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 Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 3:12 pm
Asa never thought he would become accustomed to travel with roving groups, but as time wore on he'd found their presence comforting In instances where Ygraine wasn't around then he had others to speak to - others with the kind of knowledge he was looking to find. Several of the hunters tried to teach him how to set snares, passing elders taught him how to cook fast meals for road travel and the children...they never failed to give him a near stroke!
While it wasn't uncommon for a caravan to have a few children in it's ranks Asa didn't think he'd ever get used to the noise. At first it had been jarring. To see them running around freely, barefoot of all things, covered in Chi only knew what...The first time one had fallen near him and started crying over a skinned knee he'd nearly panicked before the child's elder brother scoffed at him.
"It's just a lil blood."
Right - just a little blood - of course. That evening he'd been determined to 'refresh' one of Ygraine's tops as a way to surprise her when the children had called him over. Apparently they were playing a game and were one person short. Since he was the smallest in the caravan he was the closest to their height and....well...
Now Asa was doubled over, wheezing, with some small child thumping his back. "Come on, we're gonna lose!" All they had to do was kick a ball to the other side of the clearing and through a hoop. It sounded easy enough, but Asa couldn't make them understand he wasn't as fast as they were.
Closing his eyes, he placed his hand above his chest and murmured yet another clearing spell on his lungs. The repeated use was helping, but not nearly enough. When he stood he swayed a little and with a huff he took off, running once more for the ball.
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 3:34 pm
[1/10]
In the past few months, life had continued on its peaceful course. Asa, who had insisted on acting like he only had a few months to live, was doing... well enough. He still had bouts of fever and illness, but he was able to manage many of his symptoms thanks to his magic. There were still nights when Ygraine held him tightly, remembering that this person she'd fallen for could take a turn for the worse seemingly at any time, but they were happy.
Even after the mercenary attack a few months back, they'd continued west in a meandering pace, and had only barely crossed over into Tale. Sure, they could cross to Jauhar quickly if they went straight ahead, but Ygraine wanted to show Asa everything, and neither had suggested speeding up their trip. So - here they were.
In the middle of nowhere with a caravan that had no healers, except Asa, but had quite a few mothers and grandmothers who, as it so happened, were very observant. Ygraine hadn't really thought much of the headaches she'd been getting, or how sometimes she just needed to sit for a little bit, thanks to a weird dizzy spell. But it was when she complained of feeling hot all the time (one morning as they sat cutting vegetables and bits of meat for a stew) that the women looked at one another, and the nearest one - a handsome, thick built Tale woman set a hand on her shoulder, "D'you think you might be... carrying, dear?"
Because of course the entire party knew about Asa and Ygraine's relationship - they'd all had a good smirk and giggle over it, that night when the two came back into camp, clothes haphazard and hair strewn with dirt and leaves.
So. That was how Ygraine spent her morning.
Now, after a good bit of thinking, she was circling the camp, looking for Asa - when she saw him, bent over and clutching his knees as he fought for breath. She began to hurry her pace, mouth opening to call him over - when he straightened up and, with a determined look, set off to play ball with a group of children.
She let him suffer a short time, with the children yelling and shrieking as they thoroughly trounced him. "Asa - I need a hand!" She called, propping a hand on her hip, and trying not to laugh over the ridiculousness of calling her lover to her the way mothers would beckon their children in for supper.
The timing of it all...!
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 3:45 pm
Oh thank the spirits.
Asa had been trying his best to end this nightmare, but he'd found that once children had focused on a task they weren't easy to dissuade. Every time he'd tried to call it quits they guilt tripped him - "You're the only one who can do it!" - and he'd taken to running just a little bit more. By the time he heard Ygraine's voice she could have been slandering his name for all he cared; anything was an excuse to break away from the group.
"Ooo, you're in trouble." One of the children snickered. "Mama always looks like that right before she makes me do chores."
He tried to respond but when Asa opened his the only thing that escaped was a slow wheeze. It had such a squeaky quality to it that the children laughed a little and honestly, if he'd had the energy, he would have too. He slowly picked his way closer to Ygraine, taking his time to hike up the small incline, and by the time he'd made it to her side he was thoroughly sweaty. Another round of magic helped to keep his airways open, and thankfully all his time in the 'southern' climate meant that this bit of activity wasn't enough to send him straight to bed.
"Is - Are - What can I help you with?"
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 3:53 pm
[2/10]
Was it kindness that made Asa keep playing? Or was he being bullied by a group of children? Ygraine watched as he jogged over, and found that she didn't mind either way - it was cute. "You looked like you needed help there." She responded, quietly enough that only the two of them could hear. But she set her hands on her hips, letting the kids a few yards away believe that he was 'in trouble.'
"Quick lets make our escape -- I needed help twenty minutes ago, and you're here playing ball! The nerve!" She elevated her voice at the tail end, a cheeky smile playing over her lips. Sure enough, the kids responded by 'oohing' at Asa theatrically as Ygraine led the man away.
