Gabel stood in silence as the small cries of a child pierced through the air.
He met Elara's anxious gaze then raised a finger to the house.
"Is that.....your child?"
She just stood there, silently gazing up at him.
Her eyes revealing the truth.
He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "So, you had a baby."
Pain continued swelling in his heart.
She must have met someone, and fell pregnant with the mans child.
This would be why would she chose not to reach out to him all this time.
"He is a good boy, never causes any trouble. He bears a great resemblance to his father."
Gabel turned his head to the side, staring out into nothing.
Never had he imagine this as a possibility.
It's over, it's really done.
She had given herself away to someone else.
"You...married the child's father then yes? Is he a kind man?"
A small smile appeared on Elara's face.
She took a step closer and reached out, pulling at his crossed arms.
Subconsciously, Gabel released them, her warm fingers entwined with his.
"How could I marry the father when he was residing in Anatol? And yes...he is a kind man. A loving one too."
Gabel's froze.
Her words didn't make sense.
"The child....the child is mine?"
Elara squeezed his hand, "When I went to get my wound treated after my horse....." she paused for a moment, seeming to struggle with the painful memory.
Letting out a heavy she continued, "The mage at the village infirmary while treating my wound told me he sensed I was with child."
Gently her thumb ran across his knuckles.
"I had no signs before so I couldn't have known. Later the mage reported his findings to my...commander. I was released from his order the moment we returned to Loverne."
A slight crease formed on her forehead as she turned her head towards the simple farmhouse.
"I was worried to go to my family. They are of noble blood, and would have disowned me. These kind people here took me in, with my agreement to help them around their farm."
In the corner of her eyes, he saw tears well.
The fact that she had turned to strangers, while pregnant with his child, deeply saddened him.
Why couldn't she just have come to him? He would have done whatever he could to take care of her, and his unborn child.
Looking down at their joined hands, he released a shaky sigh, "Elara. You really thought... I wouldn't want our baby?"
"I did not want to burden you with a bastard child. I just wanted you to be able to go back to your life the way it was....before. I did not want to hinder you or hold you back in anyway."
The sting of pain once again struck.
How could she think these things?
All this time she was here, with his child. Wishing for him to go on with his life.
Believing he would be better off living as if she never existed.
But how could one live without one's heart?
All this time he thought she wanted nothing to do with him. She was still carrying a part of him with her.
