Chapter 26 - A cry in the night

It felt so strange to change for the third time in one day after not changing at all for so long, but I enjoyed the possibilities for it, and I hoped that it would give a good impression towards my new family. I was a bit less worried than before the first time I saw them when I stood again in front of the closed door towards the dining room, but I hesitated again this time however because I could clearly hear the high-pitched voices of two young girls crying. I carefully peeked in worry of another plate flying but all I could see was Madiha in tears crying in her mother's arms. She was protesting about something but the emotion drowned out the words so nobody could understand what was wrong.

Sabiha was on the opposite side of the table securely in Neile's arms her face was wet from silent tears most likely because of the loud cries of her sister. Gabrielle who was standing behind Suha gently hugging both her and Sabiha from behind noticed me first and motioned gently for me to steep closer. When I was half way around the table Madiha spotted me and made a grabbing motions towards me while her wailing died down a little. "Is ... I mean what is wrong?" I asked carefully. As soon as she could Madiha grabbed my shirt tightly and she looked at me with wet hurt eyes, her lips quivering and her voice full of sadness before burring herself into her mothers shirt. Her eyes had been red from crying so much and her nose running but now safe between us two she seemed to finally calm down while keeping Suha and me tightly in her grip.

The mother gave me a short undefined smirk before answering quietly without any accusation in her voice. "It was a long and exiting day for her and she was worried that her miss kitty would not come back." Gabrielle stood up and gently motioned me to sit at her spot next to Suha. I gently started to caress the back of the now quite child who kept my shirt tightly in her grip. I felt mighty confused why she was so attached to me after such a short time, but then shrugged internally maybe my lovely wife could tell me later. On the opposite side of the table Sabiha now had calmed down as well. I smiled and did give her a little wave. Which earned me a little tiny wave and a soft smile back. It seems that the main reason why she had cried was that her sister was crying.

Neile moved her gently on her lap so she could eat like that, while Gabrielle took the seat that I had earlier today and said with open arms. "Well lets dig in." I chuckled and looked at what was offered. It was mainly some white bread and cold but delicious components to put on top or some salads and similar things. The evening meal turned into a way more relaxed affair. Lizbeth told everybody about what she had learned today from her book, she was first shy and quite but once we showed some interest she spoke up with more confident. It was a report of a lone traveler and spoke about a long journey west. It was mostly Neile who encouraged her with some short teasing but gentle comments until she had given us a complete summery of the book. My youngest wife did show her gentle side during this meal wile listening to Lizbeth and patiently helping the more and more sleepy Sabiha on her lap.

Meanwhile the youngest had fallen asleep in her mothers arms her one hand still clinging to my shirt blocking one of my arms. Because of that I made myself a bowl of the meat salad that was on offer using the bread just to scoop it out. At first nobody did notice it but then Suha did raise her eyebrow towards me. The specific kind of look that tells you, you are doing something wrong, think quickly before I need to explain what it is. A shiver did run over my spine and took one of the two-pronged forks instead that was near my plate and used that just ripping the soft bread in small pieces and eating it together with the salad. She silently nodded to me letting me know that I did the right choice and focused back to Lizbeth's story.

After a while Suha gently freed the tight grip that the youngest had on me and placed her carefully in a more comfortable position on her lap. Viola who, as before, had not said much over the whole evening watched this with a soft smile before opening her arms and gently offering to Suha to take her for now. Her voice was quite and soft spoken as always but I did hear a happy undertone. She carefully placed the sleeping one against her allowing the mother a moment of rest and relaxation during the meal. Gabrielle meanwhile kept herself busy with chatting with Lizbeth and preparing some slices for Neile and Sabiha. Both of them seemed to enjoy it and after seeing the artful way she prepared them I understood why.

The rest of the evening meal was filled with idle gentle chatter between the family and me, although I kept mostly quiet and just enjoyed eating in the present of this family. Neile and Sabi where the fist to finish. They neatly arranged the dirty plates In front of them before Neile stood up gently carrying little Sabi in her arms. "I will take my leave now and bring my plunder to bed." She said with a soft smile and a small series of giggles coming from the little girl. It was Gabrielle who nodded it off and they earned a series of good night.

