A Rush of Love

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 5th December 2020
Series: The Hallmaster's Ladies

Characters: Thayde, Quinla
Description: Thayde sneaks and meets Jalotha
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 8, day 3 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Jalodwyn, Enamra

Thayde

When he had first found out that Jalodwyn was pregnant, there had been the underlying denial that it could be his. Jalodwyn was an attractive, and manipulative, woman and Thayde really had believed there was a possibility the baby belonged to someone else.

Once the baby had been born however, the seed had been planted. Knowing that his brother had held his daughter, had seen her delicate features and touched her soft skin.... The more time passed with the knowledge that his daughter was living in the same building, the more Thayde thought about trying to see her.

Jalodwyn would never outright allow him to see Jalotha, she had made that abundantly clear, and he couldn't do it out in the open anyway, because rumors would spread and word would get back to Enamra. He didn't think Enamra would begrudge him for holding his daughter, after all, when she had first been born, he and Enamra had talked, down on the beach, and she had encouraged him to be there for his child.

Thayde couldn't be exactly sure that Enamra still felt that way, not with Jalodwyn so close by, so he knew that any attempt he made to see Jalotha had to be done secretly. To that end, he had targeted a creche worker that he thought would like to see some extra marks in her hands, and arranged for her to bring Jalotha to him.

The tricky part was waiting until Enamra fell asleep before slipping out of their quarters and then making his way down to an empty classroom where the worker was to meet him with the baby.

As he waited in the empty room doubts started to trickle in... What if the creche worker couldn't be trusted? What if she told Jalodwyn? If Jalodwyn knew she might run and take Jalotha with her....

The door opened slowly as Quinla stepped in, holding a sleeping baby in her arms. The young woman was visibly nervous as she closed the door behind her. Seeing Thayde, she hurried over. "I can't be away long, Hallmaster. I shouldn't be doing this at all. Journeywoman Jalodwyn was very specific about the baby. If she finds out, I'll get in trouble. "

"I'll take the blame if anyone finds out," Thayde assured the young woman, although his eyes were focused on the bundle in her arms. He'd held babies before, nieces and nephews, but the bundle in Quinla's arms had wormed its way into his heart. **That's crazy,** he thought, even as he realized it, because he had never even held his daughter before. How could he love something that he'd never had?

Quinla still had her doubts. If the Headwoman discovered she'd gone against a mother's wishes for her child, Hallmaster's involvement or not, she could well be dismissed. But, he _was_ the Hallmaster. Very carefully, she gestured you his arms and as he folded them, she carefully laid Jalotha into them. "She's a very sweet baby, Master Thayde."

"Of course she is," he murmured softly, completely enthralled by the warm bundle in his arms. As he looked down at the sleeping face, so peaceful and perfect, everything that he had been fighting for the last couple of months suddenly clicked into place. The fatherly love, the need to nurture and protect, it was all there. Seeing her, his daughter, settled a resolve within him that he needed to be there in her life, to teach her the things that a father should, and to make sure that she was properly cared for while she lived at the Hall. She would never be treated as a bastard child, not if he could help it.

Jalotha squirmed a little in unfamiliar arms, the masculine scent unfamiliar to the little girl. Her eyes opened and she stared up at Thayde, little brow furrowing, then relaxing. One little arm lifted, waving idly at him.

A smile lit Thayde's face. "Hey there, precious," he cooed, bouncing her a little as he paced. How could he have thought that he didn't want any part of this? Worse, he knew that Jalodwyn would never allow him to openly have a relationship with his daughter. He had thoroughly and utterly burned that bridge. Would he be forced into his secretive visits always? What happened when Jalotha was old enough to start recognizing him or remembering? **No, I can only do this a few times.** A few times was better than not being able to see her at all, he reasoned.

Quinla watched the Hallmaster, hugging herself as she studied the expression changing on his face. He looked as though he was already in love with the little girl and in truth, she sympathized with the man. How any woman could keep a child away from a good man like the Hallmaster was beyond her. "Master Thayde... Journeywoman Jalodwyn she says you're not to visit Jalotha in the creche, only she and another woman. It doesn't seem right to me. Jalotha is such a darling, despite...everything. And she's very healthy. She brought her to the Healers before bringing her to us. Journeywoman Jalodwyn says she's never been ill or very fussy. "

"It's Jalodwyn's choice," he said. He had given up his rights when he sent Jalodwyn away. "I know it's hard for everyone to understand here, but... Jalodwyn is a good mother and she is just being protective. That's what good mothers do."

"Then why did you ask me to bring her here?"

Thayde made a face. "Just because it's her choice and I thinks she's just being protective doesn't mean I don't want to see my daughter or be a part of her life. Hopefully what Jalotha doesn't know won't hurt her." Until she found out... **I'll just have to be careful that she doesn't find out.**

Quinla shrugged. She had little say as to what two parents decided to do with their child, and she'd heard nothing but rumors. "Well, I can't do this too often, Master Thayde. She said she wouldn't leave Jalotha with us at night very often. "

Jalotha kept peering up at Thayde, fascinated by both the gentle bounces and the movement of his mouth. She made a little squeal and waved her hands around wildly

"I know you can't," Thayde murmured to Quinla, the thought causing a little panic in the back of his mind. He had to find ways to see Jalotha. Knowing that the longer Jalotha was gone, the more likely they were to be caught, the Hallmaster sighed and kissed one of his daughter's perfectly round cheeks. "I have to say goodbye for now," he whispered to the baby, memorizing the way she looked and felt in his arms in case they weren't able to do this again.

"Thank you for this," Thayde said, handing Jalotha back to Quinla.

"You're welcome." The creche worker took the baby carefully, cradling her in her arms. Jostled just a little, Jalotha began to whimper and fuss, her little face scrunching up. "Shhh, little one. I'd better take her before she sets up a full cry. "

Thayde nodded, his heart hammering in his chest. "Of course. Thank you, again." He watched as the woman disappeared with Jalotha. The rush of emotions that hit him took him by surprise, bringing unshed tears to his eyes as he walked over to the window of the classroom and looked out at the ocean below. Bringing Jalodwyn and Jalotha to Dolphin Cove might have been the worst and best decision of his life.

Last updated on the December 7th 2020

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A Rush of Love