Chapter Ten: Imagine That…

 

            *Rachel woke with a start. Someone was violently pounding on her door. Throwing on her warmest cloak, she grumbled and walked towards the door. What question could Hiiro possibly need answered this late at night?

            “Rachel, I need help.” Hiiro blurted out as soon as the old woman’s face came into view.

            “Hiiro, whatever it is can wait until…”

            “I need to get Serena pregnant!” He cried out. Rachel stopped whatever thoughts she had previously been processing and dropped her jaw.

            “You need to what?” She squeaked. In all her years, never had Hiiro ever said something so… unusual. Hell, this wasn’t unusual, it was down right abnormal.

            “May I please come in?” He sounded so desperate that she relented and opened the door and ushered him in. He groaned and collapsed into one of the cushioned chairs at the foot of her bed.

            “Now what’s this all about?” She asked him, settling down next to him.

            “Benedict brought something about my father’s will to my attention this evening. I need to produce an heir by the end of this year, or I forfeit my inheritance and title. The worst part is, Benedict will inherit everything after I lose it. And when I say inherit everything, I mean everything; the citadel, land, Serena’s dowry, and Serena herself. Our marriage will be annulled and she will have to marry him instead.” Hiiro hung his head and hid his face in his hands.

            “In other words, you’re asking me to help you get Serena pregnant?” Rachel tried to clarify. “I think only you can do that. I have had this talk with you before, haven’t I?” She said, smirking slightly, but truly concerned about the situation. Having Benedict in charge would destroy the fief.

            “Rachel.” Hiiro said in a warning tone. “ What I’m asking you to do is help me. I went to see her tonight.” He paused. Rachel waited, but when it was obvious he wasn’t going to continue, she got nervous. What fight had they had now?

            “Go on Hiiro. What happened tonight when you went to see her?”

            “I was intent on having my way with her.” Hiiro stated.

            “You didn’t!” Rachel gasped in horror that her son, her boy, would do such a thing. Where had his morals gone? His conscience?

            “No, I didn’t. I intended to, but I couldn’t. She was asleep by her window with a book beneath her. I picked her up and put her in bed. Then I just, left. That was it. What do I do? Rachel. I need an heir. She’s my wife. But she hates me. And I’m not man enough to just do the job! Help me!” He begged her.

            “You couldn’t just ‘take’ her like you had planned? I have to say, though I’m not proud of you thinking like that, I’m surprised you couldn’t follow through with it.” She frowned.

            “I know. I know. Why not?”

            “Well now. Perhaps it’s the same reason you hugged her after you returned from your battles. Or the same reason you fight with her.” Rachel replied slyly.

            “Oh, you think? And what reason would that be?” Hiiro narrowed his eyes. What was she implying?

            “Because you, at some basic level, care for her.”

            “No. I care nothing for her.” He adamantly refused.

            “Of course.” She answered cryptically.

            “Well then old woman. What advice can you give me on this situation?” He asked again.

            “Hiiro. The best thing you can do is simply tell her your problem.” Rachel informed him.

            “She hates me. She would never…”

            “She would. If she knew the full story.”

            “Can’t I just, I don’t know. Win her heart and then do it?” He sighed.

            “You could. But she hates you, and, as I recall, you don’t like her much yourself. Besides. If she found out that you were simply leading her on to save your fief, she would be heart broken.”

            “What does that matter to me?” Hiiro sneered.

            “Hiiro Yui!” Rachel scolded. “How dare you make a mockery of a woman’s heart and soul. Serena acts tough. She can wield a sword. She can run up and down your fields. She can ride horses and swim.  But Hiiro, have you ever taken the time to note her actions? She can only run in short bursts. She can only swim so far before she’s tired, even after trying for an entire summer to get better. Her heart, physically, is not the strongest. She would not be able to handle such a blow emotionally. It would backlash and effect her physically.”

            “Her heart is weak?” Hiiro asked, looking up.

            “Yes Hiiro. Did you truly not notice?” Rachel asked surprised.

