Pregnancy, the second time around, had not proved to be even half so much of a trial as it had the first for Piper Granger. But then, this time, she wasn't a completely non-magical being carrying a half-Fae child, suffering through the pain of each time Lyneth had stretched her magical wings in the womb. Everything was progressing normally, naturally, and she might almost have enjoyed it, but for one cloud hanging over them.
It was almost time.
No woman had ever dreaded labor so much as Piper in these last weeks of her pregnancy - not in fear of the pain, for she knew she would forget that quickly. No, she feared being so vulnerable; she feared that Lyneth would feel replaced; she was terrified of the being who would come for them. They knew now, in a way they could not have done before the Autumn Queen had visited them, that this was the crucial point. If they could, somehow, survive this coming trial with their little family intact, there would be no more fear of the Dark Fae.
It was made worse with knowing that there was nothing she could do. She was the weak link, she and the unborn boy resting beneath her heart. Des would have to protect them, alone. And Lyneth ....sweet, trusting, loving little Lyneth would have her own trial to face. Utterly alone.
They had done all they could to convince the little girl she was loved, that no one in the world could possibly replace her, and yet the proof of that would come only when the Fae took her. When he took her, and gave her the choice. That was why Des had to be prepared; if there was even a single hint that he, Piper, or the baby would be lost, then the choice for Lyneth would already be made. They had to survive, so that she could stand up and declare her affiliation to the humanity that had raised her thus far.
Piper remembered this crippling fear. She had lived with it for most of her pregnancy with Lyneth, certain that the Hunter would find her, that he would take her daughter away from her. Family and friends had gathered around her, given her the tools she needed to protect her little girl, but she remained uncertain how much of that had truly helped. Nina had been given the same tools and yet ....she had heard nothing of Nina and her son, nor of Alaric, since the day Lyneth had been born.
Had the difference between them been so acute, then" Had the need for the child to know they were loved been there, even then" Nina had not wanted her son; she had been eager for the birth, though only to be rid of the child in her womb. Piper remembered Lyneth's birth keenly - the pain and fear, and her daughter's voice, speaking to her softly, assuring her mother that she loved her and she wanted to be with her. Had Nina's son felt the same way' Or had the Hunter come for him in the hour of his birth, when Lyneth had been held so close and so loved?
Piper felt guilt for not having tried to find out what had happened to Nina and Alaric, and the baby boy who could have been Lyneth's brother. But there wasn't time for that guilt now, nor was there space for it in her heart. All her energy was focused on her own child - her own children - and the man she loved.
Lyneth, for all her wonderful abilities, embraced being a human child, with all the pitfalls and delights that came with it. Despite feeling keenly the need to keep her family safe, she had been convinced that all she had to do was be true to her own heart, to what she wanted above all else, and to Piper's delight, the little girl maintained that what she wanted more than anything was to stay and be a little girl and a big sister with the parents she adored. Seen in that light, perhaps the fight had already been won. Perhaps, like last time, the Hunter would not come for her.
But it was a forlorn hope, that one. This was his last chance, and they all knew it. He could fight hard to convince Lyneth that she had nothing here, to make certain of it. All they could do was prepare in advance. Old allies had come to the fore - Magda, from the library; Alannah, the midwife from her last pregnancy; even Alv'ss, the mystic who had tattooed the Aegishjalmur onto her back; they had all welcomed her seeking their advice, and all, in their own way, brought something forth to aid the little family.
From Magda came books of fairytales and magic, stories that - though they had no real relevance to the situation - could be shared with Lyneth, tightening the bonds between mother, father, and daughter; she also gave Des a large quantity of iron filings, proof that the maternal woman knew a little bit about fighting dirty. From Alannah came the promise that this time, she would be there for the birth, even if she had to turn into a dragon and fly there to be on time.
And from Alv'ss came what may have been the best of all - warding for their home. He visited one day, utterly out of the blue, and stamped each and every beam of wood, every keystone, every corner, with the Eye of Horus and the Celtic hawk, both powerful protection symbols in their own right. Even if the Fae warriors managed to enter, they would be weakened, under attack from the magic that would work against anyone should they enter with the intent to cause harm.
