Two Eyes Cenote waiting on some holy favour

!!!!

when nazli came to, she would meet the eyes of senmut, still drawn with shock and a deep reverent awe, their daughter tucked into the crook of his arm.

he had scarcely handed off his things to @Machiavelli before tavina had whisked him deeper into the palace. nazli, she explained in her direct fashion, had given birth to a single daughter some eight hours before his arrival.

when the priest had stopped in his very steps, rendered speechless and with a boyish wide fear to his eyes, the sesh had only scoffed a little to congratulate him on fatherhood.

the birth had been hard; he lingered anxiously in the threshold beyond her doorstep before tavina admitted him into its fragrant coolness.

though blood and soaked pelts had been removed, senmut could still scent its metallic presence, the sweetened smell of birthwater against the familiar perfume of her chambers.

how frail she was in her bedclothes, how diminished. in apology he touched her cheek for having not been here, and then his eyes fell to the child at her belly.

a daughter, a daughter who already — was that his crimson touch? already? his eyes blurred and he kissed nazli's brow, and settled into a nearby receiving-couch to watch her, to doze, and to at least, gently, gingerly, lift the tiny beautiful babe where he could look at her small perfect features, her closed eyes and sleeping ears. senmut stared at her, and without a prod of self-consciousness, he wept over her sacred, impossible slumber.

only when nazli stirred did senmut look up, adjusting their child in his arms.