AFGUNST
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Kari looked out from her room in the tower. Her room. It had a nice ring to it. Not that she didn't love Melkor, she loved her husband with all her heart. But sometimes a few nights away from him could be a blessing. Especially when he came in late or had to leave early.
Marrying Melkor had been one of the best things she had ever done. Well technically her mother had done.
"Go for that one." her mother had said, "He won't give you troubles."
Her mother had been right.
Kari looked to her boudoir and sat down. Her pregnant belly bulging under her emerald green night gown. Her long blond hair streaming down on her shoulders and back. It was still a bit ruffled from sleeping. Kari took a brush and started combing her hair. She went to the window again and looked out again. The scenery was beautiful. Around her were the castle walls. Light grey and strong. Behind that were the first fields, crossed by several small rivers. Behind that was the lake. A lake so big you could call it a sea, but the water wasn't salt. Around the lake were hundreds of villages, some in their protection, others under contract for the other castles in the neighbourhood. This region of the planet was prospering. It felt good to know that there'd always be enough... Safe.
The door behind her opened and Melkor came in.
"Admiring the scenery?" he asked.
"Yes, it's a wonderful day."
"Maybe we should go out then?"
"And what with the baby?"
"Won't it wait a day or two more?" Melkor asked innocently.
"I'm afraid not. My back's been hurting all morning. My mother told me that's a sign."
"Your back's been hurting for weeks and you haven't gone out since."
Suddenly a white pain flared through her body. Kari hastily sat down on a chair and looked up at her husband and lord.
"It's coming." she said, starting to do breathing exercises.
"You're kidding?"
"No, I'm not! Get the wet nurse." Kari said, all but screaming.
The wet nurse and her assistants came soon. They shoved Melkor out the door, grabbed Kari by the arms and hauled her onto her bed. The sheets around her were pulled off and water was brought from the vaults below. Warm spring water... a luxury.
It seemed like she had been laying there for hours, and it probably was, before she heard the wet nurse saying the words Kari needed to hear.
"You're doing great, I can feel it coming." the woman said.
Kari only grunted and started pushing again. No-one had told her giving birth would be so straining on her body. She had seen low-class women give birth in three hours, just like that. They squatted, the child was born and they went back to work. Maybe she should reprimand them for making it look so easy.
"One more push miss Kari." the wet-nurse urged her.
Suddenly a little cry pierced through the room. Afgunst had spoken for the very first time....
The wet nurse huddled the baby in a white blanket and gave it to Kari.
"A girl." she said.
Kari looked at her daughter. The big eyes of the baby blinked and closed. Her eyes had been brown. The brown of her father's eyes. And she had the red hair of her father, but the lighter tints in them were Kari's blond. The baby grabbed her finger and yawned.
"Afgunst." Kari said, for she knew her daughter would be envied.

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STATS -- BIRTH -- 6 YEARS -- 15 YEARS -- SEARCH -- DRAGON
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Afgunst is a Candidate at Darkling Dawn Weyr
Lantessama Isle