Warrior's Heart

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Arielle bit back a cry as Amara did a quick exam. "I am sorry, love," the Healer said softly, straightening up to move the sheet back down. "I'm afraid we cannot stop this."

"It's too soon, though."

Thorin gently stroked her hair as he looked from her to Amara. "It is too soon, isn't it?"

Amara remained her serene, tranquil self. "We have no choice, Thorin. Arielle, you are in labor and there is nothing I can do to stop it now."

Arielle tried to fight down her rising sense of panic as she looked up at Thorin. He tried to smile down at her, but couldn't quite make it happen ever as he said, "Everything will be fine, love. It will be."

"You don't—oh!" A pain ripped through her, worse than anything she'd ever felt and the pit of her stomach fell at the gush of fluid she felt. "Amara..."

The healer moved back down to the foot of the bed and lift the sheet once more. "Kenia, please take Thorin out into the waiting area."

"What?" Arielle shook her head. "No, I want him here. Please..."

"Arielle, he should not be here."

"I don't care... I don't want him to leave, Amara."

Thorin shook his head. "I am not going anywhere."

"Thorin, Arielle, listen to me," Amara's voice was low and stern, a tone Arielle had never heard her use before, "Arielle is hemorrhaging and I need to deliver this child now. So, the longer you both fight me on this, the greater the chance of something going wrong grows."

"Thorin," Kenia caught him by the arm, "please. Come with me."

Another pain tore through her and Thorin fought against Kenia's hold. Amara came around to her side and said, "Arielle, look at me, love."

"Please... I want him here..."

"Arielle," Amara's hand came down onto her forehead, soothing and gentle, "listen to me. I need to deliver this baby now and you need to work with me."

Arielle bit back her next cry as she nodded and managed to grit, "Very well."

"Good. Now," Amara righted herself and moved back as Kenia came back into the room. "Kenia, please, make certain we have plenty of valerian on hand."

"Valarian?" Arielle looked up at her. "No, do not put me to sleep, Amara."

"It's only as a precaution. Now, stay with me, Arielle. I want you to try and push with the next contract, but if I tell you to stop, you must do so at once. Do you understand?"

Arielle nodded as the next pain rolled toward her. She dragged in a ragged breath and when it hit, did as Amara told her. Her muscles burned, screamed with agony and panic bit into her. This did not feel the same as it did when Tiriana was born. Instead, she felt another warm gush and Amara immediately held up a hand. "Stop! Do not push! Kenia, the valerian. Now!"

"What? No, please, don't..."

"Arielle," steel glinted in the sunlight and Arielle yelped at the hot sting against her belly, "can you feel this?"

"I can, yes..."

"Kenia, we cannot wait any longer..." the Healer's voice grew faint, "put her under, please..."

Arielle tried to fight it, but the dizziness swelled and darkness rushed toward her to swallow her whole.

****

Thorin paced. He couldn't help it. Very fiber in his being screamed at him to break through the door to get to Arielle.

"Papa?"