"If Love himself weep, shall not lovers weep,
learning from what sad cause he pours his tears?
Love hears his ladies crying their distress,
showing forth bitter sorrow through their eyes
because villainous Death has worked its cruel
destructive art upon a gentle heart,
and laid waste all that earth can find to praise
in a gracious lady, save her chastity."
Macabre felt a little like a young filly discussing stallions in this manner with Jetta. It was cheery and so different for the pair. Macabre couldn't remember a time where they'd ever talked this way before. But it felt relatively natural, in all honesty. And it was refreshing to have good news to share for a change. Therefore, Macabre tried to brush through her past and Shiraz as quickly as possible. But the look on Jetta's face as Macabre explained what had happened to her and her first son made it hard not to feel emotional all over again. The small mare chewed mechanically on nothing but air, nervous energy forcing her to tilt her head to one side as she did so. "I know you didn't. It's OK. It's something I chose not to share with you, or anyone else, really." She says, feeling surprisingly better the more casually she talked about it. It was like the weight of this grief and this burden was being lifted, somewhat, off her shoulders.
But still, she was grateful as the conversation changed. Macabre's expression lit up again as Jetta talked about her new suitor. Her grin widened when she described him as handsome. "I've never see you this way before, Jetta!" Macabre exclaimed, bumping her friend on the shoulder with her nose. "He must be quite the catch." She teased, bobbing her head up and down. "Does he know your'e pregnant? Will be he be involved?"
It was as if the two were thinking the same thoughts, because Jetta interjected with more questions about Diamant too. Macabre honestly hadn't given it much thought since she realized she was pregnant. She was not the type to withhold this kind of information from anyone, and surely planned to seek out the stallion again once the child was born and deemed healthy. But lately her mind had been clouded with other more immediate thoughts and problems, like Rowena's return the isles and the fact that mares were leading herds along neighboring islands now. Both of these instances posed opportunities for the Peak.
But Jetta forced Macabre to really consider a future arrangement with Diamant. He was a kind stallion, one whom Macabre imagined would want to know his own kin and be involved in its life. Perhaps she should seek him out sooner rather than later. "You're right, he doesn't know. I'm not sure if he's living on Tinuvel was just passing through at the time." Macabre said. "Perhaps I should find out."
"Hear then how Love paid homeage to this lady;
I saw him weeping there in human form,
observing the stilled image of her grace;
and more than once he raised his eyes toward Heaven,
where that sweet soul already had its home,
which once, on earth, had worn enchanting flesh."
Macabre | 12 | Mare | Mustang X Morgan | 14.2 HH | flaxen chestnut | © Vinyl
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