The Arranged Marriage (38 page)

“Not long now my lord. She is coming
to the final stages and then the worst will be over,” She looked to
Rohesia with pride and wiped her brow. “You will then have a
beautiful babe to hold.”

Rohesia smiled as the pain started up
again; the usual flow causing her to want to push something out of
her body. But this one was different. This was a sharp pain coming
in between her legs as the urge to push battered against it. This
time she felt like she couldn’t breathe as she held on to Ison for
dear life.

“I can’t do it,” She
whimpered.

“Yes you can,” It was Ison who spoke
as Nani moved down the bed to help Jenna. “You are the strongest
person I have ever known in my life, and you will get through this
my sweet. You will do this because you’re you.”

“It hurts.” She said through the force
of pain as it pulled her down the bed. Ison held on tight and
dropped down on his knees to move with her.

“It does, but you can handle it. You
won’t give up Rohesia, you won’t give up because you have the
strength inside you to get through this.”

“Just one last push Rohesia,” Nani
said as Rohesia moved her head closer to Ison.

“Stay with me,” She whispered, before
finding the last bit of energy she had in her to fight.

“Always.” He said as he brought his
other arm around to prop her head against his shoulder. The sweat
was dripping from his head as she pushed against him, pushed as if
to repel the pain away; and after one huge effort, one last push,
he felt her flop against him as he heard the wailing
start.

“Is the babe ok?” Ison heard her
whisper as Nani quickly sorted the babe. Jenna was cleaning the
mess, trying to obscure it from Ison and Rohesia’s view.

“It’s a girl Rohesia, a babe
girl”.

Rohesia laughed slightly as Ison tried
hard to keep himself from what felt like crying. He moved his head
down to her before he embarrassed himself completely.

“I am so, so proud of you my love,” He
whispered, and noticed how pale her skin was. Her eyes were closed
and Ison felt the panic shoot through him. He turned to see Nani
and the healer tending the babe on the other side of the
chamber.

“Rohesia,” He said so abruptly that it
had Nani running back up to them; the babe now with Jenna. Ison
started to shake Rohesia’s shoulders, the fear gnawing at him as a
future without her hit him full force. A tear finally escaped
him.

“Rohesia,” He shouted again, when he
noticed her eyes flicker open and glare at him through the
tiredness.

“What?” She practically demanded as
she put her hands over her eyes in exasperation. “I am trying to
bloody sleep.”

He felt the emotions hit him all at
once as he looked at Nani and saw her smile, making him laugh. Ison
couldn’t help himself. He sobbed hopelessly for a moment before
laughing, holding on to his wife as his mirth reverberated through
the chamber and out into the halls.

“And who is this?” Roscaar asked
gently as he moved out of the chair in the study where he and
Fabian had taken refuge. Ison had walked through the doors to meet
them with a small bundle in his arms. He grinned as he moved toward
them both, his eyes streaked with tears.

“This is little Gracia Rose Arganna,
the first.” He added with a slight smile on a grimace, not quite
sure they could go through that again in a hurry.

“Hello little Gracia,” Roscaar smiled
as he gently stroked the cheek of his granddaughter. Fabian had
also risen to join them and put his arm around Ison’s
shoulders.

“You have used part of your fathers’
name with Rose and Arganna? That’s nice.” He stated with a smile.
Ison nodded.

“Rohesia’s idea whilst she fed the
babe, then fell off to sleep again. She’s exhausted.”

“Really?” Fabian prompted. “I sense
her awake?”

“Nani’s probably managed to wake her.
She lost a lot of blood,” Ison felt himself welling up again – what
was wrong with him? He thought as he pushed it back down. He felt
the squeeze of Fabian’s hand on his shoulder in comfort before
continuing. “Nani’s trying to get her to drink lots of sweet
tea.”

“Ah,” Fabian said in understanding,
his own emotions whirling around him as he forced to ground
himself. There was a lot going on around here, he thought with a
smile. “Then that is where I can be of help. I have a special
Mookai blend with me that my mother sent that will definitely
restore her nerves.” He squeezed Ison’s shoulder again in
congratulations before nodding to Roscaar and leaving the
room.

“Oh Ison she is beautiful.” Roscaar
looked at her lovingly. “She looks like you when you were
born.”

Ison looked at his father as if
confused.

“What?” Roscaar prompted; uncertain of
what he had said.

“You saw me when I was
born?”

“Of course. Didn’t your mother tell
you?”

“No. She only told me of your
existence, who you were and that you were a good man,” He looked
down at his new daughter. “I didn’t want to know much more. I never
understood her reasons for telling me then.”

“I understand,” He smiled gently. “I
had always planned to wed your mother Ison. Part of me will always
be sorry that we didn’t do so before our lives were turned upside
down.”

“Father.” He said
uncomfortably.

“No, I want to tell you. You have a
right to know that your mother and I may not have planned you, but
you were so loved Ison, so loved. You came earlier than expected
but we were betrothed, secretly that is,” He stroked little
Gracia’s cheek again before continuing. “I was a prince, and even
with an older brother in line for the throne I was still a royal,
and your mother was the daughter of a merchant from the village. It
didn’t bother us, but we still had to be careful. My brother was
looking for a wife and we were waiting for that to be resolved
before I announced my intentions. My mother didn’t want a breath of
scandal on the family before my brother’s marriage was concluded,
so we bided our time.” He sighed. “Your mother found out she was
with child only days before word reached us that my brother had
died of a fever during a visit to the Foreign Lands. He had
contracted an illness that had taken him in days, and everything
was a blur as they shipped him back to Dondayas for burial.” He
continued to walk through the memories as Ison listened to
something he had always wanted to know deep down. “I think I knew
what was coming next, but I didn’t want to admit it. Your mother
knew, but every time she tried to speak of it I pushed it aside,
not wanting to face the truth.”

