Omnixius
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DKP 8-25 Why are you in pain?
🕑 Added 2022-09-02 09:40:57 +0000 UTCGersius carried Thayle through the meeting tent, hurrying her past Mingfe and Shadros. He took her into the private bedroom and gently set her on the couch as she reached up with a weak hand.
“I am so sorry. I didn’t realize,” Thayle began.
“Shh,” Gersius urged as he shifted a pillow to make her more comfortable. “You have nothing to be sorry for. None of us could have known because this has never happened before.”
“My stomach ache is finally gone,” Thayle said with a weak smile. “I am finally free of pain.”
“I am afraid you and I have a much larger problem to deal with. Sarah is not happy,” Gersius pointed out.
“Oh, she is just in shock and needs a minute to think it through,” Thayle said dismissively. “She will come around and be happy. Besides, I can't be upset right now. I finally had the baby I promised you and Lilly so long ago.”
Gersius knelt beside the couch and took her hand to rub it gently. Thayle looked tired, but her aura glowed with a happiness he had never seen in it before. She was genuinely grateful that she was pregnant and had a child coming. He almost laughed to consider that thought. How had his children come from eggs?
“I can read your thoughts,” Thayle teased. “You think it’s funny that your wives keep laying eggs.”
“It is hard not to see the humor in the situation,” Gersious replied as he leaned over to kiss her forehead. “And I want to tell you how grateful I am for you. You have faced many fears and places you dread to go, just to prove you loved me.”
“You made it easy,” Thayle said as she stroked the side of his head. “You are such a good man. You make me want to be the wife you dream about. I want to be her and give you all the happiness you could ever want.”
“I can not tell you how happy you make me,” Gersius replied.
“You don't have to. I can see it in your aura,” she said and looked to the tent flap, wondering when they were going to bring it in.
“Can you tell if it's a boy or girl like Lilly can?” he asked.
“No,” Thayle said with a slow shake of her head. “I wasn't even aware I was pregnant. Who would have believed the pregnancy would only show in the dragon form?”
“You did inherit all of Lilly’s gifts,” he chuckled while thinking back to the time they joked about Thayle laying an egg. Thayle joined him in the laugh, running a hand around his neck as she savored the memory.
“I suppose I did inherit everything,” she agreed. “I blame you.”
“I had nothing to do with this,” Gersius said.
“You had everything to do with this,” Sarah snapped as she entered the room with an aura blazing with irritation. Lilly followed right behind her, carrying a blue egg wrapped in a blanket. She carefully set the blanket and egg on the floor beside the couch so Thayle could easily touch it.
“It’s so pretty,” Thayle said as she ran her fingers over the shell, feeling the bumps.
“It is beautiful,” Gersius agreed and looked at Sarah, who was scowling. “You do not agree?”
“What made you two decide to start reproducing?” Sarah demanded.
Gersius expected this and steadied himself for the argument that was about to start. He stood up and faced Sarah directly as he made his case.
“It was and always has been Thayle’s decision when she would start having children,” he replied.
“And you didn’t stop to think what a bad time this is?” Sarah asked.
“It was her decision,” Gersius insisted while trying to keep his voice calm.
“You are the male in this relationship,” Sarah insisted. “Are you saying you had no say in it?”
“Does a male dragon have any say when a female tracks him down to mate?” Gersius countered.
“You are not a dragon,” Sarah hissed. “And you should have said no.”
“They had an egg,” Lilly pointed out. “That means they are far more dragon than human.”
“Thank you,” Gersius said with a nod.
“You stay out of this,” Sarah quipped. “Your egg was bad enough, but now we have two, and our husband isn't seeing the severity of that.”
“Sarah, please!” Thayle cried and sat up. “He didn't just cave in and give me what I wanted on a whim. He reminded me of all the ways things were going to change and the price I would pay. I didn't care, and I coaxed him into doing it.”
Sarah's aura flared with confusion, then began to soften as she looked into Thayle's eyes. Gersius was surprised when her aura filled with sadness and remorse before she finally spoke.
“Why?” Sarah asked. “You know what lies ahead.”
