After the War... There is Peace

It's Time

It was time. Yrene could feel it, and knew that soon she would finally be able to hold her little babe in her arms. It all started this morning when she had woken up to a delicious aroma wafting over to her from the dining table. She would know that sweet smell anywhere; she'd been craving it for days now, but never had the chance to stop by the kitchens. Chocolate cake.

She immediately got up to dive in, but as soon as she reached the table, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. A few minutes later, and she felt another one, this one stronger than the last. She knew a fellow healer who had offered to birth her child when the time came. Yrene dressed and rushed out of her bedroom, not bothering to fix her unruly hair.

Yrene had searched up and down the palace, but Eliza, Yrene's fellow healer, was nowhere to be found. She eventually found someone who told her that Eliza had just left that morning to visit her sick father. It was urgent, which is probably why she wasn't able to tell Yrene about her sudden disappearance. Yrene's pains were getting stronger, and she knew that she would have this child sooner than later.

Chaol was in the stables tending his horse. Today, he'd be staying at the palace all day to monitor Yrene. She could give birth any day now, and he didn't want to miss it for the world. As soon as he got done cleaning this mare's hooves, he'd be on his way to see about his loving wife.

Yrene didn't think she would make it to the stables in time to tell Chaol she was in labor unless she wanted to birth her first babe in the nearest haystack. Besides, she was already by the king's bed chambers. All she had to do was tell one of his nearby guards to get Chaol and a nursemaid or healer.

Dorian had only been awake for a few moments before he heard the quick, urgent banging on his door. He was relieved to see that it was only Yrene, but the relief had faded quickly when he saw how she held stomach and leaned against the door frame. He rushed over to help her.

"Dorian, I need your help"

"Yrene, are you ok? What's wrong? Is it the baby? Is the baby alright? What's going o-"

"Dorian! I'm going into labor and I'm afraid this baby is coming sooner than we thought"

For a split second, Dorian thought that going up against Maeve was nothing compared to how scared scared he is about this. He grabbed Yrene by her waist and helped her walk to his bed, where he lay her down gently. A hint a color flushed in her cheeks.

"Dorian, I don't want to- "

"Nonsense, Yrene, I wouldn't want you giving birth to my niece or nephew in the hallway.

"Thank you but where's Cha- ahH", Yrene tried to say but failed as another wave a pain crashed down on her.

As if summoning her beloved, Chaol bursts through the doorway, a pretty, fair-skinned healer one step behind him.

"I'm here, I'm here", Chaol breathes out rushing towards his sweaty wife, well on her way of getting ready to give birth. He drops on his knees beside her, pushing away the loose hairs away from her face.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get to you, I didn't think I'd have enough time", Yrene started.

"Never mind that now, my love, I'm here now, Chaol whispers softly, pressing his brow to hers, "I'm here now."

The healer walks into the room, the picture of calm and serenity, and gently lays a hand on Yrene's belly.

"Well, I think it might be time to start pushing", she says with a loving smile.

Dorian walks over to his bed and places a tiny kiss on Yrene's forehead, and then whispers, "I'll be out in the hall"

She nods her head in thanks, and smiles at Chaol again before she tells the nurse that she's ready to start pushing her baby out into this world.