Hydrangea walked to the deck with careful steps. She ran through the scenario again. Would he be shocked? Or happy? Or angry? She couldn't see him being angry.
"Hydrangea?"
She looked up when she heard Bastian say her name. She looked around and swallowed when she saw she'd already made it to the deck. He stepped towards her and cupped her cheek, "How are you feeling?"
"Fine. At the moment." She answered with a small smile on her face.
He nodded with a worried look behind his eyes. "What are you doing up here?" He asked as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It was especially windy that day.
"I-I have something to tell you." She said not meeting his eyes.
"What is it?" He asked, still playing with her hair.
"Aidana… no. I… I believe I might be with child." She winced and looked away.
"You…"
She looked up and smiled nervously at how his face had paled. His eyes were as wide as saucers and his hands had frozen midair.
Her smile grew as she recalled Aidana's words. "Bastian?"
He blinked and looked at her, concern suddenly entered his eyes, "Should you be up here? Do you need to be in bed? Are you-are you-"
She leaned up on her toes and kissed him.
"I'm fine."
He blinked a few more times, "You're sure?"
She nodded, "I am."
The next instant her feet were off the ground as Bastian spun her around.
"I can't believe it."
She smiled and tapped his arm, her "old friend" nausea hitting her violently.
"Bastian." She whispered when she felt the bile rising in her throat, "Set me down."
He set her down and she ran for the rail and once again emptied the scanty contents of her stomach.
She felt a warm hand on her rigid back and once she'd finished she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. Looking up at Bastian next to her, she nervously looked down, "You're not angry?"
"Angry? Why in the world would I be angry, Hydrangea?"
"Because it's unexpected."
"Yes." He breathed, a ghost of a smile still on his bearded face, "It is unexpected. But," He shook his head, his mouth open as he tried to come up with the words, "I wouldn't change it."
"You wouldn't?"
"No. No, Hydrangea."
"But I thought.. I thought you'd want to have children in the palace and not here; where it's dangerous."
He smiled and cupped her cheek, "That doesn't matter-"
"It does Bastian." She pushed his arm away, "It does matter. It's not secure and it's-it's frightening. What if something happens?"
She looked up and felt regret rise up in her. His eyes had taken on a tinge of fear and his forehead was creased in anxiety.
'Oh, dear.' She was supposed to be coming up with words to comfort him, "I-I-I'm sure it'll be fine, though. I mean, Aidana does seem to know quite a bit about childbearing and we're…" She could think of nothing. They weren't qualified to be parents, were they? She'd raise her siblings, but raising her own child seemed to be a much larger responsibility.
And Bastian. She knew that he was going to be a good father. She had meant it back in Selva. But the idea was now so real and immediate.
She met his eyes again and imagined him looking at their baby, his eyes shining with a happy smile on his face.
"We're gonna do a good job." She whispered eventually and grasped his hand.
He met her eyes and smiled, "Yeah, I'm sure we are. We work well together, right? I'm sure being parents will be fine."
She smiled, "I'm sure it will be."
Her heart was still pounding in fear or excitement. Definitely a combination of the two. It was just so much.
"I do believe this is the best birthday gift a man could ask for."
"A what-?" She swung her head to look at him, "Birthday? It's your birthday, Bastian? Why didn't you tell me or say anything?"
He laughed, "Well, I was going to say something tonight." His voice lowered and she saw a dark glint appear in his eyes.
She blushed and looked away, "But… I'll make you a cake. I'm sure Balta has the supplies."
She moved to walk down the steps when Bastian caught her hand, "Shouldn't you be resting?"
She smiled and retrieved her hand, "I'll rest tomorrow. Right now I have to make you a cake."
"I really don't need one." He chuckled as she walked away.
"Yes, you do." She said, tossing a smile back at him before she disappeared below decks.
She wandered to the galley and was immediately assaulted by nausea. There were too many odours exiting the room.
"Oh, hello ma'am. I didn't see you there. Still feeling the sea sickness?"
She looked up and saw Balta pouring some water from the large barrels into a large pot. Most likely for dinner. She could already see lunch being cooked.
She nodded to him with a smile, "Yes, I'm afraid so."
"Mm, well I'll get you some hardtack then."
"Thank you. But actually," She brushed some hair away from her face, she'd been stuck finger combing it for the month she'd been aboard, "Do you have the ingredients for a cake?"
His brows rose, "Is there something to be celebrated, ma'am?"
She laughed lightly, "Indeed there is. My husband surprised me with the fact that it's his birthday today."
Balta laughed, "Ah, then we need to get right on that cake."
She nodded stiffly as some of her nausea returned, but she wanted to make that cake.
Balta poured sone flour into a bowl and she thanked him. She began mixing in the water and honey, along with some dried fruit.
Balta provided a pot that she could bake it in and she slid it into the hot oven.
"Now if you'll excuse me. I need some fresh air." She said once they'd finished.
"Of course, ma'am." He nodded his head, "I'll call you when it's ready to be dressed."
She nodded with a smile. She hadn't felt this.. okay in a long while. Everything was just okay. Yes, she was pregnant, but it was so exciting. She felt a strange buzz at the idea of being a mother. Her heart nearly melted at the idea of Bastian being a father. He would be wonderful.