Chapter 21: Chapter 21

HOW LONG WILL THE PEACE LAST?

After a short nap, Arin went back to the forge and I went back to the castle. I knitted little socks and hats again. And a big warm baby blanket. I've been working on that for a long time. It should be particularly warm and soft. Which is why I had particularly expensive wool brought to me. The wool was the first thing I bought that was really outrageously expensive. But it was also the first thing that was worth the money to me.

"Good evening, Elaine." Benita suddenly stood next to me. The flickering of the fireplace gave her just the right sneaky look she always kept well hidden. "I see the child is still not here."

What did she want from me? I wanted to yell at her to go away! Avan, I needed him now. Then she would be gone immediately.

She sat down in the chair across from me and sighed softly. She was a lady. And I hated her for it.

"You exude such calm. Is it because of Florence or the child?"

"Do you want something specific from me?" I made no secret how much she got on my last nerve.

"I just want to chat. With the woman who stole my husband from me."

A silence fell. Only the bursting of wood in the fireplace interrupted her occasionally.

She openly admitted that she accused me of stealing Arin from her? What should I say now? Should I hit her? I would like that, but was that my level? ... ... yes... yes actually.

"What would Arin think of you if it wasn't a boy?" I was just imagining pulling out her hair one by one when she dropped this bombshell. "He will come to me. A woman who brings it together to give birth to a boy."

"How do you know that? You don't have a child. Besides, Arin wouldn't even want to undress you with gloves on."

"My sisters all gave birth exclusively to sons." So what? I would do something to her right away. So I got up and wanted to dump her, but she blocked my way. "You'll be kicked out with your brat Elain! Arin wants a boy! A son! And I'm sure you won't be able to give him one."

I took a deep breath to tell her she couldn't know what it was going to be like when my stomach knotted painfully. I grimaced and had to concentrate...

"Arin will be mine!"

The pain got worse and I was choking on my breath. As if an ice-cold tire were stretched around my stomach... Benita hissed some more, but I hardly heard her.

Suddenly a strong arm grabbed me around the waist. "Call Arin!"

avan? I looked up and Benita was gone.

"Calm down, Elain." He helped me back into my chair and barked orders. Bea knelt down in front of me, Taran stood next to me and was more overwhelmed than he had ever been.

"Does it still hurt?" Bea wanted to know, but the pain was gone as quickly as it came.

"No."

She put a hand to my stomach, which felt incredibly hard. "Do you think it's coming?"

"Not really..."

She looked up at Avan. "Then it was the excitement."

Taran leaned on the armrest next to me and looked at me accusingly. "You shouldn't get so upset when you're so pregnant."

Hm... Arin would probably give me the same look. Worried and seriously scared.

Surrender up my hands. "That will not happen again."

Arin dove up the stairs, ran down the long, dark hallway, and yanked open the door. Elain sat in her bed covered in furs and stared at the ceiling. When she recognized him, she smiled, caught.

"Are you okay again?"

"Ever since they brought me upstairs." Arin could practically hear the stone rolling from my heart.

He sat down next to her and finally took a deep breath. Ever since his nephew Michel Junior almost ran him over, telling him in a panic. When Elain died, he couldn't breathe. This boy must have misunderstood something...

Elain's blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders and framed her face. The dim light from the fireplace couldn't dim her bright eyes.

"Shouldn't you be eating downstairs?" She was nervous and wanted to turn the attention back to Arin.

"If you tell me my wife is dying, I'll lose my hunger."

Elaine frowned. When he laughed she realized he was joking and took his ice cold hand and cupped it on her cheek. "God, does that feel good. It's so warm in here..."

"What happened? Why were you in pain?"

"I was just suppressing the urge to hit someone... I won't do that again! I promise!"

Her smile as she cocked her head was adorable. Her hair fell to one side, revealing her long neck.

"That's right, next time you'll make me proud and beat up the troublemaker!"

Giggling, she leaned forward on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. Even if Arin was joking - who had upset her so? God help him if he catches that one.

"What if it's a girl?" Elain asked suddenly, all humor gone.

What was this question about? Arin was slightly taken by surprise. "Then it'll be my girl. And kick everyone's ass."

"But what if it wants to be a princess?"

He laughed nervously. For heaven's sake!? "Then she will be my princess! I'll buy her long diamond-encrusted dresses, a white horse, and all the sweets she wants!"

