hunters_forest | Fic: What's In A Name

A slightly more light-hearted fic, loosely connected to the previous one, Blood Bound. Andrys' reaction courtesy of

alice_montrose, because she asked for it. ;-)

Fic: What's in a Name
Author: Lara
Rating: PG (to be safe)
Beta by

ariss_tenoh, thank you!

All publicly recognizable characters, settings, plot, etc. are the property of C. S. Friedman. The original characters, settings and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with C. S. Friedman and no copyright infringement is intended. This work is an amateur fan effort and no profit is being made.

Narilka Tarrant smiled politely as the Matriarch told her once again how much her newborn son resembled her and how fortunate the boy was to have such a pretty mother. Andrys' immediate response was that he thought so too, and that were honoured that the head of the Western Autarchy of the Church of the Unification would come all the way to Merentha to personally bless and baptize their son. Then the Matriarch remarked that the baby definitely had his father's nose, and the whole conversation began anew.

Her mouth frozen in a smile, Narilka gritted her teeth and worked on being pleasant. They were standing in the nursery, looking down at the baby in his cradle. She felt more than a little envy for her son who was sleeping peacefully through all this. She didn't want to be here and watch old women coo over her baby. She felt tired and out of sorts, her head hurt, and if this parade of visitors didn't stop soon she was going to scream, or at least hide for a day and let Andrys handle the ovations by himself. He was the recipient of most of the felicitations anyway, a fact that rather annoyed her whenever she let herself think about it. As though he'd been the only one involved in the creation of their child. And he didn't do anything to disperse that image.

She wasn't being fair to him, she knew that. He had been a model husband every moment of their marriage, and she loved him deeply. But right now she felt rather uncharitable towards him, and each congratulation and visit made it worse. She could have dealt with the relatives, if he'd still had any. It was the official visitors and his former friends who set her teeth on edge, with their sweet talk and their endless compliments.

"There was no question that I will perform the ceremony myself," the Matriarch was telling Andrys. "A Tarrant, and your firstborn besides... of course everyone in the Church would think it only proper that I do this in person. Your family has given us so much in the past. I still remember when your father..."

And on she went, subtly reminding Andrys that the Church counted on him to continue as his ancestors had done for centuries. It wouldn't do to let the richest and most influential sheep stray from the flock, after all.

Narilka suppressed a sigh and surreptuously slid a hand under the opposite sleeve to touch the bracelet she wore. An engraved medallion, attached to a fine gold chain. It was intended to be worn as a pendant, but she had wrapped it around her wrist a few times to wear it where it would be out of view, covered by the wide, long sleeve of her dress. The metal was cool against her fingertips and she slowly traced the fine lines of the engravings, picturing the Earth globe in her mind. It calmed her, as touching metal always did.

"I think having the baptism next week is an excellent idea," the Matriarch said. "The day of the First Landing - very symbolic, and even though the Church may not share in the usual pagan celebrations, there is no denying that it is an auspicious day."

"My family has always baptized children on that date, or on the day of First Sacrifice," Andrys explained to her. "It is an old tradition, just like..."

Another tradition, Narilka thought as she let the words wash around her. To her, born in a family who set little store by time-worn habits, it had taken some time to get used to having her life suddenly governed by rules laid down centuries ago. And while she could see the point of some traditions and liked the implications of others, others were simply pointless. Like the day for the blessing and baptism; but Andrys seemed to like the idea, so she let it be.

She listened to Andrys and the Matriarch throughout the diplomatic dance of offering and accepting hospitality for the next few days, glad that she was not required to participate in it. She could fill the role of Neocountess fairly well by now, but that she could do it did not mean that she always enjoyed it. Right now her presence and that of her son was fortunately considered to be sufficient. The Matriarch probably even preferred her silence to a potential theological argument with a former pagan.

Once that particular issue was settled, however, attention did return to her.

"Have you decided on a name yet, my dear?" the Matriarch asked. Another irritation, but one she had gotten used to - while Andrys was still his Excellency, pregnancy and motherhood seemed to have changed her own status to my dear and the like, at least where most female visitors were concerned.

"We agreed on Samiel as a middle name, for my brother and my great-grandfather," Andrys said quickly when she didn't answer immediately. "Narilka has not yet told me which first name she has chosen." It was another tradition - this time of the Church - that children were named by their mothers.

The Matriarch looked at her curiously. "Well, if I am to baptize your child in two days I ought to know what to call him," she said. "Unless you need more time?"

Touching the medallion again, Narilka shook her head. "I have decided," she said calmly. She should have told Andrys in private, but now that she was asked directly she didn't want to lie. And besides, he might have attempted to talk her out of it.

"So?" Andrys was watching her expectantly.

"Gerald. Gerald Tarrant."

