Avalyne Series 01: The Queen of Carleon (34 page)

‘
Is waiting for you both.’ Celene concluded before he could say anything else.

**********

‘He
is
beautiful,’ Dare agreed softly with Celene’s declaration when he stood at the doorway to Arianne’s chambers, his smile wide as he regarded his wife who looked terribly exhausted after her labours today. ‘Almost as beautiful as you.’

Arianne turned to him and smiled wearily. There was still perspiration on her face and though she would always be radiant to him, it was clear that she had been pushed to the limits of her endurance and was in need of a good rest. Dare carried their son to her and rested him at the side of her bed before nestling the child in the crook of her arm. Arianne’s eyes filled with tears as she saw her babe again, the child that was born into the light with no trace of Syphia’s evil spell or Mael’s darkness upon his cherubic face.

‘Oh Dare,’ she tried not to cry but the emotion of the moment made her weak and she could not help herself. ‘He is everything we dreamed he would be.’

‘
Yes,’ Dare agreed and leaned over to plant a soft kiss upon her forehead. ‘He is you and I my love, the finest thing that we have ever done together.’

‘
He will be the first,’ Arianne smiled happily, ‘I intend for him to have a house full of brothers and sisters.’

‘
I do not care how many children we have Rian,’ Dare whispered as he held her in his arms as she held their child. ‘As long as I have them with you.’

‘
And I with you,’ she replied before their lips met in a warm kiss.

When they parted, Dare stared at his son’s face and remarked,
‘so what will your name be young prince?’

‘
I was thinking,’ Arianne said with a little smile, ‘Braedan Tully.’

Dare’s eyes misted over and he nodded,
‘I think that is perfect.’

THE END