Thayle looked away and put an arm over her face. “I honestly don’t know why. Maybe it's because I am tired of war, or maybe it's that I have had a growing desire to settle and have a family. All I know is that ever since I met Gersius, I have been thinking about it. I was able to put it out of my mind when we were constantly on the move and fighting. But once we were in Calathen, I began to feel settled. Then Lilly laid her egg, and I began to hurt inside. I know now is a bad time, but I wanted to have a baby, and the need overwhelmed me.”
“You should have told her no,” Sarah said in a softer tone as she turned back to Gersius.
“It was her decision,” Gersius reminded. “And where I come from, it is a woman's right to have children by her husband. It is not kind to deny a wife when she desperately wants them.”
“But we are under unique circumstances,” Sarah insisted. “We agreed to have them after the war.”
“Sarah, please,” Thayle interjected. “I am frightened and need you to be my mother more than ever. I never dreamed I was going to have an egg. I need you to tell me it is going to be alright.”
Sarah took another breath and nodded her head. She knelt beside Thayle and cradled the woman’s head to her chest.
“I will be with you through all of this. I will help you with everything. I just wish you two had waited, is all,” Sarah replied as her aura started to soften again.
“I am so sorry, Sarah. I wasn’t thinking,” Thayle whispered.
“Don't fret over it anymore. I love you, my daughter and I will love our child,” Sarah replied as she stroked Thayle’s long hair.
“I wonder if it will be a dragon or a human?” Lilly said as she studied the blue egg.
“I would think human. They are not true dragons,” Sarah suggested.
Lilly shook her head as if that answer was too simple. “She only showed the pregnancy in her dragon form, and humans don’t lay eggs. Everything about this suggests she will have a dragon for a baby.”
Sarah closed her eyes and tried to clear her thoughts. “We will find out soon enough.”
“Should we fly it back to Lilly’s cave and put it with the other? Gersius asked.
Sarah shook her head no. “We have no idea how long this egg will take to gestate. Despite its appearance, we cannot assume this is not a dragon egg. It might take fourteen months like a dragon, or it might only take ten. We can't afford the risk of leaving it alone.”
“Then we have to take it with us,” Gersius said as he looked at the egg. “And keep it safe.”
“It has to be kept at a constant temperature. I am not even sure what that is in this case. Dragons lay their eggs in deep caves because the temperature is constant and ideal. But I have no idea if that is true of a hybrid egg. Everything is guesswork from here,” Sarah replied.
“It is a blue egg, so it will probably need a cooler temperature,” Lilly said. “We should get one of the small tents and set it inside the meeting tent. I can have the acolytes use the blessing of cooling to keep the temperature inside slightly cooler.”
“That sounds like a logical assumption,” Sarah agreed.
“When we travel, we will put it in a covered wagon. They can keep that space cool,” Gersius added.
Sarah began to stroke Thayles hair and rocked her gently. “I am very jealous. Both my daughters have produced children while I have lost mine.” Her aura filled with the deep colors of emotional pain and loss, causing Lilly to come to her side.
“You haven't lost Rose yet,” Lilly insisted. “She just needs some time to think. I bet she returns when the time is right and admits she wants you to teach her. Besides, there might be a way for you to have children with Gersius without Balisha's blessing.”
Sarah, Gersius, and Thayle turned to regard Lilly, who had a very calculating look on her face.
“Child, what are you talking about?” Sarah asked.
“This,” Lilly said and pointed to the egg. “Gersius was able to get Thayle pregnant in his dragon form. She was only pregnant in her dragon form and laid an egg like a dragon. They have become so much like us that they can reproduce as we do. So I thought maybe he can get you pregnant if you mate with him in his dragon form.”
Sarah paused in her rocking as she considered the thought. It was almost too much to believe, but perhaps Lilly was right. Gersius had become so much like a dragon that he might be able to breed her like one.
“It might be possible,” Sarah said in a shocked voice.
“Do you think it could?” Thayle asked. “Could you have a proper brood if he used his dragon form?”
“We can explore the possibility later. Now is not the time.” Sarah stated to try and steer the conversation away from the idea. Just the thought made her faint as she considered how close she had already come to such a thing. Had she gone too far that night, she might have laid a clutch of eggs right beside Thayles.”
