Little Lady [Caitrin]

[lucan]

Little Heidi Aubert was certainly Lucan’s new found love. Perfect eyes, just like her mother’s – tiny little fingernails and a small pout upon her lips as she slept soundly. Lucan found that he just could not stop staring at her. No clues as to just how loved she was by both mother and father, nor of the world that slowly passed around her. A vulnerable child; and she was theirs. Their own daughter. Lucan certainly couldn’t have felt any more love than he did now.

Occasionally she’d make the odd movement, a small gurgle and yet did not wake. Precious moments like this were ones that would be with him forever. Watching over her, he couldn’t take the smile off his face. He wondered whether every father felt like this – a constant longing of wanting to spend every waking moment by their baby’s side.

Lucan pulled the blanket back over the small sleeping form; obviously it had slipped down earlier from where she may have kicked it or moved. A gentle tap at the door signalled that Thomas was behind him. Lucan turned to the servant who now occupied the doorway. “I’m sorry to disturb you – but Lady Caitrin had arrived…” he said, looking over at the crib apologetically as Heidi began to cry. Luc picked her up and hushed her, “It’s alright Thomas – send her in.”

With that, the servant left, leaving Lucan to calm Heidi down, clearly annoyed by the interruption to her sleep. How could she have heard that anyway? It astounded Lucan just as to how much she could sleep through and how much she couldn’t. He kissed her head gently. “Now Heidi, you’ve got to be on your best behaviour for Aunt Caitrin – I doubt she’ll be impressed”.

Eventually Heidi stopped and snuggled herself down again. “That’s better” he whispered to her, kissing her again. He would certainly be able to get used to moments like this.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin had been more than ecstatic when she had heard the news. She dismounted her horse with ease, and lifted Esmae off the saddle as well. As it was only the two of them, Caitrin had decided to ride to Allard’s estate. Esmae had enjoyed herself, and she was grinning down at her mother, and handed her the basket which Esmae had been keeping safe on the journey. The basket itself held a small blanket that Caitrin had been working on, though it was rather unisex, as though she had felt like they were expecting a girl, she had really had no idea. There was a little dress in there as well, and a soft toy, as well as a bottle of wine she had smuggled from her Uncle’s stash for the father, and mother. Esmae tried to carry the basket, but it was too heavy for her, and so Caitrin held the larger weight, and Esmae still clung onto it, trying to look like she was helping.

A servant rushed forwards to take her horse, and she smiled at him, “Can you please let Sir Lucan know that the Lady Caitrin is here?” She smiled to herself, and then down at Esmae. She fell back on her formalities too easily, but she wasn’t a noble for nothing. Caitrin was so looking forwards to meeting her little niece; they had heard word of the birth yesterday, but Caitrin had decided against calling so soon. Instead she had waited for the morning, to bring a little array of presents. Caitrin couldn’t wait to meet her, and she was sure that Lucan and Camila were already so proud of their little bundle. It made Caitrin slightly broody, but she had her children now, and Alfie was a few months old now and it had been so much easier than she had been expecting it to be.

Caitrin let Esmae carry on holding onto the basket as well, though she was still mostly holding it. As they were about to enter the room, she lowered herself to Esmae’s level, the girl was only two, and so she had to be reminded to be quiet around babies. “Now Esmae, you have to be quiet when we go in to see your baby cousin, we don’t want to scare her do we?” Esmae shook her head, and Caitrin kissed her forehead with a smile; ruffling her hair a little. “Now shhh.” She put her finger to her lip, and Esmae followed suit silently. How long that would last remained to be seen. Caitrin pushed the door open as the servant waved her in. Her eyes set upon Lucan and the little bundle in his arms almost straight away. Her heart swelled a little; she was an Aunt, and now she would get the chance to bestow the same affection that Lucan gave her children. “Oh Lucan.” She breathed, as she and Esmae moved closer towards the pair, “She’s beautiful.” Esmae was standing on her tip toes, but could not see the baby just yet. “We have this for her, well, one bit is for you and Cam.” She winked, and couldn’t help but smile madly at this new life; this new Aubert.

[lucan]

Within the couple of minutes that had gone past, Lucan had somehow forgotten that Cait was making her way to meet them. So caught up in his daughter, he almost jumped at the sound of his sister in law’s words of just how beautiful Heidi was. He turned around and smiled at her, walking over with Heidi so that Caitrin and a newly appeared Esmae could take a look at the baby.

“She is, isn’t she?” he grinned, not taking his eyes from Heidi, “She’s just….perfect.” He crouched down to Esmae’s level so as she could get a good look at Heidi. “Here you go Ezzy, This is Heidi” he introduced his niece to her new cousin. Esmae looked at the baby curiously and then to Lucan, who winked and slowly rose up to standing level again.

