Dreamed This Up (Dreams, Book 1)

Chapter 11: Reprieve

Sophie practically runs out of the room, the minute Rofin goes away from his mother. He can read her face and sees she is close to tears. "I told you I told you I told you," She whispers, and covers her face. "She hates me."

He enfolds her in long arms and begins to guide her down the hallway, "Shh, shh, What does that matter? Anyway, when baby is here she will change her tune, believe me"

"Ai, that is half the problem, she thinks I set out to entrap you." He grins, and kisses her head, "We-ell, you sort of did. Pouncing on me at the Race. Practically begging me to take you home"

She smiles slightly through the tears. "You didn't take much convincing, and for a person uninterested in complications, well, might I remind you of the part you played in my condition? Humph! She should be just as mad at you. Doing such things to a strange girl."

"Ah, what things did I do to that poor, strange girl? No, no, don't tell me" He kissed her gently, "First, I must show you the room. Must keep an eye out for those little terrors. You do not want them to catch you while you are preoccupied."

She swats him lightly, but follows.

————-

A short distance from the main part of the house is a small suite of rooms, a large bedroom, and an attached bath area, with a few nearby guest rooms.

Rofin shows her, "Look, do you want to put your things in the guest room?"

She looks. "I guess. Won't your mother be upset that a lowly harac has used her clean room?" He grins with a certain mischievous look. "Eh, she will live with it. Anyway, if she has any problem, you just come next door to me, hehe, I can always make room for you in the-"

"You! Only one thought on your mind,"she laughs.

But really, she doesn't mind. They are young, well, at least relatively for him! and very much in love. Plus there is a little matter of the baby that will be here in a short while....

"Oh!"

She doubles over. He catches her. "What is it?" Swiftly he carries her into his room, dropping their bags, and lays her on the bed, "What happened? What hurts!"

"Ah! Rofin! He kicked! Your little boy is moving! Here, feel"

Stunned and relieved that it is not an emergency, he places both large hands to cover most of her abdomen. "AHHHH! Is that him? Is he supposed to do that?"

(Poor Rofin! He has been working as a doctor, but when it is his own wife he is helpless!)

Sophie strokes those hands, now trembling. "Yes, dear. Sit by me, maybe he'll do it again."

"There!" He smiles, and they curl up together, happy.

It is true that in the midst of anxiety and turmoil there is always some little joy to be found ...

—————

About an hour later, the bell rings for dinner. Rofin had dozed off leaning against Sophie, and she as well. They shook themselves awake, and Rofin grimaced. "We'd better go down. Mother is very fussy about punctuality."

She took his hand and they headed for the dining room with the air of students going to take a difficult exam.

"Take your seats, please." Filan looked as formidable as ever, and gestured at the two empty places. She looked with annoyance at Sophie. "I didn't plan for your special diet, but the cook was able to prepare something I hope you will find acceptable."

Sophie smiled graciously, "Thank you."

"Humph"

Rotalin now stood and smiled thinly, "A toast to our son and his ... companion. May they always be in health."

After that they sat down to eat. Rotalin at the head, his wife to his right, and Rofin to his left. Sophie sat beside Rofin and across from Huda and Talin. The meal began uneasily. The Rifans chatted about events and family members Sophie knew nothing of, and ignored her. Occasionally one or another would ask Rofin about his work, but he too was nearly ignored.

Sophie was carefully eating, choosing the least bloody bits of meat, and breathing carefully to hold back the wave of nausea that rose in her. mustn't get sick! As she was concentrating, she was startled to feel a slight kick under the table, and looked up to see Huda throw her a sympathetic glance. Baby? the Rifan woman mouthed, and Sophie nodded miserably. If only this awful dinner was over!

A few minutes later, it seemed it was. "Mother, Father," asked Huda smoothly. "Might we go to the music room? I would like to show Rofin the new pieces I have learned on the grio"

"That is an excellent idea."

As they rose, and left the room, Huda managed to get next to Sophie. "Are you alright?" She asked in a low tone. The two brothers were conferring, and the older couple had already left the room. Sophie breathed in deeply, "It is just nausea. Thank you for your concern, ma'am."

Huda's mouth quirked up in a smile, and Sophie realized she was quite pretty. "I can imagine. None of my children came easily! But enough of that. You may call me Huda if you wish. You prefer Sophia?"

She nodded, and Huda continued, "Good. Do you like music?"

"Yes. I was trained as a singer for the visitations."

"Oh, yes! Talin took me out to the villages once, you harac put on little presentations. Would you sing for us?"

"If you like"

They arrived in the music room, and Huda arranged herself at the grio, a grand tall instrument something like an organ. She turned and announced, "Sophia will sing for us as well."

Filan "hmph!'d" quietly, but the rest waited silently.

A hasty whispered conference followed, and Huda began to play. After a few bars, Sophia joined in, in her lovely clear mezzo-soprano.

It was a classic melody, of a young woman waiting for her lover to return home, and preparing for his return. After they segued into a faster tune celebrating the harvest, and then one often sung for Rifan family gathering, praising the home.

After that they took a short break.

Rotalin praised Huda's playing and then questioned Sophia, "Where did you learn that last song? I have heard the first two at visitations, but the last I have only heard among Rifans."

She bowed. "Rofin taught me"

"Well done. Why don't you children run along now. Go see the gardens."

Rofin rose and took Sophie's hand, "Thank you, Father. Good evening, all"

So ended the first day of the visit.

~~~~~

A picture I liked but couldn't add

http://kitsune-twins.deviantart.com/art/Anime-Girl-singing-376414636