Viola stood up shortly after that as well saying good night and carrying the other sleeping girl with her. Most likely to tuck her in too. Lizbeth decided that she was done too following viola leaving suddenly only me and the two older ones. "Sooo ... um why was Madi crying so much earlier?" Suha smirked then shrugged. "As I said it was a long day for her. She was expecting for you to be here waiting with open arms and like most of her age she has no concept of later. So when she didn't see you right then she got a bit upset as you saw." I smiled and nodded. "Well I am glad that she calmed down so quickly. Could I have done something different?" She shook her head her eyes piercing me for a moment before standing up. "You did all right today. However I will need to retire for now as well and look if my two little ones need anything." She looked at me again and smiled softly. "Have a good night and till tomorrow ... dear duke." She nodded to us and walked out after we said our short "Good night."

Gabrielle stood up as well gave me a gentle pad on the shoulder. "I will read a bit more in the office, but I suggest that you turn in for an early night my duke. You will have a busy day tomorrow." I nodded to her then stood up as well. There really was not much to do tonight anyway. So, I went up to the duke's private chambers ... which were now my private chambers and sat down behind the heavy desk in the offices. After a short search I found a untouched notebook ... a whole stack of them. All of them neatly bound in green leather with soft but not too thin paper. Next to them was an expansive looking inkstone, two inksticks and a small collection of quills. Next to them was a set of brushes neatly arranged in an open box. I only recognized all of that because Marie had told me everything, she knew about those when I was still in the cell. I carefully used the inkstick on the stone and then started to work on what to say tomorrow to the slaves.

I worked on it for a while. Outside of the window the evening noises of birds and insects died down to be replaced to the more muted noises of the night. I finished the points that I wanted to talk about and for the first time since I was freed, I decided to go to bed before I was dead tired. I cleaned up the writing tools before putting on my night grown and put away the daily gab in had used in the basket next to my bed. The soft fluffy blanket and mattress lured me in, but I still had trouble to fall asleep. It took me a while watching the dark star filled night outside before sleep did finally embrace me.

....

It felt like only a few short seconds had passed when I woke up again. I could hear the echo of my scream still lingering in the room. Ina was next to my bed her face white as a sheath her hand stretched out apparently just about to try to wake me up. Eva was at the door speaking to someone in muffled tones while blocking the view with her body. "A...are you alright milady?" Ina asked carefully. I tried to calm my pounding heart while I still had the fog of my nightmare hunting me. The part that I remembered after waking up was me being back in prison. And this time without Johanna and Marie as safety net because they and my new family where all imprisoned as well. It all felt so real in that moment especially the locking of the heavy doors. I shook my head slightly closing my eyes and crossing my arms only to realized that my whole body was covered in sweat. Apparently, the nightmare had been going on for a while, but the images were fading now thankfully.

"I ... I am sorry for disturbing you milady but we ..." I waved her off and shook my head slowly calming my beating heart. "It is ok ... I am sorry for making you worry." She shook her head she herself had calmed down as well and Eva steeped up to the bed giving me a soft towel. "If you wish milady, I can bring you something relaxing." Her voice was calm and gentle, not judging or off put by having to deal with this. "That ... that would be nice ... thank you." She bowed and went back out of the door they both had come in from. I buried my face in the towel trying to calm my beating heart while breathing in the soft fragrant of the clean towel. When I looked up again a few moments later I noticed that Ina was still standing next to me, a bit lost and clearly uncertain what to do. It was a bit awkward to be spotted in this position but at the same time not being alone right now was calming and helpful.

"Sorry about that. Did you two had to wait awake outside of my room?" I asked curious with a slightly shaky voice. I remember she had told me something about that but being woken by a nightmare made it hard to really remember everything. She shook her head. "No milady. Only I was awake, Eva was sleeping, and I soon was going to wake her up for her turn. I ... I was reading a book when I heard you milady. I am sorry, you sounded stressful and ... and I woke Eva and she told me to go ahead and try and wake you. I ... I hope that was ok?" I closed my eyes again I finally could feel my heartbeat going down and nodded. "If I have a nightmare like this ... I would prefer to be woken up early instead of having suffering through it." I said with a slight chuckle.

I took a long relaxing breath trying to forget the images of seeing my wife's and friends in chain. It was mostly raw emotions, but the image was so clear and painful. I shook my head slightly. "You did nothing wrong deary. Thank you for checking on me." Eva steeped in carrying a tray with a cup and a small plate with cookies next to it. She carefully placed a ornamented wooden stands beneath the tray and placed it next to me on the giant bed. "Thank you. Who did you talk to earlier?" She smiled seeming a lot more relaxed then Ina. "The royal guards heard the scream and decided that they should check. They calmed down once they noticed that nobody was dead on the bed and they could hear you talk."