Once they rounded the bend behind a few erected tents, Ygraine fell into giggles and instead set about carefully smoothing his hair back from his face, feeling his forehead with a concerned little click of her tongue. "You're far too kind for your own good, you know? You'll have to learn how to stand up to kids, my little lord."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 4:02 pm
Asa had to turn his head away from the children to hide his goofy smile. She was so - dramatic - He found himself choking on a laugh, but with any luck the angle of his body kept his 'captors' from seeing that bit. The healer couldn't even look behind him for fear of breaking her act, so he settled for steadying himself as he walked along beside her.
He already knew before she touched him that he had a slight fever. Nothing that a little rest wouldn't cover, but it was there, all the same. "My lady, have you seen them? I am outnumbered, out sized by a few, and when they look at me with those eyes..." The first time a grubby little girl had looked up at him with the biggest, saddest gaze he had ever seen Asa absolutely broke.
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 4:10 pm
[3/10]
By now, Ygraine was getting more used to his state of health, and knew that this was mild enough that she needn't be too concerned. But - she still was, if only because this was Asa and she didn't like when he wasn't feeling well. After checking his temperature, she continued to walk - setting a quick enough pace back to their tent, where she hoped they'd be able to talk privately. Outside of it, Morrigan was sleeping, curled up and making soft, low pitched rumbles, her ear twitching in their direction as they approached.
Ygraine tossed her head back, laughing happily at his alarmed reaction, brushing a wayward curl from her face as she looked down at him again. "What can I say? You're apparently popular with them - soon they'll all want Uncle Asa to come play with them! But-" Ygraine trailed off, biting her lip for a moment as she considered just... how to approach this.
"... Depending on how... things go, Asa, there's a chance - you might have to learn how to handle kids yourself. Especially little kids. ...Babies, even."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 4:22 pm
As they neared their tent Asa took notice of Morrigan, but also of Sev. The larger, chubby raptrix was currently spread out on her back asleep in the sun with her wings fanned wide around her. If she noticed their approach she didn't show it, but he honestly didn't expect her too. The raptrix had a carefree air about her that lended well to the life of a companion.
"Uncle Asa?" He shook his head at that one and made his way over to a little basin they'd been using to catch rain water. Thankfully - in an odd way - his frequent bouts of illness were enough that he'd taken to leaving a cloth nearby so it was easy enough to dip it down then move to place it on the back of his neck.
Depending on how...? "What are you..." Asa furrowed his brow and looked from her face to her stomach then back to her face. "Babies?!" He didn't mean for his voice to sound so squeaky anymore than he expected the cold chill to run over his skin. In an instant Asa felt woozy and stumbled back a bit, the back of his knees catching on the side of the water basin.
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 4:31 pm
[4/10] Well - that... was a reaction. Ygraine raised her eyebrows at his first question, just - letting him look her over as he pieced together what she was saying. But when he stumbled, she jerked forward towards him with a noise of worry, reaching to grip his shoulder and steady him. Water sloshed from the basin and onto Asa's leg, but most of the water remained safely inside the basin.
"Well - my brother and I are twins, and - and my little siblings are triplets, so- I mean - that's both sides of my family having multiples--" Ygraine babbled briefly, showing a sliver of nervousness where, previously, she'd been more calm.
She was silent for a moment, then bit her lip again, pulling her hand back from Asa's shoulder now that he was settled a bit, "It could be nothing. Just - feeling a bit under the weather recently. But all signs point to ... me being pregnant, so- that's... that."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 4:41 pm
"Twins and - triplets- That's a -" She wasn't the only one showing signs of nervousness. Asa reached out for her arm, using Ygraine as a steadying point when the world around him started losing sound. Keeping the cool rag on the back of his neck helped, but every time he looked at her his heartrate just sped up all the more and he just -
"If you come inside the tent and lay down I can check. There's a section of the old healer's notes that shows how to do it." Of course he'd never had to before so he wasn't entirely sure how this whole thing worked, but without an actual healer in the caravan they couldn't be sure.
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 4:50 pm
[5/10]
Well, honestly, Ygraine didn't know how this stuff worked. But Eema did - and... for all the time Ygraine had felt she resented her birth mother, and how close Sol and Eema were, now - she felt herself wishing to be back in that familiar home in Jauhar, with Eema checking on her and telling her how to do all this, and-- gosh, but Eema really knew so much about all this didn't she?
"You can? Okay- yeah. Yes. Of course." She blurted out, surprised as she looked at him. But - then she nodded quickly and, squeezing the hand he'd rested against her arm, she stepped inside and went to lay down. In the past few months, they'd moved their bedrolls right next to one another so that they could sleep in eachother's arms every night - and as she settled down against the mats, she felt her stomach twist nervously as she looked at Asa's panicked face.
She already knew how he felt about... legacies and all that, but in this moment she didn't know what was going through his head. Would he change his mind about... all of this?
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 4:59 pm
"It helps that I saw your brother do it while we were visiting." During their brief stay Sol had done his best to teach Asa the basics of healing. While it had been intended for wound care, illnesses and the like a young woman had come to the clinic for a check up. Asa was able to experience the check up first hand, but how much of it he remembered was debatable.
