Enchanted // Rhae Royce

43. Cats out of the Bag

Alicent was already showing but Rhae's pregnancy was still a secret. Taelon wanted to make an announcement. He was young when Nyra was born. He was on tour for Alicent's pregnancy so being apart of not only the creation of a human but getting to be there for Rhae during her terms was very exciting for Taelon. 

Rhae was less excited. She remembered that she didnt like being pregnant but then again she was alone at runestone for the most part. Taelon was very hands on, in all the best ways. 

"Good morning." Rhae whispered turning to face Taelon. 

"Good morning." He echoed kissing her but she pulled back, looking green before rolling out of bed and barfing in the chamber pot. "My breath smell that bad?" Taelon questioned blowing into his hand. 

"Morning sickness." Rhae corrected as she wiped at her mouth. 

"Oh... OH!" Taelon declared with realization. "Pregnancy things. Okay, I can do this. What do I do?" 

"What do you mean?" Rhae countered. 

Although Taelon's mother Aemma had gotten pregnant many times, most didnt last the full term. She had wanted to keep them away from all the pain and unease. She put on a smile every day for them. Taelon hadnt seen the discomfort until the end. He felt her worry and he worried more. He saw the after math of her pain. He saw the pain in her eyes. He held her hand as she cried at losing another child too soon. She always told him he was bigger than the whole sky. Aemma was his favorite person and there was nothing he could do, all his training, there was nothing he could do to save his mother. 

"Anything you want or need, if you want to stay in bed all day, all week, all moon. Whatever you need. I'm here." Taelon told her and Rhae smiled back at him. 

"It comes and goes. It did with Thorin. I was sick for moons. But I'm okay." Rhae assured. 

"Can I get you tea or water? I can get bread or crackers, maybe... um... are you cold? You look cold." Taelon remarked wrapping a blanket around her shoulders and bringing her back to bed. 

"I'm okay Taelon. I promise." Rhae assured. "It comes with pregnancy." 

"You would tell me if you werent though, right?" Taelon countered and Rhae had never seen Taelon scared before but she saw fear in his eyes. 

"Lay with me." Rhae requested and he held onto her letting out a anxious sigh. "I'm okay." Rhae assured running her fingers through his hair. "I know Thorin wanted to start some real training, wanted a real blade. Said the bear didnt flinch when he hit him with the blade you gave him for his name day." Rhae remarked trying to get Taelon's attention off of pregnancy symptoms. "Did he find a bear?" 

"Harwin." Taelon chuckled running a hand over her thigh. "He had his hood up when it rained and Thorin... he just charged." Taelon remarked. "Harwin turned around and Thorin poked him with the blade again. Go down." Taelon laughed out. "He told... he told Harwin to go down thinking he had killed him. Thorin was very confused."

"What did Harwin do?" 

"He got down and knelt before him." Taelon answered. "Thorin went to hit him again and i took his blade saying we dont hit our friends." 

"Good lessons were learned." Rhae agreed feeling Taelon relax into her. 

"My mother went through a lot of... bad pregnancies before the end." Taelon remarked softly. "I just... I want you to know I'm here. Whatever you need. I'm right here." 

"Thank you Taelon, I promise to tell you if I'm not alright, but I'm going to be sick and feeling gross and... other days I'm going to be great and happy and it will seem like nothing has changed."

"I just... I know that pregnancy is a woman's- my mother always called it a battle field and one a woman must fight alone... but on the actual battlefield we are not alone." Taelon reminded her. "We have our brothers with us, helping and I just want to make sure you know you are not alone." Taelon reminded her. 

"Thank you Taelon, really. Thats really wonderful to hear." Rhae agreed before a wave of nausea flooded her and she ran back to the chamber pot. 

"I keep saying sweet things and you barf." Taelon teased trying to fight his own fears. "Maybe I say less sweet things?" Rhae wiped at her lip as he sat behind her. 

"Don't you dare." Rhae countered. "Taelon you dont know how perfect you are." 

"I'm not perfect." Taelon corrected. "You might be for putting up with me." 

+

Rhae was loving this pregnancy. Taelon gave her massages daily, whatever she needed or wanted it was like Taelon could read her mind and she it before she even asked. 

Alicent how saw attentive Taelon was and although, Viserys was king and had duties it would have been nice to know that she wasnt what everyone thought she was, what she was, a baby maker. She may have held the title of queen but she felt more like a whore with one customer. 

"Hello mother," Taelon coed patting her stomach as he passed. Alicent smiled after him. 

"You're pregnant?" Nyra declared. 

"Taelon wanted to announce it." Rhae remarked. "Please dont-"

"Oh how wonderful!" ALicent agreed. "Our children can be friends!" Rhae looked to Taelon. 

"Cats out of the bag." Rhae informed him. 

"What cat?" Thorin questioned. "Did we get a cat?" Taelon chuckled. "What bag?"

"You are going to be a big brother Thorin."