“That would be funny,” Lilly laughed as they all read her thoughts.
“There is nothing humorous about that,” Sarah said as she tried to focus on rocking Thayle gently. “The burden that would have put on us.”
“I don’t think it’s a burden,” Thayle sighed. “I am so happy I gave him a child.” She yawned and snuggled into Sarah’s soft chest. “Please tell me everything is going to be alright.”
“Shh,” Sarah said softly. “Everything will be alright because I will make sure it is. I can see how tired you are in your aura. Go to sleep, my child. I will keep you and your egg safe until you wake.”
Thayle smiled and closed her eyes, her arms going limp as her grip around Sarah relaxed. In moments she was asleep, her ordeal having taxed her to the limit. Sarah Carefully laid her on the couch and ran a hand over her beautiful body.
“You are such a loving creature,” Sarah whispered. “You promised him a child when you believed you would have to give up everything. I wish I was as strong as you.”
“You’re stronger,” Lilly said as she put a hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “You already told us you want to have his child too.”
“I know,” Sarah said and looked down. “But meeting my daughter has stirred up a lot of pain. Still, I am proud of Thayle and happy she has laid an egg.”
Gersius was proud of her, too, and couldn't resist running his hand over the egg. He felt so honored to have such wonderful wives who were willing to bare him the children he desired.
“I can not believe I have two children on the way,” he said softly.
“With Rose, that means you have three children already,” Lilly suggested as she joined him in stroking the egg. “Can she tell if the child is male or female?”
“No,” Gersius replied with a shake of his head. “I asked, but she said she didn't know.”
“I wonder if it is a dragon,” Lilly said.
“Let us hope it is a human or something close,” Sarah said with worry in her voice.
Gersius looked up as Lilly frowned at the statement. They saw the concern in Sarah's eyes as Lilly asked the logical question.
“What is wrong with it being a dragon?”
“The curse,” Sarah said as she thought about the pain of losing Rose.
“What about the curse?” he asked as he noted the sad colors in Sarah’s aura.
“Think of Rose,” Sarah pointed out. “If this child is a dragon, it will be born under the curse. It will be very difficult to control and may be dangerous to both you and Thayle.”
“But we are its parents. Surely it will feel some bond to us?” Gersius suggested.
“Will it?” Sarah asked as she hurt inside. “Or will it try to kill you as my daughters did?”
“This is awful,” Lilly said as she stroked the egg. “It has to end somehow. We can’t just win the war. We need to find a way to free the dragons from Soesta’s curse. I just don’t know what to do.”
“None of us do,” Sarah added.
Gersius looked at Thayle, asleep on the couch in a blissful dream. He thought about all the pain and suffering she had endured to get to this moment. This should be a time of great joy, but Lilly and Sarah were right; a dark cloud hung over it all.
“She deserves a child she can love. We all deserve a child we can love,” Gersius said.
“You should have waited,” Sarah whispered.
Gersius sighed. “I am her husband. She came to me and told me she desperately wanted a child. It is not my place to deny my wife the right to have children.”
Sarah closed her eyes and sighed. “I am sorry. It is just the shock of it all. I am happy for you both.”
Gersius knelt before her and looked her in the eyes. “You are happy for us all. That egg belongs to all of us, and Thayle will insist you be the child's mother.”
Sarah smiled and nodded. “Forgive me, and thank you for being so kind to me.”
Gersius stood up and ran his hand through his hair. “I should get back. I was going over tomorrow's marching order with the commanders when I was summoned.”
“Of course,” Sarah agreed. “The camp is probably aflame with rumors about what happened. You should tell them before they get out of hand.”
Gersius chuckled as he looked back to the egg. “Yes, I should tell them Thayle has laid an egg.”
“As humorous as that may seem, it is perfectly normal to us,” Sarah stated. “They will need to know so Thayle's command isn't questioned. She has enough trouble with those distant primes. If rumors of her being ill reach them, they might see it as a means to remove her. Besides, we will need the camp's help protecting the egg.”
“I will let them know,” Gersius said as he nodded his understanding. “Take care of her. I will talk with her when I get back.”
