Fulfillment

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 10th January 2014

Characters: Karhal, Loella
Description: Loella brings news
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 4, day 20 of Turn 7

Karhal

Loella

The office was quiet and no one had responded to the knock, but within
moments, reason was clear as to why no one had. Two sets of heavy
footfalls sounded down the halls as Karhal appeared, trailed by
another guard. But instead of the calm, capable facade that Karhal
normally affected, his face was a cold mask.

Half carrying and half-dragging a young teenaged boy by the scruff of
his neck, Karhal barely glanced at Loella as he strode past her,
opened the door of his office and literally flung the boy inside. His
voice was a sharp bark. "Veyter!"

The guard glanced at Loella and murmured quietly. "Give us a minute,
Lady. He'll be right with you." He gave an apologetic smile before
stepping into the office, and closing the door quietly behind him.

For long moments, there was nothing but silence, any words muffled by
the thick door. But suddenly, there was a sharp thud of something
striking wood and a terrified yelp. Then, more silence. A few more
moments passed before Veyter appeared, the young teen, now very pale
and trembling, being escorted out. The teen saw Loella, yelped and
quickly covered his eyes. Veyter fought to conceal a smile before
nodding over his shoulder. "He can see you now."

Her eyes were big as dinner plates as she watched the boy and Veyter
move away. Then she turned back to the door just a little bit
intimidated but determined nevertheless. She clasped her hands under
her breasts and took a deep breath before pushing it open.

"Karhal?"

The voice that answered was quiet. "Come in." Karhal sat behind his
desk, his face calm and collected though his lips and jaw were taut.
He rubbed the side of his hand with his other fingers and as he looked
up, his eyes gentled considerably. "Hello, sweet." He exhaled, took a
deep breath and rose to greet her. He moved around his desk and bent
to brush his lips lightly over her cheek.

She accepted the kiss and change in his demeanor, she even smiled. She
knew what he was capable of or he wouldn't be the Captain of the
Hold's guard detail. Still that stern and cold man wasn't one she
really cared to see very often. "Hard day?"

He nodded, then wrapped one arm lightly around her waist to give her a
brief, but warm embrace. "A bit, yes." He lifted his head to look out
of the door, his lips firming slightly. "Just had to teach an
important lesson." He looked back down at her and arched a brow; she
normally didn't intrude on his office during the day. "Not that I mind
your visit, but is something the matter?"

"I think you need to sit down," she said with a small smile.

Brows immediately snapped down and he pulled away. "What's wrong? Did
someone hurt you?"

"No," she said and pushed at him to head him toward the chair. "Sit."

He allowed her to push him towards the chair and with a frown sat,
looking at Loella with worry and confusion. "Okay. I'm sitting. What's
going on, Loella?"

She moved after him and once he was settled in the chair leaned
against his desk. So many emotions warred inside her and she could
only hope he would take the news well. At least this way she could see
his eyes when she gave him the news.

"Well," she said and reached out to softly stroke a few hairs on the
side of his head. "You're going to be a father."

He watched her face as she spoke and as the words came out of her
mouth, he went absolutely still and his eyes widened. He stared at her
face, looked down at her abdomen and then back at her face. His voice
was whisper soft. "What?" He blinked, sat up straight and a trembling
hand laid on her stomach.

She covered his hand with hers and took a moment to smile gently at
his shock. She'd felt much the same way and her voice trembled a bit
when she finally answered. "I'm pregnant."

All he could do was stare at her stomach, and feel her hands laying on
his; his thoughts were a jumble. They were betrothed, not wed. He'd
always thought he'd be childless and would never know the joy of being
a father. They were not wed. He would be a father. He blinked slowly.
He would be a father. She carried his child inside of her. Now. He
took a gasping inward breath, slid off of his chair and fell to his
knees in front of the mother of his daughter or son. His brow rested
on their hands while the his other free hand wrapped tightly around
her waist

She gently extracted a hand and moved it to his hair. She couldn't
help the tears that welled up in her eyes. "We're going to have a
baby," she whispered. Nothing else mattered as she hugged him.

His voice was hoarse as he spoke against her stomach and his hand
clenched against her waist. "A baby...thank you. Sweet Faranth, thank
you..." He turned his head slightly to place a gentle kiss on her
abdomen before looking up at Loella and his eyes shone with emotions
that he rarely displayed; they were damp, his heart in his eyes. "I
swear to you, you'll never want for anything. You or the child. " He
bent again to brush his lips over her stomach. "I love you. I love you
both."

When his face turned up to her she saw her entire world in his eyes.
Their normal steel had turned almost silver with the depth of emotion
that matched her own. Her lips quivered until she bit them together
for a moment. "I love you too," she whispered. "I always have." Her
hand stroked the side of his face and she dropped her head to kiss
him.

He clutched her to him for a moment before rising, scooping her up
with a pure sudden joy. "I'm to be a father!" He held her in his arms
with a deep laugh that shook his entire frame. For now, he didn't care
that they weren't wed, that would come in only a few seven days. She
had given him a gift beyond measure, something he had always ached for
and before she had come to him, had given up on; at that moment Loella
could have asked anything of him and he would have done it without a
second's thought.

She squeaked in surprise when he picked her up and her eyes popped
wide. Then she relaxed a little and laughed with him sharing his
obvious joy. His reaction was far more than she'd ever thought to
hope. "Karhal!" She giggled.

Last updated on the February 1st 2014

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