Fanfic Time: My Baby Now (5)

Cordelia had to un-learn being a Ladyship. Which had so far included an awful lot of laundry and menial tasks. Today, it was groceries, whilst learning the lexicon of the serving class. And, apparently, running into Kosh.

He was staring as if Charmed, and may have forgotten to breathe. Little Aldiirn was with him, clinging to Kosh's tail, and frozen in terror.

Poor lamb, he was terrified of women in general and Elven women in particular. He'd kept his distance from Cordelia all the way from their first meeting to their separation at Vallaster's mansion. So she kept her distance and took every possible care around the lad.

Which made things difficult, since she and Kosh liked each other.

He didn't hide his affections very well in the underdark, and he was even worse in the light of day. His yellow eyes were going goopy with adoration within seconds of her gaze meeting his.

They exchanged shy waves at each other. Twenty feet apart in a crowded street because Aldiirn was frightened. It was a pity the little boy had never warmed to her. She wanted to mother him, more than a little. He needed softness as well as security, but since he preferred security... she kept her softness to herself.

A blur of movement, and Kosh was fighting a Drow and Aldiirn was nowhere in her immediate view. A crash of boxes drew her attention to another Drow. Aldiirn clutched in their arms. They'd dodged the wrong way and tripped on a skewed cobblestone, into a stack of crates by a store.

She started running for him, throwing a potato at the Drow. Wishing she could tangle them up instead of just beaning them with a tuber. Something inside... answered her.

The potato sprouted, tangling the Drow in vines to the point where escape was impossible. She yanked Aldiirn from the mess and willed the vines to tighten. Cordelia was very surprised to find them obeying. This was... this was very much a surprise.

She pressed the convenience to her advantage. "Don't any of you or your ilk lay a finger on that boy ever again, or I will make sure they're poison vines, next!" Cordelia fought to stay upright, weirdly exhausted. She battled dizziness as she recovered Aldiirn's little Raggy Man doll from the tangle. Struggled to walk to where Kosh was kneeling to embrace his boy.

She fell, more than chose to stop, into a kneel by their side. "Here's your..." Cordelia found herself suddenly out of breath. Her arm shook with the effort of holding a child's soft toy out far enough for Aldiirn to cautiously take.

"You didn't mention you're a Druid," said Kosh, somewhere outside her darkening vision. "Fraulein?"

"...i didn' know..." she mumbled. It was getting very dark. Wasn't it supposed to be midday?

"Breathe, Fraulein. Like I showed you. Please?"

Someone was playing a flute. A beautiful melody that inspired and invigorated. Light returned. Aldiirn was playing a healing melody, his doll in the crook of his arm. Kosh, now in focus, was cautiously offering a kerchief.

She'd had a nosebleed.

"Best to stay put," said Kosh. "Here comes the Guard. There's going to be an enquiry."

In a week, there would be a full trial.