Bluelake Family/IlyaRP/Birth day

The child's birth

Two days after the attack, Ilya was considered cured by her healer and her herbalist. However, the baroness' heart was hurt with rage, and the child seemed restless, as if it wanted to get out, after running such risk of death. Two restless days passed while Willem fought in Belegmon and dropped his men. Ilya knew the day was approaching, and felt comforted by the midwife: The child is coming in its own time, no need to worry, it'll be big enough and healthy, my lady. Yet, Ilya worried. She would rather give birth in her own room at the Seat, but it had been taken by the rebels. Thus, among a few worries and great comfort from the Motosuwa Family, sunset of June 26th came and labor came with it.

Willem arrives on time

Willem let his horse, Rigel, follow the path through the mountains. Most of his scouts had gone on ahead, a few stayed behind him, walking with the healers. Since he'd dropped his military unit in Belegmon yesterday, it was much a much quieter journey.

The sun was going down, casting long, wide shadows from the mountains. The air was getting cooler, which he thought good for the evening ahead.

It had been just a week ago when he and his wife, Ilya, met with their families in Menedor, telling them of her pregnancy. Her family was thrilled, as was his. His mother told him that she secretly wished that his sister, Caroline, would give them their first grandchild, but was so glad that it would be Ilya. He could tell from her face that she was truly happy for them.

That day seemed so long ago, now. Much had happened. Much had changed. Ilya's region had been devastated by the enemy and religious unrest. Some of the uninformed peasants had banded together and revolted, wishing to govern themselves. After a day of trying to reason with them, an assassin took his blade to her, injuring her, but not the child.

She had accepted the graciousness of the Motosuwa family where her healers had made her rest and sent a messenger to Willem, urging him on to be there at the birth of his child.

A scout returned to lead him to the Motosuwa estate, not far from the baronial seat, but not convenient to access. When he arrived a stable boy took his mount, and a manservant ushered him into the main hall.

- Duke Willem, I know that you have travelled far this day, but you should wait here. The healers are attending to your wife.

- But, I must see her. Where is she?

Moans and small cries were heard from somewhere in the house, but they echoed in the hall and Willem couldn't distinguish from which direction they came. Panic spread across his face. A middle-aged woman, dressed in white, came to him.

- My lord, your wife is fine. The labor has started. Things will be okay, I assure you. She's been resting well this evening. The contractions are hard, but she's a strong woman.

- How long...? When does...? What can I ...?

The sentences never finished as a new thought formed in his head.

- My lord, I will tell you what I have told her. Breathe deeply and relax. I don't know how long it will take, nor do I know when it will come. What you can do is be a comfort for your wife. Now, my lord, go and change from your riding clothes into something presentable for your wife. Go, quickly.

The manservant showed him a small room and his bag was brought to him. He put on a fresh shirt and vest, splashed some water on his face and announced himself.

The middle-aged woman took his hand and they walked down the hall to where the moans originated.

- My lady, your husband is here.

Willem looked around. A few women were tending to Ilya, who was lying on the bed, looking radiant, but tired. They nodded to him, but kept laying out linens and dipping their fingers in the water, adding some from a pot near the fireplace. On a low table were herbs and flowers, many that he saw by the paths through the mountains. He didn't know much about birthing a child, and had assisted once when his uncle's calf had been born. But that was over twenty years ago.

He moved to the bed, smiling at his wife. He bent down to kiss her forehead. She took his hand and returned the smile.

- Willem. It shouldn't be much longer. The ladies have given me some herb extracts in tea and it has helped soften the pain. I'm glad you made it. I was getting worried that you might have been waylaid by the troops from the Cagilan Empire. You weren't, were you?

- No. I'm quite alright. Now, you rest. I'll sit beside you and tell you a story. Once, many years ago, a young man fancied a younger woman. She wrote him letters and they chased each other over the whole realm. One day, he was able to meet her at her family's estate. They ate, and they danced. They talked and they walked. They ...

He looked at her and her eyes had started to close, the smile still on her face. He looked toward the middle-aged woman. She nodded and signaled that he should stay there. He continued the story while she slept. He thought that it might be a long night. But he had many stories.

Complications?

Ilya was sweating, holding Willem's hand strongly and biting a clean stick while the midwife asked her to push harder. The night had been long and tiring, with sleeping through the easier beginning, walking through the worst of pain, laying down over the straw covered with clean sheets... everything blend with pain, and joy, and anger, a confusion of emotions, mingled with the fear of having the wound open again. And Willem's voice, calming her down so she could do her job. Though pale, he hadn't fainted, but kept his mind in place and helped her as he could.

Around one hour before the sun started raising in the sky, the baroness finally struggled a last time, and heard the sounds of awe from the people around her, while a loud cry echoed the room. Ilya smiled and closed her eyes, resting and waiting for the mystery to last a bit longer. It was a large, healthy baby, with a head full of thick, dark hair. It took a few seconds for the midwife to wipe most of the blood from the child, check the airways and reflexes. Then, the woman turned the baby and he could see. With a kiss to Ilya's forehead, he mumbled:

- It's a girl, my love, a big, healthy girl.

And she was handled to Ilya, umbilical cord still connecting them both.

- A woman must hold their child before the connection is lost - explained the midwife to the healers around her - or she won't have the instincts to prot... Is everything all right, mylady?

Ilya had been crying and smiling at her daughter, while Willem held her shoulders, crying even more to see the baby open her mouth in what could have been a smile, or a smirk, but now she looked in pain. With a quick movement, the midwife gave Willem the girl, told the healers to cut the cord and positioned herself next to Ilya again. There was a lot of blood on the sheets, and the baroness felt a chill run down her spine. Trying to maintain her calm, she fought against the need to be with her baby. A worried midwife tasted the blood, and looked up to Ilya, frowning.

- My lady, I don't know how I could have missed it, but... you have another child trying to get out. Now, be strong and push again! It is almost out, my lady!

In fact, the naked head of a child was barely visible, but she could see it was rightly positioned and ready to be expelled. Ilya didn't even consciously push, but felt her body was doing it on its own. In under a minute, a tiny baby was in the midwife's hand, and a moment of silence ran the room. Ilya whispered:

- What? Is it living?

The midwife smiled, everyone laughed, and Willem could breathe again.

- Oh, yes, my lady, quite living! He was just looking at us with some big wide eyes, my lady, and I can tell you, this little guy doesn't want to cry, he does not! - after the short procedures, the child was also handled to the parents, who smiled at his open eyes, hugged him, and finally allowed him to be taken from them, as his sister, so the mother could be cleaned, and they could be washed and brought for their first feeding.

Ilya called Willem, kissed him and asked him to follow the babies. When he was almost outside the room, she spoke:
- Willem? - he turned, a radiant father
- Yes, Ilya? - she smiled
- Now we have two names to find, hm? - he smiled back
- We'll find them when they return to you, don't worry. - with a wave, he left after the healers, while the midwife tended to Ilya.