Silver Eyes Chronicles: The Journey Begins Trilogy: Book One: The Reunion

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Childbirth

Naria

One night just before the due date, I gasp aloud as a wave of great pain comes over me. I sit bolt upright, grasping my swollen belly. My eyes widen as I realize what is happening. The baby's coming!

Feeling alarmed and not knowing what to do, I look around wildly, trying to figure out what I should do.

"Reyten!" I call, suddenly realizing that a healer would be needed.

"Reyten!" I shout again, feeling a wave of pain course through me, making me cringe and groan at each painful contraction. I hear running footsteps and Reyten bursts into the room followed by another healer. Reyten takes one look at me and takes charge at once, knowing what's going on. He turns quickly to his companion.

"Darem, get some water boiling. Get some hot towels, twine and sharp scissors. And get Ronan too. He'll need to be informed," he says sharply, issuing instructions in his usual brisk and melodic voice.

"Get Elebeni too," I add. "I want her to be here too."

"I'll explain later," I say, seeing their curious faces. "Help me out and quickly!"

Darem hurries out of the room while Reyten stands by, helping me change into a loose birthing dress. The bed is stripped of its sheets and fresh yet old, worn blankets and towels are shoved underneath my body. My back is propped up on pillows and my legs are supported by a hard bolster pillow so that I'm angled for birthing.

Darem rushes in followed by Ronan and Elebeni. The young healer is carrying supplies for birthing. Ronan rushes over to my side, and kneels down, looking scared though he tries his best to hide it. "It's all right, sweetheart. You'll be all right. Just hold onto me."

I nod as I squeeze the life out of my husband's hand, seeing him wince at the painful pressure that I'm giving, probably breaking the bones in his hand. I try to resist to hit out at him, knowing that he won't understand why I did so, especially since we've just made up. This time, unlike other birthing mothers, I will try to be an exception. I'll try not to hurt him.

I feel the warm menstrual blood coming out, staining my legs, the clean white blankets and our child pushing its way out of me. I groan and pant for breath, trying to focus on something, anything other than the pain in which I'm enduring.

"You're doing beautifully, Naria," Reyten says, positioned in front of me. "Deep breaths. You can do this."

I nod, then bite my lower lip. I feel a trickle of blood where my teeth pierces my lip. I try to listen to Reyten's advice but it is hard. So very hard.

Is this what it had been like when Mother gave birth to Kirena? Or even my biological mother when she gave birth to me? Were both of them in great pain during the procedure of birthing?
I remember Father telling me that the birthing woman would try to hit out at her husband should he try to encourage her. Given Mother's birthing of Kirena, I refrained from doing so, letting her squeeze the the small bones of my hand. But that was when Mother gave birth. Surely not all have been like that.

What of my other mother, the one who borne me? What did she do? Did she hit out at my other father? Did her screams make him cringe? Did she squeeze the bones until they were nearly broken in his hand? Did they have any help in delivering me? Or did they have any help at all? What was it like for her? Will I experience the same fate right now?

Gods, I think, a cry tearing from my lips. Is all of this really worth it? All this agony?

But my question is not being answered. Right now, all I can do is try to focus on my baby ready to born into this world. What will it look like? What will it grow up to be like? Will it be like me? Or like Ronan? Or like both of us?