Gena holds the baby
“Why isn’t she bein’ the most precious little thing yew ever did see?”, Hepsie asked while making silly faces at the baby.
“I don’t know Hepsie… I can’t see her”, Gena replied softlly.
“Oh listen to me openin’ my big ole silly mouth… sorry love”, Hespie said sheepishly, “well then… the most precious darlin’ thing yew ever held, and smelt… she probably tastes wonderful too… maybe I’ll just be givin’ yew a lick little darlin’ see if yew be tastin’ like candy”
She moved towards the baby, who looked extremely concerned by this turn of events. Gena could feel her squirming in her arms and she held the baby close, resting it on her shoulder.
“She doesn’ like that sorta thing Hepsie”, Gena scolded with a quiet laugh, “she’s a neat little thing ain’t she. Didn’ like her papa’s big grubby paws on her and she certainly doesn’ want to be licked”.
There was a sharp knock at the door.
“Well who on earth could that be knockin’ at this hour… ooh I hope it’s bein’ my Steen… I could use one of his big bear hugs right now. Mebbe he can scoop me up in his big ole arms and carry me home. I’m bein’ that tired I don’t think I can even climb up into the wagon”.
She went to open the door, and Gena focused her attention on the warm child snuffling softly in her arms, its tiny face pressed into the crook of her neck. She had never been allowed to hold a baby before, people back home had assumed she was dull as well as blind and had told her no because she might drop it.
She could not believe that in a few short months she would be holding a baby, just like this one, but her own in her arms. She had to admit that after attending Darina’s labour she wasn’t feeling too confident about her own. There had been too much screaming for her sensitive ears and she could still smell the blood on her clothes, even though she had cleaned herself up. But if this was the result of such efforts then she was willing to go through them again and again, just to be able to hold her own dear sweet baby in her arms.
“Perhaps you two can be friends”, she whispered softly to the baby in her arms, and that within her swollen belly.
“Well look who it is”, she heard Hepsie cry as she opened the door to the cold.
“Well I heard that my first new subject had almost arrived and I had to ride over here and sight it myself”, to her suprise she heard the cheerful voice of the King.
She panicked slightly, clutching the baby tighter to her chest. The King and here she was covered in grime and blood from the birthing, her hair an absolute mess and her stomach so large she didn’t know how she would be able to curtsey for him.
“Can I come in or does Sir Cade who his guarding the door deem me unworthy”, he sniffled theatrically, “Please let me come in Sir Cade… it is so very cold out here and my shoes are wet”.
“Of course of course yer Highness… look at me standin’ in the doorway like a goose and blockin yer way… come in where it’s nice and warm… sort of”.
She moved out of the way and the King strode through the door. Gena thought she would pass out at the sound of his heavy footsteps, but reminded herself that she was holding the baby and willed her legs to remain steady.
“Who’s bein’ at the door at this time of night?”, Darina shouted from the next room.
“Er… umm… the King”, Hepsie replied with resignation.
Gena knew what was about to follow. Hepsie had told Darina she must be confined to bed for a few weeks, but she had mentioned to Gena that she had only given such extreme advice because she knew Darina would not follow it. If she had told her she merely needed to take it a bit easy then Darina would have ignored her completely and probably worn herself out. At least now she might be convinced to rest a little.
“I’m coming out… hang on a minute”, her voice came from the other room, “Engin help me with my dress!”.
“No Darina… yew need to stay in bed like I told yew!”, Hepsie called back.
“No, no it’s fine… I’ll be just a minute! Engin be careful!”
“Well is this the newest addition to my Kingdom”, Eallair said standing just in front of Gena.
“She’s very small”, he whispered conspiratorially with a grin on his face, “but I guess babies usually are”.
“Actually she’s quite a good size for a baby”, Hepsie said, her shoulders slumped in defeat, “She’s a perfect little thing ain’t she… look at those teeny tiny fingers n’ toes”.
Gena stood stock still, trying not to draw attention to herself.
Then she heard the door to the other room click open, and Darina come through with Engin following closely. Darina paused in the doorway and Gena had the eery feeling that the woman was staring directly at her. Her face began to grow hot with embarrassment.
“Yer Highness”, she gushed, “What a wonderful surprise… did yer come all the way out here to see our little Aisling?”
Aisling, what a pretty name, Gena thought to herself absent-mindedly and was startled when she heard Darina’s voice beside her.
“Can I be havin’ my baby then Gena”, she said, her voice low.
Gena handed her the baby and quickly walked to the opposite side of the room, hoping the darkness would hide the flush that had crept over her cheeks.
She heard everyone cooing over the baby, the King congratulating Darina and Darina bragging proudly about the newest addition to Mhalwae.
