Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 24: Companionship

      Screams could be heard all throughout Skyhold. The entirety of the compound was empty save a few rooms and the courtyard. Bull had taken all the children to play whilst Josephine experienced the labors of birth. It was not the first time but she definitely seemed out of her element. All of the men waited out in the hall, comforting Tom to the best of their abilities as he paced incessantly up and down the corridor. Their counterparts were all inside the small medical room. It'd been used as an infirmary many times and several of their children had been born in that room. Nicolynn, Anthony, and now this baby, or babies as they were unsure. "It's too soon!" Josephine kept telling them as they forced her onto a cot. 

      Leliana sat in front of her, by her feet as she writhed in pain, gritting through the contractions. Maeve, Cassandra, and Hawke hurried around the room, being of help where they could. Leliana had ordered them to fetch many things they'd need for the birth: warm water, towels, blankets, used sheets, large bowls, a sharp knife, and several pillows. "Elevate her head." She barked at Cassandra. The Seeker did it hoping to soothe Josephine and get Leliana off her back. "Josie, you need to sit up. You're going to have to push soon." Leliana told her with a loving, gentle tone in her voice. She tried to be firm though. Josephine wasn't eager to get things moving. She didn't think they were ready. 

     Cassandra looked to Maeve as the other woman filled one of the bowls with warm water. The steam fluttered around her, casting a pale white cloud into the air. Josephine shook her head violently as her face scrunched up and another contraction ransacked her body. "I can't!" She screamed as the wave of cramping, pulling, tugging, torturous pain shot through her. Her face was red with agony and the tears on her face were streaming in a full rage now. She settled into a heavy breathing as she laid back against the pillows and looked to Hawke for help. There was none to be had there. The dark haired woman was simply there to hand Leliana rags as she needed them. "Please," Josie begged in a weak voice. "it's not time yet, Leliana." The pleading in her voice was enough to break Leliana from her work trying to determine when Josephine would need to push. 

     The red headed woman stood from the stool she was on and leaned over her friends side. "Josie, these babies are coming whether you like it or not. When I say, you need to push." She told her. There was a softness in her blue eyes but there was also impatience and cruelty, put there by years of emotionless solitude. Her high Orlesian accent echoed in Josephine's ears but she still couldn't listen. "They're not ready!" She screeched and gripped Leliana's wrist as the pain shuddered through her body. She was sweating profusely. "Maeve, cool her forehead with a rag, will you." She demanded. The Elf scurried over to Josephine wringing out a cloth and dabbing it to her forehead, gently wiping away the sweat. Leliana went back to her position from before, lifting Josephine's skirts over her shins. 

     She had helped deliver many babies living in Lothering. She assisted in their infirmary many times and had witness many births. Cassandra stood on the other side of the Ambassador and gripped her hand. The pain that shot up her arm as Josie squeezed was immense but she knew it paled in comparison to what she was going through. "Tom!" She yelled. Leliana's head shot up and she looked at Josephine as if she'd just been slapped. Someone shot through the door to their left. Tom stood in the doorway, eyes wide, muscles tense, face stricken with worry as Josie glance over at him through lidded, pained eyes. "I can't. It's too soon." She cried, her face contorting into a sheen of anguish. "For the love of the Maker, woman! If she says she can't have the babies, she's not having the babies!" He yelled at Leliana as he stepped forward. Cullen was at his arm, urging him not to go any further, lest he see something he didn't want to. 

     The Spymaster glared at him. Her scowl was worse than that of Cassandra when she was in one of her moods. She stood, turning her attention from Josephine as the woman relaxed slightly. Maeve patted her forehead, making soothing, hushing sounds, telling her it was going to be alright. "Your children, my nieces or nephews, are about to come into this world and there is nothing we can do to change that. They are ready. If they weren't this wouldn't be happening. Would you rather they die, Tom? Would you rather she died?" Leliana lectured. Cullen pulled on his arm and he stepped back feeling defeated. "Tom," Josephine mumbled to herself as she watched him back out of the room. The door was shut and the tears began to flow again. "Please, they can't be here yet. Not with everything that's happening. Please." She begged. It became obvious she was not talking to any of them but rather the Maker.