Everlasting Dream

Chapter 7: Porcelain doll

[Silvia]

Silvia's small hand clung tightly to her mother's arm, her wide eyes filled with fear, reflecting the icy grip that held her heart. The room seemed to grow even colder, and the air became heavy with an unspoken dread that settled over them like a thick, oppressive fog.

— "Mommy, what's wrong?" Silvia asked, her voice trembling like a leaf swaying in the wind.

Nivalis, her mother, didn't answer immediately. She couldn't tear her gaze away from her newborn son, who lay still and lifeless in her trembling arms, resembling a delicate porcelain doll.

— "Mommy, please, is everything alright?" Silvia's voice was barely more than a whisper as if she feared that speaking too loudly might ruin the silence that enveloped the room like a blanket.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly, seconds turning into an agonizing eternity.

Five seconds passed. Then ten. And fifteen.

Silvia's fear deepened as the moments dragged on, her mind racing. She couldn't understand what was happening, why her mother wouldn't answer. It felt like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.

Then, like a sudden bolt of lightning, the realization struck Silvia, and it hit hard. It was as if a dark cloud had lifted from her mind, revealing the grim truth that she had been unwilling to accept until now. Panic coursed through her veins like wildfire, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"He's not breathing," Nivalis choked out, her body trembling uncontrollably, her hands clutching the infant tightly.

Her baby brother, so fragile, was not breathing.@@@@

Silvia's world crumbled before her eyes. She watched in helpless horror as her mother, whom she had always seen as an unshakable pillar of strength, was reduced to a sobbing, desperate figure, fighting desperately to revive her son, her screams of anguish reverberating through the room.

Silvia could only stand there, rooted to the spot, as if she was paralyzed, her entire body numb. Her mind couldn't comprehend what was happening, couldn't grasp the reality of the situation.

The little boy's lips were tinged blue, and his skin was pale and clammy. The room was silent except for the sound of Nivalis's sobs.

"No, no, no!" Nivalis cried out, her anguish echoing through the room as if her voice could command life back into the tiny body she held. Her voice trembled with an urgency born of a mother's deepest love.

Silvia remained frozen in place, unable to move or speak. She had never witnessed her mother so utterly distraught. It was as if their roles had reversed, and Silvia, the child, now needed to provide the strength that her mother had always given her.

"My baby, my sweet baby," Nivalis whispered, her voice filled with an unbearable weight of grief. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and her eyes were blurry. She clung to her son with a mother's fierce determination, her hands clasped tightly together, and her eyes closed, but the tears didn't stop. Her lips moved, whispering prayers on ancient elven speech that Silvia had never heard before.

Silvia could see the full depth of desperation on her mother's face, and it broke her heart. She didn't know what to do, so she just stood there, her tears streaming down her cheeks, a silent testimony to her helplessness and sorrow. She wished with all her heart that she could do something to make it better, to bring back the warmth of life to her baby brother.

Nivalis cradled her son, her embrace tender and trembling. She rocked him gently in her arms, her tears falling like rain, each drop a plea to the heavens for mercy. She had never felt so helpless, so afraid in her life. Her heart ached with a fear that seemed to suffocate her.

In the room's hushed silence, there came a faint, barely noticeable movement — a subtle, delicate flicker of life that might have been mistaken for a mere trick of the light for anyone who could have seen it. The baby's minuscule fingers twitched, and his chest rose ever so slightly as if it hadn't happened at all. And then, it happened — a baby's cry.

The cry rang out, clear and strong, shattering the oppressive silence that had gripped the room like a vice. It was a sound that resonated with life and hope, like a beacon in the darkest of nights.

Silvia, her heart in her throat, released a breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding, a wash of relief flooding over her. She watched as her mother's tears of despair transformed into tears of joy, mixing with the sweat on Nivalis's face as she cradled her now-crying son.

Her brother is alive.

— "Mommy! He is alive," Silvia cried, her voice filled with joy and wonder. She couldn't believe her ears, couldn't believe that her brother was breathing and crying. The room seemed to brighten as if a storm had passed, leaving behind a radiant rainbow of hope.

Nivalis looked up, her eyes a mixture of shock, joy, and disbelief.

"He is alive," she murmured, her voice trembling with overwhelming emotion.

The infant's tiny face scrunched up, his lungs filling with air as he let out another piercing cry.

"Hush, my little one, hush," Nivalis whispered, her voice tender and calming, as she cradled her son close to her heart.

