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XX Derynxx#403A60
Hearing Bertrand apologize to her, as if it were somehow his fault that she was alone for so long - ridiculous, the only person at fault there is Callum, much as she cares for him - has Deryn's heart sinking just a bit. But then he's speaking, stuttering, searching desperately for words that come out a jumbled mess. Bertrand cries, and another of Deryn's fears is whisked away:
The fear that he would no longer be the same Bertrand she once knew. They may be adults, now, but he is still the same awkward, empathetic boy she adored.
"You have nothing to apologize for." she says, gripping his hands tight.
"They don't expect me to be able to father any children," Bertrand tells her, "Father hasn't said as much, but I know. He... they would never blame you, you know."
Deryn has some trouble trying to imagine a King who didn't expect an Heir from his eldest son, but then, King Merle has always seemed a more involved man than her own father. At least, King Merle celebrated the days his children were born, and always seemed happy to spend time with them. Deryn can remember plenty of times as a child when the King would sneak away from duties to join one of their less tiring games. She can't even imagine her father doing the same.
The statement, coming from Bertrand, does lift a bit of the weight on Deryn's shoulders. She's not sure if she believes it- she's too pessimistic, too paranoid. But it's a start.
Right now, a start is really all they need, isn't it?
"Thank you, Bertrand. Truly."
Hearing Bertrand apologize to her, as if it were somehow his fault that she was alone for so long - ridiculous, the only person at fault there is Callum, much as she cares for him - has Deryn's heart sinking just a bit. But then he's speaking, stuttering, searching desperately for words that come out a jumbled mess. Bertrand cries, and another of Deryn's fears is whisked away:
The fear that he would no longer be the same Bertrand she once knew. They may be adults, now, but he is still the same awkward, empathetic boy she adored.
"You have nothing to apologize for." she says, gripping his hands tight.
"They don't expect me to be able to father any children," Bertrand tells her, "Father hasn't said as much, but I know. He... they would never blame you, you know."
Deryn has some trouble trying to imagine a King who didn't expect an Heir from his eldest son, but then, King Merle has always seemed a more involved man than her own father. At least, King Merle celebrated the days his children were born, and always seemed happy to spend time with them. Deryn can remember plenty of times as a child when the King would sneak away from duties to join one of their less tiring games. She can't even imagine her father doing the same.
The statement, coming from Bertrand, does lift a bit of the weight on Deryn's shoulders. She's not sure if she believes it- she's too pessimistic, too paranoid. But it's a start.
Right now, a start is really all they need, isn't it?
"Thank you, Bertrand. Truly."