Thus warded and protected, all they could do was wait. The time was coming when one decision would change their lives for good or ill, and no one could make that decision until the moment the choice was presented. All they could do was wait, and hope that the love of her human family would be enough.
It was almost time.
No woman had ever dreaded labor so much as Piper in these last weeks of her pregnancy - not in fear of the pain, for she knew she would forget that quickly. No, she feared being so vulnerable; she feared that Lyneth would feel replaced; she was terrified of the being who would come for them. They knew now, in a way they could not have done before the Autumn Queen had visited them, that this was the crucial point. If they could, somehow, survive this coming trial with their little family intact, there would be no more fear of the Dark Fae.
It was made worse with knowing that there was nothing she could do. She was the weak link, she and the unborn boy resting beneath her heart. Des would have to protect them, alone. And Lyneth ....sweet, trusting, loving little Lyneth would have her own trial to face. Utterly alone.
They had done all they could to convince the little girl she was loved, that no one in the world could possibly replace her, and yet the proof of that would come only when the Fae took her. When he took her, and gave her the choice. That was why Des had to be prepared; if there was even a single hint that he, Piper, or the baby would be lost, then the choice for Lyneth would already be made. They had to survive, so that she could stand up and declare her affiliation to the humanity that had raised her thus far.
Piper remembered this crippling fear. She had lived with it for most of her pregnancy with Lyneth, certain that the Hunter would find her, that he would take her daughter away from her. Family and friends had gathered around her, given her the tools she needed to protect her little girl, but she remained uncertain how much of that had truly helped. Nina had been given the same tools and yet ....she had heard nothing of Nina and her son, nor of Alaric, since the day Lyneth had been born.
Had the difference between them been so acute, then" Had the need for the child to know they were loved been there, even then" Nina had not wanted her son; she had been eager for the birth, though only to be rid of the child in her womb. Piper remembered Lyneth's birth keenly - the pain and fear, and her daughter's voice, speaking to her softly, assuring her mother that she loved her and she wanted to be with her. Had Nina's son felt the same way' Or had the Hunter come for him in the hour of his birth, when Lyneth had been held so close and so loved?
Piper felt guilt for not having tried to find out what had happened to Nina and Alaric, and the baby boy who could have been Lyneth's brother. But there wasn't time for that guilt now, nor was there space for it in her heart. All her energy was focused on her own child - her own children - and the man she loved.
Lyneth, for all her wonderful abilities, embraced being a human child, with all the pitfalls and delights that came with it. Despite feeling keenly the need to keep her family safe, she had been convinced that all she had to do was be true to her own heart, to what she wanted above all else, and to Piper's delight, the little girl maintained that what she wanted more than anything was to stay and be a little girl and a big sister with the parents she adored. Seen in that light, perhaps the fight had already been won. Perhaps, like last time, the Hunter would not come for her.
But it was a forlorn hope, that one. This was his last chance, and they all knew it. He could fight hard to convince Lyneth that she had nothing here, to make certain of it. All they could do was prepare in advance. Old allies had come to the fore - Magda, from the library; Alannah, the midwife from her last pregnancy; even Alv'ss, the mystic who had tattooed the Aegishjalmur onto her back; they had all welcomed her seeking their advice, and all, in their own way, brought something forth to aid the little family.
From Magda came books of fairytales and magic, stories that - though they had no real relevance to the situation - could be shared with Lyneth, tightening the bonds between mother, father, and daughter; she also gave Des a large quantity of iron filings, proof that the maternal woman knew a little bit about fighting dirty. From Alannah came the promise that this time, she would be there for the birth, even if she had to turn into a dragon and fly there to be on time.
And from Alv'ss came what may have been the best of all - warding for their home. He visited one day, utterly out of the blue, and stamped each and every beam of wood, every keystone, every corner, with the Eye of Horus and the Celtic hawk, both powerful protection symbols in their own right. Even if the Fae warriors managed to enter, they would be weakened, under attack from the magic that would work against anyone should they enter with the intent to cause harm.
Thus warded and protected, all they could do was wait. The time was coming when one decision would change their lives for good or ill, and no one could make that decision until the moment the choice was presented. All they could do was wait, and hope that the love of her human family would be enough.