            “I have been gone.” He tried to make excuses.

            “Even still. You usually notice those things. She did faint while you were straight in front of her. Now what are you going to do about your need for a heir?” She asked him, bringing them back to their original topic of conversation.

            “With this new information, I have no choice. I can’t lead her on, and she would be too weak in the heart to just…”

            “Stop right there. Did I say she was incapable of functioning on a normal scale? Hiiro. Look at what she does. You’ve seen her running. She is perfectly healthy. Just slightly weaker than most. Don’t go treating her with pity for something she needs none for.”

            “Well. I still can’t just have my way with her. I suppose my only choice is to ask her.”

            “And be sure to explain the importance to her. She will understand.”

            “I hope you’re right.”

            “I am. Now it’s time for all little boys to be in bed.” Rachel smirked.

            “Yes Rachel.” Hiiro stood and gave her a quick nod, then tuned and left the room.

>>>)(<<<

The next morning Serena left her room and made a beeline for the kitchens. She was starved. When she arrived she found a few of the serfs were sitting around and eating their breakfast. She grabbed some of the porridge and joined them at the table.

            “Good morning.” She greeted everyone. Mumbles and mutters of replies followed her comment. Most people were not morning people. Well, no matter. It never hurt to be nice, even to grumpy morning people.

            “Lady Serena. Why do you feast with the serfs? Come to the main dining hall and dine with me.” Benedict came up from behind her.

            “Good morning monk Benedict. I’m sorry, but I would prefer to stay in here.”

            “In here with the dogs of the earth?” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

            “Yes. As a matter of fact. I like how I can see their faces. In that dining hall I can’t see anything. The table is too large, the people too many, the noise too loud.”

            “But my dear.” He leaned over from behind her and ran his hands up and down her bare arms. Whispering in her ear, he made sure she couldn’t escape his grasp. “You don’t belong in here with these people. You belong with more sophisticated, more powerful people of your own class.”

            “And that is precisely why I am here in the first place.” She answered. He stood, appalled by her decision.

            “Just wait. One way or another you will come to me. Just wait.”

            “I’m monk Benedict. I think not. Have you not noticed I’m married? Or that you are a monk?”

            “I’ve noticed both. Have you noticed how to most others both those things make no difference?” He replied snarling.

            “Yes. But, sir monk, I believe you have failed to notice something else. I am not other people, and those things make a big difference to me.” With that she stood and left the room. Walking quickly down the hall, she failed to notice the figure coming her way. The collision occurred and with a heavy sigh, Serena fell to the floor. Sitting up slowly, she laughed heartily and smiled.

            “I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t see you!”

            “My fault. Allow me to, um, help you up.” Hiiro grunted. Just what he had needed. To see the woman he needed to… uh… why him? This was cruel and unusual punishment for a crime he never committed, adding this rotten trick to the will. He bent over and made a grab for Serena’s hand. Unfortunately, he grabbed her injured hand, and when he tugged she yelped in pain. Drawing her hand back, she smiled, if painfully, and offered him her other hand.

            “Sorry. I forgot I was injured.”

            “You should take care to remember next time.”

            “Well, you could have said something. But, then, why would you possibly notice anything about me, your wife?” She huffed. Now she was in a poor mood. Her hand burned and ached with a horrible pain.

            “Excuse me. I’m sorry, I should have noticed.” He said graciously, not wanting to upset her before he, er, spoke to her about certain issues. Serena looked up. Was this her husband? The inconsiderate man who had deemed her useless, lazy, and unworthy? He was in a strange mood if he was apologizing for a change. Well. One good turn deserves another.

            “That’s fine, thank you Lord Hiiro. Were you going to breakfast?”

            “Yes.”

            “Then I suppose I should warn you. I know how you love the monk Benedict, so I believe it will be helpful to tell you he is currently in the main dining hall. I suggest eating with the serfs.” She told him, being sarcastic about his love for Benedict. She knew he despised the monk. Why, she was not sure. But she knew he bothered him .