She shook her head, giggling. And it wasn't a shy ladies giggle. It was a giggle that made him laugh! And he liked that, it made it easier.

"Even if she wants a prince?"

Oh damn no! "There are Limits..."

"Then let's hope it's a boy! Nobody can endure such a spoiled girl."

"I spoil my son too!"

They joked for quite a while even after they got their food brought up.

Elain didn't tell Arin who had upset her, but he would find out.

Breakfast was brought to bed, then the midwife came and stared at me disapprovingly and after that I was finally allowed to get out of bed! Arin stayed away from the forge today, sending Syman alone.

"Syman can do it. He's only supposed to take orders and do his jobs."

Arin had more faith in the ten-year-old apprentice than I did. He walked with me through the thick deep snow all morning and listened to everything I had to say. He laughed and joked.

It was wonderful.

Besides, he didn't ask me about yesterday. Although I noticed how much the whole thing was making him nervous. Actually, I didn't want to hide it from him. But did I really want to get something going because Benita was getting false hope? Did I really want to take away one of his few fond childhood memories?

"Where you are with your thoughts?" Arin nudged some snow with his foot. The fine dust immediately flew back onto his leg. He smiled shyly. "I should have seen that coming."

I giggled and grabbed his hand again. He was still careless sometimes. Even if he made every effort to look serious.

"I used to play tricks with the snow. I rolled up little balls, opened windows from the inside and then I shot people from outside."

I could imagine that. The little black-haired boy with red cheeks and the cunning look he often had today. The idea made me happy. His father couldn't destroy his childhood.

"Have you been caught?"

He grimaced at the memory. "Often. Almost always by Ben, who was just training to be a security guard. And you don't want to be caught pranking by Ben."

"And yet you kept doing it?"

He shrugged his shoulders and grinned.

"I couldn't help it. Even if they already knew that I was behind it, had always guarded the windows and Ben had already planned his own route for me... somehow I always managed." He started beaming. "I can't wait for it to pull its own pranks."

"And it definitely will. My goodness, you were a real rascal!"

Arin shyly scratched the back of his head. "My brothers struggled, but it was always fun."

Suddenly a funny idea occurred to me and I dragged Arin with me. He allowed it until I pulled him to his knees with me. "What shoud that?"

"Look." The window to the kitchen, which was in the basement of the castle, only had small, narrow, round windows. So they were over people's heads. You could hardly see them from the outside.

"Kitchen window?" Arin seemed cautious but understood what I wanted.

"They are open." I breathed in an enticing tone.

Arin eyed me, his expression so wild and excited. His dimple appeared, then he grabbed my cheek and pulled me to his lips. "If Ben catches us, you have to be quick."

I laughed and rolled my first small snowball. We are going to be parents. If my bullet weren't so visible, you probably wouldn't believe me at the moment.

"Very nice..." Arin laughed and pointed to the kitchen. "Bea and Tessa."

Tessa was the wife of Michel, the Campbells' fifth son. "Bea is mine."

Arin symbolically held out a snowball to me. "Let it out."

We positioned ourselves next to the window so that no shadow could be seen from the inside. Nevertheless, I could see how the two women walked into the kitchen chatting. Just... a little... bit more!

When Bea was only a few inches below the window, I put my hand through the narrow opening. Tessa noticed and her mouth fell open. And just as Bea followed Tessa's gaze and looked up, I threw the snowball in her face.

"Arin!" she yelled annoyed.

Arin bit his lip hard as he jumped up. He helped me up and rushed around the next corner as fast as I could. Only then did we dare to laugh. bea Avan's wife. Well, that would be a thunderstorm. But it was definitely worth it!

So we joked with Eric, Helena, Benita, Taran, Kora - Kora being the most upset - and with some of the servants. Arin explained that each servant had a cousin, nephew, or other family connection. He knew everyone he took. He also had a separate relationship with each one.

It was great. The last one we wanted to tackle was Avan. Arin knew exactly where to be at this hour and lured me to a narrow window. Arin climbed onto a crate, further onto some barrels and then stopped at Old Holey Chests. He carefully pushed open the narrow tower window.

I wanted to see Avan's face when the snowball hit him...

"Calm down Bea!" Avan's shaky voice came out the window.

