((This is a companion piece for @icyvveins‘s “The Birth of a Sungazer” following a short while after that.))
Rosefica ached like nothing she could imagine. But, the ache was worth it - or so she hoped. After being helped to bathe like some sort of invalid, and convincing Eucryphia to eat (she was a voracious eater, though it took them both a few times to get used to the position) a few times, with Eridan murmuring sweetness and light to her, Rosefica was able to rest. They had planned to plant a tree in Eridan’s garden for their daughter, and one at Storm’s Song for her as well, as it would be her birthright to inherit when Rosefica passed on.
Which, if she had anything to say of it, would not be any time soon. Gingerly, she leaned over to look at the little creature she’d birthed. Pale skin, pale as alabaster, with light peach fuzz on her eyebrows that would soon darken or lighten, depending on which parent she was going to take after (Rosefica hoped Eridan; no child should be stuck with a mass of curls like her mother’s). A fuzzy crown of white-blonde hair that the midwives had warned her may fall out.
Her fingers and toes were impossible to see through the swaddling, and Rosefica instead adjusted the little cap meant to keep her head warm. The baby’s ears were small too, they trembled sometimes while she slept, the tips wiggling here and there. If she had to be honest, a newly born baby was not very beautiful at all, but in her not-so-unbiased opinion, she had birthed Perfection.
A little part of Rosefica wondered if she would become one of those mothers who claimed the Sun shone out of her child’s ears and whose deeds were the very pinnacle of civilization.
Light, I hope that won’t be the case, she thought with a little smile and stroked the baby’s soft cheek. “Aren’t we a pair?” Rosefica asked softly. “Never you worry, my little Sundrop, Mother will always make sure that you’ve a place to call home, and your Father, too. Be good, for neither of us are.” The baby yawned, stirred with a little grumpy cry, and fell back to sleep.
“You’ll never want for anything, your cups and plates will always be full. You’ll have the very best education we can muster for you. I promise. And should you not wish that, I will be your champion, so that you may have the very best life. You need worry no disgruntled disapproval from your father; I imagine you have him quite wrapped around your finger.”
Her day of birth was especially auspicious, a high holy day for even the most religiously lax of blood elves. Surely, that would aid her in life. Eridan was suspiciously absent from their bed; like as not writing letter after letter announcing the joyous birth of a new Sungazer and (most likely) being smug about his virility and his young, beautiful wife. Especially now that the fear of her dying was past. Short of childbed fever, they were well and clear. And as soon as the infant was old enough, her mother would vaccinate her against Bloodlung herself, and save them that terror.
Everything was falling into place so easily, it was enough to make her heart squeeze in relief. She took a deep breath and let it out - finally glad to do so after three months of short, gaspy breaths brought along by the damage to her lungs caused by Solandis.
Carefully, Rosefica let herself out of bed and wiggled her toes in the plush carpeting. She stood slowly and meandered her way to Eridan’s study. Instead of triumphantly penning letters, the Magister was slumped in his chair, quill in one hand, and head resting on his palm in another. He was even snoring slightly. She chuckled and moved across the study to his side.
“Eridan,” she murmured, prodding his gaunt cheek with her finger. “Eridan~” she singsonged and tugged on his goatee. The magister made a weak attempt to swat at her, grunting. Rosefica would not be denied (and when, if ever, had he denied her?), and continued her assault. Eventually, and grumpily, Eridan opened one eye.
“What.” His voice was flat and heavy with sleep.
“Come to bed; surely you do not wish to be in a chair all night.” Rosefica suggested with a gentle rise of her eyebrow.
“I’ve slept in it before,” he argued.
“I know, and then you complain about not being able to turn your head. Anyway, I want you in bed with me,” she said and offered her hand to him. Eridan huffed and laced his long fingers in with hers, standing stiffly. He bent his head toward each shoulder, the bones cracking and popping as he turned to his beloved.
He looked over her face for a bit longer than Rosefica was used to. Rosefica met his gaze, and as expected for her, did not look away. There were purple smudges under her eyes, likely exhaustion from the long labor. If he felt a pang of guilt for her being up and about, he said nothing about it.
“Yes, my Rose, let us retire for the evening.”
“Why, sir, I thought you’d never ask.” Rosefica grinned at him cheekily and led Eridan away from the study to their room.
A present for the wonderful @little-ojousama because I love her and also her Rosefica and my Eridan just had their first child together <3
Warning: this does contain a vague description of childbirth, though the brunt of it is glanced over. Don’t read if you’re sensitive about that kind of thing!
From the very moment that Rosefica had announced she was with child to him, Eridan Sungazer had been caught in a whirlwind of mixed happiness and despair. For any normal nobleman, he would be ecstatic to hear of his fiancee being pregnant. The more the merrier, right? Except this particular nobleman was anything but ecstatic.
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