HARU
08-08-2004, 06:55
OOC info: Christian is 14 years old. This second child will be the incarnation of both Matthew AND Brigitte. This is more of a character development for the impending battle between Christian and his future brother or sister over future Haruvian matters...of The Reich for that matter.
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Christian sat at the breakfast table with growing unease. It had been three days since his mother had made an appearance at breakfast. Normally this would have been his favorite meal: breakfast was the only time he could sit down and really talk with his mother...and sometimes his father, Matthew Iesus, known to Christian only as Dad, when he was visiting. On days when the family was gathered around the table the talk would not be of the eternal elf problem (didn't he get enough of that at school?) or the religious situation in The Reich nor international incidents. No, breakfast time was a time to laugh and talk about cricket matches at school, who Christian fancied (he always blushed at these questions) and where they would spend their next holiday.
Christain knew his mother was a busy woman. Being the First Lady of The Reich must not be an easy job, he mused. He also knew that she was not the most popular person on the planet. He did, after all , read the newspapers when he was away at school. He didn't like the rubbish the press printed about his mum; to Christian she was a saint.
Christian idly moved the silverware around on his placemat as he glumly waited for his mum to come down stairs and greet him with her customary hug and kiss. Asking what his plans for the day were....
Each time Bella, the kitchen servant, walked through the swinging doors that seperated the kitchen from the dining room Christian would glance up only to be dissapointed by the sight of the slightly overweight peasant girl carrying trays. He followed Bella's movements as she strolled through the cozy dining room that looked out on the garden into the outside hallway. He listened intently as her footsteps whispered past him through the French doors that led to the stairs to his mother's bedroom. Maire's bedroom was situated on the north side of the house...the same side as the breakfast room, almost directly overhead. Christian strained his ears to hear any sounds coming from his mother's room yet was rewarded with only silence.
Christian pushed his breakfast aside and decided to go on up to his mother's room an find out what was going on. Strange things had been happening...strangers, people that Christian assumed were friend or advisors of Mother's had been coming and going throughout the house for the past few weeks. And his kitten had disappeared. His brow furrowed in thought about these things, Christian nearly jumped out of his skin when Bella came swooshing through the doors.
"Aren't you eating, Master Christian?"
"Not right now, Bella, thank you."
"As you wish sir."
Bella quickly stepped inside the kitchen leaving Christian to his thoughts.
Christian thought of asking Bella what was going on with his mother but thought better of it. Sometimes not knowing was best. Sometimes people couldn't be trusted. He never knew why there were pictures of family but no one talked about them:General Matthew, his paternal Grandfather, whom he never met...he was told he died the Great Slaver War....and Aunt Brigitte, and one of Uncle Patrick and Mum and Dad of course but where were his maternal grandparents? He had found one photo of his maternal grandfather The Great Brendan Haru with a woman who was his maternal grandmother Madeleine. When he asked Sebatian, his mother's top aide and his sometimes tutor in religious studies about this photo, his usually sunny nature turned dour and he clammed up. Christian was told to go ask his mother. When asked about his grandfather, Maire mumbled something about family quarrels and him dying in a war but Christian, who never doubted his mother's word, somehow found this explaination lacking. He also never knew why or how she had gotten the scar that cut across her left cheek. The one that marred her beautiful face. Sometimes if she was wearing a loose shirt Christian could see scars on her upper arms and back. He knew she had once been a brave soldier of Christ but somehow his suspicions about these scars bothered him. And why did the family never mention Uncle Patrick? He hadn't seen him in years. And no one talked about him. Not even Aunt Brigitte.
Christian was shaken by these thoughts as he heard a loud coughing sound coming from the upstairs bedroom. Surely that couldn't be mum? It sounded as if someone were throwing up. It couldn't be mum, Christian thought. She wasn't sick. True she had been looking wan when she made her appearances at dinner but wasn't her presence at dinner enough proof that she wasn't sick? In fact, she seemed happy and content at dinnertime...not always talking politics but of the possibity of taking Christian on a trip to visit Aunt Brigitte. Of being with her family.
