WORRLGENHALL (17 page)

Again, Nona pushed
and the child came out of her womb.

“
Such a wonderful sight,” Nona said amazed that a living being actually came out of her and began to cry, and as Orhan pinched him, he began to cry loudly in sync with his mother.

“
Such a strong sound,” Orhan said, as he cleaned his hands, “It is good.”

“
I thank you, Orhan,” Seda said, and smiled.

When he heard the sounds of crying, Laad stopped pacing.

“I hear strong lungs,” he said quickly and began to walk towards the door as Orhan walked out.

“
She and the child are well,” Orhan said now, walking away.

Laad exhaled loud and hard.

“I am grateful,” Laad said.

“
It was but a minor toil,” Orhan said, stopping only for a moment, “But if she bears more children…”

“
Yes,” Laad said, listening intently expecting some ancient secret for child birthing.

“
Make sure she remembers she must push,” he added, as an amused smile came on his face, but he did not turn around for them to see it.

“
I shall.”

“
Then, I will leave you too,” Wurden said, “This night has been long.”

“
Old friend,” Laad said, about to thank him.

“
There is no need for words,” Wurden said, and he put his hand on Laad’s shoulder and walked away.

Quietly and humbly, Laad entered the chamber, but remained outside the bedchamber while the women cleaned the blood and mucky fluids on Nona and their child; then as Seda walked passed him to leave, he spoke.

“My queen,” he said, “I thank you for your kindness.”

“
Thank me for my kindness,” Seda repeated bewildered he did, “A hideous sight I would have been had you not slain Uded, and you know I love Nona so, there is no need for thanks or ever will be.

“
But my queen you have done so much for me and Nona” Laad’s voice softened even more with gratitude, “I …”

“
Laad,” Seda cut his words short, “Go to your loved ones.”

Seda left Laad standing by the door, and once the two women had left, meekly, he pulled back the curtain, lifting h
is eyes to Nona, then the bundle in her arms as he approached them.

“
Husband,” Nona said softly, her face glowing as she handed the bundle to Laad, “Your son.”

Gently, Laad took him and sat on the bed next to Nona.

“I could never have reasoned I could love so deeply,” he said. His eyes swelling as his chest puffed with pride, he kissed the top of his son’s head, before he kissed Nona tenderly on her lips.

“
What name will you give him?”

“
I have reasoned and reasoned day and night as your womb grew,” he said, staring at his son’s face, “But as I paced it came to me…”

“
And it is?

“
Elaad,” Laad answered.

“
Then Elaad his name is,” Nona said proudly, as Laad moved to lay beside her with their son in his arms, “Elaad, son of Laad.”

**

Seda went back to her chamber and once undressed, slid quietly into bed beside King Rone, who when she did rolled over and pulled her close to him.

“
Is all well with Nona?” he asked half asleep.

“
She has given him a son,” Seda answered, as she rested her head on the pillow and musingly sighed thinking of the joys of motherhood.

Her sigh deep, King Rone raised his head; then looked at her.

“What brings such a sigh?” he asked.

“
Would it bring you joy to have more children?” she asked, “With two sons grown and one married who will have children of his own soon all would gather.”

“
You ask a question that a course has already been set to follow.”

“
What do you mean?”

“
My queen,” he said, “You have women attend you. Nothing is hidden from me.”

“
Nothing...” Seda said, while looking at him curiously.

“
Nothing,” King Rone said, as he smiled at her.

“
What is in your head?”

“
Such joy I felt when words came that you have gone a time and have not bled,” he confessed, “But I held my joy within, until the words came from you.”

“
I feel sorrow,” Seda said saddened, “That you did not hear it from me first.”

“
Then reveal it as if I had not.”

“
There is no joy in hearing again what you already know.”

“
Speak it.”

Seda smiled; then looked at King Rone lovingly.

“My husband Rone,” she whispered, “A father you will be once more.”

“
I love you, my wife,” he said as he kissed her, “Deeply.”

“
And what is inside me?”

“
More.”

“
A daughter you will have.”

“
I make sons,” he said proudly.

“
And now you will make a daughter.”

“
Then I pray she is like her mother,” he said, “Beautiful, and with a mind for words able to win the hearts of many, including a king’s.”

T
he king’s admiration for Orem great as one who served under his father and him as well, although he waited as long as he could out of respect before replacing him, at the urging of his quorum, he sought another Lord Helm, and after much discussion, Irek who served under Orem, he chose.

Irek, who had proven himself in battle many times, but had stayed behind instead of going to the lowlands because of an
illness, when the king chose him, none grumbled or spoke against the his decision.

Whoever
first in command thought of as fighting in place of the king, other than the king’s sons, all would obey his commands when scouting the lands, in wars or battles, and matters with the united men.

