Post by seraaches on Aug 31, 2008 20:05:42 GMT -5
By the time the two messengers poked their heads out of the kitchen, he was sitting still, staring off into the fire with red-rimmed eyes. The green fur of his cheeks and arms was still damp, but the other two men pretended to not notice.
“Have, ah, have you read the other one?” Alachard asked gently.
Reston shook his head negatively. He was empty now, though. Numb. It was a relief. He didn’t think he could handle anymore surprises, but the two messengers were not a hopeful sign. Not a hopeful sign? They might as well be the Four Horsemen compressed to two.
“Who are you?” His voice cracked slightly in the middle of the question, but he didn’t seem to notice.
The Highlander fielded the question before the Club could open his mouth. “I am Alachard, sent by His Majesty Shinrai, The Queen of Hearts. This is Edward, sent by His Majesty Aderlass, The Queen of Clubs.”
Reston fought the need to groan in despair. Anyone from either Court would have been bad enough, but a joint message meant a joint commission for his Mari. His eyes closed and he asked very softly. “How bad is it?”
Alachard cleared his throat uneasily and Edward glowered towards the floor. The Morganberry was the one to answer, however. “It’s pretty bad.”
Reston did groan then, and dropped his head onto his arms so he was leaned onto the table.
“It wasn’t at first!” Edward felt the need to defend the Queens; at least, he needed to defend his own Queen. “Originally it was just a happy little letter to let you know what’s going on. But that. . . changed the last time we reported in.”
Alachard cleared his throat, stopping the mouse from speaking further. “You need to read the other letter, Reston. I’m sorry, but that would be the best way for you to get the news.”
“They worked on the wording together,” Edward put in hopefully, as though that would help ease the pain of whatever blow was coming his way.
Reston stared at the grain of the table. He had to know now. He didn’t have a choice. He stared at the wood for another long moment. It was an old table, one his grandfather had made. His mother had let him take it when he’d shown up on her doorstep with two babies and no home. He pushed himself upright. “Okay.” He had put it off for long enough. As he reached for the paper, the large bird rose and elbowed his fellow messenger.
“We’ll check on you in a few minutes,” the Highlander said quietly. “C’mon, Edward, I think I saw a garden out back.”
“Think they have any tomatoes?”
Their chatter faded away as the deer picked up the formal letter once again.
Dear Mr. Reston,
Mari has told us quite a bit about you and we applaud your fortitude and will to help such an amazingly sweet woman. Because of this, we feel it is only right to be straightforward with you.
Mari has agreed to be the surrogate birth mother of an important set of children. The procedure is inherently risky, but the situation was complicated by the sheer number of babies involved. This was a surprise to us, we’re sorry to say, otherwise we would have arranged for a second surrogate to be waiting in the wings.
Our Court doctors have informed us that Mari’s chances of surviving are very slim. We regret to inform you of this news, but her one desire is to see you and her own children and we will fulfill this request through whatever means are necessary.
Alachard and Edward will escort you and the children to the Capital City and the Palace of Clubs where Mari is currently staying in the utmost comfort and care we can provide.
For her sake, we ask that you come as quickly as you can. For your sake, we ask that you do so without resistance.
As promised to Mari, your family will want for nothing the rest of their days. We look forward to meeting you in the Capital very soon.
Respectfully,
His Majesty Shinrai and His Majesty Aderlass
“Have, ah, have you read the other one?” Alachard asked gently.
Reston shook his head negatively. He was empty now, though. Numb. It was a relief. He didn’t think he could handle anymore surprises, but the two messengers were not a hopeful sign. Not a hopeful sign? They might as well be the Four Horsemen compressed to two.
“Who are you?” His voice cracked slightly in the middle of the question, but he didn’t seem to notice.
The Highlander fielded the question before the Club could open his mouth. “I am Alachard, sent by His Majesty Shinrai, The Queen of Hearts. This is Edward, sent by His Majesty Aderlass, The Queen of Clubs.”
Reston fought the need to groan in despair. Anyone from either Court would have been bad enough, but a joint message meant a joint commission for his Mari. His eyes closed and he asked very softly. “How bad is it?”
Alachard cleared his throat uneasily and Edward glowered towards the floor. The Morganberry was the one to answer, however. “It’s pretty bad.”
Reston did groan then, and dropped his head onto his arms so he was leaned onto the table.
“It wasn’t at first!” Edward felt the need to defend the Queens; at least, he needed to defend his own Queen. “Originally it was just a happy little letter to let you know what’s going on. But that. . . changed the last time we reported in.”
Alachard cleared his throat, stopping the mouse from speaking further. “You need to read the other letter, Reston. I’m sorry, but that would be the best way for you to get the news.”
“They worked on the wording together,” Edward put in hopefully, as though that would help ease the pain of whatever blow was coming his way.
Reston stared at the grain of the table. He had to know now. He didn’t have a choice. He stared at the wood for another long moment. It was an old table, one his grandfather had made. His mother had let him take it when he’d shown up on her doorstep with two babies and no home. He pushed himself upright. “Okay.” He had put it off for long enough. As he reached for the paper, the large bird rose and elbowed his fellow messenger.
“We’ll check on you in a few minutes,” the Highlander said quietly. “C’mon, Edward, I think I saw a garden out back.”
“Think they have any tomatoes?”
Their chatter faded away as the deer picked up the formal letter once again.
Dear Mr. Reston,
Mari has told us quite a bit about you and we applaud your fortitude and will to help such an amazingly sweet woman. Because of this, we feel it is only right to be straightforward with you.
Mari has agreed to be the surrogate birth mother of an important set of children. The procedure is inherently risky, but the situation was complicated by the sheer number of babies involved. This was a surprise to us, we’re sorry to say, otherwise we would have arranged for a second surrogate to be waiting in the wings.
Our Court doctors have informed us that Mari’s chances of surviving are very slim. We regret to inform you of this news, but her one desire is to see you and her own children and we will fulfill this request through whatever means are necessary.
Alachard and Edward will escort you and the children to the Capital City and the Palace of Clubs where Mari is currently staying in the utmost comfort and care we can provide.
For her sake, we ask that you come as quickly as you can. For your sake, we ask that you do so without resistance.
As promised to Mari, your family will want for nothing the rest of their days. We look forward to meeting you in the Capital very soon.
Respectfully,
His Majesty Shinrai and His Majesty Aderlass