“Shoo, man,” Sarah urged. “Go and take care of your army. I will see to it she is comfortable.”
Gersius smiled and left the private area, running into Mingfe and Shadros waiting nearby.
“How is she?” Mingfe asked with a bright smile.
“She is fine,” Gersius replied. “She was exhausted and fell asleep right after seeing the egg. Sarah will watch over her and ensure she is taken care of.”
“Good,” Mingfe said just before her expression changed. “And you are a fool.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” Gersius sighed as he prepared for the next battle. Of course, Mingfe would see the situation exactly how Sarah saw it.
“You are marching to war and have crippled the commander of the largest element of your army. You have put all of us in terrible danger,” the woman scolded as her mouth narrowed into a scowl.
“Are you through?” he asked patiently. When Mingfe nodded, he turned his gaze on Shadros to see if he had anything to add. The dragon wisely held his tongue, so Gersius moved on and corrected Mingfe's logic. First, he pointed out that Thayle came to him in a time of pain and asked him to get her pregnant. It wasn't because they were being careless, and it was discussed beforehand. He then reminded them that Thayle had laid an egg. She would soon recover and be as good as ever while the child safely gestated inside the shell. Thayle would continue to lead the army as she always had.
“So humans and dragons can breed?” Shadros asked.
“Not exactly,” Gersius replied as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. “This seems to have worked because we were both in our dragon forms when we mated.”
“So all she needs to do is gain the dragon form, and she can have a brood?” Shadros asked as he pointed to Mingfe.
“Don't you even speak of it!” the woman hissed as she turned on him. “Do you think I will let you do that to me?”
“But we mate all the time?” Shadros protested. “Why would it matter?”
“I am not ready to lay an egg!” Mingfe shouted as Gersius struggled not to laugh.
“It’s better than how you rodents do it,” Shadros countered. “Why would any female want to gestate the child inside her belly.”
“No eggs!” Mingfe continued as Gersius cleared his throat. She turned her angry gaze on him and settled into a stare that said she had little patience for him right now.
“Now that we are through that, I need your help,” Gersius said. “By now, rumors of Thayle being struck ill are circling the camp. I want you to go to the women of Ulustrah and tell them Thayle has been so blessed by dragon gifts that she was pregnant and didn't even know it. Let them know she has laid an egg and is now perfectly fine. Try to reassure them that she is fully capable of continuing her duties as the champion of Ulustrah and leader of the armies.”
“I will do as you say,” Mingfe replied. “But I would like to speak to her.”
“She is sleeping on the couch inside,” Gersius explained. “I am afraid that Sarah is upset and isn’t likely to allow anyone to see her right now. I will have word sent to you the moment she is awake and ready to speak.”
Mingfe nodded in understanding but still insisted he was a fool. She turned and dragged poor Shadros away; the black dragon still lost as to why this situation was so upsetting.
Gersius gave them a moment to go, then made his way back to the command tent for the order of Astikar. He returned to the meeting he had hastily left to find concerned commanders discussing what might have happened. He was also surprised to find Lengwin among them, the man wearing the red and white robes of the Father Abbot.
“Lengwin!” Gersius cried as he entered the tent. “When did you get here?”
“Just before you left, I am told,” Lengwin replied and walked up to clasp Gersius by the hand. “Is your wife alright?”
“She is fine,” Gersius said as a funny smile crept over his face. There was no point in being elusive about the situation, and now was the best time to tell them. He called them all to attention and told them the news. He was greeted with a round of congratulations when he announced Thayle was pregnant, with Lengwin accusing him of being a family man at heart. Gersius accepted all their praise graciously and then called them to silence. He reminded them how he and Thayle gained dragon abilities over the unique binding they all shared. He then told them that Thayle had inherited the dragon's method of childbirth.
“I don't think I follow you,” Lengwin said with raised brows. “What does that mean?”
“Thayle has laid an egg,” Gersius said as he looked into stunned faces. The room was silent for an uncomfortably long moment until Lengwin asked if he was sure.
“I am very sure,” Gersius replied. “I was there to see it happen. She laid it just moments ago in the changing ring.”
