(Here is one of my favorite most climatic chapters of the my book so far. I have been writing out of order off and on for year's. Everyone thinks I'm crazy doing so but I feel like the book has changed it's self as I have been writing. Characters are doing thing practically on their own and I'm just here for the ride)

Chapter 5
Labor Pains

Thairin lay in the bed he shared with Myrah, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath, she looked so peaceful lying beside him.
Her slowly growing belly evidence of their love, but also, a reminder of the agreement with the king.
‘It could be a boy.’ Thairin thought as he places a hand on her stomach.
A sudden kick beneath her skin made him feel degusted with himself.
The soft sheets now seemed constricting and caused his breathing to quicken in pace. The gilt that filled the mind made his stomach turned.
Setting himself to the side of the bed he tried to calm the anxiety. His calloused hands rubbed his face roughly and his mismatched eyes started to sting and threatening to tear.
The thought of the secret deal to give his baby girl to the king was too much.
Thairin sat there praying for a way out. He let out a shaky breath as he felt a cool hand touch is bear back.
“Darling is everything alright.” Her voice filled with concern.
“All is fine my Love.” he lied. “Get some rest.”

That morning while Thairin was working in the royal kitchen, Myrah had an appointment with her midwife Shyann, to check on her pregnancy.
“Lets see how your baby's heartbeat sounds.” The blonde women said, laying an odd instrument on Myrah’s swollen stomach, as she laid on the bed.
“He has been keeping me up half the night kicking.” She laughed. “Well, at least Thairin says it’s a boy. I’d love a girl, but he says that a girl would not be so rough and large.”
Myrah was beaming, she was so excited to start their little family.
Shyann laid hands on he belly, smiling brightly.
“ Well, Thairin is wrong. My mother said I kicked way harder then any of my brothers” she laughed.
“But, for you, I can’t say, I never have helped with a birth of twins before.” Shyann smiled.
“What” her eyes widened.
“You mean there are two in there?” Myrah said sitting up from the bed.
“yes ma’am, congratulations.”
Myrah jumped up from the bed and hugged her.
“Thank you, thank you. This is the best news I have ever received! I can’t wait to tell Thairin! “

Thairin walked home from the castle, the thought of the deal with the king was a heavy burden he had been bearing.
Walking onto the porch Thairin opened the door to his cottage, he could hear Myrah humming as she worked over the small wood burning stove. She was dipping wool in some blue dye. She had been working with one of the other maid to learn how to spin wool into yarn.
She spotted Thairin out of the corner of her eye as he wrapped his strong arms around her form behind, caressing her large baby bump.
“Darling how was your day?” she laughter and turned to kiss him.
She melted into his lips, loving the was he kissed: It was as if it was their first time, and their last.
Pulling apart she almost forgot the news she had for him.
“My day was just fine. “ he said “ but I should be asking you, how did your appointment go?”
“It was great! Except, she did find something.” She said trying to hide her joy.
“What? Is everything ok? Darling, what ever it is, I’m here for you.” His voice filled with worry.
“Well, you will have to be here for me. And our two babies.”
She watched as the worry left his face, and was traded by more joy then when she told him she was pregnant.
Thairin sighed, the feeling of relief was so strong. They would still have a child of their own, no matter what the king could not take both babies. This was the answer to his prayers.
“Love, this is the best news! We are going to have a family!” He said kissing her forehead, cheek, lips and neck. He knelt down and put a hand on her stomach.
“ hello, babies. I can’t wait to meet you!” he smiled, the first true smile since finding out about the pregnancy.
They would have a family, no matter what.

Time past and Myrah had one month to go till the birth of the twin.
Myrah was lying in bed Thairin had been asleep for some time. She, on the other hand, was in excruciating pain. She winced as a connection hit her. Myrah’s eyes widened as she felt her water break.
“Thairin! Thairin! They’re coming!” her breathing becoming erratic.
Thairin jumped up from the bed. “Love, are you sure? We have a month to go still.”
She screamed in anguish.
“Yes, go get miss Shyann!” she panted.
Thairin ran to get on a shirt and his boots. She held back tears another contraction hit. He kissed her forehead as sweat building on her brow and ran out the door.
He made it to the cottage that the midwife stayed. As he walked to the porch, he begged God for their babies to both be boys.
Knocking on the door repeatedly not caring who it woke, a young blonde women assured the door.
“Thairin! Is everything alright?” Shyann asked.
“She is in labor!” he said in a panic.
“ I’ll be right there.” She said, shutting the door.

Thairin entered his home. His beautiful wife laying in bed as the last contraction came to an end.
“Thairin, Darling, I’m scared.” She wept, worried about the pain to come.
Thairin ran to her side and cradled her to his chest. He felt the tears build in his own eyes. This was not right, he had done this to her, and if she was to find out about the deal, he would lose her. Forever.
Thairin kissed her tears away.
“You are going to be fine. Our sons will be fine.” He tried to sooth himself more then her.
“Thairin, I hope at least one is a girl.” She smiled through the pain.
Thairin turned white. “if one is a girl, I’d like to name her Sephora.” She breathed heavily. “is that ok?
The pain took her breath away as she squeezed her husband’s hand.
“Yes, my Love. It’s beautiful. I’d love a little girl too.” He lied.
Shyann opened the door of the cottage to see Thairin knelt beside Myrah.
“Ok, let’s get to work. Dad, you can wait outside.” The maid smiles.
“ No I want him to stay.” She pleaded.
The midwife nodded, understanding this was Myrah’s first time.
He stayed by her side as the maid prepared for the birth. Laying out towels and getting everything ready.
Shyann sat at the end of the bed and started to fix Myrah in the right position.
“ Myrah, you are ready now. I need you to push. On my count , One. Two. Three!”
Thairin felt like she was going to break his fingers as she screamed.
“ok, very good. Let’s see another. We are almost there.”
She pushed four more times each one more tiresome.
“one more. “ with that push she felt some relief but not much since this was far from over.
The maid held the baby.
”It’s a boy.” she said, but her voice was not above a whisper.
Thairin breathed a sigh of relief. A boy! The king will not take this child. Thairin’s thoughts where interrupted but his wife.
“ Why is he not crying?” she asked as the pain hit her again.
“Myrah focus. I need you to do this again for me.” The midwife persisted.
“No, no, what’s wrong?” his wife was now in a panic.
“Push, you need to do this.” She yelled again.
Thairin held her as she pushed the second baby out.
“It’s a girl!” the couple heard the baby cry.
Thairin’s heart sank. He felt his stomach twist. He looked to his side to see Myrah’s exhausted eyes.
“You did so great darling, I love you.” He said
“Thairin I need you out of here!” the panic in the midwife’s voice made him stop and turn.
Shock hit as he saw how much blood was on Shyann’s hands.
“LEAVE NOW!” she yelled at him.
He could not move his mismatched eyes just starting at the blood. He glanced back to his wife her body limply laying against the headboard of the bed.
“Myrah. Myrah!” he felt hot tears run down his face.
“MYRAH! Don’t leave me.” He shook her with trembling hands.
“Myrah! No!” he got onto the bed out of pure adrenalin he held her.
Caressing her face, he wept.
Shyann put two fingers to Myrah’s wrist. There was no pulse.
The midwife cleaned up the baby girl wrapping her in a knitted blanket. The boy lifeless body she wrapped in towels.
This little family has been through too much tonight.

Lexy Dunbar

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