In Which Leara Notes What Lorn Doesn't Notice

June 21, 1172

"Jesus Christ, Leara!" Raia launched herself onto the empty side of the bed and laughed; in spite of the lingering pains throughout her body, Leara couldn't help but smile. "For a woman who just spent the last six hours screaming at the top of her lungs while shoving out an eight-pound baby, you seem calm."

"So did you, after the fact." Dear Lord, had Raia forgotten what it was like to give birth already? It seemed to Leara that she'd remember those six hours for a lot longer than she cared to; then again, she was both aching and excited, drunk on a combination of emotions she'd never figured possible. Maybe she'd wake tomorrow to think it had all been a dream. "And for the record, if I was screaming my lungs out, then I don't even want to know what you were doing when you had Alina."

Raia smirked. "It's called theatricality."

"It's called noise." She flipped one of her sweaty pigtails to the side and grimaced. It was a relief that she could still joke, but she still hadn't felt so unattractive in her life--and this was after months on end of looking like she'd swallowed a sack of cannonballs. "Do you think the baby's hungry yet? If I let any more milk leak onto this nightgown, no amount of washing is ever going to get the smell out."

An appreciative chuckle ringing from her mouth, Raia glanced to the room's newest little center of attention. "Maybe in a few minutes. He seems pretty happy with Grandma and Auntie Xeta right now."

She had a point there, Leara had to admit. "My little boy already has all the ladies wrapped around his finger."

"That's how it goes." Raia folded her hands over the midsection of her dress--which, Leara noted, looked to be suspiciously snug-fitting. "First my father, and now your mother-in-law. Who would've thought grandchildren would get to be all the rage around here?"

"Oh, Laralita isn't quite sold on the concept just yet," Leara reminded her, the memory of her stepmother running through the halls shrieking in terror after finding her first gray hair still oh-too-fresh in her mind. "I'm almost sure that Searle only told Elhina to tell her about his son because he knew it would make her squirm."

"Speaking of squirming--" Goodwife Diarn, stunning and oddly glowing in her green silk gown, turned away from Leara's cooing in-laws and made eye contact "--that's precisely what the duke must be doing right about now. Should I fetch him, your grace?"

After all these months, it was still so strange to be addressed as such, especially with her mother-in-law in the room, but it seemed improper to argue. She was the duchess, after all--and a duchess who had just birthed an heir, at that. "Yes. Thank you, Goodwife."

Goodwife Diarn obliged with a quick bow of her head, then turned on her heel and strode out of the room, the train of her green silk the last visible part of her. Leara doubted she'd be back; Lorn would be arriving alone.

"Does she seem a bit different to you?" Raia's question was the precise sum of Leara's thoughts. Goodwife Diarn had always been a little rough around the edges, but in a strong, take-no-prisoners sort of way; nowadays, she just seemed aloof.

But there had to be an explanation. "Maybe she's saving all her attitude for your uncle."

"Oh, probably. I know he's saving all of his for her."

Off to the side, the door swung open, a tall blond form stepping forth with a sheepish grin. "Speaking of saving, what's Raia doing on my side of the bed?"

Leara smiled; Raia rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively. "You come in here and the first thing you notice is the bed? You have a son, you dolt--go look at him while I keep your spot warm."

Lorn's face flashed as red as his tunic. Leara giggled as it faded back to its usual color--stupid boy. "Right. Where is... oh.

"Oh, Leara..." Wide-eyed and trembling and raptured, Lorn reached for one of the little hands curling upwards from his sister's grasp. "He's... he's perfect. He looks just like you!"

"He has your father's eyes," Lorn's mother added. "His grandfather's eyes on his own sweet little face." She sent a fond look Leara's way; whatever vile filth had been sitting in Leara's gut melted to honey.

Meanwhile, Xeta took a step toward her brother. "Do you want to hold him?"

Although the girl couldn't see her, Leara nodded on Lorn's behalf. She watched as Xeta lowered the baby into his unsure, uneasy arms and sighed as he lifted the boy to his shoulder. "He's heavier than he looks."

His mother laughed. "You'll get used to it."

"I guess so." Lorn rubbed the baby's back as he approached the bed, his eyes squarely on Leara. Her belly was bloated and her skin was stretched and Lord only knew what was going on with her breasts, but somehow, she didn't think he'd noticed any of that. "I love you--both of you."

"Love you too." Beside her, Raia made a face; Leara shot her a glare, then looked to her in-laws. "Now, if the rest of you don't mind, I'd like a moment alone with my boys."

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