Chapter 204

"What should we name him?"

"It's going to be a him?" Bastian asked, cradling his wife as they relaxed in their bed. It was early morning, the clouds allowing some light to glow through the lightly falling rain.

She hummed, "I don't know. I would like boy."

He let out an abrupt chuckle, "Why?" It had only been a month since they'd discovered that Hydrangea was pregnant, and the symptoms of it had only become more evident. She would gag if he didn't clean himself before entering their cabin. And her food opinions were becoming limited and… odd.

To be frank, his wife was becoming a lovable nightmare. Loveable, because whenever something upset she dissolved into a puddle of tears. Her sensitivity was frustrating, but he found that she just became so adorable… sometimes.

"Boys are such adorable creatures, Bastian. So sweet." She explained, her eyes glowing as she clutched his arm. He looked down at her with a brow raised. She giggled and swatted at his arm, "I mean it. Girls can be sweet too, but little boys with their adorable chubby cheeks and roly polyiness. And… oh, I just can't explain it. You'll have to see it for yourself when we have a boy."

He chuckled and looked at the brown blanket laying across their legs. "And what if we had a girl?" The idea was far more appealing to him.

She pursed her lips, the glint still residing in her eyes, "Then we'd have a girl. Would you like a girl?" She asked, turning her gaze to him.

His eyes darted for a moment, before clearing his throat with a poorly hidden gulp, "Yes. But I'm sure I'd be happy with a son."

Her expression dimmed to a quiet happiness, "Why don't you want a son?" She snuggled closer to him, relief growing in him at the relaxation in her tone.

"I want a son, trust me." He replied, not intending for defensiveness to leak into his voice, "I'm just not sure I'd raise a good one." He muttered.

He looked down at her when a light giggle trilled from her lips, "Don't you worry a thing about that, Bastian. I'll be right by your side. Our child will be raised well."

His lips twitched as a small smile attempted to surface on his lips. "I should probably be up."

She nodded with an inaudible sigh, "Alright."

"I'll be back to bring you lunch." Probably, he added. He had accidentally forgotten her lunch a few times in the past weeks. She pouted over-exaggeratingly and he pulled her into a tight hug, "I won't forget," He kissed her gently, "I promise."

She shrugged him off, sated, "Alright. I will be reading."

He nodded and gave her one last kiss, "Love you."

She smiled, "Love you too."

He left their cabin and his expression dimmed as soon as his feet stepped onto the deck. The winds were becoming violent and the sky darkening dangerously. Any second now the rain would be pelting them.

Striding up to the helm he saw Hugh making calculations. "How long do you think we have?" He said, raising his voice above the winds.

He glanced away from his instruments, wiping the rain from his brow, "It could break any moment, Captain."

Bastian nodded, taking a deep breath to brace himself for the storm.

Gripping the rails he glanced away as another wave crashed over the bow. "Mr. Clide!"

The young man rushed through the rain and to where Bastian stood on the stairs.

"Yes, captain." He tells over the storm.

"Find Miss Aidana and tell that I want her to watch over my wife. And to bring her food." He added hurriedly.

"Aye, captain." The young man rushed off and Bastian could only hope that his wife wasn't as scared as he thought she would be.

~~~~~~~~~

Hydrangea jumped at the sound of another loud creak and the rush of footsteps overhead.

It was all she could do to sit still and focus on the words on the page. Every time Bastian came to mind—battling the storm and the waves—her heart pounded with anxiety so fierce she became nauseous.

Feeling desperate, she sent a silent prayer to Samadur and Ratri-kar. When she reopened her eyes to resume her reading she blinked rapidly at her drooping lids. Her breath caught as she tried to catch more and stay awake, but it was for naught, and the drowsiness soon took her.

"Why do you fear, Hydrangea?"

She blinked awake to the unknown voice. Soothing bright light encompassed her no matter which way she turned. She sat there, in the tranquil whiteness and felt her racing heart slow to a healthy, steady pace.

"Why do you fear?"

She turned her head back and forth, trying to pinpoint the origin of the voice.

"Hydrangea."

She stopped and sucked in a breath at the powerful voice. Her eyes darted in a short burst of panic when it dawned on her who it might be.

"Do not fear the sea, Hydrangea. For I am the sea, and though the storms are rough, I will guide you through them."

The light calmed her and she inhaled a slow breath. His words circled through her head.

"Tell your husband that he needs to trust the storm—I will protect him."

The light faded and she caught a glimpse of a kind face with old eyes set in near pitch black skin.

She jumped awake. "Your majesty, I'm sorry. The old Sovereign…"

Hydrangea didn't pay attention to Aidana's words as she sped to find boots.

"Your majesty?" The woman asked warily.

"I need to find Bastian." Hydrangea stated when she saw that Aidana was about to press in her questioning.

"Al-alright. But I don't think it's safe for you up there."

Hydrangea nodded as she shoved on a coat roughly as the vision swam through her head. "I know. I'll be fine, no reason to fear." She tried to smile but still felt uneasiness course through her veins.

Aidana nodded slowly and Hydrangea turned on her heel before she could see the confused features of the spy.

She grasped the side of the hall as the ship tilted lethally. Closing her eyes, she managed to stave off a wave of nausea before she kicked off and pushed forward to where she knew Bastian was.

"Miss!" "It's dangerous up here, miss." "We'll never make it! The seas are too rough!"

She glanced up upon hearing the familiar voice of Bastian. He was yelling orders to battle the storm from the helm, Hugh relaying them to the crew as they scrambled about the absolutely chaotic mess of a deck.

It was slick with rain and perhaps other substances she couldn't name. Feet slammed into it as they ran across to fulfill orders and secure ropes. A rope was tied to each of their waists which caused her to think that she may need one. But she shook it off, saying that she only needed to tell Bastian about Samadur's words.

Being in this weather was likely not healthy for her baby. Her hand unconsciously slid up to her slowly hardening plane of stomach, fear clouding her mind as she marched towards Bastian.

"Bastian!" She yelled and he looked to her, his face paling.

"Hydrangea! What are you doing up here?!" He sprinted down the stairs and grabbed her shoulders, almost harshly.

Anger and fear swirled in his eyes and she dared to meet them. "The seas are not our enemy!"