Heschburg

The carriage ride had been rough for her, not because the carriage wasn't comfortable but because the rocking didn't help with the sickness she usually felt in the first stages of pregnancy. She hadn't had a chance to voice her discovery yet, but she was sure another child would be on the way and further solidify the bloodline. As they approached the edifice, she took the time to look outside and admire, even as another wave of nausea passed through her.

When he called into the carriage, she looked at him with an exhausted peer, her face pale and damp with sweat. "It's beautiful," she said honestly.

"Papa! Are we dere yet, papa?!" called their daughter, while their son slept peacefully in his basket on the floor.

The nausea seemed to pass with Cerri pressing a hanky to her lips. Just a little bit further, right?

She nodded and let him help her onto the horse. Cerri gave him a wan smile before situating herself sideways and letting her new gown drape over her legs. "This is exciting," she murmured and looked ahead, somewhat nervous to be in front of the crowd, but knowing it was her duty to ride with Adrian.

When they began to ride, she leaned against her husband for support, but lifted her chin with as much dignity as she could muster, given the circumstances. She lifted one hand to wave at people, children especially, as the new lady of a manor was supposed to do.

"Adrian," she said over the sound of the crowd, "I've discovered that I am carrying again. Perhaps you ought to tell everyone there is another heir on the way." This was said for his ears only.

She smiled brightly to the cheering, then laughed softly as he bussed her cheek. Hansel most certainly did wake from his nap, but thankfully the nursemaid attending the children had a handle on the situation.

The crowd overwhelmed Cerri; she wasn't sure she remembered a time when there was a crowd such as this, cheering as they were now. Her eyes glittered and she turned her head to look at him with such adoration in her gaze, a smile that said it all. Her cheeks reddened at his words a little, and she shouted, "I love you too!" Her hand found his and squeezed.

"Welcome home, my lord," she said over the noise of the crowd, then gave him a quick kiss on the lips, which gained the approval of the crowd. There would certainly be some celebrating to do as the day progressed, and as the new lady of the castle, she would make sure to arrange for a feast after she met the staff. She had been training her whole life for a moment like that.

Or perhaps they had already prepared a feast in expectation of their arrival. Either way, she knew there would be food and drink and merrymaking to be had.

She was disappointed to learn that there would be no meal with which to celebrate their return… It wasn’t just that, it was the unity a feast brought to people. She would have to arrange for one soon enough. For now, she would have to be content with a private meal with Adrian.

It was evident to her that it would not be easy as the lady of the keep when there was much to do to bring the household back to order after the war ravaged the castle.

Cerri was helped off the horse and she would carry Hansel because it was better for her to do it than the nursemaid who followed behind with hands clasped respectfully. As they entered the hall, Cerri looked around, feeling a little depressed at what she saw but hopeful that she could bring the splendor back, not only with tapestries and other such things, but with the laughter of her people.

When spoken to by the man who brought her parents up, she gave a nod and said a quiet, “Thank you,” before averting her gaze, as it was still a sore topic even though it had been some years since the deaths of her parents. Then she looked up again at his net question. “Aye, sir… We are all in good health.” She made a point to smile and rest one hand on her still flat belly to indicate the third child, casting a tender expression toward her husband.

Then it was time to address the woman who was brought to her attention, “What is your name, madam, if you please?” She handed Hansel off to the nursemaid, and then assuming there was an answer, she would go on to repeat her name and go into a conversation about what was needed.

“I would like to tour my new home, but it will have to wait until the morrow. In the meantime, please summon a servant to prepare a bath for the children, a light supper, and then clean beds for both of them, if not in the designated nursery, then a guest bedroom until the nursery is suitable. Then, too, my husband is in need of a bath in the Lord’s chamber, Please summon your best manservant to act as valet for his Lordship. I will need a suitable ladies maid as well. As I will be sleeping with my husband, you needn’t have my chamber prepared right away…” She kept her tone soft and gentle, but firm enough to mean business as a lady should. “As far as the Lord’s chamber, please have someone see to changing the linens if they have not been kept fresh in wait. Do not worry yet about any accumulated dust and grime, it will get addressed soon enough.” She knew it sounded like a long list, but it was necessary to list the things.

“It is good to have you, then, as you seem to know what to do,” she complimented with a smile as they made their way away from the men and toward the kitchen. She gazed about as they walked, taking note of the state of things on their way. She nodded in satisfaction at the sight of the kitchen staff and said, “This is a promising start, seeing all these girls. We’re likely to be busy, every one of us, making this castle a home again.”