"Calm down!? What-" Suddenly Bea's voice went very quiet. "Don't you dare laugh at me..."

I heard how hard Avan tried to control himself. "I would never laugh at you, love." It sounded sarcastic.

"I want Arin punished! Lock him up!"

I looked up at my husband who was crouching under the window frame like a brat. He grinned mischievously and winked. Suddenly, peals of laughter broke out in the tower.

"How do you look!?" Avan laughed uproariously.

"I'll kill the little bastard!" kora God I would like to be there! "Every year the same with him!"

Avan was rolling with laughter, at least that's what it sounded like. "What the hell?" he gasped exhaustedly.

"That was Arin!" Now was Taran too. "Three hit me!" - once Arin, once me, again Arin. I had to bite my finger to keep from screaming at the memory of how stupid he'd looked out of the laundry.

"Do not laugh at me!" Taran laughed, trying to get angry.

Arin's face turned red and he held his breath.

"If you only knew how stupid you look!" Avan gasped and laughed loudly.

Then Arin got up slowly and threw. And before he could wait for the reaction, he descended to me again.

"ARIN!" they all shouted together, some laughed, some didn't.

Only Avan didn't yell.

Arin roared with laughter, along with me. We couldn't get a word out, just crept to the stable in mutual agreement. They wouldn't look for us there immediately...

As Arin reached for the door, it suddenly opened on its own and Ben stood there.

"Never in my life." Arin growled in shock, staring at me like Ben was a ghost.

Ben lifted a corner of his mouth. "You know what's coming now."

Arin nodded, grinning, and turned to leave. Then we burst out laughing again. We hadn't laughed in too long. Even Ben smiled and playfully nudged Arin.

Avan sat in front of us in his study chair. He leaned one arm against a chair and elegantly hid his mouth while his shoulders shook with laughter. Arin had gotten his back, but Avan took it with more humor than his wife, who had been very irritable lately anyway.

Taran swore revenge on us, but his eyes gleamed as cunningly as Arin's. Kora didn't say a word but stuck his tongue out at Arin childishly.

"What is this now?" Avan giggled and ran his fingers through his hair. "Are you guys acting like babies now?"

Bea was different. She must have made it her mission to bring Arin to justice.

"Would you take that more seriously?" She huffed in exasperation, tossing back her shiny black hair.

Avan didn't even think about it. Smiling, he shook his head. "Why? Is a snowball such a federal crime?"

"When you're twenty-four years old, then yes!"

Avan escaped a laugh. Had I ever seen him in such a good mood? I peeked at Arin who was glaring back and forth with Kora. Arin laughed at him more than he paid attention.

"Why are you getting upset? That was harmless to him." Avan bit his lip and for the first time I thought he was really young. Not as rigid and hard as usual. It looked really attractive and even playful.

Then I heard Bea stomping up behind us and standing next to Arin, furious as hell. Her eyes had the same expression as when she attacked me. Her muscles tense, her spine straight. Ready to fight.

Without thinking, I stood up and faced her. She glared at her just as combatively as she did at my husband.

The mood was gone.

Her gaze slowly shifted to me and she didn't seem to like what she saw. "Do you have a problem?"

"Don't play like that." I growled. Bea balled her hands into fists.

"Do you only dare to speak to me like that because you know that you don't hit a pregnant woman?"

I couldn't help a sarcastic laugh. "As far as I can remember, you only attacked me at the time because I spoke that to you."

Bea didn't move, but something had changed about her. I couldn't say what. Suddenly Avan stood between us. He pulled the rigid Bea a few steps back by her arm.

"Enough. That's enough now."

Arin looked at me blankly. How long hadn't he looked at me like that? What did that tell me now? When he took my hand it was clear. He was surprised. taken by surprise

Avan looked at Bea as if she had just tried to grab my husband's throat. "Bea, it was just a prank. Would you really jail him for something like that?"

Her eyes got wet and she wanted to get past Avan, but he wanted an answer. All it took was eye contact with his scrappy wife and he knew. So she dashed into the hallway and disappeared.

When I looked at Avan again, he had a stern look on his face. He raised a finger menacingly.

"If you bother people again, I'll have to tell father everything!"

Arin smiled and nodded. "I promise, Avi."

These nicknames just made me smile. Avan shook his head as if he couldn't believe he had ever been called that. Then he turned to me.

