Bluelake Family/IlyaRP/Baby Visit

Ilya and Willem travel to give the families good news

In the early June, Ilya and Willem were gifted with Ilya's pregnancy. However, they did not have the opportunity to tell either of the child's grandparents until the middle of June, with the pregnancy already in a somewhat advanced stage. These are the memories of their visit to Menedor.

Arriving to the Bluelake Manor

It was dawn when Fëalith stopped at the Bluelake manor's porch. The house was in very good condition, and no-one seemed to be awake yet. Ilya hadn't told her family that she was coming to visit, nor had Willem, standing by her side, still mounted as well. Their men had been instructed to build camp without disturbing the peasants, and the couple was alone.

With only a minor discomfort Ilya dismounted, and Willem did the same. Allowing their horses to graze nearby, they kissed each other gently, and smiled. Willem was the one to knock on the door. A short woman that neither of them knew answered the door, bowing quickly when she realized she was in front of the Duke of Barad Gardor.

- Y-your Grace, welcome to this humble house, how may I help you?

Willem smiled.

- My wife, Lady Ilya, is one of your mistress's daughter, so you may help us by giving us entrance and providing us breakfast while the family awakes.

The woman blushed, apologizing for her ignorance and babbling about "of course, she looks just like Dame Miriam, how could I not notice, of course, I'm terribly sorry, oh, you're expecting, my lady, oh, sorry for my indiscretion" and so on, to what the couple just smiled and followed her in.

After arranging the table with dozens of fruit, cheese, bread, cakes, pies, juices and what Ilya thought should be everything that was on the cellar, the woman vanished to the servant's quarters, leaving the couple to eat alone. Not half an hour had passed before they heard quick footsteps and a young lad stormed into the room, almost on the other side when he saw the table ready.

- Oh, breakfast is here today! Wh- Lily!!
Ilya smiled. The boy was beautiful, strong and almost a man in his 14 years.
- Hey, Rickie... - she winked, standing to give him a big hug - Where were you going in such a hurry?!
- I was... - he allowed the hug to last but a moment and frowned - Don't call me Rickie, Lily, I'm almost a man, now, I should be called by my name!

The baroness laughed, re-introduced her brother to Willem, and sat down, happy to hear of his adventures while he learned how to be a good soldier. Miriam and Charles soon joined them, and breakfast went in very high spirits, specially after Ilya and Willem told them about Ilya's pregnancy. Charles cried, 'Rickie' laughed and said he had only thought Ilya was getting fatter, Miriam cried and hugged, and asked if it was a boy or a girl, how she'd send orders to the weaver to start making the baby clothes, which season would the baby arrive, and many other questions that left Ilya dizzy, and Willem perplex.

In the morning, they walked the property to show the new stable and foals, the fields and the training grounds. Over lunch, Ilya's aunt and uncle came over, happy to hear the news. Charles mentioned that according to his estimates none of the locals entertain independence thoughts and that the local grain stores contained maybe 50 bushels of food, making sure people had an easy life for the season. When the couple was just about to leave for Willem's family manor, Ilya's aunt called her over and gave her 40 gold coins for the baby's care, straight from the family fortune, asking only that she told nobody. Smiling, Ilya hopped up to Fea's back, and the couple left, happy as the bright sun over their heads.

The visit to Willem's parents can be learned about in Willem's considerations while he arrived to see Ilya giving birth.