"Well? Speak up!" 

The kitsune woman looked rather uncomfortable at the demand that the Queen of Discordia Isle made. If anything she looked a little fearful. Fearful perhaps that the news she was about to divulge to Lord Xunatar's bride might be signing her death warrant. She swallowed hard for a moment.
"No, M'lady… I am afraid you are not with child…" she said timidly. 

Scarlett let out a sigh. "Well, I guess that means I have to try harder," she said as she sat up from the cot she had been laying on for the examination and stood up to straighten her shirt and put back on her corset.. 

"It isn't that m'lady," the kitsune woman said quickly. "I'm afraid it is much more complicated that that…"

Scarlett scoffed as she tied her ties. "How much more complicated can it be than having Lord Xunatar make love to me more?"

"Because… and please forgive me… you cannot bear children, m'lady."

Scarlett's hands stopped tying the laces of her corset. "What?"

The kitsune woman swallowed hard. "My Lady… your womb is damaged extensively… it would be impossible for you to carry a child, let alone one that would be as powerful as the offspring of Lord Xunatar…"

Scarlett's amethyst eyes flashed up to the kitsune woman who flinched back. "You are saying… that I cannot bear children for my beloved?"

"I'm afraid not, m'Lady. I am sorry–"

"Get out…" Scarlett said softly. "Now."

The Kitsune woman scrambled to collect her healers equipment, but wasn't moving quite fast enough. 

"I SAID GET OUT!" Scarlett screamed, flame flaring up around her. The woman scurried, scrambling out of the workshop, and through the door that lead back to Discordia Isle. Scarlett said down on the edge of her workroom cot, a hand pressed to her belly. How was she going to tell Xunatar? She couldn't bear the thought of admitting to him that she was not capable of creating something… especially something that all females were supposed to be able to do. 

She felt something hot and wet running down her face, and she realized that for the first time should remember, she was actually crying. She was suddenly quite disgusted with herself and she stood up and went back over to her forge and pulled out the piece of Noxyite she had been heating and began striking it with her hammer upon her anvil with all the power her disappointment could muster. 

When she left the forge for supper, she was quiet and withdrawn, and later when she lay in his arms in bed, she found she could not sleep. She stared out the castle window at the eternal night. Xunatar had many children, all with mates he had not quite cared for. Here she was, his chosen bride… and she could not provide heirs for him like he desired… like she desired. She knew he would not harm her, but how would that change his feelings for her? The question made her stomach turn and she found herself unable to lay still. Carefully she left the bed. If he stirred she would say that she was feeling restless and was going to take a walk along the beaches. 

She got dressed and quietly stole from the castle to walk along the black sand beaches on the isle coast. She sat down on a rock at the edge of the surf and removed her boots to let the cold dark water wash over her feet. In the distance even beyond the mirage haze that surrounded the island, she could see that the mainland was shrouded in the embrace of a warm Ignius night. 

The Artificer sighed. "How am I going to tell him?" she asked the night quietly. She felt a soft tug on her finger, and she looked down to the finger that Xunatar had slid his ring on. A red knot was tied to her finger. She had heard about these heartstrings. She swallowed hard. She didn't want to approach HER about this… but if there was anyone who could help her… 

Scarlett sighed again, and stood up. She didn't bother putting her boots on, but followed the tug of the heartstring, boots in hand, out into the surf. The cold water crashed about her, making her gasp as she followed the tug out into deeper water until she was submerged. The cold dark water gave ways to the bright glowing current of the Soul Stream, and Scarlett reached out and touched the bright streaks that were the souls of all those who had passed on. It was rather beautiful. Through the stream she went, as a bright light rushed up to meet her. 
She was splashing up again, through a sunny surf and breaking the surface of a very strange ocean. The sky above was awash in the starriest of night skies she had ever seen outside of Tar Eisalae's Occulus, and the surf she was wading out of was bright blue patterned with the occasional white puff that she guess was supposed to be a cloud. The water ran out of her clothes as she walked up onto the sea glass beach. It was warm here, and humid. Not unlike working in Baltil except there it was a dry heat. The tug on her finger grew a little more insistent and Scarlett followed it up the path to where the carriage awaited. She swallowed hard and stepped inside and listened to the clatter of the wheels on the path. She leaned her head back on the cushion and rested her eyes until it came to a halt. The door opened expectantly, and Scarlett peeked out at the massive palace that belonged to the Goddess of Life. She quickly pulled back on her boots and left the carriage, which then clattered away, leaving her quite alone in the courtyard. She walked around the fountain that spilled Angela's special aphrodisiac wine, and nervously she walked up the steps to the great double doors. She lifted a hand, but hesitated to knock. She wasn't even sure Angela would be willing to help her… they hadn't exactly parted on the best of terms after their last encounter. 