“Thanks for coming” he smiled at Cait; “Now…I can see you’re dying to hold her” he grinned and passed Heidi to her.

“We have this for her, well; one bit is for you and Cam.”

"I think you've got Cam's measurements wrong" He smirked as he looked at the little dress that she'd brought. "However im sure that Heidi would certainly sleep well with a little wine..." he gave Cait a kiss on her cheek, "Thankyou."

Lucan had chuckled to himself on spying the bottle, only Cait would be brave enough to steal some of a Rouland’s supply. “Come here Esmae” he held out his arms to the little girl who ran into them. He lifted her up into a cuddle. “Have you been helping your mother look after Alfie?” Esmae gave a small nod. “Now that’s what I like to hear.” He gave her a kiss and put her down again.

“How is everyone anyway?” he turned back to Caitrin, “I feel like the last week or so has gone past in a bubble”.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin was sure that her excitement at the new arrival was matched by her daughter. Esmae spent a lot of her time transfixed with her youngest brother, and she loved to watch him and play with him. Arthur did as well, but not as much as Esmae. The girl was just as transfixed with her younger cousin as she was with her brother. Caitrin only tore her eyes away from the little girl to look up at Lucan, and it was clear to see from the pride, and love in his face that this little lady was already so loved. She could see Lucan in her, and Camila, both of them just shone through this little girl. Caitrin nodded, “She is Lucan.” She knew she had to say that the little one was beautiful, and that she was perfect, but to Caitrin she spoke the truth. Heidi was such a fitting name as well for the beautiful little girl.

Lucan knew her too well, and she set down the basket in order to open her arms so that she could hold Heidi. She couldn’t deny that she was quite looking forwards to having a small cuddle with her niece. She had looked forwards to this moment since Camila had told her that she was pregnant, because she had wanted to see Lucan’s face, and for him to stop all the needless worrying that men seemed to do when their wives were pregnant. Griff had been the same, he had panicked more than she had until she had placed Esmae in his arms. Though he had still been a little nervous, she could see that he had loved all their children, and that was all she asked for. As Heidi settled in her arms, Caitrin just felt herself melt at the sight of the new arrival. “She’s just...Oh she reminds me so much of Esmae when I held her for the first time.” Caitrin brushed a finger across Heidi’s hand, and rocked her gently; keeping her warm, secure and safe.

Caitrin smirked at Lucan, as he inspected the contents of the basket. “Well, I never have been the best seamstress in Camelot have I?” She winked at him, but smiled all the same as he kissed her cheek. She loved her family when she thought on it. There wasn’t any part of it that she would change right now. “Enjoy that, before my Uncle finds out its missing.” Rouland would never hunt down a bottle, but still, she felt the jest was needed. She watched as Esmae ran to her Uncle, she trusted him utterly and completely, and Caitrin always slept well knowing that if anything happened to her and Griff, that the twins and Alfie had their extended family who loved them so much. “She has been helping me. She loves her youngest brother.” Caitrin gave a wide grin, as Lucan knew the circumstances surrounding Alfie, they always tried to speak about it as if nothing was amiss, which she appreciated. “He’s just started settling, which is more than I suppose you can say for this little one?” She asked, as she continued to rock Heidi.

She didn’t want to draw her eyes away from Heidi, but she did as Lucan spoke again, “Everyone is great. Griff will be here later, my Uncle has just kept him doing some work.” Rouland’s argument was that the baby wasn’t going to be any different if Griff visited her in the evening, and he had then pointed out that the less exposure she got to him, the better. Caitrin had only let herself laugh at that when Griff had left the room. “Arthur and Alfie are both well, Arthur is growing too quickly for me to keep up, and Alfie is settled. Griff is so good with him.” She gave a small smile at the latter comment, and turned her attentions back to the young Aubert in her arms.

[lucan]

Lucan could already see so much of Camila in his daughter; it was like a smaller version. His Uncle had also made an appearance back in Camelot to visit the new arrival. “Your father will be fine without me for a day or so, the estate won’t fall to pieces I can assure you, just as I did him.” Allard had spoken that morning. Lucan certainly owed his uncle far too much. “Ah but Esmae was more well behaved” he smirked at Caitrin’s comment. Not that Heidi wasn’t but getting into some sort of routine would take a while for them all to adjust.