The baby responded to her comforting touch, his cries gradually subsiding, replaced by soft, contented coos, and Nivalis couldn't help but laugh, a sound filled with pure, unbridled joy and relief.

Nivalis, still cradling her son, turned to Silvia, her eyes sparkling with tears of happiness.

"He is okay, my little snowflake. He is okay," Nivalis said softly, smiling.

The baby gurgled, a sound filled with innocence and joy, and Silvia's heart melted.

"That's right. We're going to have so much fun together," Silvia continued, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

She felt as if her heart would burst with love and pride.

Nivalis looked on with tears in her eyes, her heart overflowing with emotion. This moment, this scene, was more precious than anything she could have imagined. She felt blessed beyond measure to have these little souls in her life.

Silvia continued to hold her brother, her expression one of utter adoration. The baby looked up at her with his golden eyes. She felt a wave of gratitude towards the goddess, who had answered her mother's prayers and saved her brother's life. She made a mental note to pray more often to express her thanks for this miracle.

Nivalis couldn't help but chuckle. She had known that Silvia was going to be a wonderful big sister, but seeing it play out before her eyes was even more heartwarming than she could have expected.

As Silvia gazed at her baby brother, her eyes shining with love and devotion, she couldn't help but notice the similarities between them.

"Look, Mom, he has ears just like mine," Silvia exclaimed, a sense of pride blooming within her. She gently touched her own pointed ear, then her brother's, marveling at the resemblance.

— "Of course he does," Nivalis confirmed, gently running her fingers over the tiny points. It was a small but significant connection, a reminder of their shared heritage.

"And his hair is just like mine, too," Silvia added, marveling at the silver curls that crowned her baby brother's head. The family resemblance was unmistakable.

— "You're right, my dear. It seems your brother inherited our elven traits," Nivalis said, a faint smile playing on her lips. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in passing on their heritage to the next generation.

"Mommy, what is his name going to be?" Silvia asked, her eyes wide with curiosity, her mind already brimming with possibilities.

— "I... Don't know? What do you think, my dear?" Nivalis said, inviting Silvia to be a part of this important decision.

Silvia pondered for a moment, her gaze fixed on her baby brother's peaceful face, and then a bright smile lit up her features.

"Maybe, Aster," she suggested, the name carrying a weight of significance that went far beyond the mere sounds of the letters.

Aster. It meant star. A symbol of hope, light, and purity. A sign of the divine's protection.

— "Aster. I love it. It's perfect," Nivalis replied, her voice heavy with emotion. She reached out, her fingers gently caressing her son's cheek.

"Hello, Aster. Welcome to the family," Silvia whispered, her heart overflowing with love and pride.

"Can I call him Asty for short?" Silvia asked, her face bright with enthusiasm, already forming a nickname for her brother.

— "Sure, my dear. It sounds cute," Nivalis replied, her smile mirroring Silvia's. She appreciated her daughter's warmth and eagerness to embrace her new role as a big sister.

The baby, Aster, gurgled, his golden eyes wide with wonder as he gazed at his new family. It was as if he already understood the love and happiness that surrounded him.

Aster.

Nivalis reached her hand over to her son, gently intertwining her fingers with his tiny ones. — "Welcome to the family, Aster, my son," Nivalis whispered, her voice filled with love and devotion. She knew that their journey ahead would be filled with challenges, but she was determined to give him a life filled with love, freedom, and happiness.

The newborn's tiny hand curled around Nivalis's finger, a gesture that spoke volumes, and Nivalis couldn't help but smile with watery eyes. It was a silent promise between mother and son, a bond that would only grow stronger with time. She would move heaven and earth to protect him, to ensure he lived a life far different from her own, regardless of the challenges ahead.

Aster would not endure the suffering that they had. He would not be raised within the confines of a prison. He would love and be loved back, surrounded by a family who cherished him.

Aster's eyelids fluttered open, his golden eyes gazing up at Silvia with a look of complete trust and love. He also reached out for her, his tiny hand grasping her finger, forming a circle of love and connection.

With this scene in front of her, Nivalis's eyes hardened with resolve, her determination unshakable. She knew that their path to freedom would not be easy, but she was willing to face any challenge to ensure a better life for her children.

The flame of hope burned brighter than ever in her soul, and she would do whatever it took to protect her family and secure their future.

With her son's first breaths, she had silently made a vow — one that echoed through the chambers of her heart.

They would escape, or she would embrace the darkness trying.