" No, you deserve it!" Rhya barked at him while Athan looked at her with a pleading look, hoping that she won't punch him next, to show her disapproval.
" Damn it! I thought she would be safe with Ian and Tyla!" he explained a little angry at himself, raking his hand through his hair in frustration.
Rhya took a deep breath in, closing her eyes " You will tell them everything once they are back! If you don't, I will!" she deadpanned while turning around, leaving the cave stomping.
Athan stared at her retreating back, thinking that now he will definitely loose his head because of this.
Knowing Rhya, he knew there was no point in trying to convince her to keep quiet.
She didn't like to lie and she would tell them the truth, if he wouldn't and with that thought he finally grabbed a blanket and went to sleep.
While Rhya walked through the forest mumbling to herself at how stupid Athan was, to keep something like that to himself and let her go, to meet with someone that had tried to hurt her before and who knew what else would come their way.
Finally reaching the pool she undressed herself and jumped in the pool, trying to calm herself and think what she will do, if Athan doesn't tell them the truth.
**************
Over Fiahthyr Forest, the sun shone his bright rays, warming up the land that fell upon and the people that lived on it.
Ian opened his eyes, blinking slowly he looked at Iris who was still fast asleep, he had noticed that lately she slept a lot more and much deeper than before, he could see that she looked somewhat more tired than usual.
With that thought in his mind, he got up and went to wake up Tyla and ask her, maybe she knew what is happening to Iris.
Slowly shaking Tyla's shoulder, Tyla opened her eyes heavy with sleep, only to see Ian stare at her.
Getting up in a sitting position" What is it?" she asked in a groggy voice while still half asleep and yawning.
Ian clicked his tongue, frowning "Iris, something doesn't seem right! She is more tired than usual and she seems to sleep a lot more than before!" he wispered with his eyes on Iris that shifted in her sleep.
Tyla frowned, following his line of sight she got up from the ground and tip toed her way to Iris, gently pulling at the hem of her tunic to look at her shoulder, her eyes widened but quickly turned into a frown.
She made her way back to Ian and stood in front him and waved him with her hand to stand up " I need to look at your mark!" she wispered to him while Ian unbuttoned his tunic as quickly as he could, before any of them would wake up.
Pulling the tunic of his shoulder to look at his shoulder, Tyla gasped and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
Iris in the meantime feeling a light tug on her tunic, she had thought that was Ian trying to wake her up, slowly opening her eyes trying to adjust to the bright light of the sun, she heard someone wispering.
Lifting herself of the ground, her eyes fell on Tyla and Ian who was half naked and Tyla was behind him, touching him.
What she saw painted a certain picture in her mind and she didn't like it " What is going on?" Iris asked in worried tone of voice while getting up from the ground and making her way to Tyla and Ian who stood the frozen on their spot, looking guilty as thieves.
Awkwardness and silence quickly filled the air while Iris stared at Ian and Tyla, waiting for them to explain the situation.
Ian let out a nervous chuckle, gulpind the knot stuck in his throat, with a sheepish smile, he began to explain " I asked Tyla to help me with something.....uhmm...you look more tired and you seem to be sleeping a lot lately.....I thought that maybe, you're not well!" he finished his explanation while buttoning up his tunic as quickly as he could and straightening himself up.
Iris frowned and glared at Ian " Getting naked was necessary for you to find out if I was feeling unwell?" she mocked while her eyes shifted to Tyla who looked down feeling guilty even though she had done nothing wrong.
Tyla cleared her throat, looking up at Iris " You're with child! That's why you've sleeping more than usual and look a bit tired!" she cleared the air while moving to the side and grabbed their shoulders " I believe, congratulations are in order!" she beamed while she looked at the two, who looked at each other in complete shock.
Ian swallowed the lump in his throat, not quite believing what he was hearing, he was bearly containing his excitement, mostly because Iris was frowning and looked sullen at the news.
Iris clicked her tongue, looking at Tyla " How do you know?" she asked Tyla while unconsciously touched her belly that now had life growing inside of it.
She was happy that they will have a new addition to their family, like they wanted.But at the same time couldn't help but worry about their future.
" Your mark has a loop and his is the same but with a circle around it!" she explained while pointing at Ian and Iris's belly, their eyes followed her hands gesturing at them.
Ian cursed under his breath " Athan!" he breathed out while clenching his jaw and fists.
" He knew?" Iris exclaimed in surprise while she turned her attention from Tyla to Ian with her eyebrows knitted together.
" I asked him about it and he went all crazy and then, I asked him about the incantation and he probably forgot to tell me!" he gave the short version of the events while Iris couldn't help but lose the thread of the story, while the news finally started to sink in, and a genuine happy smile curled up on her lips.