(Drakken's POV)
"She's...." Maegelle said as she looked down at the cradle, "Perfect...."
"She's not going anywhere, Maegelle." I told her, "You don't have to be constantly gazing upon her."
She smiled, "But....." She said softly, "I like seeing her...."
"Hm." I said as I sat down on the edge of her bed, "Is that so?"
"Yes...." She said as she reached down to pat her cheek, "She....this child....this beautiful girl, she is mine.....we made her....."
"We did." I said as I tilted my head
She tucked her hair behind her ear, a slight blush on her cheeks, "I am so happy, Drakken." She said, "So happy..."
I blinked, "You know...." I said, "I don't see why you would want to visit your Mother."
She looked at me, "What?"
"Your Family." I said seriously, "They're behind what happened to Daranne."
She frowned, "Drakken...." She said as she walked over "You have the woman responsible for that....in your dungeon.....in which you torture her constantly with the intent on breaking her completely....!"
She sat next to me and grabbed my hand as I looked at her.
"That does not make it so your Family is automatically forgiven." I said, "You know that."
"I do." she said, "And trust me, I don't forgive them either."
"Then why?" I asked
"Because they are my blood." She said softly, "And there's not much we can do about that, is there? At the very least, I want my mother to know that I am happy...I want her to see her granddaughter, to see that my daughter is well."
"Hm." I said
"You already agreed." She told me, "Don't forget that."
"I did." I said, "And you know what my payment is."
She nodded and gave me a smile, "I know." She said softly, "Very well...."
"Send word to them." I said, "We'll take the boys too with a heavy escort, to show them that I mean business."
"Oh." She said with surprise, "Really? I thought....you would leave them here with the other two."
"No." I said, "I won't do that."
"I see." She said, "Is Mya and Saera coming? Would she be in a condition to do so? She's nearly due."
"Unlike you, she allows me to tamper with her body." I said, "I'll make it so the trip doesn't affect her nor the child."
"Alright then." She said with a smile, "I suppose.....we'll go and spend some time. I imagine the court will still be angry about Sharp Point."
"I don't care." I said as I raised her hand and kissed it, "They'll know to keep their mouths shut."
"Who will be here? Mya?" She asked
"No, we can leave the Castle with Brynden, who is here." I told her, "He'll handle things."
"I see." She said with a nod, "Hey, I need you to understand something."
"What is it?" I asked
"No torturing that woman today....nor tomorrow." She said with a frown
"You take the fun out of everything." I said
"It is wrong." She said
"What she did was right?" I asked her
"No, but please don't do it on the day your daughter was born." She said as she leaned in closer to me, "Please....."
"I am here, aren't I?" I said, "Not down there."
"Hm....." She said softly, "Say....now that our girl is born already....."
I raised an eyebrow, "What is it?"
"Y-You said...." She blushed, "You would marry me...."
"Hm, is that so?" I reached for her waist and pulled her closer, "Well....I suppose we can do that...I-"
I was cut off by the sound of the girl crying, which prompted Maegelle to get up and walk over to the cradle. She reached in and picked her up, holding her in her arms while she smiled warmly.
"There there..." She said as she walked back over and sat down, "Do not cry, my sweetling....."
She leaned closer to me as the girl was calming down, nuzzling against her chest as Maegelle simply looked at her with an enamored look on her face. The mere sight of her holding my child in her arms are breathtaking.
For years, she acted motherly for the boys and now that she is a Mother herself, I did not know how to react.
"Hm..." I said
"Look at her." She smiled at me, "Isn't she precious?"
I looked at the girl, seeing that she was looking up with her eyes slowly closing and opening. She was tired and drowsy, requiring sleep. I imagine that if she is to sleep in the same chambers as us, Maegelle and I would need to be quiet should we get intimate.
The girl's mismatched eyes looked right at me, staring at me with such curiosity.
"I suppose she is." I said
"My Vaella...." Maegelle said with a smile, "You have such a powerful father to keep you safe from anything.....and two older brothers who would do anything for you. My beautiful girl, I love you so much.....so much...."
I lifted my hand and ran my hand through her hair, "You've made me so soft....." I said to Maegelle, "Sometimes.....I hate it...it is unlike me....to feel this much.....affection for you...."
She looked at me, "It is not wrong for you to display your humanity." She said, "Even if you are a god...."
I looked at her, "You don't understand." I said as I leaned in closer to her, "You are...I do not know how to explain it....I don't know why you've made me like this.....I held her....my own daughter....when I did not hold my sons when they were born."
"They don't mind." Maegelle said
"But I know...." I said, "I know that I did not show them that type of affection."
"They know you love them. That you care for them." She said softly, "And you told me yourself; they are your sons, they are strong. They don't need your affection....even if it would be nice for them to have it. But I am glad you're feeling this way."
"Hm." I said as I looked at the girl, "She does look more like you."
"Yes, I suppose so." She said with a chuckle, "Say, Drakken...."
"What is it?" I asked
She looked at her as well, "If you.....did have one from Daranne...." She said, "A daughter.....what would you have named her?"
I sighed, "I don't know." I said as I leaned in and kissed her shoulder, "I don't know. I leave that up to the Mothers."
"I see.." Maegelle said softly, "I know Daranne would have been so delighted to see her...our Vaella.....she would have loved her so much.....Drakken...I feel.....so sad now...."
"Don't." I said as I caressed her cheek as a tear ran down it, "Do not feel sad...."
"But...." She said as she looked at her, "Daranne is gone.....and she could not see my daughter come into the world....."
"How am I supposed to feel about this?"