Allard seemed to have overheard the comment about Rouland as he passed the room and had now stopped in to say hello to Cait and Esmae. “The curious case of Rouland de Archer and the missing bottle of wine, I’ll be sure to tip him off should he question its wareabouts” He smiled at Cait and then gave Lucan a wink, “Hopefully he won’t kill my nephew before he becomes Duke? I would quite like to return home knowing that my hard work had paid off, not to arrange a funeral.” At this Lucan groaned and ran a hand down his face. “Rest assured Uncle, I’ve been told I’m able to get myself out of the trickiest of situations – Rouland should be an easy one.” He gave Cait a grin.

Both Allard and Lucan listened to Cait explaining how everybody was. “Seems like he’s keeping Griff on his toes then” Luc chuckled on learning that Rouland had kept him from seeing Heidi. “I’m glad to hear that Griff’s enjoying it just as much as Rouland.” Allard gave a small snort at this.

Heidi seemed content for a while until she began to stir in Caitrin’s arms. “She’s a gem isn’t she?” Allard grinned at the baby, who was now making a fuss, “Amice would have adored her, completely adored her – she always had her way with children.” He now appeared in a daze, remembering his late sister. Lucan could sense this, he missed his mother, especially now – he had wondered what she would have been like with Heidi.

“If you’ll excuse me for a few moments, Cait – are you ok with Heidi for a minute or so? I won’t be too long, I just need…I left my drink in the solar.” Lucan excused himself, needing to have just a few moments to compose himself.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Esmae looked up at the mention of her name, and smiled gently as she went back to her mother’s skirts. Her hands pulled on her mother’s skirts, but Caitrin knew that Esmae didn’t actually want anything, she just wanted her to know that she was there. Most of Caitrin’s attentions were on the new arrival. She was just so delicate, and still Caitrin was just reminded of Esmae when she had been a new arrival. Perhaps that meant that there was more Aubert in her than had previously been credited; the cousins would probably look quite alike, apart from the hair colour of course. Esmae, as she had promised, was being quite quiet, even to her mother’s surprise. Caitrin grinned as Allard entered the room; she inclined her head towards him as a mark of some respect.

She shook her head, “My Uncle will just be a little moody for a while. But it’s not that much of a change to his usual persona.” Since Dristan had turned up out of nowhere again his mood had been unbearable on some days. He had been training Griff up to inherit the estate, and now it seemed that Dristan would take the estate after all. It was something that Caitrin didn’t really want to dwell on, “My cousins reappearance has been worse for his health than a missing bottle of wine would ever be.” She gave a small smile and continued to rock the small babe in her arms. She found herself grinning quickly though, “Griff is kept busy by my Uncle and our sons, then again, Esmae is turning into a little daddy’s girl as well.” She shrugged, she really didn’t mind in the slightest.

Heidi had begun to fuss, and Caitrin began to soothe her softly, “Come on now, none of that for your Aunt.” She smiled and nodded up at Allard, “She is, she’s beautiful.” Caitrin couldn’t imagine any little one in Camelot being any cuter than the one she was holding in her arms right now. Excepting Esmae of course. Caitrin looked up at Allard and Lucan as Amice was mentioned. Lucan had never really mentioned much about his mother, and she had never thought to ask. He excused himself, and Caitrin and Allard were left alone with the two young Aubert’s. “Is he alright?” Caitrin asked Allard with a concerned look across her features.

[lucan]

Allard turned to Caitrin as his nephew abruptly left the room. He gave a small sigh and as Caitrin asked if Lucan was ok, Allard smiled pitifully and nodded. “I think he would’ve liked a mother around, someone to tell him everything is going to be ok, you know Lucan, he’s a worrier and there is only so much that I can say before it all falls of deaf ears.” He explained, “He usually gets like this if Amice is mentioned, hence why we rarely speak of her unless Lucan chooses to freely – and that is rare…” Allard paused, “Amice would have loved Heidi though, she was always so set upon marriage and children, she loved children and when Lucan came along she just adored him.” Allard explained, obviously Amice had not been mentioned by Lucan to her. “Anyway…Lucan is every inch his mother, so there is no doubt that Little Lady Aubert here will have those qualities too.”

Lucan returned after ten minutes or so. He’d needed a stiff drink to actually get his head together. He couldn’t let Caitrin see him like this, nor Esmae. He didn’t want them to see that side of him ever. That was for him and him alone. “You ok my lad?” Allard had slapped a supportive hand on his back when he walked back in. “When am I not?” Lucan flashed a false smile.

“If you’ll excuse me, I should really ask Thomas to prepare my things, I travel back to Glouchedon tomorrow, so I would like to actually have a smooth journey.” Allard said, bowed his head towards Cait and patted Luc’s back lightly. “I’ll let you know, I was told it would not be long now, best prepare my lad….” He whispered into Lucan’s ear and left Caitrin and Lucan alone again.