            “Thank you. Perhaps I will visit the fields first instead.” Hiiro thought aloud. It had been nice of her to warn him about the sneaky monk. Benedict… the will… damn. No matter what he thought of, he couldn’t forget the problem with the will. Well, it was better to get things over with quickly.

            “Serena. I would like to speak to you about something rather important.” He began. She looked at him curiously.

            “Alright. Speak then. What weighs on your mind?” She asked politely.

            “Benedict brought something to my attention last night.”

            “Yes?” She implored him to continue.

            “It was about my father’s will…” just then four small girls came running through the halls. They ran wildly up and down the corridor, laughing and screaming to their heart’s delight. When they saw Serena, they cried out her name.

            “Serena!”  She smiled apologetically to Hiiro and knelt to speak to the children.

            “Yes?” She asked them, her eyes sparkling with as much excitement as theirs were.

            “We picked you some wild flowers! Here.” One of the younger children offered the colored plants to Serena.

            “Oh they’re lovely! Thank you!” She cried, smelling them instantly. “And they smell so good!”

            “You’re welcome!” The girls ran off again.

            “Smell them Hiiro! Don’t they remind you of spring?” Serena pushed the flowers under Hiiro’s nose, forcing him to inhale the heavily perfumed fragrance deeply. Looking at her, with the flowers and her eyes sparkling as they were, Hiiro blushed and backed away.

            “I should leave.” He explained darkly.

            “Oh, but you were going to tell me something?” She asked him, slightly depressed he was going to leave her. She, as strange as it seemed, enjoyed his company. But she had made him blush, she had seen that! Maybe she was getting better. And look! He was blushing deeper still now!

            “Never mind, I shall consult with you over the matter later.” He couldn’t help it. He knew his face was red with embarrassment, but he couldn’t do anything to stop it. With Serena around, it came too naturally.

            “Very well. Good day Hiiro! I’ll see you later!”

            Te sun was at its midpoint in the sky. It was another hot, sticky summer day. Hiiro had been working all day hard and long. He himself was helping with the weeding in the mornings, and in the afternoon he was breaking in his newest horse. Serena had begun to break in the horse while he had been gone away, for which he was grateful. The horse was very temperamental, and he couldn’t understand how Serena had been able to get as far with it as she did. From what Carl had informed him, she had also been swimming everyday, trying to improve her endurance. And she had helped keep the crows and vermin out of the crop, since they wouldn’t allow her to weed. In all, Hiiro was quite surprised at Serena’s accomplishments. Still…

            Serena walked out in the warm sun towards the figure on horseback. She noticed he was on the horse she had nicknamed Sweetheart. It was good that he had been able to sit in Sweetheart- he had bucked all other riders besides herself before. At least Hiiro looked well settled.

            “Lord Hiiro!” She called. He wheeled his horse around to face her and looked down. Hiiro saw Serena coming closer to him, a basket in hand.

            “You should be inside.” He frowned at her as she walked up.

            “Yes, yes.” She brushed him off easily. “I thought that since you missed you breakfast you might care for something. I brought you some bread and cheese, along with some water and a little milk. The milk was my idea.” She smiled at him. Hiiro looked down stunned. Why had she bothered to bring him food? He hadn’t requested it, nor had he even thought of it. She was incredibly thoughtful when she liked someone, he realized.

            “Thank you.” He replied. Then he thought again about the will. Now would be a good time to tell her. “Serena, may I speak with you?”

            “Of course. On the same issue as you wished to speak with me about before?” She asked.

            “Yes. Last night Benedict brought to my attention a portion of my father’s will that I had…”

            “Hiiro, watch out!” Serena cried out. A cat being chased by a dog ran straight in-between them, and the horse Hiiro had been sitting on bucked. Rearing up, it went out of control. Hiiro managed to grab the reins, but not before he had almost been thrown off the horse. Serena had stepped back when the horse reared, moving away until Hiiro had the horse under control. When hr dismounted, she ran up to him.

            “Are you alright?” She asked quickly, full of concern. Hiiro stood in a daze.

