They're coming! (3/3)

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

The next one would be born soon, Miranek thought. Sometimes twin
birthings could take a whole day and night or more, but this one
hopefully would be quick. "Your second babe will be here soon, rest
now, then when you feel the urge to push again, let me know."

"May I?" Zathris asked, reaching out for the babe. He wanted to hold
his son. Benani still seemed rather weak, but he knew she needed to
hold the child as well.

As per the Lady Holder's wishes, he wrapped a red ribbon around the
babe's arm, tying it off quickly into a bow. The healer considered a
more permanent solution-they could easily make a small scar to identify
the older twin, but he didn't voice the opinion. When he was done, he
handed the bundle to Zathris. "Support the head like so."

Zathris gave the healer an odd look. He'd no children of his own
before this but he'd been around them enough to know. "Of
course."

Benani watched Zathris happy at his joy. But then another
contraction seized her and her body began working to push out the next
baby. By now she was so tired her eyes closed as she tried to
concentrate and deal with it. "Master," she managed to breathe.

"Take a deep breath," Miranek said as he observed her state. "Rest for a
moment and go with the needs of your body."

This time she whimpered when the contraction was done. She was just so
very tired.

The healer performed a quick, yet gentle examination, feeling that
something was not quite right here. "Won't be long now," he said
reassuringly.

Benani lay against her pillows with her eyes closed and just nodded as
she waited for the next contraction.

"Chupsin," Miranek waved the Journeyman over. "Please can you prepare
the forceps, I think the Lady may well need help to deliver the next
babe." His voice was soft, so as not to alarm. "I'd make it quick if
you could."

"Forceps?" Zathris frowned - he certainly didn't like the sound of

that. "Is it necessary? What's wrong." His eyes darted between the
two healers and he moved closer to his wife. He cradled the baby in
one arm and reached out to take his wife's hand once more.

"It's fine. She's just tired so we're going to help it along." The
senior journeyman was nothing if not bloody efficient. His overly calm
demeanor usually had the effect of soothing everyone around him, but it
also allowed him to focus easily on what he was doing. He whispered to
Zathris, "Don't get upset or you will upset her and the baby. He can
feel your tension while in your arms."

Grabbing the forceps from the redwort solution, he washed and wiped them
off, then handed them to Miranek, standing there behind him to watch.

The next contraction started and Benani startled from her doze. She
groaned and then began counting in her head. She knew when she got to
about thirty the contraction would start to diminish. Surely she could
last to thirty.

Miranek positioned himself and the forceps, "I think we'll see the head
with this one, you'll feel the forceps, and as you push, I'm going to
gently ease the babe into the world." He looked up briefly to see if
his words were understood.

"Will it hurt either of them?" Zathris stiffened, then forced himself
to relax. He didn't want to affect Benani with his worries.

"No milord," the healer replied. "It may be uncomfortable, but there
will be no more pain than there is now, if anything, it will be over
quicker."

Benani nodded weakly. At the end of her strength she was grateful for
whatever the Master Healer could do to deliver her other babe. "Please
do it," was all she could spare breath to say.

"Are you ready?" asked Miranek.

Benani just nodded figuring he was talking to her but not wanting to
waste any energy on the effort.

Zathris didn't say anything either, but on his expression it was plain
that he didn't really like the idea of forceps - though he didn't
protest either.

Chupsin maneuvered himself so that he could catch the babe while Miranek
pulled if need be. He could see Benani's strength flagging and had a
thought. "Lord Zathris, there's some juice there for the Lady Holder if
you can manage it."
He knew the man had a baby in his arms, but the cradle was nearby.

Benani's body strained forward as she strove to push the baby out. Her
groan of effort went all the way to her core. Then she collapsed
unconscious.

Miranek's reaction was quick, as the head was visible, he gently eased
the forceps into place and began to ease the infant into the world,
trusting that as he did so, Chupsin would attend to the Lady herself,
and the afterbirth.

"It will be okay Milord," he murmured, even as it was revealed that the
child was another boy, slightly smaller and his color was not quite so
good.

He held the baby while Miranek put the forceps away then he handed the
child to the Master as he moved up to deal with Benani. He had to get
her awake to pass the afterbirth or she'd get sick. Propping the Lady
Holder up with pillows, he grabbed a cool wet cloth and began to bathe
her with it. That done, he reached for the glass of liquid. "Mlady, I
need you to drink. You can't rest yet, I'm sorry."

What followed Benani would probably never remember clearly but the
healers were able to deliver and examine the after birth and revive
her enough so that she finally reached her arms out to her husband.
"May I see him please Zathris?" She couldn't see what was going on
with her other baby because Master Miranek's back was turned where he
bent over the child. But this one looked pink and healthy in her
husband's arms.

To say Zathris was worried would be an understatement.
"Benani...Benani wake up? What's wrong? What happened?" He pushed
back at the panic that wanted to take over and forced himself to remain
calm and looked to the master midwife.

"Shhh, she's fine. She's just tired. Give her the babe-he'll need to
feed." That would also likely tire the Lady Holder, but Chupsin had
tried to get enough fluids in her once she woke to assist with that. He
stayed out of Miranek's way, though he had suspected something was
going on.

It was time that managed to pass both quickly and slowly for the master
healer as he worked on the second babe. The child wasn't breathing
straight away, which explained his colour. A gentle tap on the behind
didn't provide the stimulation needed, so he had removed a plug of
mucus and tried again. This time he was rewarded with a thin, weak cry.

When he heard the cry, relief flooded through Zathris. He smiled
gratefully at the healers, then turned to his wife, murmuring soft
words on encouragement and keeping a
gentle hold on her.

Last updated on the April 30th 2012

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They're coming! (3/3)