For a moment Christian thought of sneaking into her room to just take a peek at her..see if she was okay. But then he remembered the last time he had done that. It was about four months ago and Dad was visiting. Christian had awoken in the middle of the night to hear strange sounds coming from the direction of his mother's bedroom. Even though he had been told NEVER to eneter his mother's room if the door was closed, especially if Dad was visting, Christian felt the urge to protect his mother. It sounded as if she were being hurt. He knew she had body guards but he reacted anyway and went flying down the hall to "rescue" mum. What he saw when he threw open the door totally confused and shocked him. He had learned all about sexual intercourse in his Health and Well Being Classes but this...
wouldn't stop him from seeing if his mother was alright today. He had convinced himself that what he witnessed between his mother and father was a dream..no one said anything about the incident except mum who only said that she loved his father very much and re-itereted her desire that he not enter her bedroom if the door was closed.
Well today was different. Dad wasn't here...he would go in there and ask her what was wrong. He waited a few moments as Bella straightened up the dining room. He hadn't even noticed her come back into the room so deep in thought was he. He listened impatiently as she hummed a tune. So as not to arouse suspicion Christian made small talk:
"What is that tune you are humming Bella?"
"What?" she stopped gathering the silveware that she was going to polish and looked at the young boy..almost a man really, "the song I was just humming?"
"yes, it's pretty."
"Oh that. It's just a song called 'Leben Ohne Liebe'."
"You mean by Marlene Dietrich?"
Yes, how did you know?"
"Easy, Mum is always singing Marlene Dietrich songs. Just never heard her sing that one."
Bella smiled and ruffled his black hair...so much like his father he looked but quite a different personality altogether.
"Well maybe you just haven't heard it yet. She's been singing it when I go in to get her breakfast in the morning."
Christains ears perked up.
"So you've seen my mother in the morning?" Christian's eyes flashed, his tone became accusatory.
Bella, aware that she was just a servant as well as surpried at the sudden change in Christian's tone answered automatically,"yes." Maybe he was like his father after all...
"Why? Haven't you seen her?"
"Yes" Christian lied. "of course I've seen mother. Why wouldn't I?"
"Well...it's just that...with the morning sickness...I thought..."
"I know all about that...I was just wondering what use mother would have for you in her private bedroom." Christian flatly stated. Inside he was furious...a servant knowing more than he! And this morning sickness business..it rang a bell but he couldn't remember from where.
"Don't you have things to do?", Christian inquired cooly.
"Yes, Master Christian." Bella had adopted a formal air about her as she gathered up the silverware and carried it into the kitchen.
When he was sure that Bella had gone back to her tasks Christian pushed through the French doors that led to the stairway that would take him to his mother's room.
Too bad if the door was closed.
He was tired of being kept in the dark.
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Maire Haru sat at her desk, still in her pajama's, writing furiously. Her uneaten breakfast had been pushed to one side; the mere sight of it made her want to puke. Although she was overjoyed about the coming baby, she detested everything that went with being pregnant. She hated being dependent on others and with this child...well he or she never stopped moving. She felt weak all the time and had become paler than usual. Doctor Fromme thought the baby might be causing her to become anemic. Probably. She knew the servants were talking about her condition; she had only told her closest advisors. Only now was she writing to tell Matthew. She knew very well that she was already a target and if this became public, her enemies would know of her weakened state. No, no, no...no one from the outside must find out until after the baby was born....
Mien Liebschun,
I have joyous news to tell you. God has blessed us yet again. Please come and visit; I wish to look into your eyes as I tell you of this glorious news. My heart is filled with joy...my soul is radiant....
You are the light in my darkness, you are the fire of my soul...
Maire winced as she felt a spasm of pain cross her abdomen
She hurriedly finished the letter:
Yours for all eternity,
Maire
Maire sealed the letter and placed it where Sebastian would see it and send it off post haste. She then climbed back into her lavish bed yet the sheets were cold. She bunched up some pillows and put some between her legs. Ahh that was better. The baby kicked again, lighter this time. Don't you ever sleep? she mumbled to her unborn child then closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
She never noticed Christian standing in the doorway.
