Mama Mia, Nel'vari!

Untitled Part 1

Light the farmer stood very still, staring into the eyes of her dear friend, Iris.

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"I can sense it." Iris said with certainty, "and I know I'm not the only one that can."

"But. How could I be pregnant?" I could feel my face pale and my stomach churned. This most certainly did not bode well.

How was I supposed to tell the love of my life that our one night of indulging in too much moonlight would lead to this!? He'd been showing me all his markings and things just organically unfolded.

Never mind the fact that just hours before that, I'd overindulged on honeybrew with Wesley over karaoke and even more honeybrew with Vaan after.

"You must tell the truth. To all of them."

I sighed. I knew Iris would never judge me, but I felt insecure and this particular topic was highly sensitive.

I'd drunkenly told Iris after the three dates I'd gone on that day about what had happened between me and the guys.

Now I was pregnant by one of them, and I had no clue who the father was.

***

"Vaan." I called out softly. We were standing in front of the river and the song of rushing water filled the air.

"Hmm?" He could tell something was amiss from her countenance and how she seemed to fiddle with the ruffles of her dress absently. "What's wrong, Light?"

"I- " my eyes remained on the ground. "I'm pregnant and the baby might be yours. But it also might not be. "

I could see thoughtful lines cease his brow, and his smile faded for a brief moment. But without missing a beat, he closed the space between us and hugged me.

"I think you owe me an explanation." Vaan muttered into my ear, "but not here."

He took me by the hand and walked to his home. Once we were inside, I felt my nerves get the best of me.

Tears began to stream down my cheeks as I told him that our night of honeybrew where one thing led to another.

Vaan listened to my every word until I'd told him everything.

"I'm going to need some time to process all of this." Vaan admitted quietly.

I nodded and saw myself out of his home.

***

"I'm rather busy today, could we catch up this evening?" Wesley asked, his eyes never leaving the parchment on the table before him.

"I don't think this can wait."

Wesley scribbled something more down and then turned to face me. I don't know if it was the redness of my eyes, or the shaking of my hands, but he gathered his things and led the way to a quiet spot of the tavern.

"What's wrong? Is everything alright?" He asked as a look of concern etched itself onto his features.

I wasn't ready to go through this again.

"Wesley." I finally muttered and explained everything to him in a quiet voice.

His expression remained stoic as I spoke, but then his face softened as he grasped what I was telling him.

"Light, I know we both had... a lapse in judgment that night. But it is one that I do not regret. I will care for you... I will care for your child as if it were my own."

***

It was nearing dark when I arrived at the Temple of the Moon.

"My starlight." Lucius said and tugged me into the bed beside him.

I couldn't help but melt into his sleepy embrace and buried my face in his chest. For the first time all day, I relaxed.

"I hate to sour the mood." I said as Lucius wrapped his arms around me. "But there is something we must talk about."

The sleepy stupor seemed to melt away and he sat up in the bed.

"You're not having second thoughts about our wedding, are you?"

"It isn't that." I said. "I just..."

"No matter what it is, you can tell me." He encouraged me softly and tugged me into his lap.

"It's just... Do you remember that night where you were showing me your markings?"

I could see his cheeks brighten with a light tint of blush at the memory.

"Of course I do, my starlight."

I looked anywhere but in his eyes.

"I was dating you, but I was also dating Wesley and Vaan too. I had seen Vaan and he'd offered me honeybrew... and then I met up with Wesley before that too and..." I was sobbing into Lucius' shirt hysterically.

I could tell that he was doing the math in his head.

"I... don't think we should get married."

My heart sank at these words. But I couldn't blame him.

"I'm sorry, Lucius-."

His hand moved to cup my chin and he directed my gaze to his face.

"Let me finish. I don't think we should get married, for now."

I nodded.

"I don't understand." I sniffled.

"I must attend to my duties, but let us talk more of it when you have had time to rest."

He motioned for me to relax in his bed and then reached out as though to caress my cheek, but stopped short and seemed to deflate before leaving me alone surrounded by his scent.

The sun rose dutifully into the sky.

I felt exhausted and utterly spent after the day I'd had. I sat up and took in my surroundings before recalling that I was in Lucius' room. I straightened my dress the best I could, and combed my fingers through my hair.

"Here goes nothing." I muttered as I put on a forced smile and headed to the farm. As soon as I'd made it to the farm, I gave the griffin my offering of one berry and mounted to return to Sun Haven.