Gena was glad they were ignoring her. She was happy to stand her face turned to the window feeling a cool breeze coming through between the cracks. She was frightened that she would draw this kind of attention when she had her baby. She didn’t want any people to visit her, with their raised voices and racous laughter. She didn’t dream of Kings knocking on her door and congratulating her. She just wanted to be allowed to sit somewhere quiet holding her own baby in her arms.
Awww, the more I read about Gena the more I really like her. She’s just such a sincere character, even with her faults. I really hope that whatever bad juju this island has doesn’t touch her… but given that she’s got a disability, it is almost a guarantee she’ll have at least one encounter of the bad kind.
I really liked this. It showed dynamics well and it also gave us a clear look at how, despite attempts not to, Gena is still somewhat ostracized and separated because of her disability. Those were the times, as they say.
What Mao said. And it was nice to get a chapter from Gena’s point of view that really went in depth into what she thinks and feels… other chapters with her have been very sensory (which is good too) but wow we really got a look at her sweetness and her insecurities here.
I was hoping the knock on the door was Noah. It would have been so sweet for Gena! Instead she got shoved aside… she thinks she’s glad about that but I’m not sure she is. I sincerely hope that when her own baby comes, the other women won’t be interfering with her caring for it, because they think she isn’t clever or capable enough. Hepsie wouldn’t, but some of them might. That would just break her heart, wouldn’t it? Noah would never allow it though!
Aisling is a pretty name too. And good for the King for showing up like that! His newest subject!
Dude, Darina is a jerk. Anyway, I love Gena, and I cannot wait for her to have her own baby. I think she is going to be an excellent mom. The thought of her sitting in a quiet room by a fire just holding her baby and feeling its wants and needs and emotion without sight, just by listening and feeling, makes me all warm and fuzzy. What a wonderful woman. They better leave her baby alone, she’s perfectly capable.
I agree I hope the other women let Gena take care of her own baby though like Lothere said I’m sure that Noah won’t let the other women completly take over.
Aisling is very pretty name for the baby. I’m glad you decided to make a post in Gena’s point of view as now we have an idea on how she feels about what’s going on around her.
Keep Simming!.
See ya.
You guys have got me thinking about who’s POV we have seen a lot of and who has been more silent. And I realised we have never had anything from Isaura’s POV. Whoops. That kind of sucks… I’m definitely going to have to remedy that one.
I really like the name Aisling too!
Really? No Isaura? And I have such a soft spot for her, too, seeing her so frail. Wow now I’m looking forward to reading a chapter from her POV. What can be going through her poor head? Please hurry and write one before it’s too late. *sniff*
Yeah… I can’t believe it either! I feel like such a bad person
. I did a count last night of all the characters and how many posts have been from there point of view. Isaura didn’t have any. Garrick and Noah are following closely behind with 1 each and Steen has 1.5. So I need to stop neglecting some of my characters is seems. The character with the most was Mella on 7 (but I guess that was because I was focusing on her story a lot). Valeriya is the next highest on 5 and it seems Hepsie and Cindra are also getting a lot of air time (oops and the next post I am working on is from Cindra’s POV). I was sort of interested to compare the couples as well… see which ones I balance their POVs and which one’s are one sided. Obviously the worst is Lochan and Isaura, but also Radomir and Valeriya (surprise, surprise), Garrick and Cindra and Hepsie and Steen are a bit skewed.
Anyway enougb of that… just thought you guys might be interested and I found it to be a good exercise because now I know which characters have been lacking in development a bit. Better get to work on that
I would love to do a count like that myself, but lacking a good way to automate it…
I think it’s normal that we’ve seen so much of Mella since her story is part of the story of all of them, in some way I can’t quite put into words. Part of the island’s story.
And I can understand why we’ve seen so much more from Valeriya’s POV than from Radomir’s (and even Father Harndall’s lately)… it is more dramatic with these conflicted characters to only show them from some else’s POV and leave the readers guessing about what’s motivating them. Sometimes it feels like cheating, though — to me as a writer, at least.
But can we have some more Noah please and bump him up above 2 posts? I can’t wait for his baby to be born! sweeeeet!
(And don’t mind about more Cindra — she’s so cute and pinchable, and even when she’s naughty she’s such an interesting character.)
Yeah I can imagine it would be a bit difficult for you to do a count now Lothere! That would take forever
I know what you mean about the dramatic characters thing. I feel like I should always be fair and show everyones point of view but sometimes it is better for the story if you leave people guessing a bit. Say with Hetty and Leofric (and I am truly dying for Hetty’s POV on that one).
I love how you described Gena’s heightened senses and Hepsie’s cleverness in getting Darina to take it easy. ^^ I loved those two details!
Darina understandably didn’t want to be too sharp in front of the King, but if she’s doing so, she must understand it’s wrong to jab at Gena! Everyone is redeemable! Ehm, but maybe not the man that vamped Mella. I am quite worried about him.
Gena will be such a loving mother, and so will Noah be (a loving father, not a mother). I’m afraid they’ll get a bossy child who walks all over them.