Enif - Part 4 Final

I searched for Orion and didn't stop until I found him.

"I know one of the elder leaders is your grandfather, and he must be so grumpy that I guess he must be the one thinking about my punishment. I need you to advocate for me," I told him, and he looked annoyed. "Ask the elders not to banish me."

"Why would I do that?" he mocked, crossing his arms. "You and that thing in your belly deserve to disappear and leave your family with that stain. I can't believe you would do it knowing it was forbidden."

I clenched my fists.

"And what about you? Just so you know, I won't leave without first shouting from the rooftops that you were the one who took me to listen to that talk." I warned, and he frowned deeper, worrying. "What a shame that an honorable warrior heard something forbidden."

"They're not going to believe you."

"I have a witness. You know that your little pupil Altair listened to us well hidden that day we argued."

He pursed his lips and huffed, taking several steps back and forth.

"As you wish, but I assure you that the stain of dishonor will not go away."

"I don't care. I only want my baby not to die in the forest."

He growled.

"I can't believe you ruined your life and your honor on a whim. You're irresponsible."

"Arthur is not a whim," I refuted. "I always felt something strong for him, and he always treated me very well." His tense eyebrows loosened slightly, looking like he had become sad, but the second he returned to his angry expression. "And I apologize for not being able to say it sooner, but I felt trapped. I'm sorry..."

He looked down.

"I don't forgive you. I accepted my union with you because..." He snorted. "It doesn't matter. You have left me in shame."

I swallowed hard.

"Orion, do you...?"

"You better not mention that I took you to listen to that talk, or we won't have a deal." He walked away.

I remained silent. I didn't understand now. If he had feelings for me, why didn't he tell me? At least with his actions. On the other hand, I hated having to be the victim of blackmail like that, but I no longer had to look out for my good but for that of my baby.

***

Arthur had wanted to see me, but his parents hadn't let him. He had escaped from his house, but my parents wouldn't let him in either.

"I can't believe he dares to come," my mother said. "After having done wrong to my daughter."

"Mother, be quiet," I growled, to which she was surprised. "This baby also has your blood and has mine, and I don't understand why you view that so negatively. I don't understand why everyone refers to it as a mistake, a damage, or a thing."

She looked down for a second and looked at me again.

"Disguising your mistake with those words does you no good. It is what it is. A mistake."

"Okay. It's a mistake, whatever, but I love it. I have always done everything you asked for. I accepted my union with someone I did not want by my side. Now that I have something that resulted from an action I decided to do myself, it is special. I want it, and if you don't, then too bad."

"Daughter," Dad murmured. "Understand your mother. She is distraught."

"Distressed for her honor, but not for her family."

He sighed.

"We don't want you to suffer, that's all. We didn't know you felt trapped with Orion. We thought it was an honor for you, too."

I shook my head and went to my room.

***

We waited to see what the elders decided. Arthur looked at me from his place with concern, but I didn't care anymore. I was confident that at least I wouldn't be banished, and neither would he.

The elders came wearing their white robes because they liked to boast about their wisdom. I couldn't understand why all these people had to find out about my feelings and my baby. I didn't understand why they had to be the ones to decide.

"We're starting the trial," said one.

Orion's grandfather looked at me disapprovingly.

"We want to ask you," Arthur's mother spoke, but she was interrupted.

"No, mother," her son answered. "Just listen."

One of the elders raised his hand for silence, and they continued.

"Young Arcturus is going to join Miss Enif immediately," the man said. I was surprised and looked at him with concern. "After that, she will follow the midwife's advice for the care of that creature, but the baby's name will not link it to you but to the person who should have been his parent."

I pursed my lips.

"No," I refuted. "Why? It's going to cause some to talk."

"They're going to talk anyway," said another. "And we are not allowing you to say a single word. You are disgraced but not banished; you should be grateful and remain silent."

I clenched my fists and looked down. It was true. Now, there was a stain on my family's honor.

"You will live in young Arcturus's house until he finishes building one for you. You should not go out when that baby grows and your belly becomes larger. Young people should not know about any of this, and now you see the reasons. No need to cause more mess."

Arthur's parents were angry, and I didn't care how mine were.

As soon as the old men left, I went to catch up with Arthur. I saw that his parents walked without him, and I went to take his arm.

"What are you doing?" I complained, and he frowned. "Why did you accept so easily being tied to me? I am disgraced. You have stained your family."

He shook his head.

"Do you think it's a punishment for me to join you? It's what I always wanted," he said. I was surprised. My heart skipped a beat after having been dying from so much anguish for weeks. "Do you think everything I told you while I was caressing your hair after our intimacy was a lie?" I looked down, and he took my hands, making me look into his eyes again. "Enif... As soon as I learned that you carry part of me, I wanted to run and tell you I would take care of it. Of course, I want to take care of that creature with you. It's the materialization of our feeling."

"Arthur," I whispered.