Setting his cold rag aside, Asa moved into the tent and reached for the notebook. It took him a bit to find the correct page, but once there Asa settled down next to Ygraine. The look on his face was...unreadable, and completely purposeful. He didn't want her to know how utterly terrified he was of this. A baby was...something to celebrate, right? He loved Ygraine so much and any child she had would be special, but this just...
Raising a hand above her stomach, Asa felt the magic flow through him. There was a light golden glow that passed through his fingers towards Ygraine and - almost instantly he recoiled. The magic ceased and he inhaled sharply. "You're right; you're pregnant and it's one child."
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 5:39 pm
[6/10]
Ygraine fought not to squirm uncomfortably under his outstretched hand. In her head, she imagined it itched - or tickled, even, whatever magic he was using - but in actuality she didn't feel a thing. If she was honest... this scared her.
Not... his answer, surprisingly - that bit was startling, but also sent a thrill of energy through her that she had dabbled with that morning, as she considered whether or not this was a good thing. But his behavior... the carefully blank look, the way his hand tugged back like he suddenly couldn't stand to touch her - that was terrifying.
Ygraine sat up once he was finished, hands smoothing her skirt down where it had wrinkled a bit, gazing at him through her eyelashes. Did this remind him of back home? Was it a reminder of those chains of responsibility he'd thrown away when they ran away together? Of the woman he was supposed to marry?
Was he regretting coming out here with her, now that their lackadaisical romping through the wilds had come to an end?
She pressed her lips together, trying to keep her own expression blank, but - as the silence ebbed on she felt her lips trembling as a knot formed in her throat.
Was it foolish of her, to think he might have been at least a little bit happy? Ygraine blinked her eyes, and realized that tears had bubbled up in them, breaking free and tickling a path down her cheeks as she hastily tried to wipe them away. But once one came, then came more - and soon she was turning red in the face from the attempts to hold her breath and stop herself from crying hysterically, her breath hitching. "Are-- are you... going to leave?" She finally whispered out,impatiently shoving her hair out of her face, where the curls tried to stick to her tear-stained cheeks.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 5:51 pm
At first Asa couldn't look at her. He kept his eyes downcast as the shame of what he'd done washed over him. What sort of fool was he, to be so utterly careless and risk everything like this? If he'd cared for her at all then he wouldn't have -
When he looked up Asa's guilt only doubled. Outright horror claimed his features as he reached out to put a hand on her leg. "No, of course not! I would never -" The words caught in the back of his throat like a pair of strong hands clenching around his very soul. "I'm just...Ygraine, I am so sorry. We should have been more careful so that...so that you wouldn't be in this situation. I'll stay by your side as long as I can and I just...Chi, I hope you can forgive me."
Spirits now he was getting choked up. Try as he might Asa couldn't help it; he'd started crying too.
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 6:02 pm
[7/10]
It wasn't quite the hug or reassuring touch she was looking for, but at least he was touching her again. Ygraine calmed a bit, dropping her hand to grip onto his own, smaller one - trying to lace their fingers together just so she could hold on to him just that bit more. She felt stupid, to be crying about this. Maybe the reality of the situation hadn't hit her, like it had with him - the understanding that he was still a man with a limited life expectancy, even if he'd seemed to be feeling so much better lately.
Still, him apologizing still made her stomach twist, and her hand jerked a bit, as if tempted to drop his hand - before clinging onto it even harder instead. "I'm not." She murmured, sniffing fiercely as she tried once again to make the tears stop. They continued on, making her eyelids sore, but the miserable look had shifted to a stubbornly defiant look.
"I'm sorry but I'm - not. I want... you to have as much freedom as you can. This-- I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to. If you're here, I... I want it to be because you... want to be, and because you're happy. But this--" She gestured towards her still flat stomach, tilting her head so she could look at him with her blue alkidike eyes in the way that had once been so off putting for him, "I want you to stay with me forever, Asa. Right here by my side. But... if you do 'go' - someday... I want just a little piece of you here with me. I'm sorry if that's- a lot to ask for."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 6:16 pm
"You - what?" At first her voice had been low enough that he could barely hear her so he'd matched her in tone. When she spoke up, however, and reached for his hand Asa was sure the pregnancy was causing her mind to skip.
Even now, so long after their initial meeting, that stare could bore into his very core. It did nothing to stop the tears from falling or the near hiccupping quality of his breath, but it did keep him grounded. She had no right to sound so...so utterly perfect when everything was going so horribly wrong. "I've never wanted anything more than to be here with you and I'll stay as long as you'll have me I just - "
When he spoke next his voice broke a little, try as he might to reign himself in. "- Is that okay? For me to help you?" Asa bit his lower lip. "My parents - I know what they said isn't true but it's still - it's all there- and I'm worried that I'll taint the child. When I die you'll be left alone to raise it, it could turn out like me there's just -"
Steadying himself enough to at least look at her he continued. "It's not that I don't want a child I just...I know that my value is limited and I..."
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