Hallucination IV

A morning in J’arrmeklian’s manor always sounded quite eventful. All one-hundred twenty doors would open within the first two hours of daybreak to start the chores to keep up with the manor’s rather large living space. The novice would practice their magic with dusting every level of the library, while being overlooked by J’arrmeklian, of course. Then there was the apprentice wizards who helped Eathora with the morning meal. Since many didn’t need to be in the kitchen with her, they would also help with the garden and animal slaughtering. The adept in the magical arts would ensure that all couches, chairs and ottomans were turned and fluffed until plush; polish the wooden chairs in the library, dining hall, and studies; try to clean, gently, J’arrmeklian’s angora rabbit rug; and then prepare the mop buckets for the novices after breakfast. The masters never got up to help with morning chores as most of them had jobs during the days coming, just got back or had been up till a few hours before all of this took place. If there were ever masters about, Eathora never had a dish to clean nor put away. Although Eathora never minded doing her dishes, since most were from her potion making. J’arrmeklian could smell the sweet, hot, salivary smell of steeping black tea with the zest of orange, the aroma was almost too much for him to concentrate. Luckily, the novices were just finishing the library. The placed their dusters down carefully on the table as J’arrmeklian instructed. Most of the novices were no more than 6 years old, so the excitement of doing the instruction right was enough so that when they heard time for breakfast they would cheer and scream while running down the halls gloating to the older people how they dusted the library without one book falling on J’arrmeklian’s head. They only specified this because the books fell on their heads if they messed up. J’arrmeklian sighed, the kids reminded him of time when his son was young and- “Dad?” He heard coming out of his train of thought. He jumped at the sight of his now young man of a son, Damond.

“When did you make it here?” J’arrmeklian spoke, shock clear in his voice.

“Sorry for no warning father but I knew if I were to come arou- ”

“Eathora! Darling! Our world! He has blessed us with his presence!” J’arrmeklian shouted quite loudly.

“J’arrmeklian no matter how many times I meet you, the voice from your lungs could scare even a dragon,” giggled Mya. J’arrmeklian had a slight blush to his cheeks as she finished her words. His daughter-in-law never spoke much, but when she did, the soft voice would cause everyone to become silent and listen to her words. They walked to the dining hall and Eathora had already placed two plates at the master table for Mya and Damond. Mya looked at Damond. “We’ll tell them in little time, for now you should eat,” whispered Damond into Mya’s ear. She softly smiled and sat down in the chair that had been pulled out for her. Her husband pushed her in.

“I could’ve done that myself,” Mya stated.

“My wife needn’t push herself into the table,” He said aloud. He got closer to her ear again, “Especially, in her current state.”

“Damond!” Her roar sounded like a spooked mouse. He laughed at her turning beet red at the thought of him saying such things to be heard before they could prepare themselves for J’arrmeklian’s reaction to a child. J’arrmeklian was, and is, a family man. Children were his weakness. If Eathora could have had more, they would have. He loved children. Heck, he even help birth a few in the manor himself for the happy couples that graced the manor. He would read to the children every night before bed, make sure that every birthday was remembered and would never- ever push them to do anything that made them unhappy- well except chores when they were old enough.

“So father, who are the new children at the adept table?” asked Damond, looking about the room of people he hadn’t seen in quite some time. J’arrmeklian looked at his son with a face stuffed with goat meat egg scramble. Damond laughed at his father.

“Dearest husband, your beard is reserving leftovers again,” Eathora sighed. Jarrmeklian swallowed his mouthful, took his napkin to his mouth and beard, and placed it back onto his lap.

“They were on the run from bandits. They were forced into work by them and had no where else to call home. Now they hunt for us! Is it not wonderful? They may as well at the master’s table but they choose the adept because of their age. They have even started helping some of the kids learn how to use the bow and arrow,” J’arrmeklian gleamed with happiness.

“Bandits? Oh my divine, they were blessed to find this place,” Mya replied with slight worry in her eyes.

“No stressing Mya,” Damond said to her.

“Of course, Damond.” She leaned onto his arm while at the table. The rest of breakfast went on with catching up on the times.

