Whatever expectations Théadan had for how this conversation would turn out; and he had very few, were completely blown away by the scowl Navia gave him as she dismissed any notion of it being a poorly judged joke. Worse she took offence at his attempt to softly broach the topic, seemingly believing he was understating the nature of the pain she had endured, or perhaps believing he was talking about himself when it came to it being a difficult subject. It was exactly the kind of conflict and hurt feelings that he wanted to avoid with this subject of children. As Navia pointed out, they had talked about it once before, and at that time it was settled and put to bed without need to think about it ever again. What he had said that day was as true then as it was today. So why now was Navia raising the subject again?<br/><br/>She was frustrated, a sigh coming from her lips as she persisted with this, telling him how she had not believed either, then listing the signs that Ragná had apparently pointed out to her a little over a month ago. He had felt her breasts were larger, but had put it down to simply them being apart for so long. Théadan had quickly put that out of mind, but yes she had also thrown up a number of times, but then she had been ill and undernourished. Their time at the tavern had seen to that, otherwise the only time she had been sick was during the storm on the Uttarana, all of it was explainable. Though Théadan found himself annoyed to learn Navia had gone out of her way to hide just how much she had been ill during their journey.<br/><br/>Yet Navia continued to look at him with those dark eyes. There was no sign of her usual mischief, she was being earnest in every word. He knew the look and her tones well enough to know when she was being playful, and when she wanted him to listen to her and hear what she had to say. Hearing about how hard Navia had tried to have children with Devam was difficult to hear, how she had gone to Osa for help, how she had tried everything to have this child with him, but eventually gave up when the heartbreak became too much, accepting instead something was 'wrong' with her. A word Théadan hated hearing her use upon herself. But a smile graced her features after, and Navia took his hand telling him a test had worked, that she still hadn't believed it. Her hand guided his to her abdomen as she told him what had convinced her, using her name for him, and with nothing but joy on her face, one she so clearly wanted him to share in with her.<br/><br/>She was telling the truth, or at least fully believed it to be true. There was far too much for Théadan to take in, he was struggling with processing it all, that there could have been this secret under his nose all this time. That the idea of a child with Navia that he had dismissed months back because he simply wished to be with her, could actually be a reality if what she said with true, and not some mad fantasy. Navia was presenting him with all the evidence, and it was all there staring him in the face, yet it was so difficult to accept. It felt like he had suddenly woken up and was living another mans life and not his own. Her gaze continued to hold his steady. His Navia, his Alu'wei, looking at him with soft eyes, she was speaking truthfully with every word, willing him to see what she saw.<br/><br/>For the first time Théadan's hand shifted over Navia's abdomen, there was a slight bump, he hadn't really noticed, simply putting it down to her finally eating well after a month on the road forced to eat whatever she had caught. But the bump was firm. His eyes wandered her belly, studying the bump, expecting to see something that might suggest anything otherwise, but he was no expert, all he could see was a slight bump low on her abdomen. It began to ram home for Théadan then, his hand tensing a little over the bump, as realisation dawned upon him, that beneath his hand, might be a child made of both his and Navia's love for each other. He gazed with owlish eyes at the bump, then up at her. "I..." He muttered incredulous. "We..." He scrambled over words as a surge of terror ran through him as he realised there could be this whole new life that he would be responsible for, and would have to do everything in his power to protect. So much would change and he was woefully unprepared for it. "How?" He murmured what would likely be the dumbest question he would ever ask in his life, and quickly realised he needed to clarify it. "You can't have children." He blurted carelessly, all sense of ease departed him in his mounting shock, as he was quickly reduced to a mess of poorly constructed questions. "How is this...how can we..."