stroked her cheek, shaking his head. “You’re not cursed. You’re just strong, and what you went through with Kai was hard. Maybe you need more time; Kai’s not even two yet. And who cares about what people say? He’s my son.”
Isabella’s gaze hardened as she pulled back slightly. “Don’t act like you don’t have your own doubts, Alaric. You wanted to send him away.”
Alaric sighed deeply, collecting his thoughts. “Yes, I like the idea of giving one of our children a title—something that would allow Allendor to stand independent while under the protection of the dragon crown. But I never said we would send him now. I just thought that, in time, Kai could be prepared for that role, if it was right for him.”
Taking her hand in his, he pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “I knew Kai was mine from the moment you told me he was. There was never a doubt in my mind. And his hair?” Alaric chuckled softly. “That only makes it clearer he’s yours. But he’s our son. My son. There’s no rumor or whisper cruel enough to change that.”
Tears streamed freely down Isabella’s face, and she pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the miscarriages,” she whispered.
Alaric kissed her forehead. “It’s alright. Maybe it’s my fault for not convincing you enough that the purpose of my existence is to take care of you—and those four little terrors in the next room.” A small, watery laugh escaped her at his words.
A gentle knock on the door interrupted the moment, and Alaric called, “Come in.”
Lady Alicent entered, guiding the children in. Kai was perched on her hip, while Ikkar and the twins walked in front of her. They all scampered to Isabella’s side, climbing onto the bed with a mixture of care and excitement. Ikkar looked at her with wide, concerned eyes. “Lady Alicent said you were sick, Mama.”
Isabella brushed his hair, her smile soft. “Yes, Mama wasn’t feeling well, but I’m better now.”
Ikkar held out a small flower he had picked from the flowerpot in her bedroom. Isabella’s eyes softened further, and she accepted it with a heartfelt thank you, feeling the warmth of his gesture.
“Can we play now?” Ikkar asked, his face hopeful.
Alaric chuckled, shaking his head. “Not right now. Go with Lady Alicent for a while. Mama needs a bit more rest so she can play with you soon.”
Kai, oblivious to the gravity of the moment, crawled onto Isabella’s lap, his small hands gripping her dress. Alaric quickly swooped in, lifting Kai and setting him on his own lap to prevent him from hurting her unintentionally. Isabella looked at her husband and their children, and as she studied Kai’s face, she realized that, apart from his hair, he was his father’s image—a perfect blend of both of them.
Her lips curved into a smile. She was still physically weak, but her heart felt whole, and she knew she would make it through.
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