The Emery Chronicles: The White King's Woman (FIRST BOOK)

Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty One- A Child of the Spring

"Just a little more, my child! Just a little more, Arwen!" Bianca called as Arwen struggled on her bed. She was in her bedchambers, with only her mother and Margaery present. The pain was unbearable, her insides almost constricting her until she thought she'd never breathe again.

"Come on, my sweet! Bring this child into the world! You can do it, Arwen! You can!"

Arwen screamed until her lungs roared and flamed. Her thighs and belly ached, and her head throbbed and her breath escaped her, but she kept pushing. It was time to bring her child into the world.

With one more loud scream, Arwen laid back against her pillows, her hearing and consciousness muffled, but for the faint awareness of a shrill screaming.

"My prince, let me see my prince," Arwen mumbled, trying to push herself up, but having a difficult time of it. Her arms were weak and shaky, but she somehow managed to raise herself very slightly, even as Margaery told her to lay back and rest, cooling her forehead with a damp cloth.

"Not a prince, but a little princess, my sweet." Bianca said, handing a swaddled bundle into her Arwen's arms.

Arwen looked down at the child, a round and rosy little thing, with dark tufts at the top of its head and the biggest, bluest eyes she'd ever seen. She moved some of the blanket over to see for herself, and sure enough, the child was a girl.

Arwen cried, her tears cool against her hot cheeks, looking down at her little baby. "My baby," she crooned, "my little princess. I love you, I do."

Her bedchamber doors opened, and Gavin stood in the doorway, his face staring in wonder at the sight before him. He had been in the Great Hall for the ten hours she'd been in labor, eating and drinking past his fill with all of his royal subjects and guests, accepting more gifts for his child. He now rushed over to Arwen, and stared down at the child's face. Arwen held her out to him, and said, "I'm sorry. She's a little girl."

Gavin took the baby, gently holding her in his arms. His eyes welled up, but he did not seem angry. "Don't be sorry, my love, don't. She's perfect. She's our perfect little Spring princess. We'll have our princes, but right now she is our little miracle." He kissed the top of the baby's head and Arwen smiled at the most perfect sight before her.

***

"Let us all welcome the new Spring child, the Princess Amaryllis of the White Kingdom Brigantia of the realms of Emery! Long live Princess Amaryllis! Long live the princess!" The godsman cried, raising Arwen and Gavin's little princess into the air for all the people to see as they joined in his cries. The godsman had blessed the child and revealed to the guests that the new princess's name would be Amaryllis, picked by Gavin and Arwen for her rosy face that had springtime etched in it. She truly was a Spring child.

After the blessing, everyone went to the Great Hall for feasting and celebrations. Amaryllis lay in a bassinet between Arwen and Gavin at their table, looking up at the world with her big, curious eyes and giggling her little laugh. Arwen and Gavin smiled down at her, happier than they could ever imagine.

Their guests presented their gifts, and this time they were more lavish than ever. Cribs, toys, dolls, dresses, portraits and more for their little baby. Arwen was overwhelmed with all of the generosity, but Gavin took it all in so happily, loving the feeling of being a father.

Lastly, Daegan approached the table and, after picking Amaryllis up and admiring her in such a way that almost scared Arwen (he was a big and jolly man, and a little too rough for Arwen's peace of mind), he presented a crib to the couple, dark wood with flowers and little suns etched into it.

"Thank you, it's positively breathtaking." Arwen told him, smiling at the magnificent work.

Liadan did not touch the child, but she gave a sparkling set of earrings in the shape of snowflakes, the white diamonds shining brightly in the light.

"Thank you," was all Arwen could muster out, smiling politely.

"Of course. She's a beauty," Liadan remarked, looking at the baby. "Shame it wasn't a prince."

"We're hoping for one soon, cousin." Gavin replied brightly to his cousin's sharp retort.

"Yes, I'm sure. Another thing," Liadan looked at Arwen, her cold eyes piercing into her soul. "Shame our cousin Roux decided not to visit this time."

***

"I feel terrible about Roux," Arwen remarked to Gavin as she removed her jewelry later that night.

"Don't, he made his decision. It is a typical Red decision. He's just hot-tempered is all, once he blows off some steam he'll be congratulating us and showering our little princess with more gifts than we could count." Gavin replied as he took off his layers of jackets and vests. Tonight, Amaryllis would be spending her first night in her own bedchambers with nurses watching over her, headed by Bianca. It was the first night since her birth five days before that she would not sleep with her parents, and Gavin was keen not to waste this opportunity talking about his cousins.

"Do you remember my vow?" He asked seductively, strolling towards Arwen in nothing but his trousers.

"To love me forever?" Arwen teased, standing up from her vanity, her hair undone, and her dress half unlaced.

"Not that one," Gavin replied, slowly looping his arms around her waist and bending to kiss her neck.

"To love our daughter forever?" Arwen whispered, closing her eyes as he slowly, teasingly caressed her neck with his lips.

"Not that one either," Gavin quietly chuckled.

"Oh," she said, raising his head up and looking into his desire-crazed eyes. "Was it the one about taking me savagely? Something about a farmer and his wench?" Gavin smiled wickedly and picked her up off her feet, carrying her to the bed.

He placed her back down in front of the bed and finished unlacing her dress, letting it fall to the ground. He looked down at her naked body, a little plumper around the hips than before, but still the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He gently pushed her back onto the bed. As she slowly crawled further back towards the pillows, keeping her eyes on him, he unfastened his trousers and let them fall too, and when he was completely naked he crawled onto the bed as well, impatient for his wife. He grabbed a handful of her hair and brought her face to his, kissing her passionately, letting all of his pent up desire flow from his mouth to hers. His other hand ran down from her neck, over breasts, playing with them until Arwen was breathing heavily and letting out soft moans into his mouth. He was ready now.

But before he could enter, Arwen pushed him off, then rolled over so she was on top of him. She held down his arms and brought her face to his ear. "I'm no wench," she whispered, then brought herself down so he was inside her. They both cried out at the entry, then Arwen began rolling and grinding, both of them not bothering to hold back their desire, moaning and groaning, and not caring who heard. Gavin kissed her neck, her breasts, savoring the taste of her skin and feeling her heartbeat throughout her body. Arwen locked her fingers into his hair, working hard to keep her body moving, to keep them both satisfied, trying not to let his mouth distract her form her movements.

At one point, she couldn't help it; she stopped grinding and let out an almost monstrous groan as Gavin gently bit her breast. At her moment of weakness, Gavin flipped her onto her back so he was on top and he slowly pulled out then plunged deep into her quickly.

"Ah!" Arwen yelped as the sweet pain shuddered through her thighs. He did it again and again, slowly pulling out then quickly diving back in, teasing her then hitting her so pleasure seeped through every pore of her body. She kissed and nibbled at his chest, shoulders and neck, taking her sweet revenge.

They let the passion envelope them, the happiest couple that ever did live.