She could see the Matriarch go suddenly pale, but before she could say something - offer a glass of water, or maybe a seat - Andrys abruptly sat down on one of the chairs placed near the cradle for the comfort of elderly visitors.

"Andrys!"

"Your Excellency!"

The two women were at his side immediately, the Matriarch steadying him while Narilka anxiously peered at his pale face. She had known he would be startled by the name, but she hadn't thought that he would actually be this shocked.

"Andrys, are you all right?"

His eyelids fluttered a bit and he managed a weak smile. The Matriarch touched her arm.

"Come, dear, he needs some fresh air. Don't you, your Excellency?"

Andrys nodded slightly, and together they hauled him back upright and walked him to the door of the nursery. Narilka summoned a footman from the hallway, who immediately came to help. She let him support Andrys and was about to follow them to the balcony at the end of the short hallway when the Matriarch's hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"I think we ought to have a little chat, my dear," the old woman said. Her voice was pleasant, but it was plain that a refusal was not acceptable. Still Narilka waited until Andrys was out of her sight. Then she turned around and closed the door behind her.

"I am not going to change my mind," she said firmly.

The Matriarch studied her for a moment, then went over to the cradle to look at the baby again. "You know what that name stands for, don't you?" she asked.

Narilka nodded. "The founder of the Tarrant family in Merentha," she said carefully, choosing the most harmless point to begin. "The first Neocount."

The Matriarch sighed. "The first Neocount. The Prophet of the Law of the Church of the Unification. Holder of more Church offices than I care to name. King Gannon's chief strategist." She paused. "His name is something we are trying to keep from general knowledge. It wouldn't do to have the Prophet connected to any single family, no matter how important. For Church purposes it is best if his origins remain a mystery to the public. I think it is also in the best interest of the Tarrants."

The barely veiled threat was impossible not to notice.

"I don't care about gaining influence that way." Narilka met her gaze. "You just named Andrys Leader of the Second Crusade; that's more than enough importance already."

"Why then?" The Matriarch seemed genuinely curious. "For one of your own relatives?"

Narilka shook her head. "No." She looked at the Matriarch firmly, beginning to feel angry at having her decision questioned. It was her right to decide on a name. The head of her newly chosen religion was not going to interfere with that. "A reference to the Hunter."

For a moment all the Matriarch seemed capable of was staring, and it took a visible effort to ask, "But why? The Hunter? My dear, have you lost your mind? Surely you know what he did! What he was!"

"I know," Narilka said, a little amazed at her own calmness now that she had shared her decision. It hadn't come easily. "I know very well."

"Then why in God's name would you want to name a child after that monster? Your husband was the one who slew him!"

"I have my reasons,” she insisted. “You wanted to know the name, your Holiness. All I ask is that you bless my son. I do not ask you to understand.”

The Matriarch shook her head. "What about your husband?" she asked.

"He will accept it," Narilka said. "I am certain.” She paused for a moment, still annoyed at being questioned like this. “And I believe that aside from some very high-ranking Church officials, nobody knows that Gerald is not merely a name, where the Tarrants are concerned." She smiled slightly. "I think it will be in the Church's best interest not to aggravate the future head of their most influential followers, won't it?"

The Matriarch looked at her sharply. "I doubt you need to fear that," she said. "But I do not understand you. Why that name? Why the Hunter?"

"You could not understand." And she did not want to explain; it was too complicated to put into words. Only Andrys might be able to follow her reasoning. Not someone who had never encountered the Hunter.

Narilka went to the cradle and looked down at her sleeping son. So beautiful. Like the night had been beautiful when she had really seen it for the first time, guided by the Hunter and no longer afraid of the darkness. So much suffering he had caused her, and yet without it she would never have found the strength she was so proud of now.

She was no fool; she knew of the Hunter's atrocious crimes. She had been brought up to fear him, and she had seen for herself just why those warnings were constantly repeated. But she also knew that there had been more to him than the image the legends, tales and dire warnings had painted of him. Andrys had told her of his two confrontations with the demon, and she also had her own experiences to go by. And while she had no doubt whatsoever that Gerald Tarrant was more dangerous than anyone or anything else she had ever encountered in her life, she was also certain of one thing.

He would never harm her and those she claimed as hers. It was the favour he had offered as compensation for the Hunter's broken promise to her, called in when she had replied to his letter. Her family would be safe from him for as long as he walked on Erna, no longer threatened by their ancestor. He would continue to watch over his - and now her - descendants as he had done before. The promise she had asked for made certain that he would. Only for another reason; no longer for control and punishment in the face of disobedience, but for protection.

The name of her son would be a reminder of this to them both. A new beginning. And she knew that once she explained, Andrys would understand, even if he might have wished for something different.

The Matriarch was still watching her. "You are sure about this?" the old woman asked.

Narilka nodded. "I am sure," she said, smiling a little. "And besides, I like the name."