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Saelhil remained with Talainna for nearly three hours, consoling the girl as best he could before she cried herself to sleep in his lap. As he carried her to a room in his and Raeliel's home (he didn't want Talainna to stay in his father's home alone) and put her in a bed to sleep, it was all he could do from breaking down himself. By then, news had already spread around the village. People came to Saelhil, asking if there was anything they could do, but he brushed them off, just wanting to be alone. He did tell a few people that he was going to the sacred place, so if Raeliel asked she would probably get an answer and not be worried for him. He needed some solace... To have his father die and to find out that his baby couldn't breathe properly in the same day was...tragedy. He wouldn't return to where Raeliel was staying until sundown, and even then he looked more downtrodden than ever before.

Raeliel couldn't go to him, as much as she wanted to. The baby needed her. The child was resting peacefully in a crib the nursemaids had brought in when Saelhil came back. "Saelhil..." She stood up, though it still hurt incredibly to move, and went to wrap her arms around him. The nursemaids threw a fit that she was standing up again and forced them both into bed so that Raeliel wouldn't be standing. Raeliel just held onto him in bed, hiding her face against him, drawing on his presence for strength just like he probably needed to draw on her for strength.

Saelhil held her close, her grip very tight on her for a few moments before it softened a bit. He was silent for a long while, but soon Raeliel would be able to feel him shuddering as he inhaled, and if she looked to him she would see his eyebrows furrowed together, eyes shut tightly. His poor heart had been through too much in just a few hours. Too, too much.

Raeliel held him gently. When he took in a breath she looked at him. "...Saelhil." She touched his cheek and stroked it gently. She pressed her head against his and started humming a soft tune from her people, a lullaby of sorts that she remembered people singing to her whenever she got angry or upset. No words, just the tune.

Saelhil was quiet, just listening to Raeliel and trying to even out his breathing. He held her close, her presence comforting to him, at least a little. Her lullaby quieted his mind a bit, but it couldn't calm his emotions too much... He was sorry to say that he cried a bit, his grip firm on Raeliel. He knew everything was for the best... Crying did nothing to help anything. But it did make him feel a bit better. Before he could thank Raeliel or talk to her, he drifted off into a fitful sleep to the sound of her soft humming.

Raeliel just did her best, her heart nearly breaking in half as she heard him crying. She just held him close and hummed softly, for a very long time still after he had fallen asleep. Then, reluctantly, she fell asleep as well. She was not happy that she had to stop her humming, because she wanted to make sure that Saelhil had happy dreams, and her humming might help that. But soon she just couldn't stay awake any longer.

The next morning, Saelhil was awake very early, having awoken to Belle's fussy whines. He just held his newborn daughter close, stroking her soft, warm skin. He sat in the deep window ledge, pressing his back against the wall with his shoulder against the glass. He sang quiet words to the little girl, moving his hand to brush back her feathery, dark hair. His words were too soft to be understand, but it seemed to be some sort of lullaby or another.

Belle would only be placated for so long. After a bit of time snuggling her daddy, the baby remembered why she had been crying in the first place and started crying again because she hadn't been fed yet. Raeliel stirred, gasping as she realized the noise was Belle's cry. She sat up quickly, flinching when the sudden movement caused pain. "She's hungry, bring her here." she said gently.

Saelhil nodded, carefully carrying Belle over to Raeliel, handing his daughter over. He smiled faintly at Raeliel, but it faded after just a moment. He allowed Raeliel a bit of privacy to feed Belle, sitting on the edge of the bed to wait. He was quiet, solemn almost.

Raeliel took Belle and fed the baby, and then settled in the bed with the child. "...do you want to go get Valenthion, Saelhil? And Talainna? I...I think we should all be together right now." She didn't like the young ones being by themselves. Especially Talainna, since she just lost her father. Valenthion wasn't so attached, he would only know his family's sadness, not his own.

Saelhil glanced at her, and then offered a weak smile before it, too, faded. He quietly nodded, moving to leave to retrieve his sister and son. He returned a while later, both children in tow. Talainna clung to Saelhil, her pretty eyes red from her constant crying. Valenthion was solemn, but of course hadn't cried over the death of the chieftain. Saelhil gently kissed Talainna's forehead before leading them all over to the bed so they could settle down with each other, at least for a while.

Raeliel smiled gently, trying to bring at least some happiness to the down-trodden group. She showed the children Belle, and let Talainna hold the baby as well. "Isn't she such a cute little darling? You'll be a wonderful aunt, Talainna." She pet the little girl's head, but also had a hand touching Valenthion. Her eyes switched between Saelhil and the baby. Belle was just contently cooing.

