Samantha Edwhan

End of the Winter Star

Chapter 16

It was a cool autumn morning. Gerold woke slowly at first. He could hear the howling wind battering the castle walls. He snuggled deeper into the covers feeling for Adelaide's warm body to curl around her. But the bed was empty.

Gerold cracked open an eye and looked around. There was barely any light,but he could just make out Adelaide curled up in her makeshift nest on the floor beside the bed. Gerold crawled across the bed and touched his nose gently to her head.

“Did I miss it?” he asked.

Adelaide raised her head to look at him with a sympathetic smile. “It's okay, dear. We've had three eggs before this. What’s more special is the hatching.”

“How many eggs were there?” Gerold asked.

“Just one.” Adelaide carefully sat up, revealing the egg she was keeping warm.

Gerold couldn't help but smile. Sometimes he forgot how small eggs and hatchlings were. The egg sat neatly in the nest of blankets and pillows. There was more than enough room for a second if they'd had two. But given their past three nests all consisted of a single egg each, it was unlikely there'd be more this time. The egg was a slightly reddish hue with red-brown speckles all over it. Gerold couldn't imagine it looking any different.

“I think it's beautiful,” he said quietly.

Adelaide smiled down at the egg. “Me too.” Then her smile faded. “I hope the hatchling inside doesn't have any issues.”

Gerold tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

Adelaide hesitated. “It's just that... Luana is already so difficult to care for. I'm constantly worrying about her and her future.”

“Adelaide.” Gerold stretched out a wing to touch her gently. “Luana is a healthy and smart fledgling. She will do great things one day. Don't try to hold her back.”

Adelaide stared at the floor. She didn't say anything so Gerold continued, “I'm sure the hatchling in this egg will do great things too. Don't try to control their future.”

After a long moment of silence, Adelaide looked up at Gerold with grateful eyes. Then her expression shifted again and she said, “You look so tired, dear. Are you sleeping properly?”

“Of course. I'll be fine once I've woken up properly,” Gerold said.

“Are you sure?” Adelaide asked. “I know you've been struggling with your duties lately.”

Gerold nuzzled her gently. “I'll be fine, darling. You don't need to worry about me.”

He decided not to mention the lump on his leg. He was sure she'd noticed at some point. But no one, except for Markos, had ever pointed it out. Gerold didn't want to worry Adelaide with his problems, especially when it was such an insignificant thing.