However… she did not want to go back to Xunatar until she had an absolute surety to give him. With that resolution in mind, she knocked on the palace door. 

“And… Up we go!” Angela pulled Myrra up into a stand. The girl was balancing on Angela’s legs as she looked around the throne. She had a head full of black curls and her father’s gray eyes. She was a miniature Adraejen. Though Angela had hoped that her husband hadn’t been such a pain in the ass to his own mother.

The rainbow colors of the throne room were stunning and they entertained the small babe that was resting in Angela’s safe arms. Motherly fingers ran through Myrra’s curls as the goddess pushed her lips against her dark head of hair. “What are you thinking about little one? Soft colors? Soft blankets? Candied clouds?” She made illusions for her daughter and Myrra reached for them. It was their own little game. The girl was at home with magic and it showed whenever magic would spark at her fingertips. “Be careful little one… A lot of power is dangerous for the young to wield.” Angela had been keeping a steady watch on Myrra just to make sure nothing went too far.

When Scarlett knocked on the temple door it was opened by Anemone, the Maiden of Love. Soft purple eyes watched Scarlett for a few moments. “Can I help you?” It was so odd that someone wouldn’t come inside but the girl opened the door all the way. “You are here for Lady Angela… I can tell. Follow me. She is in the throne room.”

Soft bare footed sounds echoed the halls as Anemone led her to the set of doors that separated Angela from Scarlett. Angela had looked up to greet them as Anemone opened the doors. “Through here.” This would be as far as the nymph would go as she left Scarlett to Angela.

“You know Scarlett I have never meant to hurt you with my words,” Angela spoke softly as the child giggled up at the lights once more. “As one artisan to another, I should have realized that pride is a deadly thing.” Green eyes bore into the Queen of Xunatar’s. “You have a request of me, after all, this time though… and I do know what it is.” Myrra finally turned her head to look at Scarlett.

“Xunatar has helped me much these past few years. We are family even in the deepest sense now… His children and my nieces. His son is my nephew… We help family.” Angela pushed herself up and gently put Myrra down on the seat as she descended where her throne sat. “So… Ask this request of yours. I want to hear it from you.” This was important. This was a step for Scarlett. “As so many women before you have.”

Scarlett turned and was about to give up on this entire venture when the door opened. She stood there on the bottom step looking up at one of Angela's priestesses, perhaps THE priestess who perhaps was a whole head shorter than Scarlett was, but was blessed with the sorts of curves that would make men drool. 
"Can I help you?" she asked, her voice as sweet as honey. Scarlett straightened up. 

"I-"

"You are here for Lady Angela… I can tell. Follow me. She is in the throne room." 

Scarlett glared at the nymph's back, rather annoyed at how she had been cut off, but followed her into the palace. As her boots clicked on stone floors, Scarlett wished she hadn't put them back on in the carriage. She followed Anenome into the throne room where she was left with Angela. Scarlett looked around the opulent throne room, both in admiration and discomfort. It was so vastly different from the dark gothic atmosphere she was used to. As Angela spoke to her, Scarlett turned her attention to the Goddess of Love and Life as she played on her throne with her youngest child. The child looked so much like her father, Scarlett might not have ever guessed she was the Goddess' child. Envy burned at the back of Scarlett's throat and made her want to spit but she held back. She didn't like how Angela was speaking to her either, and she didn't like feeling like she was being scrutinized. It put her on edge. She looked away from Angela and the baby, her body growing tense as she clenched her fists, one over her belly like she was afraid of being struck in the stomach as Angela went on about how Xunatar was family and that family helped each other. She descended from her throne, leaving the baby to watch and suck on her hand on the throne. 

"So… ask this request of yours. I want to hear it from you. As so many women before you have." 

Scarlett bristled, anger bubbling up inside her, her eyes flashed and hair ignited into flames. She wanted to slap Angela for being so condescending. 

"If you want me to beg… it won't happen…" Scarlett said icily. She was about to turn away when her eyes fell upon Myrra up on the throne again and her stiff demeanor relaxed slightly and the flames went out. Her eyes lowered to the floor and she unclenched her hands. 

