Accidental Surrogate

Cora

I’m a little out of breath when I finally catch up with Roger and Rafe, having had to work hard to keep up with his long wolf stride.

“Rude,” I say when I finally come to a stop next to them. “You couldn’t have waited for me?”

“I’m being rude?” Roger says, raising his eyebrows at me in disbelief. “Cora, you’ve been nothing but unpleasant since the moment we stepped into the forest –”

–

I open my mouth with a little squeak of protest but Roger just rolls his eyes and ignores me, going on anyway. “This is supposed to be a sacred experience for Rafe and for us and you’ve done nothing but moan and complain. So yeah, forgive me if I wanted to get away for a moment and concentrate on the magic of this place

“Oh whatever,” I mumble, reaching out my arms so that he can hand me the baby.

“No

from you

way,” Roger retorts, holding the baby closer to his chest and turning a little away from me. “You don’t get to hold the baby now that we’re at the pool

“Yes I do!” I cry, “the priestess gave him to me!”

“I’m his godparent just as much as you are

—

“(

falling open. I don’t know how I know it but…well, somehow, I get the sense that the pool – or whatever magic is in it – is irritated

little embarrassed. Honestly, it never occurred to me that

closer to the edge. We look at each other, then, united anew at being…well, a little freaked out, suddenly. We’re

a deep breath, then, nodding to him, and start to say that words that the priestess

letting my voice ring out across the smooth surface of the silver pool. “We bring to you, tonight, this child, so that he

your grace,” Roger continues, his own resonant voice sending shivers

am treated by the sight of the full moon itself, beaming brilliantly down on us from above. Hey,

my stomach twisting with the emotion of the moment. Because she is

put my hands out for him and this time Roger does hand him to me, letting me take the baby and unwrap his swaddling blanket. Then, when he’s free of it, Roger and I slowly walk as close as we can to the edge of the pool and hold the baby

sky, to see the light surrounding him as it falls from the moon above and reflects upwards

have asked us to bring him here to dedicate him to

moonlight. It’s a beautiful moment, introducing the child to the world and to all the magic within it. I open my mouth to say something, to tell Roger that I’m sorry, and that I’m glad

brings a quick

the white light of the moon, likewise trying to make it out.

arms trembling a little, and watch the story form in the

a movie projected into smoke in the air. Instead, it’s…felt as much as it is seen, communicated to our hearts and minds as much as our eyes.

dark–haired little girl who has fallen to the ground, helping her up and brushing the tears from her face. Then, I see him again – older, but still young.- running across a battlefield, fear on his face but courage in every line of his limbs as he pushes himself to do what is right. We’re passed that quite quickly, though, and I see

–

head as well. She smiles up at him with such love in her eyes and then the door to the room bursts open,

–

of their children – and a light–haired boy I don’t know, just about Rafe’s age-

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