Age of the Dragon 5: Dragons, Riders, and Kings

8:99 Blessed - Ferelden

Trudging through the cold wilderness of Ferelden was not how Adaia had expected to spend the last few weeks of her pregnancy. She was, therefore, not surprised but certainly upset when she and her husband were robbed while on the road.

The stress of it all worried her, especially when she began to feel the excruciating pain of labour.

"This is it? This is how I die?" she thought between waves of pain while her husband held her and pleaded with the Maker not to let him lose her or the baby. "Giving birth on the side of a road in the middle of nowhere?"

She was sure her screams would attract more trouble, but Cyrion would not leave her side for anything—even the oncoming carriage, pulled by four dark horses.

She was barely aware that the carriage had stopped, the driver speaking with Cyrion before an unfamiliar man hoisted her into the air.

"Unhand me!" she hissed, struggling before a wave of pain stopped her.

"Fallyn, she needs your help," the man called into the carriage.

The door opened, and through the haze of pain, Adaia saw an elven woman holding a toddler on her hip. She moved aside, and the man carefully helped Adaia into the warmth of the carriage, and Cyrion was ushered in after her.

"You'll need to sit behind her and support her," the elven woman said, handing the toddler to a human man, another child hopping out of the carriage after him. The woman positioned herself between Adaia's legs and prepared to assist her.

"How long has this been happening?" the woman asked Cyrion.

"For the last hour... they started shortly after the bandits-"

The man ushered the children back into the carriage and told them to sit quietly next to Cyrion, and Adaia could hear the sound of a blade being drawn.

"Don't worry about them," the woman said gently. "My husband will protect us. My name is Fallyn. Can you tell me your name, lethallan?"

"Adaia - ah! - Adaia Tabris," Adaia panted.

"Adaia, it looks like the baby wants to come out, but it might be a while, ok?" Fallyn said gently. "We still have some time, so we're going to try and move and see if we can't find you somewhere comfortable to give birth."

"Too soon," she gasped. "It's too soon..."

"I know, but I need you to be strong, ok? We'll make sure you and the baby make it through this."

Adaia cried out, and Fallyn climbed into the carriage, which lurched into motion. She placed a hand over Adaia's stomach and sang softly.

It was an elvish lullaby.

The pain subsided momentarily, and she could look clearly at the woman helping her.

She had snowy white hair, golden eyes, and silver tattoos that marked her face and spread down her neck to disappear beneath her clothes. The two children sat staring at her with large eyes. One pair was blue. The other was golden.

Both had snowy white hair and fair skin. Both were human.

"I suppose her husband must be human, then," Adaia thought, wincing as another wave of pain hit her.

"We'll be stopping soon," Fallyn said gently. "We'll set up camp and see about helping you through this safely."

"Thank you, thank you," Cyrion said, clutching Adaia's hand. "Maker bless you and your family."

"And yours," the woman smiled. "These are my children - the elder's name is Caolan, and the younger is Lorcan."

"They are beautiful children," Adaia said, as the pain lessened for a moment.

"Thank you," she smiled at Adaia.

Tha carriage lurched to a stop, and Fallyn checked on Adaia again.

"You're close, I suspect your child will be arrive in the next few hours," she said. "We'd best get you set up. Lethallin, would you help my husband set up the tent? I need to get your wife ready for the next stage."

Cyrion nodded, and kissed Adaia on the side of the head, climbing out to help Fallyn's husband handle the tent.

"Deep breaths," Fallyn said gently. "You're doing beautifully."