A New Life

[Vivian]

Five days. The words were like iron on his heart. He looked down at Laurent, who had let him go and was burping amicably. The babe curled against him, mumbling and kicking his good leg. Five days and they would rip this new soul away from him. Vivian laid back, watching Laurent drift off to sleep without a care in the world. All he knew was that mother was nearby, his belly was full of milk, and he was warm. What Vivian would give to be in his position. As it stood, he had five days to recover, pack, and flee the most dangerous country on earth with a newborn.

Gods help him.

“Is…is that all? Five days then…” Vivian’s voice was heavy. “…then you’ll take him from me?” He swallowed thickly. He couldn’t deny that he was terrified. He was so frightened he wasn’t strong enough, that he hadn’t practiced Hakon’s face or mannerisms, and that he’d be butchered next to Laurent. Hakon had said it himself. Better dead than fled. “I…I love him. I need more time with him..”

He needed to claw for as much time as he could, but Vivian had consigned himself. Five days. If he got more so be it, but he needed to be ready for them to storm his room and steal Laurent. Damn Alistair for a bastard! He’d kill him if he ever saw him again! He’d known better than to take the word of a noble, and yet he’d fallen hook line and sinker.

Vivian nodded quietly. “Yes. We’ll check. We’ll check every day.” He sniffled. Laurent yawned, and nuzzled against his skin.

[Hakon]

What Hakon wanted to explain was that five days was what he he had argued for, quite vociferously, against Vivian's Warden and against the tower's postmaster. They had wanted three. He, arguing for Vivian because the lad was too indisposed to do it himself, had tried for seven, and they had settled on five. He found himself glad he hadn't seen Laurent beforehand because if he had, he might not have accepted their compromise. He didn't say any of that, though, because what comfort would it bring Vivian to know that he had tried, and had secured him forty eight more hours. The ending was the same, and he could not change it, nor could Vivian. Only Laurent's father could, and contrary to his cheery words to Vivian, Hakon was not holding out hope on that account.

So instead, he said, "it is unlikely to be me that takes Laurent to his new home, Vivian. I am an obedient Magus, as you know, but our friendship means I am unlikely to be chosen lest it lead me to sentimentality over duty. That being said, you are correct in the essentials. Five days until the separation occurs."

Vivian's Warden had phrased it that way: the separation. Hakon could not recall if pregnancies in the past had been handled in this manner or not, or if the event had been deemed a separation, as though both parties were voluntarily parting ways. Laurent had fussed even when removed from Vivian by Vivian. He thought about the babe squalling without Vivian, consigned to see him only for occasional visits or more likely not at all.

He was dizzy again and his eyes blurred with tears. The lack of vitessence was obviously getting to him. Still, a worthy cause.

"We must pray Alistair does right by you and by his son," Hakon said, with the conviction of someone who prayed to gods who did not listen. How useless prayer was in this moment! It made him want to smash something into kindling. "In the meantime, perhaps I should take my leave, and let you two rest."

[Vivian]

"If I am going to hand over my baby, my heart, to someone...I will kill anyone who enters the room if it isn't you." Vivian said quietly, dangerously. "I don't want some brute who will fling him at the nearest orphanage. I want the man whose name he bears to kiss him goodbye and tell him he will be lucky. Please. I know you've done me so many favors, but out of everything I've asked this is the most important. It has to be you, Hakon. It must be you." His own eyes were filling with tears. If this failed, and Laurent was ripped from his grasp, he wanted Hakon to handle him just as lovingly as he had minutes ago. He needed an insurance policy that a man with some gentleness left to him would hand Laurent over and make sure he was fed and cared for. If Vivian failed, he didn't expect to survive the attempt. Better dead than fled, after all. But surely Hakon wouldn't have it in his soul to butcher a markless infant?

Vivian looked down at Laurent, snoozing quietly on his chest. "Then we pray to Azunath, little one, that your stars will change." he said quietly. He didn't expect Alistair to show up. The man had gotten what he'd wanted. A few days of fantastic sex. Vivian would never forgive himself for falling for that trap again. He held out a hand to Hakon. "Pray with me that his father shows up." Vivian pleaded, looking into Hakon's eyes. "Perhaps between the three of us, someone will listen."