The Knight turned back to his sister in law. “I hope Heidi wasn’t fussing too much while I was gone…” he broke the silence that he could sense.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin listened carefully as Allard told her about Amice. It sounded like she would have made a perfect grandmother, well, and mother of course. Caitrin’s own mother had died years ago, but she didn’t dwell on it much as she had never been close to any of her family. She had only been close to Helgund, and yet her father had refused to even give her a proper burial; she had been burnt, and so Caitrin had had nowhere to visit to lay flowers or pay her respects. Caitrin forced a smile onto her lips, “I’m sure she will be.” Caitrin agreed as she cuddled her arms around Heidi; she wouldn’t ever get tired of this. It almost made her want to have another little Aubert. Well, she had enough with the three that she had at the moment, but she doubted that Alfie would be the last.

As Lucan returned, Caitrin and Esmae looked up at him. She could tell that something wasn’t right, but she didn’t want to ask him about his mother as if he had wanted to open up then he would have done. She had told him enough about her past for them to be comfortable with each other, but there were some things that you didn’t want to share with others; this was perhaps one of those things. She just offered a small smile, and looked down at Heidi again. The girl was gurgling softly, but was not fussing, and so Caitrin was content. “No, she’s been perfect.” She said softly as she ran her finger along the length of Heidi’s small body. She really was impossibly small, but she felt strong, and looked healthy, which is all she could ask for in her niece.

Esmae was looking up at her mother and Uncle in an altogether bored way. Caitrin bent down so that Esmae could have another look at her baby cousin. She put her hand on the baby’s blankets, and her mouth was ajar as she looked on at Heidi, as if seeing her for the first time. “Isn’t she beautiful Esmae?” Caitrin asked her. Esmae nodded and Caitrin stood up again, “How’s Cam? Is she getting some rest?”

[lucan]

Caitrin knew enough to know not to ask him questions, and with Lucan’s current state he wasn’t in any mood to answer them. He smiled at Heidi as she made herself comfortable again in her Aunt’s arms. Esmae looking at her cousin with awe. Lucan smiled, “She’s resting at the moment, I just checked on her a moment ago, she certainly needs it.” Cam had taken it upon herself to bring up their child Caitrin style; no wet nurse and she had made that clear from the beginning. Lucan had let his wife do what she wanted, knowing full well that she would win any argument. It had certainly allowed her bonding time with Heidi that she would never have had with a wet nurse.

Lucan was glad that Cam was catching up with some sleep; it had given him a chance to be with his daughter and to work out the ups and downs of fatherhood for himself. He must have learnt something new about Heidi every day since she had been born, and he knew there was a lot more to come. “Here…” he smiled and took Heidi from Caitrin, “Let’s not have your arms drop off” and with that he settled the tiny girl back into her crib, gently pulling the blanket back over her as he had done earlier. He spent a few moments looking at her to check she was ok, before turning his attentions back to his sister in law.

“So…when is my brother going to show his face then? It feels like months since I’ve seen him at all.”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin handed Heidi back to Lucan reluctantly, but her arms were starting to tire. She hadn’t actually noticed how tired it had made her until Lucan took her back. She smiled down at Esmae, who had pressed herself up against her mother’s. Caitrin placed an arm around her, and pulled her closer towards her. No matter how cute Heidi was, Esmae would always be the most perfect little lady in her eyes. Everyone told her that Esmae was the spit of her, so maybe that was a little vein as well. “She’ll need the rest.” Caitrin confirmed. She wished she had taken longer to rest after giving birth to the twins, but as she had been in the castle, so many people had come to see her that she had been swept off her feet a little. “Do you have a wetnurse?” She asked curiously, as she had not seen one, but she wondered how Lucan and Camila were going to raise their daughter as well.

She shrugged, Griff had been kept on by Rouland to help manage the estate, even though now they wouldn’t be inheriting anything. Griff did it more to keep her happy than to keep Rouland happy. She liked him to be busy though, or else he just ended up complaining about everything. He had the boys to keep him company as well inbetween his admin. “He’s hoping to come today, he might bring Alfie or Arthur with him as well.” Esmae would probably be too tired to come back again later, “My Uncle’s been keeping him to keep care of the estate.” It all felt a little pointless, “I mean we’re not going to inherit the estate anymore, but Rouland still makes him pull his weight.” It was rightly done she supposed; they would be living there rent free otherwise.

Esmae nudged her mother a little, wanting some attention more than anything. Caitrin ruffled the girls hair and wrapped her arms around her, “Do you mind if we take a seat?” She looked down at Esmae who was yawning a little, she needed regular naps, and she was already nodding off on her little legs.