Missy Jane - Born of Stone

“Will you be all right with Wynn or Steinn carrying part of your precious cargo home?” Haldor asked.

Orestes started to nod before stopping himself to think it over. “I honestly can’t say which I’d be willing to put into another’s arms.”

He looked between the two females with equal parts fear and awe.

Haldor chuckled and clapped him lightly on the shoulder. “I understand… Well, not really. But I can sympathize. Perhaps you should carry your woman and one of the others can carry the babe. Small as she is, there is no danger of them dropping her and she won’t know the difference anyway. If Astrid wakes mid-flight she might be fearful.”

Orestes hesitated a moment before nodding. There really was no question of his staying in Albain’s home for any length of time. His anger with the wizard made it impossible. Plus he wanted his daughter under the protection of the Wizard’s Stone as quickly as possible.

“All right. Steinn can carry her with Wynn flying directly below him…just in case.”

Haldor chuckled and left the room.

Astrid woke slowly and stretched her sore muscles. For a moment she didn’t know where she was but felt certain she should be frightened. She opened her eyes to the sight of Orestes’s bedroom around her and smiled. No need to be frightened.

As she lay there, her memories of waking in Albain’s home surfaced. Then his threats and her pain, Orestes and the wizards’ arrival and the birth of her child. She sat up with a gasp and looked around frantically. All was as it had been the day Orestes left her. She threw off the warm covers and looked down at her body. Her stomach was flat, though not sunken in like before, and her breasts were a bit larger. She ran a hand over her body and rubbed her thighs together. There was no pain but every movement proved her breasts were tender.

“Was I dreaming?” she asked the quiet room.

Flames crackled in the fireplace and a tray of bread and cheese sat on a nearby table. She slid off the bed and found one of Orestes’s shirts on the floor. Pulling it over her head, she went to the tray of food.

If it had all been a dream it was one of the most vivid she had ever experienced. Though she was fine now, she could still remember the pain of having a gargoyle’s babe in her womb. She ran her hand over her belly again and sighed. Would Orestes enjoy having a baby? Would he even want one…with her?

She shook away her thoughts and finished eating, determined to keep any sadness at bay. He hadn’t made any promises and she would be a fool to look for a future that wasn’t there. For now, she would just be content with the care he gave her.

She washed her face and hands and then donned one of her pretty new dresses. They were still in the crate they’d arrived in, but Orestes had promised her a new wardrobe. She didn’t plan to hold him to that promise. For all she knew, he would tire of her long before a wardrobe could be brought in. Just as she was slipping her feet into another new pair of shoes, the bedroom door opened.

“You’re awake. Thank the Goddess.”

Her head shot up at the sound of Orestes’s voice and she flew into his open arms. He laughed and lifted her off her feet, holding her tight to his chest. She gasped at the soreness of her breasts again but didn’t relinquish her hold on his shoulders.

“I missed you,” she said.

He gave her an odd look but then smiled and kissed her lips. “I missed you too. I was worried when you slept so long. How do you feel?”

“Now that I’ve eaten, much better. How long did I sleep?”

His humor disappeared. “Three days, my love. I was beginning to fear for your health, but the wizards said your body was merely healing. I was able to get broth down your throat but you never opened your eyes.”

Elation filled her at the endearment but she frowned and looked down at herself again. If anything, she looked healthier than ever before and felt just fine.

“Well, I’m all right now.”

His smile returned. “Good. Are you ready to meet your daughter now? Poor thing is still waiting for us to name her.”

She stilled in shock and her mouth dropped open.

His smile disappeared again and he watched her warily. “Astrid?”

“It wasn’t a dream? I really had your child?”

He grinned and gave a nod. “Yes, you did. And she is the most perfect, most beautiful creature ever created. We did a spectacular job.”

Astrid laughed both in amusement and relief while Orestes finally set her back on her feet. Her heart was racing and tears burned the backs of her eyes but she was elated. If he was truly happy about the child, maybe he did plan to keep her around.

“We did, did we?” she asked.

“Yes. And though you’ve slept, she has been able to feed from your breasts. The wizards say she is in perfect health for a human or Gargoyle.”

“Well then. Let me see this perfect creature for myself.”

He took her hand in his and led her from the room. They descended the many stairs and made their way into the dining room. All eleven of his brothers were seated around the table, but there were also humans in abundance. Many of the servants were standing between the brothers while everyone spoke at once in excited voices.

“Here, here. She is awake,” Orestes said.

His booming voice hushed the others and all eyes turned to watch him lead Astrid into the room. A blush heated her cheeks at all the attention, but everyone was smiling at her. She had never had so many people look at her with approval in their eyes. It nearly brought her to tears again.

“Ah good. She can settle the argument then,” Kephas said.

Orestes led her to the only empty chair and sat in it before pulling her onto his lap. Her attention went to the center of the large table where blankets were piled beneath a sleeping baby. She was glorious. A full head of dark hair gleamed in the torchlight. Her skin was tan like her father’s and smooth as silk. Even in sleep she smiled and puckered her lips into a perfect bow.

“Oh, Orestes, she is so wonderful,” Astrid said on a sigh.

There were murmurs of agreement from all around the room.

“Yes, she is wonderful but she’s also nameless,” Haldor said. “Now that you’re here we can fix that and give the poor child a proper name. I’m tired of saying the babe all the time.”

The brothers all chuckled, including Orestes.

“Well, what do you have so far?” she asked.

They all began calling out names in no particular order. Even the humans chimed in, seemingly no longer afraid of the Masters. Astrid was amazed all the raised voices didn’t wake her daughter, but the babe slept on in peace.

“What would you name your child?” Orestes finally asked. “If there were no other voices adding to the mix?”

She thought it over for a moment, staring at the beautiful little girl before them. Then she looked at the man she loved with all her heart. If the child had been a boy she would have insisted he be named after his father. But Orestes wouldn’t do for a girl.

“What about…Ourania?” she asked.

There were some murmurs around the room but no one spoke out against it.

“Ourania?” Orestes asked. “Where have I heard that before?”

“It’s Greek. A muse of astronomy, I believe,” Craig said.

“It means heavenly . Which in her case fits quite well,” Nel added.

Astrid turned to give him a smile of thanks and was surprised to see a woman on his lap. No one else seemed to think it odd, so she turned back to face Orestes.

“It’s the closest to your name I could think of. Unless you like Ophelia,” she said.

He immediately shook his head and placed a swift kiss on her mouth. “No. I prefer Ourania to Ophelia.”