"You wish for me to go to with you to the palace?"
"Well...R-Riftan is very worried about bringing me. He will likely never leave my side but I thought if I mentioned you would a-accompany me, it would maybe bring him some peace of mind. A-And would it not be a nice get away from daily life here?"
Elara turned her gaze away lost in thought.
"Maximillian, I can't. Nura is still nursing. I don't think it would be wise to travel with her either."
"I have thought of this! There will be a wet nurse a-available for Nura...and they could stay here at the castle if you wish. Both Roem and Triton w-will be staying with Ludis."
Suddenly Elara felt a thrill of excitement rush through her.
"And you already spoke with your husband?"
"Yes! Well I-I told Riftan I planned on asking you to come. You wouldn't have to do anything but keep me company, mostly during our travel. I told him your presence would be comforting to me. He is also requiring me to have a maid, so it would be you, me and a maidservant in the carriage."
Elara nodded slowly, processing the information.
"Okay...I would like to meet this wet nurse of course, and make sure Nura will take to her milk."
"Absolutely. I will arrange for a meeting as soon as possible! I am so excited Elara, I hope y-you are too!"
"Indeed I am."
***
That evening came swiftly and Elara could hardly contain her excitement to share the news with Gabel. After dinner they all retired to the bedchamber where Gabel played with Cassian on the floor like usual till he passed out into a deep sleep. Elara sat nearby watching while she nursed Nura.
"You look tired." Gabel reached out and stroked Elara's leg from the floor.
"I am a little."
She let out a short sigh then continued, "I have some news for you."
He looked up at her with a curious gaze.
"Yeah? What is it? There is no possible way for you to be pregnant is there?"
Elara furrowed her brow, "No no, something else."
"Don't keep me in this suspense my love, just tell me."
"I am to assist Maximillian on the journey to Drachium Palace."
"What?"
"I am coming with Gabel...to the Palace. Maximillian requested I come."
He froze.
"What about Nura? She still needs your milk to survive, and I will not allow her to come with this young."
"Well...there will be a wet nurse, here with her."
"A wet nurse? What?"
"She will be able to feed Nura for me...with her milk. All will be well. Maximillian said the children could stay at the castle."
Gabel stood from the floor.
"This...does not sit well with me. I have never heard of a wet nurse. I want Nura to only have your milk, what if she dosnt like this...wet nurse's milk aye? I don't think we should risk it. Plus I do not feel comfortable having you away from her while she is this young."
Elara watched him bend over and pick Cassian up from the floor.
"I will be right back, don't go anywhere."
Swiftly he exited the room with their sleeping son.
When he returned his placid expression fell to almost a scowl.
Elara cleared her throat and broke the strange silence.
"Maximillian wishes for me to aid her, I could not refuse."
"No worries, I shall speak with her ladyship tomorrow morning. I wish for you to stay here with our children. One of which is only months old Elara. Nura needs you."
Elara felt her chest tightening.
"What is it? Where you planning on spending time with another woman while you are gone? Stop being so stubborn, I am coming and it will be good for me as well as the children."
"Is that so? Do you not care for your husband wishes then? I will worry about Nura the whole time. Mothers do not leave their infant children."
Elara's breath hitched.
It almost felt as if he was degrading her for wanting a break from life.
She stood and walked Nura over to her mosses basket laying on the bed.
After gently laying her down she took a deep breath and calmly approached him.
"I know you are worried, but don't be. Do you think I would leave if I didn't know our children would be cared for?"
She wrapped her arms around the small of his waist.
After a minute Gabel wrapped an arm around her body, smooshing her against him.
"I still don't think it would be wise for you to join. It will not be as fun as you think."
"I haven't been anywhere in a long time.
I will enjoy whatever this trip entails."
Gabel rested his cheek on the top of her head. "I feel uneasy over this. It isn't what I want."
Elara pulled away from him.
Why couldn't he see that she needed this?
"So you would ask me not to come even if you knew I really wanted to."
"I think it would be in our children's best interest if you stayed. It takes days to journey their by carriage, then their is the celebration and the travel home. I do not want our children to be without you for that long. I will worry."
She took another step back from him.
"I will ensure our children are taken care of Gabel. If Maximillian wants me to come, I am coming."
A Pained expression fell over his face.
"I see."
***
The next morning Elara met the Wet Nurse who was to help care for Nura during the trip to the palace.
"An honor my lady, my name is Betsy."
The heavier set woman smiled while she slightly bowed her head at Elara.
"The pleasure is mine."
Elara spent the afternoon with Betsy, Maximillian and the children. She observed Betsy as she held Nura in her arms. Seeing her interact with her baby greatly soothed the anxiety she had over leaving her.
Though She was beyond excited to be stepping away from life here for a short time, it also saddened her.
Her children were everything.
Guilt began to fill her heart.
What if Gabel was right?
Does it make me a bad mother for wanting some time away?
Elara felt a struggle within herself since having Nura. Something she never spoke of.
Often she would catch herself daydreaming about her life before her.
Not that she would want to go back to before them, but there was a part of her that missed her past self.
The girl she use to be but was no more.
Pushing those feelings away, she turned her focus on ensuring that her children would be well cared for during her trip to the palace.
Cassian had grown quite close to the Calypse boys and even Ludis. Many of times Elara would find him holding Ludis's hand while excitedly showing her a new "trick" he could do.
All these things were comforting.
Everyone in Calypse Castle had become family.
