The Remembered (Elements II)

Chapter 48

As Nahara stared with wonder at the baby girl in her arms, she knew that all the pain had been worth it. All the heartaches and physical pain had made this perfect little girl. She was beautiful.

“She’s beautiful, Nary.”

Nahara smiled up at Aiden, hovering over her as she rested in their room, still tired from her trials. “She is,” she murmured, her gaze dropping back down to study the tiny baby girl. She was sleeping, her face peaceful and her hands curled into miniature fists, heavy in her mother’s arms.

“Here, Aiden.” Nahara made the decision suddenly, without dwelling on it. “You can hold her.”

He stared at her, and hid his hands behind his back. “Oh, no. No. I can’t do that.”

She smiled, almost laughing. “Yes you can,” she assured him. “Here. Just sit down. I’ll help you.”

His face slightly pale, he did so, and she gently placed the sleeping baby in his arms, correcting his hold.

“See? Not so hard after all.”

He didn’t look at her, too fascinated with the baby girl. “She looks like you, Nary. What are you going to name her?”

She shrugged a shoulder, leaning back on her pillows with a deep sigh of relief. It felt strange not being with child any more, but as she looked at her baby, she knew that nothing had really changed.

“I don’t know,” she replied. “I have nothing in mind.”

He gave the baby back to her, and ran an affectionate hand down the noblewoman’s hair. “Do you need anything?”

Nahara shook her head. “No, thank you. Just rest. “

“Then I will leave you to it.”

He crossed to the door, opening it, and then paused, looking back with a slight smile. “Congratulations, Nary. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”

She smiled in return, but as the door shut, the smile faded, and she stared out of the window, where she could just see the top of a rose bush, heavy with blood red blooms. Sadness crossed her face, but she pushed it away, refusing to think of him. She had someone who depended on her for everything now, and she couldn’t afford to have her thoughts lingering on something that was never going to work out anyway.

When her daughter woke, mewling for food, she fed her, unable to keep her gaze off her, her eyes tracing every feature, memorising it forever. Finished and full, the baby fell fast asleep again, and this time, Nahara rose from the bed, to settle her baby in the tiny bed that had been prepared for her, covering her with a light blanket. She stood there, leaning on the side of the bed, just watching her little girl sleep. She was so precious, and the young woman felt a surge of love and fierceness. Nothing was ever going to take her daughter away from her. Ever.