(no subject)

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta didn't know what date she was supposed to have her period. But she knew it had come and gone.

Her feelings had turned from terror and emotion to a deep, almost numb terror. She had been starting to feel like she was walking through a bad nightmare, day after day, unable to tell anyone in case that made it all officially true.

And one night, she just couldn't cope any more. She took the bottle of whiskey from Will's caravan - bought before rationing kicked in - snuck it into her pocket and headed for the bar. She'd be back and sober before anyone would miss her.

When she gets to the bar, she goes straight up to her room, and has a couple of drinks. Slowly, her world starts to calm down.

She lies on the sofa for a long while. Then as she gets up to go to the bathroom, her world begins to spin. She feels something hit her head, hard, then everything goes black.

Comments

[ostro_goth]

Teja, indeed, had been in the forge, when a bold waitrat had come with a message, braving cats, snow, and potential demon bunnies.

Carlotta in trouble??

He had barely banked the fire and closed the door, then bolted up the bypass stairs and towards her room.

"What ails her?" he asks, when he sees Demeter already there. "Is she with child?"

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta grimaces and lets Demeter field the answer to the question. Suddenly feeling embarrassed about the drunken falling over part.

[wheatencrown]

"No, she's not, just worried that she was and she's had a bad fall. I need you to find something to bandage her head before we take her downstairs to the infirmary,"

Demeter hears herself sounding sharp but its tiring. She's a goddess of fertility, Carlotta could have simply asked her instead of worrying herserlf until she was hurt.

[ostro_goth]

"Is that why she ran from me the other week, when I called her 'a married woman and potential mother'?" Teja says, going to the bathroom, and returning with a towel and a roll of toilet paper.

"There isn't anything else."

[fiery_ring]

"Sorry." Carlotta says quietly, looking up at Demeter. "I... I know it's stupid but... it was like if I told anyone it'd be true an' I was jus hopin it would go away... I read lots of pregnancies don't make it through the first few weeks...

I didn' tell anyone."

[wheatencrown]

In a few moments, Demeter has slightly bandaged her head and sighs before kissing Carlotta's forehead,

"I understand, Carlotta, but please know you can talk to me."

[ostro_goth]

"We should take her downstairs," Teja says. "Strange things may happen to those that were badly knocked upon the head. They seem to do well, and suddenly, they will fall and not recover."

[fiery_ring]

Well that's reassuring. Carlotta goes back to looking worried. She's not sure whether Teja's noticed the whiskey yet.

[wheatencrown]

"Carlotta, if Teja carries you downstairs, will you be okay?"

[ostro_goth]

"I will hold her carefully," Teja promises.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta nods.

"I'll try not to be sick."

[wheatencrown]

"We'll take care of you."

[ostro_goth]

"You smell of strong spirits!" Teja says, disapproving, as he picks her up.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta groans and hides her head in her hands.

"If you thought you were pregn'nt you'd be stressed too."

[wheatencrown]

"Teja, it doesn't matter now,"

Demeter moves to open the door and gives Teja a look.

[ostro_goth]

"If I were pregnant," Teja says, "I would be very 'stressed', as I am a man, and cannot be, so if I were, some entity in this place would have played a truly cruel trick on me. You, on the other hand, are a married woman, and live with your mother-in-law, who has had children of her own, and can help with all your worries, as could Demeter."

But he does pick her up and carry her out.

[fiery_ring]

"My mum and grandmother died in childbirth!" Carlotta sobs. "They were younger than me! Nobody could stop that hap'nin!"

[wheatencrown]

Demeter hits Teja on the shoulder, "That's not helpful."

Then she kisses Carlotta's forehead,

"Shh, you have me and Will's mother to help you."

[ostro_goth]

"You are here," Teja says, continuing to be unhelpful, "where both science and magic will be at hand to make sure you survive, once you get pregnant."

Which of course she will, sooner or later.

He carries her down the corridor, towards the stairs.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta turns her head away, not looking at him.

She doesn't want a baby. Not now. Right now she's not sure she ever wants one.

And it gnaws at her insides, accusing her of being a useless woman.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter's frown deepens, she hates seeing Carlotta so unhappy and isn't sure what to say to help.

She keeps thinking of her daughter and how something's they never speak of, children and marriage.

[ostro_goth]

"Not like the women of my people," Teja says, "who must face death for every babe they bear, and sometimes suffer it, as a man dies in battle. No, Carlotta, you are safe in this place."

Unlike poor Gotho, who escaped by the skin of her teeth. Who still might not have escaped, the next time a dream would take Teja there.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta doesn't say anything, just buries her head in her arms and silently sobs.

How does he know she'll be safe? Even in the future, a woman may die in childbirth, if it bleeds badly or the baby gets stuck.

[wheatencrown]

"Teja, Carlotta is worried enough as it is and she knows that her family isn't the strongest in childbirth. Also she will decide when she wishes to have a child. For now, we are taking care of her and not comparing her to other women. She is strong and beautiful and when the time comes will be a kind mother."

[ostro_goth]

"Of course she will!" Teja says. "I would never doubt her on that."

They reach the stairs, and Teja starts going down them very slowly and carefully, as not to shake her.