“Eathora, is there a place to lay my head? I’m not feeling well,” Mya asked. Eathora looked at her questionably but showed her to a private study where there was a couch. Mya laid herself down. She had forgotten that she was having morning sickness after eating. She was keeping her stomach as calm as the baby would allow it.

“Would you like some ginger for your stomach?” Eathora asked bringing in a vile of ginger juice.

“If you wouldn’t mind, please and thank you,” replied Mya. Eathora poured her a small glass of the juice and placed it in Mya’s hand carefully. Mya looked at it, she never could handle the strength of Ginger Juice but, she had no choice, with a throw back of her head the ginger juice made it to her stomach. She felt worse than before drinking the ginger juice, the taste made all her senses go for a round.

“There you go child. Everything will be fine now,” Eathora said soothingly.

“The exact words of my mother when I told her last week about-,” Mya paused. She needed to stop doing this, ruining the surprise, but the baby…

“You have been sick for a week?” Eathora questioned.

“Yes.”

“Don’t lie to me! You stopped amid a sentence and looked down! What in Creation is-” Eathora stopped her scolding and looked her Mya. She looked down, she was holding her stomach, she was sick in the morning. “Oh Mya! Bless me a forgiveness divines for I have scolded a mother!” Eathora pleaded. Mya looked up at her, trying to stop her words. “J’arrmeklian! The greatest news has been bestowed upon us! Ready the celebration everyone! I’m a grandmother!” Eathora cheered. Everyone looked to Damond who was banging his head on the table. For a woman who doesn’t speak much, she doesn’t know how to keep a secret, a secret. J’arrmeklian’s ears perked up like a dog hearing food fall to the floor. Grandmother? Eathora? He looked at Damond. “Is this true? I’m-,” J’arrmeklian looked at Damond with wide yellow eyes. Damond just shook his head, slight agony could be seen in his posture. J’arrmeklian jumped upon the dining hall table, “I’m a grandpa!” J’arrmeklian roared. Damond brought his head up from the surprise of his father jumping onto the table. For all the times that Damond had hit his head on the table- it never hit back and he wasn’t sure if he liked a table hitting him. J’arrmeklian jumped from the table onto the floor and ran to the study that was the first left to dining hall.

“Sweet daughter, you must let me help you have this child!” J’arrmeklian spoke. Mya laughed awkwardly.

“Well you had your son, that helped me have this child, isn’t that enough?” Mya questioned. J’arrmeklian looked at her, fixing his posture to stand- as tall as he could.

“Young lady, I have helped give birth many of times. When the time comes,” he leaned into his son’s ear, “You will do your best to bring her back.” Damond went wide eyed as the mere thought of not listening to his father’s whisper.

“Mya, I think it would be best to be here for the birth of our son. Even though it would be- odd for you, he takes the best care of mothers,” He mentioned to her. Mya looked at J’arrmeklian shocked. We left the room to ask others how they felt about J’arrmeklian helping give birth to their children. One witch that she always went to, known as Kirya, would always give her the truth.

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“Him helping me give birth to my daughter was probably the best decision I had ever made. My sisters ever not treated as well as I was during the whole process. Think of it, relaxing lavender water soaked towels fill the room with a relaxing aura, the warm water relaxing every muscle on your back and just as you finish, young women come in and help you clean with fresh red rose water, lemon, and snow to help heal your muscles,” Kyra explained. Mya’s jaw dropped. Never had she heard of such a birthing process. “While you rest with your husband the first night, J’arrmeklian stays up and fills the baby’s belly with sheep’s milk and changes the butt clothe. So that way your first night’s rest will be the best rest until you yourself have grown children.”

“You never forgot that sleep?”

“No, and I don’t think I ever will. That night, the smell of flowers consumed my dreams,” Kyra gleamed. Mya looked at her with happiness, maybe having J’arrmeklian help give birth is a wise decision. Mya walked back over. J’arrmeklian looking rather, defeated.

“I’m sorry to have asked that of you, I didn’t mean-,”

“J’arrmeklian, I would be honored if you would help give birth to my child. We will even stay here until the child arrives,” Mya smiled. She knew she would have to send a canary to her mother letting them know where the child was going to be born instead of at her father’s office by the wet maids there. Damond’s eyes went wide. He even, thought he would have to console his father’s heart after being rejected. J’arrmeklian smiled underneath his large mustache and thick beard. Eathora happily hugged her daughter-in-law.

