The secret child

Chapter 6

Mystic falls, 987

Elijah sat upon the edge of one of the many boulders that surrounded the lake, near his families hut, with his 18 month old son squirming in his lap. Danhy squealed suddenly, reaching his tiny hands towards Elijah's face. He hoisted his son further up into his lap, allowing the small child to run his hands along Elijah's smooth skin and to tangle his fists in his long, dark hair, while Danhy babbled along a string of nonsense. "You're awfully chatty this morning, my boy," Elijah chuckled, "your mother has not ruined your surprise has she?"
"I would do no such thing, my dear," a soft voice giggled. Elijah glanced over his shoulder at his beautiful wife, she was dressed in her favorite brown dress, while her long, black curls hung down around her waist in tight ringlets, but her striking blue eyes were what drew his attention the most, since the first moment they met he could not draw his attention from her icy yet soft blue eyes. She is the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on in his life, her beauty is un-comparable, even the moon is envious of her looks. "But I can not account for your mother," Astrid said.
"My mother of course," Elijah chuckled, "her heart is too fragile when it comes to Danhy."
"Well then it is a good thing that we can resist his charms." Astrid squeezed herself onto the rock beside her husband, she rest her head upon his shoulder and wrapped her small hands around his bicep, relishing in the warmth his body supplied.

Astrid smiled down at her son, his little hands still reaching for Elijah's long hair. Danhy's face was scrunched up in confusion, his bottom lip jutted out and his eyes began to fill with un-shed tears. "Well perhaps we can resist for a little while at least," She giggled. Astrid took her son into her arms, she cradled him close to her chest as she swayed from side to side, humming a soft tune under her breath. She continued to sway long after his tears had dried up and long after Danhy had fallen to sleep upon her chest. "It seems my mother is not the only one who is fragile when it comes to our son," Elijah whispered gently. Astrid could not help but to smile at this, her family means the entire world to her. They were both at the age of seventeen and as such they did not have much, they were yet to build a home and yet to begin their journey to adulthood, but they had each other and that was all that mattered.

Astrid brought a gentle hand to rest against Elijah's check, her thumb rubbing comforting circles along his stubbled check. "Perhaps if he did not look so much like his father, I could resist."

"I am afraid it is his mother he takes after," Elijah smiled. They lent forward, sharing a gentle kiss between them. Astrid leant back into her husbands embrace, resting her head back against his shoulder. They sat for a long moment in silence, simply enjoying each others company and the warmth each other provided, while they listened to the soft hum of the morning birds flying over head.

If nature did not have consequences for every action, Astrid would wish for the power to be able to relive this moment over and over again for the rest of her life, but her magic is nowhere near as strong as Esther's, all she can do is conjure up visions of the future and prophecies no one has ever heard of before. However she has enough magic to provide for her family and that is enough for her, even if she can not stop time. "What are you thinking about?" Elijah asked gently,
"I'm having a rather selfish thought," she sighed, "I'm thinking of what it would be like to live in this moment for all of eternity,"
"and spend eternity living with my family?" Astrid lifted her head from Elijah's chest and turned to look him in the eyes. She did not hate his family but there is only so much a person can bare before they are driven insane, and she fears her breaking point is closer than she realizes.
"Perhaps we may start eternity after the next full moon." A large smile overcame both of their features and they both found themselves suddenly in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Danhy stirred in Astrids arms, his tiny fists clinging to her dress in discomfort at the sudden burst of noise. Astrid placed a hand over her mouth to try and stifle her laughter until it died into gentle giggles. "We mustn't wake him," Astrid whispered, but she could not wipe the smile from her face, it was not often they could still act like the children they were meant to be.

"Elijah! Father is ready to departe!" Elijah struggled to hold back a groan of annoyance, he had hoped for some more time before his father whisked he and his elder brother away to go hunting. He glanced back to where Finn stood atop the small hill that overlooked the lake, "I'll be right there!" he called back.
"Your brothers timing is impeccable as always," Astrid giggled. She pushed herself up from her seat on the boulder, being careful not to jostle her son too much. Elijah followed after her, standing quickly encase she were to lose her balance and fall. He placed a comforting hand against her waist before he leant forward, en-clasping her lips in a gentle kiss. "I will be back before sundown," he said, "but in the meantime try not to pluck the sun from the sky for Danhy while I'm gone,"
"nonsense, I would never do such a thing, the sun would burn his little fingers," she smiled, "but I wouldn't be opposed to giving him the moon and all of it's stars." Elijah chuckled warmly. Her humor was yet another thing to add to the ever growing list of things he loves about Astrid, the list grows everyday, piece by piece until they will be old and frail and he will have learnt and loved every piece of her. "Whether it be the sun, or the moon, or any of it's stars, try not to give in while I am away,"
"I will try my hardest," they shared another blissful kiss between them before Elijah withdrew with a sigh.
"I must go before Mikael comes searching for me,"
"Be safe, Elijah,"
"I always am," He smiled. Elijah begrudgingly let go of his wife and child as he turned to make his way back towards his elder brother, where he still stood at the top of the hill, his bow and arrows slung over his shoulder.