Four Seasons

Nightfall

Due time arrives.

000ooo000

"Shh, no... Just leave me quiet here... Don't call the pixies..."

"Mistress, I have no idea of what to do, I can't bring Aurora here in less than an absurd amount of time, and I won't let you here to hatch alone!"

"Diaval, it's just starting... We can have hours of labor ahead. Don't worry."

"Don't worr... Mistress, do you know what a raven does when his hatchlings are hatching? Do you?"

She could only smile at her mate's anxiety. She had no experience with actual birthing in her race, but knew the theory, had assisted more births in the Moors than any midwife of Aurora's human kingdom could ever have, and, well, for good or for bad, she wasn't afraid of pain. Nothing could hurt her more than the pain she endured in her past. Besides, after having made peace with the idea of maybe delivering a baby boy, everything else was fine.

Now, Diaval?

He would sit on her belly if allowed, if something suggested it would better the progress of the pregnancy. If on her behalf or the baby's, it was uncertain.

She would not cope with his fussying, though.

"Well. Then be a good raven and tell Balthazar to ask Aurora to come when and if her schedule allows; after, and only after this is done..." She stopped midsentence to breathe deep during a contraction. "...Summon the three pixies you know. They're a bunch of trouble, but I must reckon they're quite renowned healers. Not that pregnancy is a disease, but they'll know what to do in any case."

Maleficent didn't mention that there was, of course, a small probability of problems in any delivery, be it of humans, fae, trolls, pixies, horses, cats, whatever mammals, and also amongst non-mammals like ravens, treefolk, flying lobsterfayries or dragons. With the baby being a hybrid of fae and whatever shape her beloved raven was in when she conceived, nothing was certain, even if at least they had had no intimacy with him not in human or fae shape. What made her wonder about the nature of their offspring. Another deep breath and she settled on the certainty that soon she would have every answer she could crave for.

Knowing her mate as she did, Maleficent didn't mention any possibility of problem with the delivery, else he would not leave her side, and all she needed right then was quiet.

Diaval caressed her face and belly, adoring eyes on hers, and kissed her brow.

"I'll go. I don't know if Balthazar is faster on his own limbs or on a woodboar, but he'll know. I know where the Trouble Trio dwells, I'll fetch them. And you..." He tilted his head birdishly and smiled like the fae he shifted into sometimes. Special times. "I know you'll be all right. Is there anything I can do for you before I leave? Fetch you some water, a blanket, berries, anything?"

The raven-man had made peace with his mate's autonomy, hard as it was for his nature. But his nature was that of a raven, and purely a raven he wasn't anymore. It was hard for him to leave his mate during such a meaningful time.

"All I need, Diaval..." She smiled. "Is to know you'll be back to me soon. All the rest I know already. We're going to be fine."

She caressed her belly, grabbing Diaval's hand to run it along the taunt skin.

"Don't..." He leant down and kissed her softly. "Don't curse anybody without deliberating with me first, all right?"

Maleficent laughed, a hand on her abdomen and the other on Diaval's cheek.