“Welcome to motherhood, Mya,” Eathora whispered into her ear. Mya hugged her back.

“Thank you.”

~~~

Seven months passed by as if it were a week in the manor. Everyone was preparing for the grandchild of J’arrmeklian and Eathora to arrive. Everyone bustled about making sure every knock and cranny of the place was childproof. Poisons were locked away magically, ingredients went into apothecary chests and cabinets, and any deemed harmful potions went into to chests as well.

While all of this was happening Mr. Fox, the resident animal, stayed by Mya’s side and protected her from mice, anything that fell, and kept her mostly stress free. Mostly, meaning that there was no helping her stress level today. Eathora predicted with a droplet of Mya’s blood that she would be giving birth on the forty-fifth day of Firware though, time of the day could never be fully specified, she could feel her child was ready to greet the world, but her feeling was odd about the greeting her child would give. With all of her days of burning sage steam rooms, lavender massages, given to her by her husband nightly mostly on her feet and back, chamomile tea baths and desserts with rosehips in it, she felt something was wrong about the day. She heaved her body up from her bed and went down the stairs slowly. She made her way outside, wrapped in a wool blanket that her mother had brought her. She sat down on a chair and watched the leaves fall onto the ground. Damond noticed her walking outside and followed her. He saw her sit in the chair and stared as she watched the leaves.

“You know, it’s not proper to stare,” she spoke.

“Why can I not stare at the beauty before me?” He asked.

“Damond, do you feel the air? It’s not beautiful,” She stated. Damond walked closer to her and placed his hand gently onto her shoulder.

“Don’t stress today, my dear.”

“I’m not stressed, I feel that is the problem.”

“Nonsense Mya!” He spoke loudly. Mya flinched at his dull roar. She looked up at him. She saw that his eyes were genuinely worried about her state of mind. Mya took a deep breath, the smell of the autumn air almost cleansed her mind rather than her spirit. Her husband was right this once, such nonsense to feel such a bad omen.

Later on that afternoon, the halls were clear. No one wanted to be in the way of birth of Mya’s child. “Damond! The clothes!” Yelled J’arrmeklian. Damond tossed them at his father, running back to the kitchen to keep the water from getting too hot. In the birthing room, Mya was accompanied by her mother who was happy to see a fresh, healthy glow to her daughter. Mya looked at J’arrmeklian who examined to see if she was ready to start pushing.

“You may start to push,” he spoke formally. Mya started pushing, the pain almost numbed by the calming sage burning and lavender towels. Eathora came in after Mya’s first push and gave her an elixir of chamomile, lemon zest and bear claw. “Should help with the pain,” Eathora smiled speaking calmly. Mya pushed again, and again he pain slowly going away with each push.

Damond paced the halls whether to wait for an order or to hear his wife had given birth. Much like his father, he was happy with whatever the child was be it boy or girl or, well, otherwise. Eathora came out and hugged her son. Damond was confused.

“Mother?” Damond asked.

“She finished but, the child…didn’t,” she started to cry. Damond’s eyes went wide. It couldn’t be! No! He ran into the room everyone crying over the soulless body. Damond shook his head and ran out of the room.

“Damond!” Mya yelled for him. However he had little time to lose. He ran to the library and he saw the dragon’s scale. He went up to it and smashed the glass casing around it. J’arrmeklian ran behind him not nearly s fast but when he heard the shattering of glass he panicked, “No,” whispered J’arrmeklian under his breath. He looked at his son as Damond held the dragon’s scale.

“Damond, what in Creation do you think you intend to do with that?” he asked trying to make his son think.

“Father, my child…it’s,” Damond looked at the dragon scale then at his father, “I’m sorry.” He took the scale and smashed it to the ground releasing the soul within it.

“Into the lifeless body Dragon! Your gift from me! A body for your soul!” Damond commanded to the soul. The lightning struck the floor and walls of the manor. The lightning blazed and struck around the building and finally, as if listening to Damond, struck into his child’s non-beating heart. After the light show the lighting turned back to normal and Damond looked down. Did it work? He hadn’t had much time to think about that as J’arrmeklian took his son by the ear and brought him to the ground.