            “Yes. What happened? Did you see?” He asked her, still unsure.

            “The horse saw the dog chasing the cat, and spooked. That’s all.”

            “It’s a skittish horse.” He muttered to himself.

            “No, just surprised.”

            “I can’t have a horse that surprises like that. A rider could fall and get hurt. Best to put it out of it’s misery…” He mussed.

            “No!” Serena cried.

            “No?”

            “No. Sweetheart isn’t dangerous. Give him another chance.” She pleaded. Hiiro’s eyebrows went up.

            “Sweetheart?” She blushed.

            “While you were gone I gave him a nickname. He’s really not a bad horse. He’s just misunderstood.”

            “A horse can be misunderstood?”

            “Of course! Just as a person can. I used to think I would have to marry an old, wicked man. You are certainly not old, nor are you completely evil. Though you do have your moments…just as any horse does.”

            “Woman, you compare me to a horse?” He asked, hiding his amusement.

            “No! I didn’t mean that, I mean, yes I did, I mean, oh…” She stopped, frustrated. She pushed back the blonde bangs that her falling into her eyes. Hiiro reached out and grabbed her hand, placing it gently down and away from her face.

            “I know what you meant. If you like this horse as much as you show, keep him. But you train him. And please, name him something else.” Hiiro told her. Her eyes widened.

            “Really? I can keep him?”

            “I’d only kill him. Keep him. Your horse, your chores.”

            “Oh thank you! Thank you thank you!” She cried out, hugging him tightly. Hiiro slightly hugged back, then pulled away.

            “Oh, I’m sorry Hiiro. You wanted to ask me something?” She asked him, a grin still lingering upon her happy features. Hiiro blushed. He couldn’t tell her now. Damn. Why was this so hard?

            “Never you mind. Later perhaps.” He told her. “Take your horse back to the stables and send Carl out with a new one for me.”

            “Of course. And thank you!”

>>>)(<<<

            Hiiro dragged his tired body into the citadel. It was late, and the sun had set hours ago. Raccoons had been in the corn and wheat, so he had had to stay out until the serfs had come out to relieve him from ‘guard’ duty. He strolled leisurely into the inner courtyard, went straight past his room, and began to climb the stairs to the tower where the blue room was located. As he reached the door, he heard no noise. Rachel and Molly were not inside, nor was anyone outside. Rachel’s doing, no doubt. Knocking, he heard a sight rustling.

            “Come in.” A voice called. Hiiro entered and allowed his wandering eyes to fall upon Serena’s petite form. She was sitting near the window once more, pouring over a book.

            “You like that seat?” He asked nervously.

            “Yes. It always invigorates me. To look out and see the stars in the sky. It reminds me that we are not alone in the universe, and puts things, mainly life, into perspective. Our selves, independently are of no importance in the greater scheme of life. However, together, as a whole, humanity will be incredibly important in the history of this world- I can tell.”

            “Serena. I need to ask you something.” He began again, praying he wasn’t interrupted.

            “Ask, and I shall do best to answer.” She smiled cheerfully.

            “Serena, Benedict brought to my attention a portion of my father’s will in which I was not aware of. The will reads as this: ‘My son shall inherit my title, my land, my money, and all personal effects; as long as he has married the daughter of the fief Walden. If he has not married her and produced an heir by the end of the first year, I transfer all of my belongings to the clergyman monk Benedict, including Hiiro’s new wife and her dowry.’. Do you understand what I am asking?” Serena gave him a blank glance.

            “We are married Hiiro. What worries you?”

            “Yes, we are married. But listen to the words: ‘If he has not married her and produced an heir by the end of the first year, I transfer all of my belongings to the clergyman monk Benedict, including Hiiro’s new wife and her dowry.’ In other words, I need you to give me an heir.” He gulped. She gave a strangled laugh.

            “I’m sorry, you what?”

            “I need you to produce a child for me.”

            “Say it one more time.”

            “I need to get you pregnant!” He screamed, face red with embarrassment. She stood. And stood. And stood.*