Since Irek moved in place, he had word on who would be under him, but asked the king to have a challenge. A challenge were only the guilds could vie and in the end, whomever showed the best skills for battle and reason, would
command under him and be high in place to also attend the king’s private quorum in all things, which even Belon and Ogorec could not.

The challenge set for a short time away, the men trained honing their skills, but as Irek watched them, time after time
he did not see the one he knew would do well among them and, in truth, only who he wanted.

Irek close friends with Laad
’s father watched, in truth, actually helped him grow from a boy to a man and wanted him to take his inherent place by moving higher in status, and although many already respected him, to gain the respect of all, he wanted him to vie for the honor.

The days passing quickly, the vie now set for early morning, that night Irek went to see Laad in his chamber, and as he discreetly knocked on hi
s door, when he answered Irek spoke to him quietly, but didn’t come inside.

“
Time after time,” Irek spoke, “I see you only training with your bowmen.”

“
It is not my will to vie,” Laad revealed, “I am pleased with my place and in it I can be near my wife and son, and not scout the lands in the springs.”

“
Your father reasoned that too,” Irek said, “And chose to be what he was instead of rising more. If only in your youth an illness had not taken him before his time, just as it did your mother.”

“
What are your words to me?”

“
That nothing is foreseen to us in life…” Irek’s vague answer, “Fate is fate, and is in all things.”

“
Your words are veiled to me,” Laad questioned, “Why?”

“
One day they will become clear,” he answered assuredly, “Such is your blood to rise, even with no will of your own.”

“
My wife spoke such words,” Laad said, as he thought back, “But for her sake and my son, I am pleased to only teach others.”

“
So thick is your skull Laad,” Irek’s voice rose annoyed with Laad’s stubbornness, “His blood flows well through you. You are your father’s son. Keep my words well in your head.”

Both pondering over their conversation, when Laad looked at Irek and noticed the fixed look on his face intent on getting an answer, he could not give him one.

“I must reason for a time,” he at least offered, certain Laad wouldn’t leave his door with a lesser reply.

“
Do not reason long,” Irek warned, “In the morning it begins.”

Laad closed the door; then sat in his chair with Nona
’s beads in his hand and stared into the hearth. His mind again recalling Nona’s words long ago and of her belief in him, made his thoughts run deep.

“
Laad,” Nona said, when she slightly awoke and noticed he was out of bed, “Come to bed.”

“
I will soon, my love,” Laad said, “But now my head is plagued with many things.”

Nona said nothing else, and instead got out of bed, walked to him; then stood in front of the hearth blocking his view of the fire, and as he looked at her from feet to head, he smiled.

“I swear you have gotten more beautiful,” he whispered, “Motherhood has made your face glow and filled your shapely body even more.”

“
Come to bed,” she whispered, and held out her hand.

“
To sleep?” he questioned, “I would only toss and turn about.”

“
What fills your head?” Her soothing whisper before she moved to sit on his lap.

“
Irek wants me to vie with the others for a place under him.” Laad sighed debating the option in his head, “If I do well I will be higher in place, yet I will be away from you in the springs and when the oath calls.”

“
I will speak it once more,” Nona’s again assuring words, “You will command all one day, and I will proudly by your side.”

“
I want to be a husband and father,” he said, “And have you still filled with pride by my side.”

“
Chose what you will.” She touched his face. “And know that still by your side in all things, I will be.”

Tenderly, he kissed her as she sat upon his lap.

“Come to bed,” she urged, when she felt his hand caressing her thigh.

“
I will only toss and turn about,” he whispered, “Sleep is far from me.”

“
Were my words to sleep?”

“
Umm, I gathered you were tender.” His eyes lovingly gazing upon her wanting body. “It is why I have not touched you since Elaad was born.”

“
I have made you long for me,” her regretful words, as she scooted her body up more to him before she touched groin, noticing it taut to the touch, “Forgive me.”

As if but a feather in his hands, her words surging through him, Laad lifted Nona and carried her to bed; then as he climbed
in bed and pulled her close, she touched his strong chin, as he whispered to her.

“
Are you sure my beloved sunrise?”

“
Have I not sworn always to grant all your needs?” she asked, as she wrapped her leg around his strong thigh, “Yes, my husband I am sure.”

Laad
’s breath heavy into Nona’s mouth, his hands upon her caressing her body, as long tender strokes from his hand moved up and down her firm but soft thighs, he removed her bed gown.

“
I pray I am never behind the wrath of such strong hands.” She moaned, and his chest already bare, she quickly helped him lower his pants.

Her kiss upon his chest tender, he moved her onto her back and pressed his body to hers.

“I need you,” his soft words; then his hand under her knee, he lifted her leg to put it around his lower back, but when did, Elaad began to cry.

“
Oh, this is worse than a blow,” Laad cried out, from the pang of having their desiring kisses and touches suddenly halted.