"And you! If you make my wife so wild again because you and my brother annoy her, I'll give you hell!"

I had to do it. It was just in the room:

"I promise, Av."

Avan looked at me briefly as if I was on fire, then turned back to Arin. "You are and will always be a bad influence..." Then he winked at me over his shoulder.

After that we gathered at the table. However, the meal took place without Avan and Bea...

Bea wiped the tears from her cheeks when she heard the door behind her. She finally had to learn not to look Avan in the eye anymore. Then all the dams broke...

She felt his big warm hands on the backs of hers. His chin on her shoulder. "Tell me finally. What's the matter, Bea?"

"Avan..." her voice cracked. Oh god - she hated herself for it!

"Shh..." he easily rolled her into his arms and pressed his cheek against hers. She loved it and he took advantage of it. No, he did it for her... "Talk to me. I can't take this behavior anymore..."

Of course not. She was acting horribly... "I'm sorry, Avan. I'll pull myself together."

"What happened? Are you not well?"

She lifted her head and met his concerned eyes. She started crying even more. That was the effect he had on her! When Avan looked at her, she couldn't hide anything anymore. At the end of his wits, he pressed his forehead against hers.

"Talk to me..." he breathed desperately.

She started. Multiple times. But what could she say without worrying him even more? On the other hand, she did now. She clawed at his back. Could she just tell him that? Wouldn't he be able to hide his disappointment? She was afraid. Sheer fear of having disappointed him.

Suddenly Avan seemed tired. "I'm not forcing you into anything... But don't leave me alone, Bea. Don't do this to me."

Oh God. She couldn't make him think like that. She would never want to move away from him. Was he afraid of that? She had been in love with him for so long, so much...

"Avan..." He looked at her almost pleadingly. She didn't want any of that. "We only have one girl..."

Avan waited a moment. He didn't quite get it. "Not just. It's our girl."

Naturally. She adored Helena as much as he did. "But no heir. I was never able to give you an heir..."

Anger flared up in Avan and he had to turn away. She longed to be back in his arms. Frustrated, he banged on her expensively carved bedpost, which squeaked and complained.

"So it was because of your sister after all!"

She felt guilty. Of course he was angry. She was so sorry.

"They have three sons Avan, it's my fault we don't have one."

He spun around so quickly that she startled a little. "They have five children! We only have one! It's a beautiful girl! Whatever your sister, her husband or your devil-driven nanny says - it's not your fault!"

"But you need-"

"-Nothing!"

"An heir..."

"Helen!?"

It wasn't the same. And he knew it. Although he was still panting and cursing, he took her hands tenderly.

"I helped three little boys grow up, Bea. I don't want a boy anymore. I was so thankful for a girl I almost died..."

"Your brothers are not the same as three sons..."

Avan raised an eyebrow, unperturbed. "I don't know... It almost feels the same."

Without waiting for her answer, he pulled her back to him and kissed her. "I hate your sister..."

"She doesn't mean it badly..."

"Believe me, I have nothing against a son. If that happens, then please. But I wouldn't want anything if it stayed with our girls."

She was so confused. So infinitely confused. Avan's strong arms wrapped themselves around her body, offering her the vital support she had lost...

Syman hadn't turned up for lunch, which was a miracle for the always starving boy. Arin acted like everything was fine, but I noticed how often he glanced at the door. Hoping Syman would show up after all.

"If you want we can see the smithy after dinner." I offered him.

He just grunted in response. But as soon as I had my last bite, he jumped up again to go for a walk.

The snow crunched under our feet, white clouds formed around our mouths when we spoke. I loved winter.

We spotted Syman in front of the stable. Frustrated, he leaned against a stable wall and kicked at the snow with his ten-pointe. He spotted us and waved without seeming too enthusiastic.

Arin leaned in beside him."What's that got on your head?"

Syman looked at me sheepishly and his cheeks turned pink. "Arin, I will..."

"No need..." Syman interrupted me again. "It's... A security guard's daughter, at the front of the gate. Sometimes she comes to our farm to sell her vegetables." Arin smiled and Syman made a pained sound. "Don't look at me like that!"

"She is sweet?" Syman's head turned red and he punched at Arin. He gave me a sneaky look. "Is she."

Syman grunted. "She hit me."

"What happened?"

