Gardening Accident

[Adin nó Alyssum]

"About two months. She's just been... very touchy," I replied. I was relieved that it was normal, and that it wasn't me. I had heard that tempers changed, but not from a learned source, only from men grumbling about their wives.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"Wouldn't you be, if your body changed without you having any control on the situation?" I asked with a smile. "Many of my patients have complained that they feel possessed by a superior force, and by many ways, it's not wrong," I told him. "There is indeed a new life inside of her, and as wonderful as it may be, it's also terrifying. Add the nausea and the belly pains, and you have a perfect recipe for touchiness. I wouldn't fret about it, if I were you."

I'd completely interrupted my work, and pondered a moment. "How is the pregnancy going, though? Does she have a physician, or a midwife?" I wasn't really trying to fish for business - it was natural due diligence on my part.

[Adin nó Alyssum]

"The Night Court has midwives. No one House lays claim to them, they go where they are needed," I replied. I frowned a bit at the thought of what Alli might be going through. I didn't want to see her uncomfortable. "And it seems to be going normally."

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"Oh, good," I replied, reassured. "She'll be fine, then, it's just a matter of patience." I didn't tell him that pregnancies made me nervous, or that I was raising a child alone because his mother had died in labor. I didn't want to make him more concerned than he was already.

I settled to remove the fourth stitch, and as I spoke, I asked, "So should I congratulate you, then?"

[Adin nó Alyssum]

I paused for a moment as he set to work on the second to last stitch, trying to think of how to answer his question. "Not quite yet," I finally settled on. I had told him it wasn't simple.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"That's sensible," I replied as I cut the yarn. "You know, some families don't even discuss it until the third month has passed, for superstition's sake. I don't think much of it, but still, I will congratulate you when opportune."

As I'd spoken, I'd pulled out the yarn and disinfected his hand again. I wasn't sure if he was saying it because of that ridiculous superstition, or for another reason, but I figured he'd tell me in time. Not simple, he'd said. If the woman was sharing her heart... oh gods. Poor Adin.

[Adin nó Alyssum]

I wished I could have blamed the superstition. "Well, I would wait until the babe is born," I replied in a neutral tone, studying the wall behind him. I didn't want to look at my hand, or see pity on his face.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

He hadn't even winced as I removed that stitch, I noted. He had enough on his mind. "It's when they are customary, anyway," I replied matter-of-factly, but warmly. Elua, it was the first time his tone lacked joy, or serenity. It was almost concerning. "Are you ready for the last one? Gardening awaits!" I said, gingerly, and finding myself a little bit ridiculous.

[Adin nó Alyssum]

I looked at him then, and forced a smile. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a stick in the mud." I followed his suggestion, and thought of all the jobs I had waiting for me when I got home. My outlook started to lighten, and my smile became less forced.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"Bah, this is the Broodatorium, remember?" I teased as I put the finishing touch to removing his last stitch. I cleaned it, and applied some salve, along with a dressing. "Never apologize to me for that, I have no manners anyway," I added with a smile.

[Adin nó Alyssum]

His words surprised a chuckle out of me. "You never struck me as a boor," I replied as he worked on the finishing touches.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"That's the effect of handling sharp object in the proximity of people's skin," I replied with a chuckle. "But thank you. I appreciate it. And likewise, by the way."

[Adin nó Alyssum]

The thought that after ten years in the Night Court, that I could be a boor was outlandish. I chuckled again, though probably not for the reasons he thought. "So what you're saying it that the closer you get with those things," I said, gesturing to the scissors in his hand, "The more respectful people become?"

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"It's happened in the past," I replied matter-of-factly. "You don't really want to annoy someone who's about to sow your hand, it's just a matter of good sense," I replied. "You don't seem to make much of it, but some people still have a problem with the Skaldi, Adin," I added matter-of-factly.

[Adin nó Alyssum]

My expression was serious, the earlier chuckling gone. "I try to judge on people's actions, not my fear."

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

My smile softened a little. "I thought you did," I replied on a warmer tone. "I was just explaining to you that such is not always the case." I chuckled, and added, "Will you believe one man even tried to talk to me in what he thought was my native tongue, although I recollect none of it? Appearances..."

[Adin nó Alyssum]

"When were you taken in?" I asked softly, using the words he had the week before.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

"I was very small," I replied as I commenced to gather the equipment and put it away, in bins for future boiling, or to throw away. "Close to my 5th natal, perhaps, maybe less. I don't remember much." I shrugged, and turned to look at Adin, "I was lucky, they said I could have died."

I had fleeting memories of being buried in a pile of flesh, and even though the Marshalls of Camlach had confirmed it, it almost seemed like a bad dream. Too bad it came back every night.

[Adin nó Alyssum]

I had an easy life, compared to many. I thanked Elua every day for it.

"Lucky for me you didn't. I would have been down a friend." I replied, a tiny smile on my face.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

I grinned wide. “Oh, my time isn’t anywhere close to coming,” I told him much warmly. “I’ll live to see my son’s children, I know it.”

I gave him a look of amusement. “And to see my friend’s children grow to become beautiful, wise adults,” I added. I had a hunch he wanted children, one way, or the other. Besides, being a parent had nothing to do with blood – I was well placed to know such a thing.

[Adin nó Alyssum]

His words comforted me, reminded me that I was still young. I truly hoped Allisande's babe was mine by blood, but I would care for him or her no matter what. My smile grew wider as my spirits lifted. It was good to have friends. "Planning on having any more? Or does your boy fill up your heart?"

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

“He fills my heart, but there would be room for more,” I replied after some consideration. “My fiancée would make a wonderful mother, and even though she gets along with him wonderfully, I’d like for her to have the experience of motherhood, if she wants it.” I shook my head, “It’s not only my decision. It’s a big deal, for a woman, to get pregnant.”

[Adin nó Alyssum]

I chuckled. "Yes, I realize," I replied, thinking of a certain Dahlia. "Has a tendency for being a big deal for the rest of their lives."

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

A short laugh escaped my lips. “That’s a euphemism – and I would know, seeing as I’ve been raising my own alone,” I added. “But it’s a beautiful present,” I said, my smile growing tender at the memories that filled my mind. I’d changed his diaper, cradled him to sleep every night. The only thing I hadn’t done, was give him the milk, for obvious reasons – and he did have a mother figure in Sylvie, but still. His presence in my life would always be great joy.

[Adin nó Alyssum]

I saw the look on his face and smiled, envious of the tender joy that was apparent. "Was it difficult?"

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

“Not as much as one thinks,” I replied. “But I was very young, and still green as far as caregiving was concerned. I was lucky to have a very helpful head governess. It’s all worth it, though.”

I felt a bit guilty – I’d been lucky throughout almost all my life, hadn’t I?

[Adin nó Alyssum]

"So my father has told me. It's too bad he wasn't able to come in the other day, I think you two would have liked each other." I said with a smile. But then, I didn't know anyone who didn't like my father.

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

“Really?” I asked with a smile. “Perhaps next time you need to have something stitched, you can bring him along, then.” Gods. What a terrible thing to say. “Nevermind, don’t get hurt, let’s just go for a drink, and you’ll invite him, how’s that?”

[Adin nó Alyssum]

I chuckled. "I like the sound of the second option a lot more, no offense to your skills," I told him with a little smile as I stood. "I'd be honoured, and I'm sure my father would say the same."

[Siegfried de Strasbourg(D)]

“That sounds perfect,” I replied with an amused smile. I liked that my social ineptitude pass of a strange, morbid sense of humor. That, or Adin was particularly patient and kind. Right. I’d go for the second option any day. “Shall we say two weeks hence?”