She bowed gently. "I am sorry that I could not prevent them from peeking." I smiled to her. Being seen in my nightgown was nothing I was worried about. It was more embarrassing that I had woken everybody up with my scream. "It is fine, I just hope that I didn't wake the others." She shook her head. "Your friends rooms windows are on the other side of the building and the harems rooms are below the balcony. It is unlikely that they woke up from it milady. But if you wish Ina can go and check on them." I nodded and carefully took the cup. It was elegantly made like everything in the palace, but it had a tick outer wall containing the heat of the liquid inside nicely.

The liquid surprised me. I never seen something like that. It had a light brown texture and once I did hold it closer, I could smell milk from it. "What is this?" I asked carefully while taking in its sweat aroma. "Its what the old dukes mother used to drink whenever she couldn't sleep. I remembered it well and thought it could help you to relax as well, milady. It is called drinking chocolate and is imported from the south as far as I know." I took a careful sip and closed my eyes. It was extremely tasty, and I knew that I had to be careful not to drink to much of it. "Thank you ... this helps. And yes Ina if you can check if I woke up my wifes or one of the children? I would feel so guilty if that was the case." Ina smiled and bowed. "I will take a look milady if I notice anybody awake" I nodded to her then got out of the bed. "I think I will sit outside for a while to sort my thoughts sorry for waking you up in the middle of the night." Eva just shook her head with a smile. "It Is no problem milady. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

I hesitated before looking down on myself. "Would it be much work to get the warm water for a short wash?" She shook her head. "It is always available for you milady. Do you wish for me to prepare a fresh robe?". "Yes please" I looked outside into the dark and knew I won't sleep for a while now. "Do we have a blanket so I can relax on the balcony outside?" She nodded with a smiled then took out another robe and some towels for me leaving them in the bathroom before steeping out and closed the door carefully behind her carefully leaving me alone with my brooding thoughts. I visited the bathroom and cleaned myself up. Then I took the blanket and the tablet and steeped out on the balcony. It had a beautiful view over the dark inner courtyard where just a few hours ago I had taken a bath with my cute new family. It felt strange and surreal especially with parts of the nightmare still in my mind. It was mainly just raw emotions. The fear of being back in there but this time without any safety net and with the others being put into the dark deep cells that I was first in. I covered my eyes with my hand and tried to think more positive thoughts. I was out ... the one who was responsible was in there and the rules where on my side. But still in the deep lonely night it was easy to forget how my situation has changed.

I walked to the pavilion that was in the center of the large balcony. There where soft lights all around the solid balustrade. They did shine down on the floor illuminating it without shining directly into your eye. In the pavilion were two large comfortable half round benches together with two fitting tables leaving which had enough space in between the tables that someone could walk comfortably through. I sat down at the far end and looked down at the dark courtyard that we had the relaxed bath in before. From my position I could look over the wall of the yard and spot the silhouette of the park that seemed to be behind the harem area. I really should explore it at some point although it was large enough that I would need a horse or something ... and learn riding one at the same time.

I don't know how long I had started out in the dark night until I heard someone steeping on the vast balcony behind me. I turned my head slightly and noticed that it was Ina who looked worried in my direction. "Is everything ok deary?" She nodded and the worry disappeared. "It seems that only lady Gabrielle heard you milady. She said she just happen to be up and said not to worry it was barely noticeable and to get some rest if you can." She smiled carefully while I answered with a nod. "She also thanks you for checking up on them by sending me and wanted to lend you this." She gave me a small book without a title. I took it carefully and smiled tired to the young girl. "Thank you my dear."

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Omg Finally an update ^^ Sorry for it takeing so long i wont give up on it but this chapter was tricky.

I had first written out the nightmare in way more detail .. then reading it and found it just ... pointless ^^ The behavoir of the little one on the other hand flew natural. There will be a bit more explanation maybe but for now i just presentend how my newphew had reacted when he was told that i would leave for the night ^^. I love the two little ones.

About them all leaving at once just was typical memory stuff that once one person leaves the table it usually disolves quickly xD. I hope that this chapter will shine a light a bit on how nice neile can be ;) I need to reread what i have written but i am curious how you guys see the looks of my characters.

Stay healthy and till next time ;)