The Birth of Synnove

[Soleil Belfours]

In the two weeks after Anacrasia's visit, I made sure everything was in order. I prepared my bed with fresh white linen, made sure my midwife and chirugeon were prepared for the birth, and arranged with my exchequer to have the sum of Christophe's gift ready for delivery. I was so ready, I hardly noticed when my water broke. I was standing in the foyer, when all of a sudden, my legs felt warm, and I looked down to see a pool of water on the floor. I vaguely registered what had happened, before I was hit with the first cramp and I cried out. My maids came running. "Send for my midwife," I gasped. "And help me get to bed. And Christophe," I waved to my manservant, "send for Christophe Legard."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I was just washing up from some time with my practice blade when one of the maids knocked on the door. "Excuse me Christophe, but a carriage is here from the Marquise Belfours."

My heart stopped in my chest, and then I scrambled into action. "Thank you, I'll be down in a minute," I called back through the door, then swore as I knocked the basic to the floor and spilled water everywhere. Hurried I pulled on fresh clothing, ran my fingers through my damp hair, and headed down to the front hall. Half way through clattering down the stairs I came to a halt with another curse.

I went back upstairs and penned a note for Mala, and left it on her pillow. Today's the day. Please make my excuses to my siblings. I'll be home when I can my heart. I love you. ~C

It seemed like time dragged by as the carriage made its way to Soleil's townhouse, but I calmed my impatience as well as I could. Doubtlessly she would be anxious enough for the both of us. After an eternity, I stepped out of the carriage and headed up to Soleil's room.

[Soleil Belfours]

My maids had gotten me out of my ruined gown, and I was in a fresh linen shift. My midwife wasn't there yet, so I was propped up in bed with many pillows, trying to get comfortable. The contractions were coming pretty far apart, and I was trying to be prepared for the long labor ahead of me, but in truth I was becoming worried. And where in Elua's name was Christophe?

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I trotted up the stairs, one of the maids pointing me onwards, and opened the door to find Soleil arranged in bed. It was obvious that the babe had yet to be born, so I was saved the embarrassment from arriving too late.

"Soleil," I said, immediately crossing the room and going to her side. My hand found hers. "How are you?"

[Soleil Belfours]

I gave him a smile, squeezing his hand. "About as well as can be expected, I suppose," I said. "I haven't begun to labor in earnest yet, though the contractions are coming closer together now. How have you been?"

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Very well. My siblings arrived for a visit the other day, so I've been showing them around," I said with a smile, pulling up a chair with my free had so that I could sit at her side.

[Soleil Belfours]

"Oh, that's lovely," I said. "Did you tell them where you were going today?" I knew Christophe had siblings, and likely their relationship with my daughter would be minimal to nonexistent, so I had no qualms about them knowing he was going to be a father.

I winced as another contraction passed over me. "Marjorie, where in Elua's name is my midwife?" I called to my maid, who was busily fetching towels.

"Michel is not back yet, my lady," she replied. "I'm sure they will be here soon."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"It's alright Soleil," I told her with a smile. "She'll be here soon enough, and you have quite some time ahead of you before her presence is critical I think. Besides, she'll probably want me to move." My smile was wry for that comment. "In answer to your question, I told Marie and Henri that they would have a little niece or nephew soon, but they were out when your carriage came, so I wasn't able to tell them where I was off to."

[Soleil Belfours]

"It hurts already," I grumbled, the pain making me irritable. "I don't want you to move." In reply to his comment about his brother and sister, I breathed a comforted sigh. "Good, that's good. This isn't something you want to surprise your closest relatives with."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I shifted a little uncomfortable. "Well, I have an older brother as well. We... don't get along very well. I haven't found the right moment to tell him yet."

[Soleil Belfours]

"Oh," I said. "Well, that's all right too, I suppose. Even if your brother gets upset, there's not much he can do about it now, is there?" I gave a dry laugh that turned into a wince as another contraction came.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

I had received word of Soleil's labour late, as I had been out at a meeting. But I rushed over as soon as her man tracked me down.

When I arrived, the servants were all aflutter, and so I waved them back to their fluttering, heading upstairs alone. I knocked at Soleil's door, and let myself in without waiting for a reply. "Sister, I'm so sorry I wasn't here soon," I said, going to her unoccupied side. "Hello Christophe. I hope you've been keeping her good company."