“What in divines was that? Were you thinking boy? That was nothing that could be taken lightly and you just smashed it onto the ground! How dare you!?” J’arrmeklian roared, the air around him echoed and brought more doom to his voice. He wasn’t aware of this happening, but his son was frozen in fear. Damond started to cry. That scale meant everything to his father. Eathora walked in quietly hoping she wasn’t-disturbing anything. She looked at the scene carefully and knew the horrible amount of trouble that J’arrmeklian, nay, the whole manor was in for breaking the dragon scale. “Damond, J’arr- the child,” she paused, “He lives.” J’arrmeklian looked at her, his eyes could’ve killed her with fear if she was afraid. He got up and headed towards the door.

“See your child and leave,” J’arrmeklian commanded to his son. His son got up and started walking behind J’arrmeklian slowly.

“I will pack our things and be right in,” Damond stated.

“Did you hear me? I said Leave! Don’t pack! Don’t think you’re taking that child with you! Don’t think you’re taking the mother with you! I said see him and leave!” The air rampaged with him. Eathora flinched at his anger. It had never been this bad before. Damond flinched as well but understood clearly this time what his fa- what J’arrmeklian wanted. They went into the room and he kissed his wife lovingly on the cheek and looked at his son. The child’s eyes opened and the baby giggled at his presence. Damond smiled with a glimpse of sadness. “Goodbye” he mouthed. With that, he walked out of the manor and the door had no fear with slamming itself behind him.

Later that night, while J’arrmeklian was reading to the sleeping baby, he felt a shaking of the ground. He sighed, it was time. He grabbed the child calmly and went to the front door. “J’arr,” Eathora spoke grabbing his should gently. J’arrmeklian looked at Eathora.

“My wife, in all my years I never thought that this would happen. I never thought it would be my son, but it was. I must pay the price for my son’s mistake now, but if they see the child lives. If they see the dragon scale untattered, I may redeem all of you,” J’arrmeklian explained. Eathora grabbed his shoulder tighter.

“My husband, I know. I wasn’t in need of an explanation, nor am I worried. However,” She said grabbing the baby. The baby opened it’s eyes to her touch and it started to move and coo to her, “you’re not facing them alone with our grandchild.” She smiled at the baby, tapping her finger gently to its nose. It giggled loudly. J’arrmeklian smiled at the sight, it was just like this near 3 decades ago. He walked them up to the door. “Open,” commanded J’arrmeklian. The door swung open and there stood Mirmaania her eyes filled with rage.

“What have you humans,” She stopped herself seeing a baby. Mirmaania became less and less angered.

“I’m sorry for what dishonor my son has done to me and what insult he has done onto you. However his son was dead upon birth and without thinking and broke the seal of the lightning dragon’s soul and-,”

“Does the child have a name yet?” She asked.

“No,” Mya spoke up. She walked up to the dragon and reached for its nose. The dragon took the gesture and placed her nose gently to the human’s. “I cannot be sorry for what my husband did. I cannot be sorry for whatever possessed my husband to do such a thing as to take your lovers soul and place it into our lifeless child, but, please don’t harm J’arrmeklian for its life. I have a child because of it. I have lost my husband because of it.” Mya held back her hesitation as she cried. The dragon opened its eyes and saw the sincere look of gratitude in her eyes, the sincere look of pain.

“May I name him, your child?” Mirmaania calmly asked. Mya looked up surprised at the dragon’s reaction, but then quickly nodded. “Then from this day forward the boy is now Rigor, the lightning’s child.” Mirmaania announced. Mya looked over to her child and grabbed it gently from Eathora’s hands.

“Rigor, my dearest Rigor,” Mya stated touching the cheeks of the babies face, “What a perfect name for a child that was given a second chance to see the world.” Rigor laughed and started reaching his hands towards the dragon’s snout. The dragon lifted her face from the manor’s inside and started to take off. Mirmaania wouldn’t be happier that her love’s soul was used for such a purpose. Life can be so precious.