“
Your son hungers,” she said, as she slid from under him; then wrapped herself, before she went to Elaad.

“
So does his father,” his words, before a roguish smile came across his face, as he flipped onto his back.

“
One warriors need at a time.”

Adoringly, Laad watched Nona feed Elaad from her full and sensu
al breasts, and as he suckled, he anxiously waited for his turn to enjoy them.

Lovingly, Nona rocked their son back and forth in her arms, smiling at Laad, who had gotten onto his side with his head in his hand to watch.

“He is asleep again,” she whispered, then placed him back in his own bed before hurrying back into Laad’s arms.

“
My life is nothing if you are not happy,” he earnestly said, “Tell me how you feel about Irek’s words, and I will weigh them heavily.”

“
Laad,” she replied, “I know you love us and will choose a path you believe is right. What you choose to do will be what we do. You are our family’s head.”

Again, tenderly he kissed her and lay between her legs.

“I have missed the feel of your heated thighs around me; call to me Nona,” his voice deep as he spoke.

“
Ah!” she whimpered aroused, as she felt Laad’s shaft quickly swelling again for her, “Ah, Laad!”

Most of the morning Laad slept in a deep sleep, and when he awoke, he saw Nona sitting on the floor playing with Elaad.

“You have dreamed away your morning,” she said and smiled, “Are you hungry?”

“
Such that I could eat an ox,” he answered and rose from bed, immediately going to Nona to kiss her and Elaad, “Great desire filled this night.”

“
Eat,” she said, as she stood; then moved to sit down beside him, but as she did, winced.

Because she did, Laad reached for her concerned.
“Did I hurt you?”

“
Only a little,” she answered, “But such pleasure came from it.”

“
It was not my wish to do so.” He regretted, as he put her gently in his lap, “Why did you not reveal you were still so tender? I would not have touched you so soon.”

Nona smiled from his expression of regret
and teased him. “Tender or not, this night hurt me again, and again, and again.”

Laad smiled back and kissed her as she moved from h
is lap.

“
If you are to vie for a place make haste and eat,” she said assuredly.

“
I have not set my mind to do one or the other.”

“
I will be cheering for you among those who watch.”

Again, he smiled. “
Do you reason to know what is in my head even before I do?”

“
Oh husband, I do,” her confident answer, as she lifted Elaad to take him with her, “Dress and listen for your wife’s cheers.”

**

The vying already well underway, Nona made her way to the courtyard to sit among those who watched, but when Seda saw her, she called to her so she could sit in the king’s square.

“
He is growing such that I cannot close my eyes, and find him not unchanged,” she said, as she held him and looked into his face, “And look, I see no one face than his father.”

“
Such that I dread,” Nona said, “I will reason women will swoon for him much.”

“
Will Laad be among those down in the garden?”

“
It is my hope, my queen,” Nona said, “But in truth, I do not know.”

“
When you are ready,” Seda said, before she left Nona to take her place beside the king again, “Your place is waiting for you, but if Laad vies and does well, such will be your place that you, though I never saw you as it, need not be under me.”

“
He has missed part of the day.” Nona regretted, although she was at first certain he would come right away, “He did not rest much until morning, I reason maybe he is tired.”

As many sat around already cheering for those they sided with, the number great in the beginning as many vied, by the time Nona sat, their numbers lessened, as one out
shined the other.

With each
match, Irek rode in front of the men; then placed his sword over the head of who would ride forward to vie more. But, as the afternoon approached, Laad still not among them, at first believing he had convinced him, he now felt disheartened.

Baric beside his father, Bayl and Liha closer to the front away from the king and Seda to watch the vying, Belon and Ogorec, who both content with their place, and had no desire to rise, stood in the garden and watched as men on horses hurried
by them from time to time speaking on who fared better.

“
You do not vie anymore, yet it comes to mind your desire to one day rise,” Belon mentioned to Ogorec as they watched.

“
I remember such words,” Ogorec confessed playfully, “Yet; many of my desires have changed much over the seasons.”

“
Such as what?” he teasingly questioned already knowing what.

Both shared laughter, then as again Irek put his sword over the head of those to move forward, at first thinking nothing of it, Ogorec began to notice each ti
me Ovfren did well, or moved forward, he looked over at him no matter where he was in the garden.

“
Young Ovfren does well,” Belon now mentioned impressed, but unaware Ovfren had gazed at Ogorec more than once.

“
I did not see,” he lied.

Trying to doubt wh
at he suspected, that he was trying to impress him, Ogorec set his mind only to watch the others, but when Ovfren raced down the garden and again effortlessly got a ring on his lance, when he turned and deliberately looked at Ogorec, unable to force himself to look away, returned his glance.

Their eyes fixed into each other
’s, it was as if all others around them had become shadow figures, as each only saw the other, and from that moment on a spark ignited between them.