Talainna sniffed a bit, but smiled as she held the tiny baby. "She's really cute," she agreed quietly, leaning against Saelhil. Valenthion stayed near Raeliel, quiet. They all stayed like that for a while, until Saelhil leaned over to kiss Raeliel's head.

"I say it's about time for us to get going, mm?" he asked. There was a cheerfulness to his voice, but it sounded somewhat hollow. "We can't just lay in bed all day." He nuzzled Talainna, who didn't seem to agree with him. "The sun will miss you too much, little raven. It needs your smile so that it can be warm and bright outside today." The little girl smiled weakly up at her brother, who smiled gently in return. "That's my girl." He stroked back her hair, then looked over to Valenthion. "How about you and Talainna go sit outside for a bit and get some morning sun while your mother and I go make you breakfast? Maybe later we can go for a walk together, as a family." He ruffled Valenthion's hair, and after a bit the two children went off to go outside.

Raeliel smiled softly at the little girl. "Thank you. I think she'll really like you, Talainna." She held Valenthion's hand and watched her hold the little baby. Thankfully, Belle just slept for most of it, or laid there and cooed. Raeliel glanced up at Saelhil as he kissed her head and spoke about getting out of bed. Easy for you to say, you didn't have a baby.
Regardless, Raeliel didn't say anything to deter him, giving Talainna and Valenthion a kiss on the cheek each before they went outside. "Don't leave the village, alright?" she called after them. She then looked at Saelhil for a moment. But still, she said nothing. She got out of bed, carefully, and settled Belle in her crib. She really didn't want to leave her, though, scared that at any moment she might stop breathing. She slumped over the edge of the crib and sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know how I'm ever going to sleep again, Saelhil."

Saelhil watched the children run off, and watched his wife put Belle in her crib. At her words, he went to her and gently set a hand on her back, fingers brushing the ends of her hair. "We'll get through it together," he said quietly, looking down at the half-dozing baby. "She's made it two days... She'll make it. I won't let anything happen to her." As soon as he said those words, he remembered the promises he had made to Raeliel long ago, the ones he had broken so easily. How could he promise his daughter's life? He had to power over it; he could only do what he could to let her live a bit longer. They would just have to take it day by day.

Raeliel looked at Saelhil for a few long moments, then nodded slightly. "..alright." But she still wouldn't leave Belle alone. She called one of the women to come watch the baby, and she went with Saelhil to the kitchen to start making breakfast. "..do you think it would have been better if she hadn't been born, Saelhil?" She stopped for a moment and leaned back, thinking of all that had happened. So much. Their marriage, the tension, the honeymoon and all of the chaos and wonderful times in that, and then the whole world seemed to just fall apart. She learned that her first love was just getting her ready for 'the real world', she found that her father had lied about him being dead, and then there was all sorts of trouble with humans and war and finding a blind boy.

All of it made Raeliel dizzy. She sat down, taking in a deep breath. She was still a bit weak.

Saelhil was just getting out some ingredients when she asked the question. He nearly dropped the things from his arms, but he managed to put them down on the counter, not facing her for a moment. Never been born? ...did that mean Raeliel regretted having a child? or was she just disappointed that Belle wasn't perfect, as they had hoped? Either way, he felt his stomach drop. He took a quiet breath and quietly turned to face her.

"Not at all. I think it would be worse." His voice was soft, cautious almost. He wouldn't give up his daughter for anything. So she had life-threatening problems; so what? He loved her, even though she had only been in his life for two days. If Raeliel was considering giving her up, or...or letting Belle die...he wouldn't let her do it. (Of course, deep in his heart he knew these things probably would never happen, but he was so taxed at the moment that he couldn't help but worry so.)

Raeliel smiled softly as he spoke. "...really? Not at all?" She looked at him and took his hand, if he was within reach. "...Good. I'm so glad. My father would not be so happy at such a frail child, it would be seen as a failure... I just...I wanted to make sure you weren't...disappointed." She glanced up at him. "I just wanted to make sure..."

Relief washed over Saelhil's face. He squeezed her hand tightly and brought it to his lips to kiss tenderly. After a moment, he looked up at her, a small smile on his lips. "I could never be disappointed at something like this. I'm overjoyed that we have her." He crouched in front of her, looking admiringly up at her. "We have a blind son and a daughter who can't breathe properly... I'd say our family is shaping up just fine... I wouldn't have it any other way."

Raeliel smiled softly at all the love he showed her, and she held his hand tightly. When he spoke of their family, she gave a soft laugh. "...our lives sure are interesting." She kissed his hand as well, and held it tightly. "I love you. I love you so much." She took in a deep breath and let it out. "I wouldn't have it any other way either."