Northern Lights: The Druid of Black Lake

Chapter 17

The next two days were less eventful at Rocky Mountain. Marie continued to heal, she was able to move around a lot faster without assistance anymore. She still tired easily but she was getting stronger each day. I gave her salve several times a day but her neck had a permanent red ring around it like a necklace. Though it had healed well, it didn't seem that the marks would fade. It bothered me that Anthony had left such a mark on her body.

We decided to take a short walk to the gardens one afternoon. Marie was enjoying the fresh air after being cooped up in her bedroom for so long. We sat down on a blanket and drank some fruit punch in the sunshine. "It really is beautiful here." She told me, "I love this place. Even though it isn't Red Rose I love the mountains."

I smiled, "I know what you mean. I miss home sometimes, but I have fallen in love with Black Lake." Marie nodded, "It's so far though. You can't just pick up and go shopping like I can do in Calgary. That must be a pain sometimes." I laughed, "No I can't go shopping on impulse I didn't do that anyway. I think I'm better suited for the wilderness then the city." She laughed, agreeing with me.

As we sat talking I caught a whiff of something from Marie. It was faint but I could smell it more clearly now that she wasn't covered in blood and puss. It was a different sweetness that I had never experienced before. I leaned closer to her, almost in her face and took a keep breath. The smell was radiating from her, leaking through her pores. Marie stared at me, quizzically, "What's up?"

"You smell different. I can't place it. It's not from your injuries, it's not my salves or remedies. There is something going on, are you feeling alright?" I asked, placing my hand on her forehead. Marie waved it away and laughed, "No I'm not sick. I am alright. I know what it is." I stared at her, urging her to tell me.

Marie's eyes twinkled, "I'm pregnant." My face fell. She was radiating happiness; I couldn't hide my sadness. "Oh come on Char, I'm alright. This is happy news; you should be excited. We are going to be pregnant at the same time." She said, holding my hand.

I shook my head, "Are you happy about this? You know that he will never let you leave now that you are with pup." She smiled, "I know he's made some mistakes but we are having a family."

I sighed and put my face in my hands, "Marie, are you hearing yourself? I'm not talking about mistakes; I'm talking about abuse."

She looked away from me, I could see her closing off. "I want you to be happy for me, Char. I am happy, please be happy for me." I sighed and reached out, turning her face towards mine, "I am happy you are having a baby. I will be there for you and your children always. Alright?" Marie nodded, her smiled returning.

"Have you told Anthony yet?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation upbeat. She shook her head, "No, I was going to tell him but then the whole incident happened. I was scared I would loose it with how bad I was, but my sister is a miracle druid." I smiled softly at her. "I'm going to tell him tonight." She admitted.

I sighed, forcing a smile and nodded. "Let's get you back to your room for a bit more rest. I'd rather not push our luck just yet." "Yes mame." Marie said, teasing me. I took her back to her room and set her up in the bed. I wanted to be happy for her, like she was happy for me. I knew Marie had always wanted a family of her own, I knew this was her greatest dream. I knew Anthony had said he wanted to change his ways but I wasn't convinced that was a possibility. I decided I needed some time away so I went to my room.

I lay down on the bed, taking off my glasses and closing my eyes. My chest felt tight, everything with Marie was starting to take its toll. My head started to hurt, I sighed heavily. Instead of taking something I decided to try and breathe through it. I let the smell of Clark fill my senses. I mind linked him, asking him to come to our room for some private time. He arrived in a matter of moments, locking the door behind himself.

Clark smiled at me laying on the bed, he wiggled his eyebrows at me. I laughed out loud, and beckoned him to me with my arms. Wordlessly Clark stripped down to his birthday suit as he crossed the room to me. He lifted me up to and pulled my sundress off quickly. He removed my bra and my underwear gently before shuffling me up the bed. Clark lowered himself next to me, I gazed into his eyes. He kissed my lips slowly, softly over and over again. The taste of his lips made me weak, the sweetness of his mouth. His hands ran through my hair down my arms and rested on my hip. I deepened the kiss as I shifted on top of him, running my hands over his chest.

Clark reached up, cupping my face with his hands to see my eyes. He kissed me lips again tenderly. I trailed kisses down his face to his throat and over to my mark on his neck. I bit down hard, Clark let out a loud growl. I could tell I surprised him, I licked my mark over and over again. I shifted moving his member to my entrance, lowering myself onto him with a deep sigh into his mouth. Clark moaned, raising his hips as I sunk down onto him. We made love slowly that afternoon, over and over again. I needed something good to hold on to, something pure and loving. I needed to be reminded that love didn't have to hurt. I needed my husband's strength and warmth, he gave me everything I needed and more.

Afterward Clark held me close to his chest, purring into my hair. I rubbed my hand over his chest lazily, listening to his heart beat. My head no longer hurt, though I was exhausted from the afternoon's activities. I felt a sudden hard kick in my stomach, the baby was moving. It hurt more then I expected, I had to move onto my back, let out a loud groan.

Clark sat up quickly, helping me to sit up, "Darling what's happening?"

"I don't think it's much of anything, just a very active baby." I muttered, trying to breath through the kicking. I knew it wasn't a contraction but there was a lot of activity in there.

"Maybe he doesn't like what I just did to his mama." He said with a chuckle. I glared at Clark, "Mama liked it so this little man can chill out. My body, my decisions."

He shifted over to my side and placed his hand on my stomach, moving in large circles. It seemed to relax the baby. I sighed, contented, "He knows his daddy."

Clark sucked in a breath, he turned his head to meet my eyes and smiled like a manic, "Daddy... I'm going to be a daddy. You made me a daddy." He kissed me with urgency. I smiled against his lips, "You are a wonderful daddy and he's not even here yet." I ran my fingers through his hair.

We lay down together again, unwilling to let each other go. "Marie is pregnant." I whispered. Clark pulled me closer into a hug. I squeezed him back. "Does he know yet?" I shook my head into his shoulder. "Is she going to tell him soon?" he asked me.

"I think so. She's so excited about them becoming a family." I muttered, the words tasted toxic in my mouth. Clark kissed my forehead and sighed, "I'm sure Anthony will be excited. When I was keeping him preoccupied he asked me all kinds of questions about pregnancy."

"I'm not sure how I feel about it." I told him. Clark nuzzled my hair, "That is understandable Char, he's not my favorite person either."

"I know Marie loves him so I am trying to be supportive. I want to help her, but I'm scared for her." I confessed.

Clark's arm tightened around my shoulders, "You love your sister, I know that feeling well. I love my brother the same."

"True, but Heath hasn't done anything to make you worry about him." I said bitterly. He chuckled, "Not yet. He's over due though." I giggled.

"Char, all you can do is be there for her. I know it's cliché but it's true. Maybe Anthony will clean up his act and be a better mate. If he doesn't then we will be there to help her pick up the pieces." Clark told me.

I sighed into his neck, "I know, you are right. It just drives me crazy that I can't do anything about it." He chuckled, "Oh my darling, I know. Maybe it's time for you to have a bit more stress relief."

He snuck down to the end of the bed and started to rub my swollen feet. I moaned with pleasure, I didn't even notice my feet were as sore as they were until Clark started touching them. Slowly my stress melted away as he rubbed. I moaned and groaned at his touch, I heard Clark growl once in a while at my sounds. After about twenty minutes he couldn't take it any more, climbing my body and having his way with me one more time before supper time.