They're coming! (2/3)

Writers: AL, Chelle, Emma, Suzee
Date Posted: 9th April 2012

Characters: Zathris, Benani, Miranek, Chupsin
Description: Babies!
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 26 of Turn 6

Zathris

Benani

Benani lost track of time as the contractions came and went. She held
on to Zathris as her lifeline and looked to him for reassurance when
things began to get rough. She had no way to know ahead of time just
how difficult it would be.

She came out of a hard contraction and blew out a deep breath leaning
back against Zathris.

Chupsin was in the background, watching the progress. He used redwort
to sterilize the forceps, the clamp, and the other tools they might
need. When he was done, he washed his hands and then stood behind
Miranek, his eyes searching for sign of anything.

Zathris felt out of place. With his first wife, he hadn't been allowed
in while she was labouring. Here, he was allowed but he wasn't really
sure what to do. So he just stood there, holding Benani up and
murmuring soft, encouraging words to her.

"One more, and I think we'll see the head. I need you to concentrate on
your breathing, and push when the next one comes," Miranek told her.

She nodded at the healers instructions and squeezed Zathris' hand
gently. His quiet support did more for her self control than he knew.
"I love you," she said softly then her eyes widened as another
contraction began. **Just a few more, I can do this.** She took a deep
breath and blew it out then focused on the next contraction as her
body worked to push her baby out.

"I love you too." Zathris murmured to his wife. He didn't look around
or move away, but stayed right by his wife, softly encouraging her as
while her body did its job.

Her body clenched to push out one of the babies and made a sound that
turned from first a groan and then climbed the scale toward a scream
as she used every bit of her strength to push.

First, he saw the head. The senior journeyman readied the blanket and
held the clamp and scissors in his hand in preparation for the cord.
For her first birth, Benani was actually doing well. He would have to
praise her later.

"It won't be much longer," murmured Miranek, even as Benani did all the
work.

Benani lay back panting against the pillows clutching her husband's
hand. One of her ladies swooped in with a cool cloth to mop her
sweating forehead. She would remember later how hot she was and wonder
at the memory of a blizzard raging outside the windows of her room.

Her eyes widened as once again the wave of a contraction swept over
her. She used every bit of her concentration to push as the healers
urged her.

"Here's the head," Miranek said as he gently began to support it. "Next
push, and you'll have the first child."

She breathed deeply a few times as she lay back waiting for the onset
of her next contraction. Then she felt it begin and took a deep one
before she pushed for all she was worth.

"Lord Zathris, would you like to cut the cord?" Some men did, others
didn't. While she was pushing, Chupsin asked him softly anyway. It was
a way to make them connect with their children and if that didn't
happen early on, sometimes there were problems.

"Me?" The idea that he could just baffled Zathris. Things had been so
different with his last wife - he'd not been allowed in the room, had
been kept out of the loop until she was already dying. This, however,
almost floored him, but after it sunk in for a moment, a great big grin
spread over his face. "I'd love to."

Benani felt something indescribable happen and the pressure let up
suddenly as the first of her babies slid from her body into the
waiting hands of the healer. She lay back panting for a moment waiting
for the wail that would tell her the baby was alright.

"You have a son, " Miranek told her even as he began to check the baby
over. Before he could say another word, an indignant yell proved there
was nothing wrong with his lungs.

Once the Master had finished with the first quick checks, Chupsin handed
Zathris the scissors he would need, the clamp in his hand for Miranek.
"Master, the Lord Holder wants to sever it himself."

"Just here Milord," Miranek indicated the place, clamp at the ready.

"A son?" Benani's blue eyes filled with tears that she quickly dashed
away. She'd done it! She'd given him at least one choice for an heir.
"Oh Zathris," she breathed.

"A son." Zathris echoed, his smile bright. He placed the scissors
where Miranek indicated. It only took one try, but the cord was still
harder to cut than he had anticipated.

Chupsin took the baby once it was done so Miranek could worry about
the one coming. It didn't take long to clean the boy up-the firstborn.
This would be the heir. He looked him over and made sure everything was
fine. The baby was healthy and of a good size.

Last updated on the April 30th 2012

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They're coming! (2/3)