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Christian sat at the breakfast table with growing unease. It had been three days since his mother had made an appearance at breakfast. Normally this would have been his favorite meal: breakfast was the only time he could sit down and really talk with his mother...and sometimes his father, Matthew Iesus, known to Christian only as Dad, when he was visiting. On days when the family was gathered around the table the talk would not be of the eternal elf problem (didn't he get enough of that at school?) or the religious situation in The Reich nor international incidents. No, breakfast time was a time to laugh and talk about cricket matches at school, who Christian fancied (he always blushed at these questions) and where they would spend their next holiday.
Christain knew his mother was a busy woman. Being the First Lady of The Reich must not be an easy job, he mused. He also knew that she was not the most popular person on the planet. He did, after all , read the newspapers when he was away at school. He didn't like the rubbish the press printed about his mum; to Christian she was a saint.
Christian idly moved the silverware around on his placemat as he glumly waited for his mum to come down stairs and greet him with her customary hug and kiss. Asking what his plans for the day were....
Each time Bella, the kitchen servant, walked through the swinging doors that seperated the kitchen from the dining room Christian would glance up only to be dissapointed by the sight of the slightly overweight peasant girl carrying trays. He followed Bella's movements as she strolled through the cozy dining room that looked out on the garden into the outside hallway. He listened intently as her footsteps whispered past him through the French doors that led to the stairs to his mother's bedroom. Maire's bedroom was situated on the north side of the house...the same side as the breakfast room, almost directly overhead. Christian strained his ears to hear any sounds coming from his mother's room yet was rewarded with only silence.
Christian pushed his breakfast aside and decided to go on up to his mother's room an find out what was going on. Strange things had been happening...strangers, people that Christian assumed were friend or advisors of Mother's had been coming and going throughout the house for the past few weeks. And his kitten had disappeared. His brow furrowed in thought about these things, Christian nearly jumped out of his skin when Bella came swooshing through the doors.
"Aren't you eating, Master Christian?"
"Not right now, Bella, thank you."
"As you wish sir."
Bella quickly stepped inside the kitchen leaving Christian to his thoughts.
Christian thought of asking Bella what was going on with his mother but thought better of it. Sometimes not knowing was best. Sometimes people couldn't be trusted. He never knew why there were pictures of family but no one talked about them:General Matthew, his paternal Grandfather, whom he never met...he was told he died the Great Slaver War....and Aunt Brigitte, and one of Uncle Patrick and Mum and Dad of course but where were his maternal grandparents? He had found one photo of his maternal grandfather The Great Brendan Haru with a woman who was his maternal grandmother Madeleine. When he asked Sebatian, his mother's top aide and his sometimes tutor in religious studies about this photo, his usually sunny nature turned dour and he clammed up. Christian was told to go ask his mother. When asked about his grandfather, Maire mumbled something about family quarrels and him dying in a war but Christian, who never doubted his mother's word, somehow found this explaination lacking. He also never knew why or how she had gotten the scar that cut across her left cheek. The one that marred her beautiful face. Sometimes if she was wearing a loose shirt Christian could see scars on her upper arms and back. He knew she had once been a brave soldier of Christ but somehow his suspicions about these scars bothered him. And why did the family never mention Uncle Patrick? He hadn't seen him in years. And no one talked about him. Not even Aunt Brigitte.
Christian was shaken by these thoughts as he heard a loud coughing sound coming from the upstairs bedroom. Surely that couldn't be mum? It sounded as if someone were throwing up. It couldn't be mum, Christian thought. She wasn't sick. True she had been looking wan when she made her appearances at dinner but wasn't her presence at dinner enough proof that she wasn't sick? In fact, she seemed happy and content at dinnertime...not always talking politics but of the possibity of taking Christian on a trip to visit Aunt Brigitte. Of being with her family.