[Soleil Belfours]

"It's all right, Ana," I said. "Christophe was keeping me fine company. Christophe, you of course know the Duchesse, my foster sister."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I rose from my seat and bowed. "My lady, of course. We met at a fete your family was having at Valerian."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"Yes, I remember," I said with a smile. "Please have a seat, there's no need to stand on ceremony today of all days." I turned to Soleil then. "Do you need anything sister? A cup of tea? You just need to say the word."

[Soleil Belfours]

I chuckled. "Nothing right now," I said, smiling. I felt a contraction and winced. "Though if either of you feels like holding my hand, I'll take it. These contractions are growing more painful."

[Selwyn nó Balm]

The adept midwife who had been scheduled to attend to the Marquise Belfours had taken ill, and when the marquise's man showed up, it was I who volunteered to tend to her instead. I rode in the carriage with her man, who then led me into the house and up the stairs to the marquise's bedchamber.

I knocked softly before entering. There was the Marquise in bed, with a man and a woman on either side of her. "Good day, Marquise, my lord, my lady," I said, bowing. "I am Selwyn, the second of Balm house. I regret that your midwife has taken ill, so I am here to assist in the birth today."

[Soleil Belfours]

I almost yelled when the very tall man walked into the room, but as he explained who he was and why he was here, I relaxed. "Second of Balm?" I asked. "A male midwife...you don't see that every day."

[Selwyn nó Balm]

I nodded. "Yes, I am recently appointed to the post. My mother was a midwife, and she trained me a child before I was formally trained at Balm. I have been assisting at births since I was seven years old, and delivered my first child as the primary midwife at the age of seventeen. I have been very successful as a midwife, or so I am told." I chuckled self-depricatingly.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I returned to my seat and took up her hand again, keeping quiet and letting Selwyn ask the questions he needed of Soleil. I didn't want to get in the way, but I still wanted to be there when Soleil needed me.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

I sat down at Soleil's side and held her free hand, listening with as much patience as I could while the Balm gave us his life story. I nearly rolled my eyes, but I stopped myself for Soleil's sake. I just hoped this Selwyn was a better midwife than he was an orator. At least Balm had sent it's Second, and not just any adept.

[Soleil Belfours]

I listened, bemused, and I could feel Anacrasia's annoyance. I gave her hand a squeeze; it comforted me to know that I was going to be in capable hands. "Yes, well," I said, clearing my throat. "Thank you for coming."

Selwyn nodded, setting down his bag. "Is this your first birth, my lady?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yes," I said.

"And how has your health been since you became pregnant?" he asked, taking a seat at the foot of the bed.

"Not as good as when I was not pregnant," I said. "I was very weak at the beginning, and towards the end, I never wanted to move."

He nodded. "I'm going to examine you, with your permission, my lady."

I nodded. "Of course, of course," I said, before another contraction came over me and I gave Ana and Christophe's hands hard squeezes.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

Soleil must have had another contraction, because she bore down on my hand. I simply raised her hand to my lips to kiss softly.

[Selwyn nó Balm]

Sitting on the edge of the bed on the same side as the marquise's male friend, I turned down the covers. "Are you having contractions?" I asked.

"Yes," replied the marquise, a bit brusquely.

"And how far apart are they?" I asked, as I put my hand to her forehead, to feel her temperature. It was normal.

[Soleil Belfours]

"About five or ten minutes," I said. His hands were cool and pleasantly soft.

He nodded, putting two fingers against my neck to feel my pulse. "Your temperature and heart rate are normal," he said. "I am going to feel your belly now, and then examine you to see how dilated you are."

"Of course," I said.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

As both of Soleil's hands were occupied, I gently smoothed the hair from her face, and tucked it behind her ears as the Balm went about his work.

[Selwyn nó Balm]

I began to feel the marquise's belly. The man looked familiar, where had I seen him before? "Your baby is active," I said, "and goodly sized! The head is turned towards the cervix...things are looking well, my lady."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I smiled at Selwyn's words. "You've done a wonderful job already Soleil," I told her, squeezing her hand gently.

[Soleil Belfours]

I smiled. "You did it too," I said, squeezing back. It was all so clear in that moment: I was having a baby. We were having a baby. We were going to be parents. "We're having a baby," I whispered faintly.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I smiled, so wide an happy. "I can hardly wait to hold our little one in my arms," I told her, leaning in to kiss her cheek.