The laying in had been the longest eight weeks Aliks had ever had to endure. Her mother had come to Cereus house to stay and “assist” and, between her and Petrea’s hovering, Aliks was at her wits’ end. The truth was, she had not lived with her mother since she was ten years of age and though she loved her dearly, they simply were not suited for sharing close quarters.
But alas, the long period of laying in bed and having her work done for her was over and she found it splendid to be back on her feet. Petrea and AImee were still doing the lion’s share of the day to day running of the house, and would continue to do so for several months. The larger duties, such as contracts and legal matters, however had been returned to her.
As was customary, the babe slept in her quarters and would stay there for the first several months of his life. After, he would be moved into the nursery to be raised with the rest of the house children.
Aliksandria nó Cereus walked into the Temple of Naamah on a cool winter morning holding her son wrapped in blankets of Cereus blue. The whole of Cereus House was in attendance, to welcome a babe into their fold. Mandrake House had also chosen to come in its entirety, in honor of the boy’s father. In addition the Dowaynes of Eglintine, Dahlia, Heliotrope, Valerian, and Orchis Houses were present as well.
Aliks looked down at her son, with his hazel eyes and dark curls and knew that he would never belong to her house. Just as her mother had, she would have to see her son leave for another house at ten. This was the way of the Night Court and she would not gainsay it.
When she reached the altar, the priestess of Naamah smiled and picked up a pot of honey.
“Naamah is always honored when her service and worship brings forth new life.” the priest said loudly to the gathered crowd. She then dipped her index finger into the pot of honey and wiped it gently on the babe’s lips. “Know that you are a child of Naamah, and that your life and person bring her joy. Know that you shall always find solace in her arms.” She dipped her finger into the pot again. Aliks opened her mouth and allowed the priestess to place the honeyed finger on her tongue. “And so, Naamah’s Servant, what shall you name your child?”
Aliks had thought long and hard about this. Her first instinct was to name the boy after his father, but she could not do that. When she thought the name Waldemar, she wanted only to think of her lover and no one else. Next she considered naming him after her father, but still that did not seem to fit him. Her father was serious and composed, and even though he was but an infant, she could see the mischievousness in him. But finally, she had chosen a name that did seem to fit. She, like so many children, had grown up reading Hellene works, and she was ever fond of the old tales. So with a smile she looked at the priestess and said, “If it please Naamah, I present my son, Patroclus.”
The priestess nodded with a smile as the crowd cheered.
That afternoon, after Patroclus had been laid down for a much needed nap, Aliks sat in the great hall with the friends who had attended the dedication.
“Such an interesting choice of a name,” Amara said. “Did Waldemar choose it?”
Laughing, Aliks said, “No, in fact we only ever discussed names for girls. He was so certain that if he ever had a child it would be a girl that we never considered boy names.”
“Then why a Hellene name?” Mena asked.
“Did you ever read the Hellene poem of the great war with Troy? The one that ended with them building a large wooden horse?” Mena nodded. “It was Waldemar’s favorite story, he used to read it to me some time when I went to Mandrake House. The hero of the story is Achilles, and Patroclus was his lover. The loss of Patroclus is what spurs Achilles to fight. It changes him forever, just as my loss has forever changed me.”
Xixilya put an arm around Aliks, hugging her, “What if the child was a girl, what did Waldemar want to name her?”
“If he had been a girl, Waldemar wanted to name her Jehanne, he thought it was a beautiful name..”
“Oh, I like that,” Aimme responded. “ I think when I have a child I will use that name, in his memory.”
Petrea smiled. “Oh Aimee, that may be years from now.”
Aimee responded, “Even so.”
Aliks’ son may not bear his father’s name, but clearly Waldemar would be long remembered by those who knew him.