No 12

[Eskel]

He looks away.

I don't. I promised... I promised him to help, and I promised my parents I'd look after my siblings. Maybe we'll all be fine.

He smiles at her.

Come, come.

He drags her to his bedroom and opens a small drawer in his desk. He takes out a small box, opens it and unties the string between the rings. They are plain golden rings- red gold that has a slight red glow in the light. He holds one out at her in the palm of his hand, and looks at her face.

[Taerlin]

*Her eyes buldge out, and she looks up at him wonderingly.*

Eskel, I...is this...

*She stares at him, partially speechless. She looks on the verge of laughing or bursting into tears of joy, or doing both at the same time.*

[Eskel]

His mouth twitches as if he's considering a smile, but is too embarrassed to.

Was my mother's. It's- it's all I have... I wasn't planning to... Well, I was actually, just not- not yet, while I might... But I might not... And if we're going to- Well... I just...

...

Marry me Tae? Please?

[Taerlin]

Gods yes!

*She jumps and wraps her arms around him, pulling him into a deep kiss.*

[Eskel]

He blushes a bit and smiles, holds her and holds the kiss for a while, then he breaks it off and looks at her seriously. He runs his finger over her forehead down to her nose.

... a child...

[Taerlin]

*She smiles slightly.*

A child.

[Eskel]

He picks her up, walks a few paces and puts her down in the bed. He starts wrapping blankets around her, and keeps talking as he does so.

It'd better look like you. What's it going to be, you think? When is it due? How long have you known? Have you seen a doctor yet?

[Taerlin]

*She smiles at him.*

It would be luckier if it looked like you. I've never heard of an elf and a drow having a child, so I don't know what it will be. Again, I'm not sure when I'm due. I haven't been through this before, you know. I wasn't sure untill today, but I've suspected for awhile. No, I haven't seen a doctor yet - I wasn't certian until today.

[Eskel]

He grins and tickles her.

A boy or a girl kind of what is it going to be, silly.

[Taerlin]

*She laughs.*

That kind. I haven't the faintest idea. Next time you're at work, you might want to get some books on it...I really don't know much about it.

*She pauses for a second, as if trying to conrol her stomach.*

Except for the unplesant parts...

*She runs to the bathroom again and begins to vomit.*

[Eskel]

He smiles, but the smile fades when she leaves the room. He holds his head in his hands. Oh gods. A wife and a child. What if he gets killed now..? It would be hard enough to leave his siblings, because they are so young... But street-wise in their way, and Narwain is tough. But a baby? He's going to be a father? Damnit, he's only a kid himself! He's only 140 years old... And Taerlin is younger. He knows about taking care of young children, of course he does... Eskel sighs and looks absently at the window. He had hoped that maybe, just maybe, he'd have some time for himself when his siblings were old enough. Just... Just some time not having to worry about feeding someone else, clothing someone else, keeping them warm, getting them in school, changing diapers and making them brush their teeth and getting woken up in the middle of the night because there is a thunderstorm or they had a nightmare or... Oh, he ought to be ashamed of himself. Narwain and Lotheg need his help, deserve his help, he should be happy to do it for them, and he is, he loves them. He listens to the retching sounds in the bathroom. He'll be happy to do it for this... baby. It's his duty and that's okay. He won't be alone anyway, Taerlin is there, and she's great.

He gets up and walks downstairs, gets a glass of water, goes back to the bathroom. He puts the glass ready for her, and a towel, wetted at a tip, for her to wipe her face. He kneels down by her and puts his hand on her back. He's going to be a father... His practical mind takes over and he starts calculating whether they could get by on one salary- yes, they could, but a raise wouldn't be unwelcome. Especially since he's got to think of saving, and quickly, in case something happens to him. The house is his, he bought it, it's small but it'll do. He's already been saving up for his siblings but it's not enough for a family yet. And then there's a wedding to take care of. He looks Taerlin over and thinks. It's not visible yet, but that can't be long, because she said she suspected for a while. Better make it soon. Get her to quit her job. Any other job is good, that's not the point, but... Lunaria will understand when she quits, he thinks. A doctor, he has to get her to a doctor. Books in the library only get him so far, he doesn't understand the lingo. Maybe one of the clerics in the Church will know. He'll go there first thing tomorrow, before he goes to school. A baby... It's not that bad. It's sort of funny in a way. And maybe, just maybe, he'll be lucky, and everything will work out fine.

[Taerlin]

*She smiles up at him graciously as she takes the towel and wipes her face before taking a cautious drink. He really was so good to her. She didn’t blame him at all for his reaction, she had been just as stunned. And he seemed to be more…awake then he had in awhile. He was thinking of the future again, and not just in terms of his death. She looked up into his eyes.*

Thank you. Everything is going to work out. We’ll make sure of it.

[Eskel]

Yes. We will.

He gives her an assuring smile, takes an old bowl and carries it to the bedroom, leading her by the hand. He puts it by the bed, and her in it.

You have to sleep now. If you can't make it to the bathroom fast enough, here's something for you to throw up in. Get some sleep.

He wraps the blankets around her again and draws a chair close. He sits vigil.

[Taerlin]

*She yawns, and mumbles sleeply.*

'nks, eskle. love you.

*She slides slowly into the gentel embrace of sleep, which, on this night, brings no horrors to haunt her.*

[Eskel]

He shivers and holds himself as he sits there, eyes wide open staring into the night. There is no rest for him this night.