"And his lips,his lips were wine - scarlet madness. And I wanted 'em, wanted their bite - gentle, strangled agony. But it was only then - his smile faded in mine - I knew that wasn't wine - that it was blood - and the taste, the taste was mine."...
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𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓𝟖𝟒𝟏, 𝟒 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒇𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂
"Y/N! Mother is requesting to see you in her chambers, immediately."
Your elder brother, Ryden had told you. In the rural-south of Wall Sina resided your home, Alderin Keep. Rugged stone walls weathered with ivy, surrounded by fields of ragweed flowers (but you prefer to call them ambrosias), a castle with the sigil of an Alder Tree. The land of Alderin had belonged to your family, House Lockhart, for decades, riches and politics aside, it truly what had made your house so proud.
You were nestled in one of the nearby forests, on the cusp of it of course, couldn't have the only daughter of the Lord Nathaniel running away, could they? Spending the past few hours picking at the elderberries that grew on the trees and catching any interesting looking beetle you had layed your eyes on.
"What does she need me for?" Your little voice asked the 14 year old boy as you shifted to see him, still gently cradling the blue beatle in your palms.
"Something for the babe I believe," Veering his gaze away from you, you notice the sadness that rested somewhere in his eyes. 14 children, that is how many healthy children your mother has blessed your family with. 13 boys, 1 girl. That is excluding the baby boys who either died in the cradle or born into the world already sleeping.
Elisa Lockhart, the woman who brought you into the world, that was her job of course. A resilient woman she is, having children dead and dead again you would think it would have left a bigger void that echoed and fluctuated within her. Ryden knew this, and despite his efforts to make sure you wouldn't, a part of you did anyway.
"Mother doesn't talk to me anymore, why would she need me?" You mutter as you get up and scurry your little legs to the pier to Alderin, tears threatening to prick out from your eyes. Your elder brother desperately tries to run after you, attempting to compete with your youthful strength though efforts being futile.
After your little game of cat and mouse, your little legs growing tired as Ryden scoops you up into his arms, stroking your hair and shushing you gently as he presses soft kisses to your hairline. "Mother loves you Y/N, you're her own heart. We all are, but when a woman is with child her mind may blur and she may have other priorities. She still cares for her children, but especially the one growing in her belly, understand?"
Ryden wipes the snot from your nose with a royal blue handkerchief , embroidered with light blue linings and a blend of white and teal flowers, given by your very mother herself. He wanted to cry looking at the sight, your big eyes always filled with sadness as of the later stages of your mom's pregnancy. He brushes the stray hairs out of your face before pecking you on your nose and saying "Now go and change into that beautiful blue dress she gifted you for your birthday and see her. Besides, what if she tells you it's a girl?", your eyes light up when you hear his words, eliciting a quiet giggle from him as you hug him tight and list all the names you'd want for a baby sister.
