Chapter 20
Twenty
Thorin
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this.
An earthy green theme adorns the bedroom and is just as over the top as the rest of the house. A four post bed large enough to fit an entire family sits in the center of the back wall. The elderwood is engraved with delicate flowers and the legs are carved out to mimic blades of grass. Deep emerald blankets and pillows are perfectly laid across the fluffy mattress. Behind the bed is a large arched window decorated with heavy matching green drapes pulled back to let in natural light.
It may look different than my room at home, but something about it sends all those horrible feelings crawling back to me. I can’t help but hold my breath, waiting for my father to walk through the door. Waiting for him to scream at me about how useless I am. Or my brother to come and tell me how ugly and fat I am.
My hands cover my stomach, feeling how thin I’ve become. Pressing down onto my abdomen, a burst of crazed laughter erupts from me. This stomach won’t be flat for long .
A rap at my door has me jumping backward and my heart pounding in my chest.
“Good evening, Ms. Thorin. I’m Wynona, your midwife.” Standing in the doorway is a stunning dryad woman with her long hands clasped together and a warm smile. Large elk antlers protrude from long, chocolate waves of hair. Her sunburst eyes shine bright against her gray bark skin. “I’m sorry I frightened you. I know my appearance is most unusual.”
Straightening, I shake my head. “I wasn’t expecting you, that’s all. You’re a dryad and a very beautiful one at that.”
Her mossy dress flows behind her as she glides into the spacious room. “Correct. And thank you so much for your kind words.” Reaching out her hand, she hovers it just above my stomach. “May I?”
Is she…is she asking for consent?
“Sh-sure.”
Her twig-like fingers splay across my middle and my muscles stiffen—memories of the last dryad flashing through my mind. I brace for the same creeping feeling to form under my skin, but nothing happens. All I feel is her surprisingly soft palm radiating heat through my dress.
Her brows pinch together with concern. “Ms. Thorin, did the doctor tell you how far along you are?”
“A few weeks, I think.”
“Your chart said that one of the possible fathers is a healer. Is this correct?”
I bite down on my cheek and nod. “Yes, ma’am.”
Schooling her features, she steps away and stands up straight. “Why don’t you take a nice bath and there are a few books on the nightstand you are welcome to when you are finished. I will be back shortly with some food.”
Wynona turns to leave, but I grab her hand to stop her. “What’s wrong?” I plead for some sort of answer.
“Nothing to stress about. Just a few biological things to take into consideration,” she murmurs before leaving me standing alone with my fears.
After a nice long soak in the tub, I return to my bedroom with a long, white nightgown waiting for me on my bed. Tucking the fluffy towel, my bare feet pad over, leaving a trail of wet footprints across the floor. For a few moments, I just stare at the garment. The thin straps and sheerness of the silk sends a shiver down my spine knowing how cold I’ll be in this. After years of living in Terra, my body isn’t used to the warm weather, but it still hasn’t adjusted to the cold either.
With damp fingers, I lift the gown and pull it over my head, watching as the buttery material slides down my body like droplets of water. Gods , I’ll never admit this out loud, but I miss this luxury. I can live without the gowns and corsets, but all my other clothing was magic all in its own.
Maybe if I close my eyes I can pretend, even if only for a moment.
With a quick scan of the room, I hop up and spread out my limbs like a star, and then I do just that. It doesn’t happen right away, but eventually, I’m transported back to my room at home. I can hear the bubbling of the hot spring tub in my bathroom, Zenora yapping on about how I shouldn’t be prancing around town like a commoner—of course, Father hated that. Suddenly, the sounds turn into a vision of my mother in her study reading. I must have been only three or four years old, but the memory is so strong it’s almost like I’m living it again.
“Rana, my sweet girl, come here.” Mommy waves me over with a radiant smile.
Padding over, I hang my head. I got caught sneaking around and that means I get a punishment. “Can I stay in the cavern? Daddy used the switch last time, but that was bad,” I plead with her. The switch hurt so bad. I cried a lot. Daddy didn’t like that and hit me harder. He said that when I bleed the demons go away.”
“What in the five realms are you going on about?” Her voice is so nice. She seems mad though.
Oh no. Daddy’s going to be so mad!
I back away, tripping over the carpet and landing on my butt. “Nothing! I said nothing!”
Mommy bends down and picks me up, holding me tight to her warm chest. I love her so much. I love her more than I love Daddy. I don’t love Daddy anymore.
“You know you can tell me anything, Rana. Anything at all,” she hums against my hair. “I would pull down the heavens for you. I would walk the lonely roads of hell. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, my sweet girl.”
“Lifebringer! Why haven’t you eaten the food?!” My eyes fly open at the sound of the goblin screaming at me. Pushing myself upright, I watch as his mouth moves a mile a minute, but all I can hear is the erratic beat of my heart.
“I–I’m sorry. I must have fallen asleep.” I hate how meek and unsteady I sound. Frantically scurrying off the bed I find a cold bowl of stew, rueberries, and a large glass of some green stuff. “This is wonderful,” I mumble through a mouth full of food.
The goblin scrunches his face in disgust. Guess he thought this lifebringer was a lady—guess again buddy! Lady Rana died a long time ago. He grunts something under his breath before forcing a terrifying smile on his face.
Through his teeth, he strains his words. “Your presence is requested in Master’s study.” He clenches his jaw so tightly he may break a tooth. “We have guests, and you are to be on your best behavior.” I wait for him to slink off like the creep he is, but he just stares at me with that same offensive smile.
Taking a few gulps of the green sludge, I wipe my mouth with my arm and blow out a breath. “I’m guessing you mean right now?”
He literally growls at me in response.
“Okay. Shit. I’m coming.”