I hugged him tight, feeling some relieved tears run down my cheeks.

"It doesn't matter if they say it's a mistake; for me, it hasn't been." He began to caress my hair. "I came to tell them that I would join you, that they didn't have to send you to the forest. They always say that women and children are very important, so they should respect their sayings."

I smiled slightly and closed my eyes.

"Thank you."

"No. You don't have to thank me." He tightened his embrace around me. "I can't believe that even though we were intimate, you believed I would hate you. At no point did I stop you. I wanted it, too, even though I knew I was breaking every rule in existence and that I was getting a beating from Dad if they found out."

I chuckled.

"It's true."

But I became sad, crumpling the fabric of his shirt with my hands. My parents hadn't hit me; only Mom had cried a little, and Dad had consoled her by saying that it really wasn't that big of a deal, that they were all making a huge deal out of nowhere.

How could something considered good for our species, like a baby, cause such a stir?

***

But, of course, the old people were right. Perhaps the young people did not wonder or were interested in why I had suddenly joined someone else and not the one I was supposed to, but the adults did, and their discriminatory looks were not long in coming.

"She committed dishonor," they whispered.

"How shameless."

"They should have banished her."

"It's a stain."

I snorted and jumped slightly when I felt Arthur take my hand. I looked up, and he gave reproachful looks to those speaking.

We entered the house, and I sat down, exhausted. His mother didn't want to have me there, but he had become strong and had asked them not to make such a mess if, in the end, the baby was also his blood.

"How can you be so sure?" I had to endure her mother asking him.

"Mom! Silence. That doesn't even matter. Plus, you know well that she even smells like me."

"No," I murmured. "Arthur, don't argue with your mother, please."

Rebelling against your parents was also a breach of honor, and he had always been a perfect son.

"I'll hurry up and finish my house and not bother here anymore, Mom," he said with determination.

It hurt me to see that I had ruined his relationship with them. But Dad was right. In the end, it wasn't such a big deal.

***

"If humans weren't troublesome, I'd go with you," I murmured as I had long ago. "I hope this baby can leave this place one day. I would let him go."

Arthur was next to me. We were in bed, naked, already in our house. Despite everything, it felt excellent to finally leave his family, and it helped me to be encouraged. I felt so free that I dragged him to bed, and we loved each other very freely as we were already united.

Besides, the old counselor had said that I could and that my body was going to ask for it because of something that had to do with hormones.

"So... Hormones made us do this," he said with amusement.

I chuckled.

"Well. The old lady said that what we have is love. She has been one of the few who hasn't judged me for everything. She has advised me about the baby and some tips for us." I moved my eyebrows up and down.

He smiled.

"Tips? Which tips?"

"You'll know them soon." I approached him to kiss him.

He sighed and continued caressing me.

"Maybe when I'm an old man, as you tell them, I'll become a leader. So I'll change a lot of things around here."

I nodded.

"Well, until that happens, it's best not to get your hopes up," I mocked.

He laughed. It had been long since he smiled and spoke with that spirit that characterized him. It made me very happy to make him happy.

However, after one of my last exams with the old midwife, the old leaders didn't take long to give more news.

"The midwife has determined that he will be a boy. Therefore, your son will be called Sirius," they decreed. "Close to the Orion constellation."

I pursed my lips and caressed my belly, which was already quite bulging. Upon learning the meaning of the names in the future, I was sure that my son would want to know why his name was so distant from that of us and our family, but I had no choice but to accept if that was how they wanted to punish me. I could do more.

Soon, my baby came after a few months of just being at home, which was no problem for me, although I missed going hunting with my father. Arthur took me to the old women, and they welcomed my little one. It did hurt, but thanks to the fact that we healed and were strong, it passed soon, and I could hold my baby Sirius in my arms.

I didn't care about his name or that everyone said he was a mistake. When he planted his huge eyes, green like ours, on me, I loved him. However, I was aware that I had loved him since I knew he was in my womb. I only regretted so much intense fear that I felt.

I spent the afternoons lulling him to sleep. My parents and Arthur's had come to see him, to get to know him. At first, it seemed they would never love him, but now, they didn't want to let him go. He smiled and wanted to touch everyone's face. Of course, they didn't take long to tell me not to carry him too much. They wanted to bathe him in ice water to make him 'extra strong,' and I didn't allow them to do so.

He was such a happy baby; I didn't want to ruin that for him. He barely had two upper fangs sticking out, but nothing stopped him when he raised his little arms, sitting on his bed, asking to be picked up, with that big toothless smile and green eyes.

When he started to walk, which was quite soon, it was quite an adventure since the old lady had said that our babies developed quickly to be self-sufficient.

He followed me everywhere in the house. He observed every little animal and insect that passed by and tried to say its names, which Arthur and I were teaching him when he pointed at them, wanting to tell us that he had discovered something new.

"Sirius," I called, going after him.

He was very happy to want to climb a tree, chasing a bird that he had seen flying from a garden.