"I... well I just kissed her and then she just hit me!" Arin burst out laughing. Even I had a hard time not laughing at him... "I would have loved to beat her up! That stupid cow!"

"You don't hit girls, boy." Arin kept laughing.

"Oh yes, a span spanking!"

"Syman, you can't beat her up because she won't kiss you." I tried again. Then he pouted at me. He still looked like a baby, how can he kiss girls? "Did you ask permission?"

"No. I'll take what I want." My mouth fell open.

Arin laughed again and shoved Syman. "Then you deserve the hit."

A hypocrite, considering he'd married me without asking, ripped down my skirts, helped me out of my corset without being asked,...

Syman pouted again and kicked at the snow. I pushed Arin a bit away from the boys and leaned in beside him myself. "Try it differently with her. Ask her if you can help her and take her hand carefully."

"Then hit her again."

"No. You just have to start small."

The famous Campbell smile appeared on Syman's cheeks. "You're a much better help than that one."

Arin's shadow threw itself over my shoulder as he straightened. "I understand why the girl hits you."

"What do you want to understand? Elain was given to you!"

Arin glared evilly. "You missed lunch."

Syman's world fell apart. "No..."

"Yet."

"Oh no! Damn it!" He sped past us and zoomed back to the castle.

Arin looked after him and put his arm around me. "That was mean, Arin."

"Do you find?" He stroked mine with his nose. "For that we are alone now."

My stomach felt a tug. An ever stronger one. Arin kissed me demandingly and put a hand on my chest. The pulling grew stronger again. Now it hurt and I had to gasp. This didn't feel like usual. Arin took it as a lustful gasp and kissed me harder. The pain suddenly became unnaturally bad. I grimaced and gasped.

Arin leaned back and studied my gaze. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know..." When I grabbed onto the new dome, it was rock hard. Arin did the same for me.

"Elaine?" But I had to concentrate. I gasped again and was glad Arin wrapped his arms around my waist. "We have to put you to bed."

It took me a few tries, but after the fourth try, we managed to drag myself to the castle. He called out to some sisters-in-law that he urgently needed the midwife and wood in our room.

The stairs were almost my death. Arin had the idea of carrying me up, strong enough he would be destined to be a blacksmith and a knight. But his sisters-in-law advised him not to pick me up right now.

Upstairs he peeled me out of my thick clothes until I was standing there in my undershirt. Arin put me in the skins, started the fire, and even stuffed little scraps of cloth into the ridges of the windows.

When he finally sat down next to me, I clung to his arm and tried to relax. But the question, is the baby coming?, buzzed in my head.

"Everything will be fine in a moment..." Arin murmured, more to himself than to me. I almost felt sorry for him. He was so upset and didn't know what to do with himself.

I didn't even realize I was smiling at him until he gave me a skeptical look. "Is it better again?"

"I just had to think about the difference between Avan and you. He helped me yesterday." Arin took my hand and smiled nervously. "He's just seen eight births, not to mention his daughter."

Arin nodded guiltily. "Sorry, I'll sort this out."

I tightened my grip. "Don't." He frowned. "Honestly not. I like that it's as new to you as it is to me."

"Avan could help you better though."

"No one can help me there. You're doing better without realizing it."

Arin tried to hide it, but he grinned shyly and kissed the back of my hand.

"Only on hand?"

"I don't like you hitting me then." he mocked Syman. His mood was better again. He rubbed my stomach with a grin and nodded contentedly when it was soft again.

There was a rough knock on the door, then the midwife comfortably tore the door open.

"Seeing Lady Campbell again..." Arin glared at me. I focused on the midwife who was gently patting my stomach. "Aha..."

Arin's jaws worked. From now on, the midwife stopped looking at me. ... bitch. "Bed rest. She mustn't get out of bed under any circumstances. The child and the lady need absolute rest now. No more excitement."

"So you can't stay in the knight's hall either? Just lie in bed?"

The woman raised a pointed finger menacingly. "No sex Arin." Arin raised his eyebrows, unfazed. "I'm serious. Otherwise, Milady will get sore again!"

Milady sat next to you in flesh and blood and can still hear quite well... I wanted to scream. I was here! Is someone talking to me? As if he could read my mind, he grabbed my hand and looked at me. "I'll ask Benita to take care of you while I'm in the forge. You don't have to worry about anything anymore."

Besides Benita...