Fame Joy

The Dragon's Head Tavern and Inn, Vorland, 1436 ATC

The golden gypsy sat outside to watch the stars, bundled warmly as she looked up into the night sky. A beautiful full moon shone back on her face, a rare occasion given the time of year, with the backdrop of a clear and starry sky as its company; this was a night she didn't want to miss. She caressed her rounding belly for a moment before going inside after a small prayer of thanks to her gods, looking around for Venser. Her redheaded and rough girlfriend Alex was inside, asleep at one of the tables and wrapped in a blanket, having knocked herself out with too many whiskey sours.

''Hey.'' Venser said meeting Sanna right at the door. ''I was going outside for a smoke but, did you see the moon? I wanted to go out and see it for myself too.''

"I was actually going to ask if you'd like to come see it with me. Read my mind," she smirked as she took his hand and kissed his cheek.

Venser chuckled and squeezed her hand gently, kissing her back passionately on the lips. ''Let's go outside then...''
She turned round after returning his kiss, licking his bottom lip softly before starting to walk outside with his hand in hers. It was a cool night but she had warmed herself plenty by the fire inside already and would take a bath later. Still, she remained bundled to keep herself and the child inside warm.

Out behind the tavern was an ordinary picnic table along with a brick barbeque pit, a few feet in front of it, up against the tavern was a bench. Venser walked Sanna to the bench and sat down. ''What a lovely night... Back home in Pandyssia, the pollution from the whale and earth oils make the sky blurry at times. But this... Is true beauty...'' He never liked to speak about where he originally came from, and only spoke about it briefly.

She settled next to him and rested her head on his shoulder as they sat at the table, weaving her fingers in his as he spoke of his homeland. "I'd love to see Pand… Pandissa someday, if I could... But I wouldn't trade the nights here for all the world."

''You don't want to see Pandyssia. Serkonos though.. That's what you wanna see. Maybe It's paradise... But...'' He wrapped an arm around Sanna and smiled, feeling so relaxed beneath the mood, surrounded by the faint sounds of crickets. ''That wise talking squirrel said we'd be having a girl... And I'm certain our little girl is going to love seeing a moon like this for the first time.''

Sanna seemed to struggle with the pronunciation, but she attempted saying Pandyssia again under her breath before giving up on it. When he mentioned Serkonos, though, she lit up and rested into his arm as it wrapped around her. She faintly kissed his jawline. "I truly look forward to seeing you hold her for the first time... To hold her myself, to see her face."

''We're going to have a beautiful child.'' The bearded bartender said moving his head to the side, nuzzling her head, blinking his slitted emerald eyes a few times. ''Just a few more months...''

Sanna blushed as she felt a flutter, a tiny one but it had been there. She rested her hand on her belly and beamed, nuzzling back. "You're going to be a wonderful father... I hope that I will know what I am doing as a mother when the time comes."

''If Kari is available... When she's not busy being the protector of a village I'm sure she can offer advice and stuff. Heh, most of the employees with kids have left. Like Eza and her two kids... Soarin and Lucinda's nanny doesn't have any kids... Not so much older than the twins last time I saw them. Which was years ago.'' He shrugged and rested his hand on hers on her belly. ''Who knows? It may be just instinct...''

Sanna nodded a little and she felt the flutter again, directly beneath her hand. She squeaked a bit and looked down, tilting her head. "Something moved, Ven..''

''The baby.'' Venser said with a smile. ''She's kicking... The baby...'' He repeated. ''Have we settled on a name yet?"'
Sanna grinned in wonder and awe as she felt a couple more tiny flutters, one against his hand. "I'm not sure, though I'd love to hear your ideas... I would love her to have your last name.."

''You said either Rowena or Jessamine were good...'' Venser said resting his head on Sanna's, kissing her hair. ''Have you thought of any suggestions lately?''

The woman crooned a bit and smiled fondly. "Rowena... Still a beautiful name. Yes... Like the Queen Rowena Grigori of Grigwald, across the sea from Pryldahn. Yes... Her name meant fame joy? Famous joy? And Jessamine... The only suggestion that seems to call to me is a name I haven't heard spoken in... Many, many years. There was a woman of different blood that was a friend of my birth family, but I only got her first name from the stories." She chuckled a bit. ''I'm sorry If I seem a little all over the place right now love.''

''No, don't apologize.'' Venser kissed her softly. ''And what was her first name? From these stories.'' He asked.

"Sephira, Sephiria, something like that. Long name, but rolls off the tongue." She answered him, frowning as she tried to remember.

''I wouldn't say it does honestly... Rowena is easier. Much easier to say.'' He said with a chuckle kissing her again. ''Rowena Karkaldwin... Sanna Karkaldwin...''

She chuckled and nodded in agreement, kissing him back once more. "Rowena, Venser and Sanna Karkaldwin. Sounds like a lovely little set of names for a family.." The tanned woman smiled and placed both hands on her stomach, imagining their happy future as one big family.

''Rowena, Venser, Sanna, Kari, Soarin, Lucinda, Alex, Nivarah Karkaldwin… And many more to come. Oh you've no idea..''

Sanna chuckled and cuddled into Venser, basking in his warmth, trailing her golden hands over the new outfit he had finally decided to put on. ''It's going to be a full house... Tavern!'' A giggle.

Venser really needed to look into some property now. The bungalow near the lake did not count. Nor his room in the tavern. Nor the other rooms that his many other lovers usually rented, or that he rented for them.

It was time to scrape some money together... It was time... For an adventure!