Rushing into June’s room, Raven expected more trouble to follow. But to his surprise, June’s laughter and a smile on Aradin’s face were what greeted him. Only Linkle seed perturbed by sothing around the other side of the bed. Slowly approaching them with the rest of his group following closely, he moved around the bed and stumbled on the sa surprising realization as Linkle, his caution turning to fright.
The child born not a day ago was walking on her two legs. Stumbling and careful with her arms spread, but walking nonetheless. Her silver eyes were darting back and forth between her two dainty feet, and as she narrowed her little eyebrows, her silver pupil started burning a golden glow.
"She’s walking already," covering her mouth, June shut her eyelids tightly. "She... She’s healthy, right? That ans she’s healthy."
Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, Aradin leaned closer to her ear.
"She is, thank Athenia," he whispered, planting a brief kiss on the back of her head.
Seeing their daughter stumbling a little, Aradin’s hand reached forward, but it wasn’t he who helped her stay standing, but the essential midwife, Linkle. Holding the girl in her arms, she lifted her up and slowly turned her head towards Raven. Not a word was spoken, but much was understood through the shared look of concern in their eyes.
’This is a problem...’ Gesturing with his head for her to put the girl back in the cradle, Raven walked closer to the scene. Linkle walked past him to get the little girl more comfortable, though her comfort was costing the comfort of many. ’If she ages so quickly, we might need to consider Kara’s warning with haste.’
Midway through his head turn, a flash of blue light erged beside Raven. Blinking the discomfort away, he noticed Maria, Hayley, Hilma, and Kara all standing right beside him. An awkward pause followed, for the tension in the air was palpable, especially since June was on her knees, holding back tears with her husband comforting her dearly.
"What–"
"We will talk about it in a mont," stretching his arm towards the room’s entrance, Raven gave the girls a nod. "For now, please wait outside. I need to talk to June and Aradin without any distractions."
Although he wasn’t as polite as they would’ve preferred, the girl realized that sothing far more important than a few hurt feelings was going on. Thus, without question, they took their leave; however, as they did, Raven did notice sothing curious in Kara’s hand and got distracted for a bit.
’A map?’ Reminded of the map maker Elowing, he pondered whether the priestess had had an audience with him recently. Either way, whatever was on the map must’ve been important; otherwise, soone like Kara wouldn’t be carrying it around with her. ’I’ll ask her about it later.’
Returning his attention to the parents, he felt directionless. How to approach the matter, and in such a way that the two won’t start getting defensive again. While he was trying to answer that question, Aradin lifted his head finally, and while pulling June up on her feet, he addressed the general standing in front of him.
"I know why you’re here," he said as joy drained from his face.
"Your daughter needs to be watched," Raven responded, wearing no expression at all.
"I know." Looking around at everyone before turning his eyes back to June, Aradin helped the weakened mother back to bed, and although she wanted to stand and hear what they were about to say, Aradin assured her that he could handle everything by himself.
Fierce she may have been, but the strain from giving birth wouldn’t let June get up again as Aradin took a step away from her bed. She watched him walking away with Raven and his group, all the while, her heart ached from the anxiety of not knowing what was being talked about.
"We need to keep her under constant watch," stopping by the room’s door, Raven stood in the fra with his eyes turned to the cradle. "I think Kara is right, but I also don’t believe that our paths are set in stone."
Shifting his attention back to Aradin, Raven folded his hands with a determined look.
"We need to make sure that she doesn’t go down that path. And in case we fail, let’s try to prevent her from using her talents. The last thing we would want is soone far too powerful and trained by ourselves turning on us. She would know our strengths and weaknesses, and if that cos to pass, then–"
"I understand," with a heavy heart, Aradin glanced at the cradle. "I will stay behind with June and my group in Athenia. Look after her and make sure that she doesn’t learn a lick of violence."
"So much power and potential," speaking her mind, Erika couldn’t help but relay the words of the devil within. "And yet we may never see her shine the brightest she can. I suppose that’s the price of power, isn’t it? A handicap that leaves you crippled in so way."
With everyone’s eyes honed in on her, Erika’s mind slipped back into place. The crimson pupils turned back to sapphire was the only reason nobody complained about her insensitive comnts.
"What?" Growing concerned by the number of eyes on her, the priestess shrugged her shoulders in question. "Why are you looking at like that?"
"Nothing..." Dismissing the odd occurrence, Raven drove the conversation back to the main topic. "Alright, Aradin, you can go, but I want you to stay with Darius and Aelin. I’m sure my friend there will find so way or a scroll to help us suppress her powers, but until then, I’ll leave your daughter to you, along with the responsibility that she won’t cause any trouble in your care. As for the king’s n... If they do make the mistake of showing up in Athenia, then we have the holy order, Markus, and the Mistress to swat them away."
Nodding his head, Aradin turned around and started walking towards June’s bed. The shapeshifter’s heart had grown restless for the entirety of the duration that he was away, but the mont he ca, finally–a smile took her worries away. She’d gotten what she wanted; a quiet life in Athenia with her daughter and nothing else. Now, whether that lasted a day, a week, or a lifeti was anybody’s guess.
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