"You know what I am Angela Rose. I am a Fire Genasi… the descendant of a powerful Efreeti Djinn. We are a proud people, and do no admit we are wrong, or ask for help lightly. I am a smith, a crafter… enchanter. When I have my tools in my hand there is nothing I cannot create… but I have learned that there are some things I cannot craft…"

Tears began flooding down Scarlett's face and she wiped them away angrily, more upset that she was showing such emotion to someone she wanted to save face around. 
"I cannot not bear the heirs that Xunatar desires… the children I desire… An accident from years ago has made that impossible for me to do on my own… I know that you and I have had our differences before… but this is me… swallowing my pride, and asking you for help… I don't want to go back to Xunatar and tell him I cannot be all that he desires unless I have exhausted every resource…"

The goddess’s eyes narrowed on Scarlett with what could only be described as not amused or angry. There was a tilt of her head. “You came to me, Scarlett. If you want to hit me for doing my job then you can turn around and forget about what you want to ask. You want me to be condescending? You haven’t seen me be condescending yet or petty.” The words were almost dripping with a slight venom as the Mother’s eyes bore into Scarlett’s form. “Did I say that I wanted you to beg? I did not. You standing there assuming you know me based on one encounter is enough to make me deny you your request on the spot. The only reason I will entertain this from this moment on if this the attitude you are choosing to come at me with is the familial ties I have with Xunatar.”

It had perhaps been a fatal error on Scarlett’s part to have not realized the extent of Angela’s abilities once in her domain. Elysia granted her a number of gifts over mortals that she otherwise would have troubles with outside of the pocket space she ruled over. Finally, Scarlett’s demeanor seemed to relax just a bit and Angela adjusted hers to follow suit. Her face and eyes seemed to soften once more to that which most people knew her for. “I am aware. Just as prideful and stubborn as the Wind Genasi. I happen to have one for a daughter.” Furtuna was a hell-raiser and every bit as stubborn and prideful as the woman in front of her. It had to be a Genasi thing.

A soft sigh left the Mother’s lips as she reached up and wiped the tears away from Scarlett’s pretty face. In her hand was a small handkerchief that hadn’t been there before. There was no pity that Angela felt for her as it was a story that she had heard many times. That she had solved many times before as well. “I should clarify Scarlett that I’ve never once had an issue with you. My role in Revaliir is that of a mentor. Whatever I’ve done to displease you was probably me only trying to help. Whether or not you wanted that help was possibly an oversight on my behalf. After all my abilities wane on the other continent. I am not able to see desires and emotions as I do here or in Canelux.”

A sigh left her lips once more as she turned around and appeared to be pondering Scarlett’s request. “Xunatar isn’t a man who values women on whether or not they can produce children.” She turned her head enough to let her eyes scan over Scarlett. “The only time he ever possibly cared about it was when he was creating his sins. You shouldn’t value yourself so low like you are at this moment. However, there comes a time in most women’s lives when they desire the same thing you do. It isn’t selfish and whether or not you can accomplish it is never your fault in any way. It is fate that decides these things… For better or worst.” She turned her head away and watched Myrra.

“When I ascended I killed my first born. A beautiful little blonde child who was probably Myrra’s age now. I lost everything when I gained the power that I had… I am so much greater now but what is being great when I have lost so much? I could reverse the damage I have done but at what cost?” She turned fully back to Scarlett. “If I was as condescending as you think I am… I would have given myself all the leeway to make all my troubles go away. All the wrongs I’ve committed vanish… even if the wrongs I think I’ve done are not my fault. Voice knows that Adraejen has tried to tell me a thousand times not to dwell on what I cannot control.”

A sigh left her lips again as her she looked around the room. “I mentor many so that they at least have a shot at not making the mistakes I have. I want you to understand that before you judge what I have said or done to you. A false truth is still false no matter how much you try and make it better… A polished lie is still a lie underneath the very beauty we’ve made it. I am harsh with my words because I push people to the potential I know they have. No one is perfect not even myself or Xunatar. We would be fools and liars if we said we were.” Her eyes batted softly as they landed back on the woman’s form. “So, it is because of that, that I will grant your request. I will have to watch over you, of course. So that I know nothing goes wrong. I let Dalanesca loose her baby to deal with Cyprus and I live with that every day. I told her I would be there for her and I had made a mistake of thinking I could deal both things at once. Even we gods are foolish creatures who aren’t necessarily all-powerful.” Her eyes squinted a bit towards Scarlett as she took Scarlett’s hand and put the cloth there. “Dry your eyes some more. Voice knows I don’t need Xunatar thinking I’ve made you shed tears besides the puffiness it causes doesn’t fit your face.” Angela offered a smile.

