(1867-04-05) While Waiting on the Birth
While Waiting on the Birth
Summary: James, Gabriel, and Corvin discuss things while waiting on Alina's birthing
Date: 1867-04-05
Related: none
Players:
Corvin  Gabriel  James  

Family Tower - Highwater Castle - Lonnaire - Lonnaire - Couviere
The small dining and sitting area in the family tower of Highwater Castle is quite well-furnished. The mid-sized room on the second floor hosts a carved oaken table that can seat eight comfortably, twelve if pushed; a pair of butler tables to hold whatever has come up from the kitchens on, and a large carved hutch that matches the table and chairs elegantly that holds a variety of dishes to make serving and eating food a quicker process when needed, on the half of the room nearest the heavy doubled doors.
The back half of the room held a large stone fireplace with a large stone mantle, a set of fainting couches, three comfortable chairs, and a smattering of small side tables for ease of setting a wineglass down. A small table with a well-worn chess board is flanked by two chairs like the ones at the dining table, the chessboard set for a new game, one side's pieces lapis lazuli with gold and silver sunbursts, the other side onyx with golden wyverns.
Outside the main sitting area, there are stairs leading up to the family suites and bedrooms.
Avril 5th, 1867

Alina has retired to a room on the third floor with Lord Gavin t'Andalucci and his assistant. This method of birthing meant that everyone was aware and planning on when Alina would be indisposed for a time.

Duke James has left his office, sitting in the family room in a chair with a small glass of brandy. Even if it was Gavin's ghoulish sort of birthing that Alina was undertaking, it was still a birthing of one of his grandchildren.

Gabriel slips into the family room, and gives James a friendly sort of nod before he takes a seat near the man. "Taking a bit of air was refreshing, I assume that there has been little news of how Alina is doing?" He too expected to be waiting a while for something to be known about the status of Alina and their son. Reaching into a pocket, he pulls out a lead ball and begins to roll it around in one hand, something of a nervous gesture.

Corvin is seated in a corner, sipping from a cup of wine and mostly remaining silent. Not out of any sense that he's not allowed to speak, but simply not having anything in particular to say at the moment. Inwardly, he's as nervous as any, but outwardly there's little sign of it. He does smile faintly and lift his cup in Gabriel's direction when he arrives, finally speaking when Gabriel inquires, "No news yet."

James gestures to the glass decanter of brandy as his son-in-law enters. "There's brandy if you wish a glass, Lord Gabriel." He nods in agreement with his oldest son. "Nothing yet, but it shouuld be soon. Lord Gavin said this method goes far quicker than a natural birthing."

Glancing over to the decanter, Gabriel nods. Stepping over to it, he pours himself a healthy amount of the brandy and resumes his seat. "I do hope that everything fares better than the last time. It's my hope that with there only being one child this time that it will be far healthier than the twins were."

"Well, she couldn't be in better hands." Corvin notes, sipping his wine and considering, "Some make a fair argument that Lord Gavin may even be a more skilled healer than the Royal Physician." He does nod in reply to Gabriel's hope that this one will be easier though. It only stands to reason, doesn't it?

It isn't a long wait. As James opens his mouth to respond, the heavy oak doors to the room open and the midwife steps in. "Excuse me, my lords," she says, "but it is done. My lady sleeps still, she will be awake in a few hours. The child is a boy, large and strong with a full head of dark hair like his father." She smiles.

James looks pleased. "That is good news. Thank you." And he rises, holding his glass. "Any thoughts on names for your new son, Gabriel?"

"Corvin is in fashion, I hear." Corvin jokes, but there's a good bit of relief evident in his smile, before he drains the remainder of his winecup, but only so he can pour a bit of the brandy for himself for a proper celebration.

Something tugs at the back of Gabriel's mind for a moment and though he initially is pleased by the news, a part of him frowns, though it is not for long as he is standing and holding his glass up. "A few, but I will let Alina make the final decision for such a thing, I would not wish to incur her wrath later." His words are a jest though. "And it's definitely not Corvin."

"A toast then?" James lifts his glass. "To a new l'Saigner…. and to my daughter coming through the birthing."

"To a new l'Saigner, my new son and to my wife for giving me such a gift." Gabriel lifts his glass and clinks it against James'.

"To a new l'Saigner, whether he's named Corvin or not." Corvin lifts his own glass, though there's no clinking, given his distance from the other two men at the moment.

James takes a drink from his glass, and then places it down on a side table. "Well, since that is done… I have paperwork to attend." And the Duke of Lonnaire nods to his son-in-law and bastard son. "Good day to you both. I'll be in my study if I'm needed."

Gabriel swallows his brandy and nods to the Duke. "Good day to you, Your Grace." When James has left, Gabriel glances over to Corvin, tentatively. "You know, something troubles me, Corvin. I am not sure why exactly, but perhaps I worry more for how Alina can be perceived than maybe I should. She is so capable and everything."

"Corvin tilts his head, sipping from the cup of brandy and looking somewhere between intrigued and perplexed, "What do you mean, Sir Gabriel? Are you concerned she is perceived as too capable or not capable enough?"

"No, no. Nothing like that. Maybe I am thinking too much over such things, but I do worry that the twins hair has yet to darken, because I do not wish for people to think or speak ill of Alina. Coming from the outside, I know that sometimes any chance at finding gossip of your family can be something others like to sieze upon. I worry that such things may happen now that there is this new child." Gabriel has seen how court can behave and he wouldn't put it past any of those vipers.

"Ahh. Well, the only way to stop someone from talking is generally to kill them or cut out their tongue, and sadly that's rarely permissible at Court." Corvin shrugs, but there's some genuine sentiment behind his smile, "It's good of you to be concerned over it, but Alina's well-accustomed to those trying to tear her down in the eyes of the Court. In that regard, her figurative armor is thicker than your finest full plate." He shrugs a shoulder, and sips his brandy again, "Those are the threats she can well handle herself, or at the very least will let us know if she requires our assistance in dealing with them…and how she would prefer we do so. It's everything else that we're here to protect her from, as needed."

Gabriel considers Corvin's words for a long and hard moment and then he nods, muttering, "Shame we couldn't kill a few of those people at court off, the kingdom would be better off for it." If those damned people spent more time focusing on ways to improve the realm rather than try and outmanuever one another who knows how great Couviere could be. "Alright, I shall take your words to heart then and let her worry about those fork-tongued women. I will just duel any man who decides he can speak ill of her.

"There are better ways to ruin a man than duelling." Corvin opines, "And however skilled you are, it opens the possibility that you might end up severely injured or dead, and you're more than just a sword arm for the House, now." Corvin notes. "Believe me, I'd love nothing more than to see some of those men and women bleed. But we are already scrutinized. We have to choose our battles carefully….or more to the point we have to find the ones that really matter and make sure we win them. The rest is just envious clods pissing into the wind."

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