For a moment Christian thought of sneaking into her room to just take a peek at her..see if she was okay. But then he remembered the last time he had done that. It was about four months ago and Dad was visiting. Christian had awoken in the middle of the night to hear strange sounds coming from the direction of his mother's bedroom. Even though he had been told NEVER to eneter his mother's room if the door was closed, especially if Dad was visting, Christian felt the urge to protect his mother. It sounded as if she were being hurt. He knew she had body guards but he reacted anyway and went flying down the hall to "rescue" mum. What he saw when he threw open the door totally confused and shocked him. He had learned all about sexual intercourse in his Health and Well Being Classes but this...
wouldn't stop him from seeing if his mother was alright today. He had convinced himself that what he witnessed between his mother and father was a dream..no one said anything about the incident except mum who only said that she loved his father very much and re-itereted her desire that he not enter her bedroom if the door was closed.
Well today was different. Dad wasn't here...he would go in there and ask her what was wrong. He waited a few moments as Bella straightened up the dining room. He hadn't even noticed her come back into the room so deep in thought was he. He listened impatiently as she hummed a tune. So as not to arouse suspicion Christian made small talk:
"What is that tune you are humming Bella?"
"What?" she stopped gathering the silveware that she was going to polish and looked at the young boy..almost a man really, "the song I was just humming?"
"yes, it's pretty."
"Oh that. It's just a song called 'Leben Ohne Liebe'."
"You mean by Marlene Dietrich?"
Yes, how did you know?"
"Easy, Mum is always singing Marlene Dietrich songs. Just never heard her sing that one."
Bella smiled and ruffled his black hair...so much like his father he looked but quite a different personality altogether.
"Well maybe you just haven't heard it yet. She's been singing it when I go in to get her breakfast in the morning."
Christains ears perked up.
"So you've seen my mother in the morning?" Christian's eyes flashed, his tone became accusatory.
Bella, aware that she was just a servant as well as surpried at the sudden change in Christian's tone answered automatically,"yes." Maybe he was like his father after all...
"Why? Haven't you seen her?"
"Yes" Christian lied. "of course I've seen mother. Why wouldn't I?"
"Well...it's just that...with the morning sickness...I thought..."
"I know all about that...I was just wondering what use mother would have for you in her private bedroom." Christian flatly stated. Inside he was furious...a servant knowing more than he! And this morning sickness business..it rang a bell but he couldn't remember from where.
"Don't you have things to do?", Christian inquired cooly.
"Yes, Master Christian." Bella had adopted a formal air about her as she gathered up the silverware and carried it into the kitchen.
When he was sure that Bella had gone back to her tasks Christian pushed through the French doors that led to the stairway that would take him to his mother's room.
Too bad if the door was closed.
He was tired of being kept in the dark.
----------------------------------------------
Maire Haru sat at her desk, still in her pajama's, writing furiously. Her uneaten breakfast had been pushed to one side; the mere sight of it made her want to puke. Although she was overjoyed about the coming baby, she detested everything that went with being pregnant. She hated being dependent on others and with this child...well he or she never stopped moving. She felt weak all the time and had become paler than usual. Doctor Fromme thought the baby might be causing her to become anemic. Probably. She knew the servants were talking about her condition; she had only told her closest advisors. Only now was she writing to tell Matthew. She knew very well that she was already a target and if this became public, her enemies would know of her weakened state. No, no, no...no one from the outside must find out until after the baby was born....
Mien Liebschun,
I have joyous news to tell you. God has blessed us yet again. Please come and visit; I wish to look into your eyes as I tell you of this glorious news. My heart is filled with joy...my soul is radiant....
You are the light in my darkness, you are the fire of my soul...
Maire winced as she felt a spasm of pain cross her abdomen
She hurriedly finished the letter:
Yours for all eternity,
Maire
Maire sealed the letter and placed it where Sebastian would see it and send it off post haste. She then climbed back into her lavish bed yet the sheets were cold. She bunched up some pillows and put some between her legs. Ahh that was better. The baby kicked again, lighter this time. Don't you ever sleep? she mumbled to her unborn child then closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
She never noticed Christian standing in the doorway.