“So, there is an egg in your tent right now?” Lengwin pressed.
“A blue egg about this side,” Gersius said, demonstrating the size with his hands.
“Is she alright?” one of the commanders asked.
“As I said, she is fine,” Gersius replied. “Sarah and Lilly are looking after her and will see to all her needs. We expect her to be on her feet in hours, ready to press on.”
The silence went on until Lengwin started to laugh. He struggled to get control of himself and then tried to explain his mirth. He found it amusing that Gersius had two dragons for wives, but it was his only human wife who laid the egg. Gersius joined him in the laugh and pointed out how Thayle hadn't even realized she was pregnant. The whole thing took everyone by surprise, but Sarah took charge of the situation and made the process much easier. He made no mention of Lilly's egg as that was being kept a secret even from the leadership.
“She is a good and noble woman,” Lengwin said. “You made a wise choice in marrying her.”
“I had no say in it,” Gersius reminded. “Lilly was determined to find a way to make me marry Sarah. I had no defense when she found that reference in the prophecy.”
Lengwin laughed, as did the captains. “Such a hard life you have, Gersius. Your beautiful wives keep growing in number.”
“You have never seen them when they are all mad at me. Especially Sarah,” he said.
Lengwin laughed more. “She can give you a stare that says your a fool, I disapprove of you, and you should be ashamed of yourself all in one look.”
“That she can,” Gersius admitted.
“But is this perhaps a time to celebrate?” Lengwin asked.
Gersius shook his head. “Right now, it is just an egg. We can celebrate after it hatches.”
“So it will be a dragon then?” one of the captains asked.
Gersius shook his head. “Sarah seems to think it will be human. Lilly isn't so sure. Thayle and I are both humans, but there are circumstances that do suggest the child may not be.”
“Even if it was a dragon, it would have a human form. You would still be able to raise it and teach it like any child,” Lengwin said.
That point struck Gersius as he hadn't even considered it. Of course, it would have a human form, and that would allow all the normal steps of child growth. Gersius would be able to hold him or her in his hands and show them the world as only a father could. Starting at such a young age, they might even be able to instill values that countered the curse. Just a little time with Rose had caused a visible conflict. How much could they do with years?
“Will this delay our march tomorrow?” one of the captains asked.
Gersius was drawn out of his contemplation to answer with a no. They were marching and moving the army north as planned and needed to get back to the details. He led them back to the map table and picked up where he left off. He hoped to move his army close to the northern border so that when the missing army appeared, he would be nearby to deal with it. The commanders gathered to plot the details of the move, while elsewhere in the camp, Lilly was making plans of her own.
Lilly was in the tent set aside as a makeshift temple to Balisha. She had gathered as many of her acolytes as possible and brought them in to hear the news. People were stunned to learn that a human could become so like a dragon that would lay eggs. This caused a lot of discussion about the nature of Lilly's blessed followers. They reasoned that since they had changed to a more dragon-like coloring that perhaps they too might lay eggs. Lilly didn't think that was sufficient to cause such a change. She pointed out that Thayle had a dragon form and had mated in it. She believed this was why Thayle laid an egg instead of a normal human birth. She even went as far as to speculate that if Thayle had mated in her human form, she would have had a human birth.
After a long discussion, Lilly brought them to the point of their meeting. They were tasked with keeping the egg safe. As part of their duties, they were going to use their blessing to keep the space inside a small tent cool. This was the ideal temperature for the egg and was meant to ensure its good health. Her followers were excited to be a part of the eggs care and praised Balisha for the birth. Lilly laid out how it would be organized and then let her followers go, encouraging them to thank Balisha in their prayers later.
Lilly left the meeting full of love and excitement. She was so grateful that their family had grown yet again but felt a twinge of sadness. She saw the conflict in Sarah's aura and knew something was bothering the older dragon. She didn't have to think long to realize Sarah was hurting over children. She had a painful history where children were concerned, and rose had made that wound even worse. Still, Sarah expressed an interest in having children with Gersius when the war ended. Lilly wondered if perhaps she was feeling left out that Lilly and Thayle had already born him children.
