"There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world"
It was late evening and Neyaa had not felt the child move since yesterday morning.
She had many worries of late, some resolved, some still lingering. She was quite surprised to find people in the hall that late at night when she came downstairs More worrying was that Hyrien and the Grey Warden were amongst those. She had been ordered by Hardoleth to set things right with Hyrien after they had quarreled recently. Neyaa was not entirely comfortable about it, but before she could open her mouth to speak she had cause to run outside and vomit.
She did not hear the company gather outside, no doubt displeased by her actions. However she took the opportunity to apologize to Hyrien when Fiontann, Nellye and the Grey Warden set off ahead of her. To her relief Hyrien seemed to accept her rushed apology, that was one less worry at least...
...She had sat on the wall at the end of the path for quite some time watching the moths dance around the street lantern outside. She smiled for the first time that day, quite intrigued by the fact they fluttered and circled in disarray yet never once collided with one another. Unlike Neyaa, who always seemed to be bumping heads with someone. She reached out to capture one for closer inspection and fell off the wall grazing her knee and her elbow. Neyaa cursed a little as she rose to her feet and shuffled back towards the Hall. A sharp pain took the breath out of her and she sat down upon the grass scared to move, it was a pain she recognized all too well.
The sun rose as if a page in a book had been turned. Neyaa struggled to her feet feeling dreadful, she headed back into the hall her legs heavy on the stairs. She was weary in mind and body and slumped into the chair. She sorted through her problems in her mind and examined them.
Her business partner Emion was a worry to her. He seemed a broken man after the death of his wife Glorria who had taken her own life shortly after they had wed. Neyaa was not sure if she believed Emion was capable of the foul deeds he had been accused of, but certainly others did. Emion could not place a foot outside without being attacked. She had at least established that he had not swindled her, but he was drinking heavily and business was business, perhaps he was a liability? Neyaa had asked to buy his share of the farm and was awaiting a decision.
Awilred at least seemed happier since Merys had called off their wedding. He was her dear friend as well as her stable hand. It delighted her heart that he had found love again with Terralynn's cousin, Tallawyn. She had met her but once and liked her instantly.
Neyaa sighed deeply, reluctant to even visit her troubles regarding the Grey Warden. She had broken his heart and her own in the process. Not a day passed by without casting scorn upon herself. And now his love for her was replaced with contempt, and who could blame him? It had wounded her deeply when she discovered that Rossethor loved Nimeway more than her, seeing them together almost every day had pained her, but in time she had learned to accept that life was unfair and full of difficult choices. Perhaps the Grey Warden would feel some compassion and learn that to forgive is to set the prisoner free, and learn that the prisoner was you.
She rose from the chair and walked over to the bed and turned back the covers. She could not let Hardoleth see the blood on them. If she were to lose this child, he would not find out this way. She gathered the bed linen to her and cast it upon the fire. All of these worries paled into insignificance, she now faced the greatest worry of them all and nothing else mattered. Neyaa looked across at the cradle Fiontann had lovingly crafted for her and Hardoleth and prayed to every God she knew to spare the life of their child...
love knows not it’s own depth until the time of separation