The goddess snapped and a clergy member came in. “Can you take Myrra and go lay her down for her nap. I know I don’t normally ask for that but I am quite busy at the moment so she will have to forgive me. If she fusses just leave her be… She’ll settle in a bit when she realizes no one will swoop in for her.” The clergy member picked the princess up and took off with her. Finally, the goddess appeared in her own element after being off tilt since Scarlett’s arrival. “We’ll continue this in my infirmary… If you are okay with that?”

Never did Angela want to assume that Scarlett would accept this help but she held out her hand to the woman and left it up to her to take it. Her pride or her desire would win either way. The redhead escorted Scarlett to her infirmary and took her to a secluded little area with a stone bed. “It’s more comfortable than it looks I promise. You can go ahead and lay down. If you have any questions now would be the time to ask.”

Angela's response to Scarlett's initial hostility was not a surprise to anyone except maybe Scarlett herself. Angela might as well have slapped the fire Genasi, with how she called her out. It dawned on the Fire Genasi that her attitude toward Angela was completely without basis, and in turn was possibly one of the attributing reasons for the onslaught of tears that she seemed unable to stop. 

What perhaps surprised Scarlett most was when Angela reached up and helped wipe away the tears that stung her eyes with a soft handkerchief that Scarlett guessed the goddess had summoned in the moment it was required. Scarlett pursed her lips together and bit them and nodded in understanding as to what Angela was saying to her. She watched the Mother consider her request. 

"I know that he didn't necessarily care for the women, and that all he wanted were his seven and that he has many unknown children," Scarlett quipped up, her tone much softer now. "And it isn't that I value myself based on my ability to bear children… but you of all people will have seen what happens when someone in a partnership comes up lacking, in both a personal and professional way. Professionally, they are replaced in favor of someone who can get the job done… so you force yourself to improve and become the best. But how many women have come to you because they have been pushed aside in favor of one who could bring children to a man who desired them?" she asked softly. It was a hypothetical question, one they both knew the answer to already. "While I want to believe that maybe I mean more to him than the other women he's had in the past… is there anything to keep him from getting bored with me if I cannot give him the heirs he desires?"

Scarlett fell silent and listened to Angela quietly, though she could not hide the light in her eyes when Angela did say she would help her. She took the handkerchief and wiped her face as directed, and even returned the smile, albeit a bit weakly, before she stuffed the damp piece of cloth in her pocket. She watched, almost disappointed as the baby was whisked off at her mother's request to be put down for her nap. She had been rather fun to just watch playing there on the throne. 

Then there was the offered hand. Scarlett looked at it and blinked. It was… a friendly gesture… kind… even motherly. There was nothing to be gained by being prideful here. A rough callused hand fell on top of the soft, perfectly one that had been offered. She followed alongside Angela as she was lead to the infirmary. 

"In this aspect, Angela, I am lower than a novice," Scarlett admitted as she laid down upon the stone bed and lightly rested her hands on her abdomen. "I… I don't even know where to start… part of me half expected to have been turned away," she said softly. 

There was a moment where Angela thought about the question that Scarlett had posed to her. “Honestly?” The goddess watched the Genasi for a moment. “If Xunatar is going to get bored with you… It will be without without children. He may be a demon but he can love just as much as I can. He might not show it in the same way but he has an honor code all the same. Xunatar did not marry you because you could breed him more offspring… I hardly think that’s the case.” The goddess reassured Scarlett once more. “Because that’s not what love is. And Xunatar is pretty damn capable of it. Look how he is with Estelle.”

The Mother watched Scarlett for a minute or two and nodded. “You are right there are a lot of men like that… However, for every bad man in the world, there are at least three good men out there. Not every man is going to leave his wife or lover because she can’t have children. For every couple who comes to me when they can’t have children, I know that there is twice as many who don’t. Their love carries them strong to get over the gift that life stripped them of. I know Xunatar enough to know he isn’t like that and he wouldn’t throw you away or even find someone who could. He will honor you, Scarlett.”

Taking the Genasi by the hand she led her to the infirmary and in her own little-secluded place. “That is because you had a different vision of how I was like. The mind is funny like that. You know Naota, the God of Light… His wife doesn’t have a womb at all. I’ve had to artificially support her and all of her children. Her mother threw her in a demon pit when she was young… tore her into pieces. Left her infertile and without a working womb. They have over five children now. Echo doesn’t know she can’t get pregnant. Naota doesn’t have the heart to tell her but whenever they talk about children he will come to me and get the potion. He slips it into her food and it just happens. I imagine Echo knows something is up but… She doesn’t question it. He would have loved her with or without those children.”