"That's the problematic child," I heard women whisper. "A while ago, he knocked down some logs at the market." I sighed and looked at them angrily. "That curiosity he has is not good. He is going to end up getting lost in the forest. Do you remember what happened that time...?" they walked away talking.

My baby fell after his failed attempt to climb, and I rushed to comfort him. I looked at those who had passed by talking, and they looked away when they noticed that Sirius had already calmed down. He was very strong.

So, before anything happened to him, I took my son to the forest. I taught him how to hunt, choose a good tree to climb and be safe, make fire, not touch certain plants, and much more.

Sometimes, he sighed deeply while he slept...

"It's the anguish you had when you carried him in your womb," her grandmother reproached me, patting him on the back. "But he will get over it. He must be a strong boy."

I picked him up from bed to rock him despite being told not to. Seeing how he snuggled against me was worth everything.

I taught him to respect the rules so they wouldn't talk about him. I taught him about honor. I didn't want him to suffer. I did not agree to any union for him so that he would not feel imprisoned, as had happened to me. I would let him choose, or at least let him be older and aware of what it meant.

"Mommy," he murmured. "Why do they say I'm a mistake?"

I led him by the hand through the streets. I was saddened by not being able to protect him from gossip, and I knew he would listen one day. They had already forgotten it, but some had not.

"Because their brain is damaged," I answered.

He laughed silently, covering his mouth. Still, I knew that he wouldn't believe my answers one day.

We arrived at the old leaders, who had asked to see me, and I entered. As I was punctual, one of the elders, who was waiting for me, approached.

"Thanks for coming. Although you shouldn't have brought the child."

"I wasn't going to leave him alone. My partner is working in a house." I got worried. "Is this about him?"

"You see, that boy bears your dishonor, so now that he is capable, he will be trained by Orion."

"What?" My blood ran cold. "No. It's enough with his name. Why?"

"We, the leaders, ordered it. Do you want to assume the consequences of disobeying? We have already shown you enough mercy."

My bottom lip trembled at the thought of my little baby getting those workouts. I knew they were horrible because I had seen the children do all kinds of routines—a lump formed in my throat.

They wouldn't leave us alone, it seemed. I had to be strong. I squatted down and took my little Sirius to hug him.

"Mommy..."

"You're going to train with a man from now on," I explained, stroking his hair. I tried to smile to calm him down since he had been worried when he sensed my distress. "It may be hard, but it will give you a lot of honor. You know what we say about honor."

"What are you doing?" the old man grunted. "You don't have to explain anything to him. The adults order, and the children obey."

"My little one deserves explanations."

The man snorted and shook his head disapprovingly.

"Your child is a problem. I hope he doesn't stain your life anymore."

"He does not do it."

"It will be settled with Orion. Now leave. Children are not spoiled like that."

Then my son growled at him, surprising him for the worse and me for the better. The old man finally left, and I hugged my son again, letting out a long sigh.

"Calm down, you're not a problem..."

"That man was speaking rudely to you. Sorry, mother."

I smiled tenderly at him and placed my forehead against his.

"Thank you for defending me. You're going to be someone big, Sirius," I assured.

He smiled, happy with himself, and hugged me.

When we got home, Sirius was happy to see Arthur, who left what he was doing in the kitchen to come pick him up.

"Hey," he covered Sirius' eyes and kissed me quickly. "All good?" He wanted to know when he noticed my anguish.

I took a deep breath and nodded.

"Well... The elders decreed that Orion will train Sirius."

"What?" His great anger was quite palpable. "No. He is my son, and he will be what we are."

"Arthur, please..."

"Why do I have to give him to that man?" he growled.

"If we don't accept, you know we'll get into trouble."

He shook his head and huffed, taking a couple of steps and rocking Sirius, who was sitting on his forearm.

"Daddy, I can do it. It's for mommy's honor," said my little one.

That surprised Arthur. I pursed my lips and took him from his arms to surround him in mine and kiss his forehead. Arthur finally sighed and came to hug us both.

"I'm going to teach him my trade, too, and I'll make sure that man doesn't fill his mind with ideas."

"I know. Me too," I whispered back.

"We have already raised him well in the first years of his life, and I know that this is the best period to mold his ideals, but I will take care that he does not lose his way."

"Both. Together..."

I would take care of my son so he wouldn't make mistakes and be labeled like me, but I would also let him have free thinking. I always tried to be strict, like my parents, but not so rigorous as to go to the bad extreme.

Sirius made me angry more than once, but I never stopped loving him. I had to be tough at times, others soft and understanding. If he was happy, so was I. He was a great, great boy, the perfect mix of Arthur and me. The best of both, although also with stubbornness and rebellion. Things that, despite everything, were not entirely bad.

Everything that he was would take him far, not only personally but also physically. He was going to be able to break ties and live more freely. Like us, he was capable of loving with all his heart, and I expected him to have a life full of satisfaction.