She tried to think of a way to talk to Sarah about it as she walked back to their tent. When she got back, she found Thayle moved to the bed with Sarah lying beside her, stroking her back as Thayle slept.
“I have spoken to my order,” Lilly announced quietly so as not to wake Thayle. “The tent will be set up soon, and they have detailed instructions on how to care for the egg.”
Sarah nodded approvingly as she looked down at Thayle. Lilly could see she was conflicted again, with love, admiration, and regret mixed together. She still didn't know how to approach the topic, so she decided to see if Sarah would bring it up.
“Sarah, is there something you want to talk about?” Lilly asked.
Sarah nodded as she quietly stroked the sleeping woman.
“I still can't believe she laid an egg,” Sarah said, looking at the blue object nesting in a blanket. “I see it before my eyes, but I still can't believe it. Dragon gifts were never this powerful in the last age.”
“It's the binding that makes the difference,” Lilly urged. “We share a soul with them, and much of our power comes from that soul. So I suppose it's only natural that they would manifest that power too.”
“But why an egg?” Sarah asked as she looked up. “Surely they should have a human birth?”
“You just said it yourself,” Lilly replied. “The dragon gifts are much stronger. Not to mention they mated while in their dragon forms.”
“I keep trying to tell myself that,” Sarah agreed. “But then I remember that you and Gersius mated in your human forms. Shouldn’t you have had a human birth then?”
Lilly saw where her logic was going and understood why she was confused. She explained to Sarah that despite being in the human form, they were still dragons. Balisha had explained it when she granted the blessing. She told Lilly that the human form couldn't get pregnant, but by the power of the blessing, the dragon form would. Balisha had been very clear that Lilly would only be able to get pregnant during a very narrow time once a year and that it would always produce an egg. Sarah didn't seem to be moved by that answer but nodded as if she had understood. She turned back to Thayle, her aura twisting in love and pain as she stroked the woman again.
“She is such a lovely creature, but I wish she had spoken to me about her desire to have children. I would have helped her see the wisdom in waiting,” she said.
Lilly could see Sarah was upset that Thayle had a child on the way. Something about it was hurting her, and Lilly wasn’t sure what it was. She moved the side of the bed and sat on the edge, helping Sarah stroke the sleeping woman.
“Thayle joined our relationship specifically to have children,” Lilly began. “She made up her mind to do it a long time ago and has been committed to it ever since. I don't know why she chose to have one now, but it is what she joined us to do.” She paused to look up and meet Sarah's gaze hoping her next words wouldn't hurt. “I can see the pain in your aura. You are happy for her but sad for yourself.”
Sarah pulled her hand away and looked at the egg as a tear formed in one eye. Lilly didn't need the aura to see the pain anymore as Sarah's face trembled in anguish.
“This will be a burden on us,” Sarah began and wiped an eye with the back of her hand. “We will do all we can, of course, but we have no idea what will come from this. Will it be a dragon, a human, or something else?”
“Mine will be a human,” Lilly said.
Sarah looked up with a confused expression and asked Lilly how she could be so sure. Lilly explained that she had seen the child many times, and it was a human girl.
“You have been given visions of the child?” Sarah asked.
“Not me,” Lilly replied. “Gersius. I spy on his dreams often. In the beginning, he used to dream about children, always changing what the child looked like. But after I met Balisha and received the blessing, his dreams changed. Now he has the same one over and over, and the child is always there.” Lilly began to feel uncertainty as they approached this topic. She had seen this dream at least twenty times, and it was always the same. However, there was one facet of the dream that haunted her, and she realized now was not the place to share it.
“Lilly?” Sarah asked as she noted the change in demeanor. “What do you see?”
“I don’t think we should talk about this,” Lilly suggested and got up. “Thayle needs her rest.”
“Lilly? Sarah called as Lilly hurried from the room.
She was halfway to the exit when Sarah came out of the room and ordered her to stop. Lilly paused and trembled as Sarah walked up behind her and took her into her arms.
“Child, what is the matter?” Sarah asked.
“I wanted to find out you were so upset about Thayle's egg,” Lilly replied. “I know it isn't just because now isn't a good time. It runs deeper than that.”