The herbalist began to mix things into bottles and grind plants up. Angela looked back at Scarlett for a moment and thought about things for a long time in silence. “We are all novices at something even those of us who have seemingly lived forever. There will always be something that we cannot do accurately or perfectly. That’s why love comes in pairs to compensate for each other’s weaknesses. Sometimes love comes in more than a pair but that, in my opinion, is rare to an extent.”

Thinking about her weaknesses she chuckled a bit. “For example, when it comes to my children I become a terrible nervous wreck and believe me it is not pretty. Adraejen steps up and calms me down and makes sure nothing happens to the children. He about shook me to death the first time I had a breakdown. I also can’t sew clothes worth a damn nor do I really read common all that well. I’m a novice in lots of things. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” She finished mixing the brew and handed it to Scarlett. “Drink up. It’s bitter so it’s going to suck going down. After this, I need to pump magic into you so we’ll need to let your stomach settle a bit more.”

After Scarlett took the rather nasty potion Angela tilted her head. “Do you need something to wash it down? How do you feel?” She wasn’t quite sure how Scarlett would react to such a potion.

Scarlett couldn't help but chuckle. "Lord Adraejen is a good compliment to you," she said. "He is calm and collected but a goofy individual when it suits him," she smiled. "He's a good friend too."

Scarlett sat up and took the offered potion from Angela. She nodded and gave Angela a half-toast before she brought the cup to her lips and downed the concoction in a couple gulps. She immediately regretted the choice, and shuddered. It took everything in her power not to vomit back up all that she had just swallowed. She took a couple of deep breathes when Angela asked if she wanted to have something to wash it down, and nodded. Her stomach revolted at what had been added to it, twisting into what felt like painful knots. A cup of cool water was offered and Scarlett drank from it greedily before she lay back down on the stone bed, her face scrunched up in discomfort. 

"I've felt worse," Scarlett admitted. "But not by much," she added grimly. After a moment the cramping subsided and she relaxed. "All right… I'm okay now. I do hope that was the worst of it…"
 

There was a smirk on her face as she thought about it. “He was not always so calm and collected. There are times when even he loses himself to desperation. However, I do believe that is just about everyone in this world including immortals. There are just somethings we do not accept when it comes to loss.” Family was definitely one of the big reasons why desperation occurred.

The healer watched as Scarlett drank down the potion that would give her what she desperately wanted. “Oh, please my dear Scarlett.” There was a heavy smile on her face full of mischief now. Even her eyes were screaming how wrong Scarlett was. “The worst is birth. The worst is raising the little grunts until they can take care of themselves… and for people of longevity like ourselves… We never stop worrying if they can. There will be worse feelings my dear but they will come with time. Motherhood is a precious gift to all those who desire it but it does not come without its challenges.”

Angela reached her hand out and pet Scarlett’s soft red locks. “I’ll watch over you and make sure nothing bad happens to this child or any children you should have from this moment forward. It’s the least I can do for family. Though I will request that if something keeps me away you don’t go homicidal like Dear Dalanesca.” There was a wink from her as she laid Scarlett back and cracked her knuckles and neck as if she was truly a bit rusty. “This will tickle.”

Placing her palms together onto Scarlett’s lower stomach she let out a deep breath that almost whistled. Golden swirling energy started to gather as it turn into a soft green glow that seemed to fill the entire room. The goddess looked entirely focused as she spent minutes pumping this tickling magic into the genasi. “There,” the lights died down and Angela took a bit of a sigh as she rolled her shoulders and the magic of the room leveled out once more.

“That should do it.”

Scarlett couldn't help the look of distaste on her face as she still struggled to get past the aftertaste of the potion, but she managed a rueful smile. 
"I don't know if I would call that the worst… hardest maybe… but not the worst," she said after thinking. "I know it isn't the same thing, but carrying and bearing children is akin to working in a forge…." she relaxed back into the stone slab as Angela's warm golden magic began to fill her belly. 

"You start with the raw material… sometimes with a cruder material that you would like, and then you heat it, and give it a form. Then you spend countless hours refining it, pouring your heart and soul into the work, until finally one day, you have something to say you are proud of. But sometimes, despite everything, it fails. Your creation fails, sometimes catastrophically. That is the worst, seeing it fail. Seeing it fail and sometimes having it never be able to recover…" 

Scarlett looked up at Angela. 
"I doubt you will have to expect such a fallout from me… I am not a Goddess after all," the fire Genasi said with the slightest hint of a smile. "And if anything does happen, it is my own failing, not yours."

She let Angela do her work, and when she was done, Scarlett sat up. 

"What do I need to do now?"