“You were now the direct heir to the
throne.” Ison stated for him.

“That I was. And even though I had
plans to elope or marry your mother regardless, it was her and her
strength that made me face up to it. She told me I had a duty, and
what an honour it was to have the power to make such changes in the
world. She would hear nothing of marriage to me or elopement,
knowing your life would suffer above all others because of it. She
thought it was the lesser of two evils you not knowing who I was.
She never planned to tell you.”

“But she became ill and didn’t want to
leave me alone. I didn’t know she was ill when I left.” He felt his
hands tighten slightly on his little girl, holding her
close.

“She wanted the best for you, and I
had to leave you, both of you. But I continued to visit her until I
was finally forced to wed. I was at your birth and paced the floor
nearly as much as you did.”

Ison smiled, glad his father had been
spared from actually watching it happen.

“Everyone knows the truth of me now,”
Ison said. “Why didn’t you keep it quiet?”

“Morell has known since the day we
wed,” His father replied. “She was another who showed strength when
I didn’t.”

“I thought she was so nice to me
because she didn’t know of my heritage back then.” He suddenly felt
very embarrassed. “I even thought her a fool for being hoodwinked
by you.”

Roscaar laughed a little.

“No, she was nice to you because she
knew, on the odd occasions we managed to see you at
least.”

“Did you still see my
mother?”

“No, and that was on the terms of both
women. But we tried to ensure your welfare, even though your mother
wouldn’t have a coin for help, stubborn soul.”

“You couldn’t stop the names.” Ison
told him, knowing his father felt guilt for that.

“Your mother could have wed me, or
even wed at all to give you a name, but she said you would always
have her and want for nothing. I think she thought she could shield
you from it all.”

“She just wanted what was best for us
both. She loved you.” There was no malice in Ison’s
voice.

“And I loved her. It was such a
horrible situation to be in. I was so full of regrets. I had to
keep my feelings for your mother away from Morell for a long time.
I had to hide the grief I felt for her when she died.”

“She was alone.” Ison said at his own
regret of leaving her.

“She wasn’t alone Ison. Even if I
didn’t see her, Morell did. As soon as she found out about her ill
health she spent as much time with your mother as she could get
away with as queen. Plus your mother had ample friends around her.
I would have been there if they would have allowed it. Goodness, I
feel so weak saying all of this.” He chuckled hesitantly. “With
your wife’s words about choices ringing in my ears I had one didn’t
I? And I made it. Now I have to live with my ignorance and the
consequences.”

“You will live with nothing of the
sort,” Ison said with vehemence before quieting his voice again. “I
know my mother and what she was like, and I know she would have
practically made the choice for you. You would have had no say in
it once she had made her mind up.” He shushed his daughter softly
who had started to stir. “I now know why you’ve been in the
background all of this time, and why you looked so hurt when I made
you send me away. I thank you for that, for being there in your own
way. And I thank you for being here with me now. That’s what
matters.”

Roscaar stared at the changed man in
front of him.

“What are we going to do Ison?” He
asked his son, his voice strained with emotion and humour. “With
all these strong, over-thinking females around us? I feel the need
to go prove myself in the damn Foreign Lands, ensure I’m still a
man.”

Ison laughed with him.

“Thanks father.”

“No,” Roscaar said before putting his
hand on his son’s shoulder. “Thank you.” He cleared his throat as
if trying to push away his feelings for a moment. “Now, there are
some people waiting to see that babe of yours before you go back to
your wife. Come with me.”

Roscaar led Ison the short distance to
the main balcony at the front of the castle and opened the drapes
that covered it.

“Take a look.” He said as he moved
aside to let Ison move forward. He looked out at the darkened skies
before looking down into the courtyard to see a sight that warmed
his very heart.

What looked to be hundreds of people
filled the grounds, gathered with candles alight in their hands to
welcome the arrival of the new Princess.

“You have some Mookai down there I
believe,” His father said quietly. “All of the Quart are present,
all of the villagers. Gilden and Josa’s doing; and Fabian’s of
course.”

Ison knew then what he held in his
hands. Not only with his daughter but with a kingdom who would look
to him and his wife to rule them, to guide them and to love them.
Ison had never felt so humbled as he gently raised his daughter
higher for all to see.

“Gracia Rose Arganna, our daughter.
Our future.” He shouted out to the crowd as the cheers erupted.
Ison brought his daughter back down to give her a big kiss on her
rosy red cheeks, and he could not stop smiling.

“Oh how wonderful.” Rohesia claimed as
tears filled her eyes. Ison had told her all about the people being
there for them, to celebrate the birth of their babe. He left out
his nearly crying again. That was something he sincerely hoped
would settle down soon. “I wish I had seen it.” She
sighed.

He pulled her close as they lay in
their freshly made bed together, Gracia finally settled in her
wooden crib in the corner of their chamber.

“You my dear wife are to rest here for
the time Nani advised and I will hear nothing more if it.” He knew
exactly what was going through her mind.

“I can’t stay trapped in here for that
long Ison. That’s just cruel.”

“I watched you go through childbirth,
now that’s cruel.”

She turned to look at him and slightly
nudged him with her elbow.

“You try feeling it before you claim
that.”

He kissed her head before settling her
back against him with a smile.

“My brave, brave wife.”

She snuggled into his
warmth.

“Thank you for staying with me through
it. Not many husbands would have gone through that.”