“So you ran from the room?” Sarah asked and wrapped her arms around Lilly. “I suppose I am hurting because you and Thayle have born our husband children when I have not. I still think now is not the time, but it is more than that. I am afraid that our children will feel the madness of the curse and end up like Rose. I don't know if I could bear seeing another child I had born fly away with nothing but hatred for me in its heart.”
“You want to have children, but you're afraid to,” Lilly surmised. “I would be too. In fact, I am very afraid for our children. I think about it all the time and try to figure out how we can save them.”
“I don't know that we can,” Sarah replied. “But until those eggs hatch, we don't know that we need to. That is part of my shame. I am so afraid of what might happen. I am waiting to see what comes of your egg before I dare to have one of my own.”
Lilly could see that was the truth of the matter and the reason for Sarah's turmoil. She wanted a child badly but was so afraid she was hiding behind Lilly to wait and see if it was going to go wrong. She turned around to pull Sarah into a hug, and the two women embraced warmly.
“Now, tell me about this dream,” Sarah urged. “Why does it upset you?”
“Sarah, I don't want to talk about this,” Lilly replied.
“Child, you made me explain my pain to you,” Sarah countered. “Now it is your turn to explain yours to me.”
Lilly closed her eyes as she pulled from Sarah's embrace to pace. She didn't know how to bring this story except to describe the vision so Sarah would understand it.
“It is always the same dream,” Lilly began. “Gersius is standing in the valley, holding the hand of a little girl with hair like mine. She is beautiful and precious, and you can see how much Gersius loves her. He has tears in his eyes as he points to a bright star in the night sky and asks her if she knows what it is. He explains to her that it's her mother, a beautiful dragon who loves her very much.”
Sarah looked confused as Lilly started to cry, the tears running down her cheek. She went to Lilly’s side and put a hand on her shoulder, asking her why she was so upset.
“Because I’m not in the dream,” Lilly cried.
“Yes, you are. He points to you and says.….” Sarah began and trailed off as she understood what Lilly was upset about. “You are wrong,” Sarah stated firmly and turned her around to grab both her shoulders. “Trust me,” Sarah urged. “Visions are hard to interpret.”
Lilly shook her head and said the dream goes on to other places and other scenes. Always Gersius talks about Lilly as if she wasn't there anymore. Teaching the young girl about a mother, she would never know.
Sarah pulled Lilly in, clutching tighter as her own eyes moistened up. “You are wrong. I promise you, you are wrong.”
“Promise me you will take care of our daughter,” Lilly asked.
“You will be there to take care of her yourself!” Sarah scolded louder than she meant to. She glanced to their private area, hoping Thayle hadn't woken. “Now you listen to me, my wife. I will not allow anything to happen to you. If I have to stand over you and fight the world off I will!”
“I have seen my daughter being raised without me. You can’t stop what is meant to be,” Lilly said.
“Lilly, please!” Sarah said as she crushed the woman to her chest. “You will be there! I will die to protect you from whatever comes to threaten you. I will see you safe in your daughter's arms.”
“Her name is Lorren,” Lilly said, not paying attention. “Though for some reason, she calls herself Lillian.”
Sarah held her as tightly as she could. She knew the power of prophetic dreams, and Lilly felt she had seen one. She struggled not to see the outcome Lilly had seen. A daughter being raised without her. A star in the sky to remember her by.
“I have seen a blue flower like the one Gersius named me after. It grows in my cupped hands, and Thayle cries over it. She is so hurt. I can see her face. She is so hurt.”
“Lilly, please,” Sarah begged. “I cannot bear the thought!”
Lilly wiped her eyes and tried to get control of her emotions. “I am sorry, Sarah. I should never have brought this up. I should be happy for us. We have a new child to add to our family.”
“And you will be here to greet this child and your own!” Sarah insisted.
Lilly made no protest and struggled to get control of her voice. “I should never have told you.”
Sarah held her out to look her in the eyes and make sure her point was made. “You should tell me everything no matter how painful! I make you a promise, Lilly, sealed in the power that is mine as an ancient dragon. No one shall harm you so long as I live; I swear it by the names of the divines!”
Comments
Sam4005
Ty for chapy
