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**Kind of short. May add to it later.**
A month later, Ariel was just beginning to draw the curtains on the windows for bed when Mateo came into the room.
“Ariel, should you be up?” He asked, rushing to her side. “It’s a good thing Hannah sent me up to check on you.”
“Out of everyone in this place, you should be worrying about your own behind,” she said coolly.
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
“Getting one of the servant girls pregnant!” she shouted.
He was silent, and she continued. “Mateo, you should have more sense! You’re jeopardizing Michael’s job. Michael can’t stand hurting you, or me, and punishing you would kill him inside. You’re playing on my power. His power.”
“Listen to me, I have that under control.” He said gently.
“No you don’t. The girl has already told her friends. It was the day Michael summoned you back from the country. You played your cards wrong, and if Michael doesn’t punish you, the higher courts will. Me, him and the baby will be on the streets, no food, and no money. And you, you would most probably be killed.”
“None of that is going to happen, Ariel. I’ve already asked her to marry me. We both know the law, so we’re going to cover it up with marriage. We love each other, sis.”
She was quiet.
“And don’t let everything out on me because you were forced to marry the enemy!”
She glared at him.
“How dare you,” she whispered. “How dare you!”
She moved towards him. “You call him the enemy! Look at yourself. You‘ve become your own enemy. You despise what’s become of us. If you hadn’t listened to mother, maybe they would have had a chance of living,” she spat out. She caught herself, and apologized. “No, it’s not your fault. It’s mine.” She had started crying. “If I hadn’t run away, I would have been there to protect them. I’m so sorry Mateo. I failed you. I killed them.” She kept repeating the last few words, and sank to her knees. Mateo was still standing where he was.
“Yes you did! You want to hear it so badly, yes, you did kill our parents! You were irresponsible, leaving us in the middle of a feud, defenseless. You’re as cold hearted as the soldiers who murdered them.”
“How can you say that? How can you say that to your sister, who took you in when your mother in law wanted you dead?”
“You had no choice. You had to.”
“I certainly did not!” She screamed. “I let you in because I was craving the touch of someone who shares my blood. I let you in,” she paused. “Because I love you. I love you Mateo.”
He cringed at the words. “That’s what mom said before she sent me off.”
There was a silence, and then Mateo was suddenly at the door.
“Where are you going?” Ariel demanded, getting to her feet.
“Away. I’m leaving to Finela. To try and find Uncle.”
“Fine. Leave.”
He nodded, and left. When the door was closed, she pounded her fists on the table. And then, there was a pain. It wasn’t the pain of the baby abusing his gift, no, it far less painful then that, but it made her nervous. She had experienced the pain while she and Mateo were arguing. She swore loudly as she felt her water breaking. She stood in a puddle of fluid her baby had been floating in, and there was another pain, much sharper then the first. She had to grab onto the edge of the table to keep on her feet. Her breathing quickened as she realized she wouldn’t be found until later in the night when Michael came up for bed. Well, she’d just have to go downstairs.
But she didn’t make it past the door. The pain returned, and she had to sit on the floor, next to the door, holding her belly, and clutching the doorknob. She began to pound on the door with her fist, praying someone would hear her. After minutes of pounding, no one came. She swore again, then commenced pounding, but with a book from the shelf that was next to her. And thank goodness, someone heard her, found her, and had ran down the stairs to get help.
When he returned, there was a whole mob of people with him. There was Michael, Hannah, Ryan, Mateo, the servant Mateo got pregnant, her friend, and someone shouted out from behind them that they were going to get the doctor. The servant girls were carrying mass quantities of towels, as well as blankets, and pillows. Hannah and Mateo immediately were by her side while Michael and Ryan cleared the bed of clothing and papers that were discarded there earlier in the day.
“Are you sure he’s coming?” Hannah asked, placing a few stray hairs behind her ear. Her forehead was damp with sweat, which kept her hair plastered to her face.
“Yes, I’m sure,” she replied. Ryan and Michael returned to her, and Hannah began to direct the girls in setting up the table.
“Come on, Ariel. We’d better get you onto the bed before you have this one on the floor,” Ryan said, kneeling down, placing her arm over his shoulders. Michael followed suit on her other side, and Mateo cleared the way as they managed to lift her off the floor.
Hannah had spread a few towels over the bed just as Ariel sat on the edge.
“Michael sit behind her. You’ll have to help her through the pain. The doctor won’t be here for awhile. It started raining when we were called.” Just at that instant, there was a flash of light followed by a crash of thunder. Ariel moaned, and grabbed her stomach.
Michael was sitting, propped up by the pillows as Ariel was gently lowered backwards onto him. She immediately grabbed his hand, rolling her head to the side, shutting her eyes tightly. After Hannah made them comfortable, which took quite some time, the doctor showed up, and kicked Michael and the servants out of the room. With loud protests, Michael was led out of the room. As soon as the door was closed and locked, he gave in to defeat.
He paced for what seemed like hours while hurried footsteps could be heard from inside the room. Ryan was slouched against the wall, fidgeting with his hands. The two servants were sitting down the hall, by the stairs, talking. And he, he was getting tired from pacing. He was kicked out of his own room, leaving her and his soon-to-be-born child alone.
His worried thoughts seemed to radiate from him. Soon Ryan was pacing with him, but paused when they heard a baby’s crying. The thick door muffled it, so Ryan had to tap Michael’s shoulder. When Michael turned, he saw a grinning Ryan.
“Congratulations, dad,” Ryan said excitedly, giving Michael a pat on the back.
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