She smiled at the brown eyed girl that Heidi brought in and gave a gracious nod. “The children can share a bath for now if that will make things easier, and I will bathe after his Lordship, so there will be only two baths to draw and not four. I know how hard the work is to get the water,” after living in the humble abode before, she knew how hard all of the work was and was hesitant to ask for anything she damn well pleased.

When asked if there was anything else she needed, she turned back to Heidi and said, “Ah, yes, a meal for both of us. It really has been a long and tiresome journey but well worth it to see the beauty of this castle. I nearly forgot. Thank you.”

Much later that day, after a bath and a meal and everyone was settled, she awoke from a long nap that had been inevitable after such a journey. She, having gotten used to dressing herself in the time spent elsewhere, dressed herself and left the bedchamber to explore. She found the nursery where the children were and peeked her head in a little, smiling at the sight of Terra playing with the old rag doll that she had grown fond of, and Hansel on the floor on his belly with the nursemaid, Greta playing peek-a-boo with him. His giggles boosted her spirits.

She backed out of the doorway and then explored further.

Suddenly, there he was. She nearly jumped out of her skin, but relaxed as soon as his scent hit her. She smiled at him and said, "Aye, my love. You have been detained for quite some time. I've already bathed and had a nap." She chuckled and then the chuckle turned into a soft giggle as he pilled her to him. She wrapped her arms about his neck and said, "But I will be glad to attend to your bath, darling mine." She moved a hand to touch his face.

"I am glad you are happy to be home. I just hope I can help to bring it back to it's former splendor." In truth, she couldn't wait to make her mark on the place she now called home. With her being pregnant, she would want to nest. "The children are being well cared for. I was worried about letting someone else care for them, but Greta is a good girl." She sighed and let her hand fall, but did not pull away from his embrace. "I must admit, being alone with you is quite appealing. What say we get you cleaned up and fed, husband?"

"I will do my best. I have a lot of work to put in. I tour the castle tomorrow. We'll need to hire extra people for a time to clean, and I would like to foster some young ladies who would do well to help make tapestries and the like to cover the walls... Ahh, so much to do." She paused as they walked together toward his chamber. "I have already talked to the lasses in the kitchen about preparing a feast in the next fortnight. It is important for the morale of our people that we show a united front." She paused again as they moved into the chamber.

She closed the door behind them and moved to attend her husband in his bath. She moved to kneel beside the tub and set her chin on her arm. "Indeed, it's been a while since you have been spoiled. Enjoy it, my love."

“I don’t see why we couldn’t. It is, after all, a good story to tell and learn from,” she said in reply. “I think it is a grand idea, my love,” she added and smoothed her calloused hands over her fine skirt, feeling out of place in the finery after not having it for a few years. She settled down on a stool next to the tub and settled her arms on the side, resting her chin on those as she gazed at his face. “I don’t think I shall ever get used to a place like this after we made a home elsewhere. But… I know what needs to be done, and there is much work to do to make it so.” She smiled.

“I will have to see what is in the larder. We might have to send some men out on a hunt to fill the larder again if it is anything like the rest of the castle. It should be done in any case to make sure our men are well fed.” She paused and sat up, relinquishing the sponge from him after a time and moving to kneel behind the tub to wash his back. “In any case, we will set things aright.” She scrubbed, not hard, at his back in circular motions.

"I am sorry about the loss of the butcher. Perhaps we can find someone to fill his shoes."

"It is quite lovely here," she said as she paused in scrubbing his back. She gazed thoughtfully at him and then said, "I am just happy we don't have to run or hide anymore, that is the main thing. Our children will have plenty of room to grow and play here. I just never imagined it would be so grand as this." She moved around to the side of the tub again when she was through sponging his back. "I have asked for a valet to be assigned to you, you could use a hair cut after all of this." She chuckled and her eyes danced in merriment.

"I will most certainly look today at the larder when I talk to the girls about supper. I need to know what is on hand in any case." She went for the ewer of water so she could wash his hair for him, then whenever he was ready, she slowly poured the warm water over his head, just enough to wet his hair, took the soap and lathered it up. It was some masculine smelling stuff, probably sandalwood if her nostrils didn't betray her.

"I will make sure there is apple pie, my love. I think a hearty stew would do the trick for a day like today." She continued to massage his scalp with her fingers, rubbing the soap in behind his ears, etc. She knew it probably felt nice because she used to get the same treatment before everything happened. "I, for one, want pickles, but that is probably the child speaking to me." She chuckled.