Chapter 39 - Emilia

It's mid-morning when it happens. Lilas was away at a Council meeting, he'd cut back to every other day ever since I went on bed rest and has been making comments about staying home with me until the baby was born. I won't let him though as he can't stop being King simply because the baby is almost here so we reached the agreement of every other day meetings. Volethe and Khidell are on guard duty today with strict orders for Volethe to run for Lilas if anything happens.

I've been on strict bed rest for the past month which is mind-numbingly boring especially as the baby moving has made it difficult to even focus on a book or embroidery. I'd not long given up on reading for the first time that morning when the pains start making my cry out and scare the life out of Volethe and Khidell.

"Your Majesty! What's wrong?" Volethe asks in a panic while Khidell scans the room trying to find an outside source for my pain.

"I-I think the baby is coming." I gasp out as the pain fades. Sharing a panicked look Volethe and Khidell split up with Volethe running out the door first to Healer Fayeth and my midwives then to Lilas to tell him it's time. Khidell on the other hand stays with me, coming to my side and offering silent support as there isn't much else he can do.

Luckily for him Healer Fayeth and the midwives arrive within minutes. They'd all moved into rooms in the palace as soon as I'd gone on bed rest, that way they'd be close at hand when I went into labour. Fayeth replaces Khidell next to me while my two midwives quickly shoo him out of the room informing him that only Lilas is allowed inside to be with me.

"Come your Majesty, walking will help move things along." Fayeth says helping me to sit up as a midwife takes my other hand, giving me support on both sides to stand up. With their help I'm soon on my feet and making slow laps around the room when Lilas arrives running into the room.

"Emmy! Is it…" He gasps out scanning the room before his eyes land on me being supported by Fayeth and a midwife, "Gods, it's really happening."

"Yes the baby's…" I pause letting out a low groan as another pain washes over me, "coming." I manage a strained smile at him as Fayeth waves him closer.

"Your Majesty, come and take my place." Obeying Lilas takes over from her holding my hand and helping me to walk around the room. Now free Fayeth joins the other midwife preparing for the birth, they get the bed ready along with towels and water warming over the fire. All done with a practised ease all while keeping an eye and ear on me as my labour progresses.

It seems to go on forever as I make endless laps around the room each one more difficult as the pains become closer together. Fayeth and the midwives have been keeping track of the amount of time between each one especially as they get closer together, there's only a few minutes between each one when they finally say anything outside of gentle encouragement.

"We should get you on the bed now, your Majesty. I need to examine you." Fayeth says prompting Lilas and the midwife to help me over to the bed. Once I'm there I lie down with my back against some pillows so that I'm still mainly upright and there is enough room left beside me for Lilas to sit next to me still holding my hand.

Arranging my legs to her liking Fayeth examines me before consulting with the midwives, whatever they're talking about they must come to some agreement as they all nod. With a slight smile Fayeth returns to the bed where Lilas and I are riding out my latest pain.

"It's time. On your next pain I want you to push your Majesty." Another strained smile comes to my face at the news but it soon fades as another pain overcomes me. Just as I'd been told I push and stop as the pain ends.

I keep pushing every time Fayeth tells me to when the pain comes but nothing seems to be happening and I'm so tired and close to giving up. Then she gives me the best news I'd heard all day, well since she told me to start pushing at least.

"I can see the head. You're almost there your Majesty, give me one big push on your next pain and the head will be born." I nod in response too tired to speak. Not long after the pain starts and I push letting out a strained grunt at the effort but it's not enough. As the pain ends I stop collapsing back against the pillows panting heavily.

"I can't do it." I manage to pant out exhausted and wanting nothing more than to go to sleep.

"You can my love. Come on one more big push." Lilas says having stayed by me through all these long hours holding my hand even though I've squeezed it as hard as I can during every pain. He'd even made me laugh at times during breaks commenting about how Kor and Bel would have handled this. In his opinion it would have been chaos but in the best way possible as Kor can't stand seeing his mates in pain and Bel in general causes chaos wherever he goes.

Again I let out a big push on my next pain, this time with success as Fayeth declares the head is out and that there's just the shoulders to go. One last push for the shoulders and there is a brief quiet before it's filled with a baby's cry.

"A boy, your Majesties. And a half-dragon just as we thought." Fayeth informs us passing the baby over to a midwife who wraps him in a blanket before bringing him over to us. Despite how tired I am I reach out eagerly to hold my baby and as the midwife settles him against my chest I get my first clear look. And he's perfect.

There is no denying that he's Kor's, not with his lightly tanned skin and his nose looks so much like Kor's as well. His eyes are the typical blue of new-borns so there's no telling who he'll take after and at the moment what little hair he has is dark and wet so I can't tell what colour it is either. Through the blanket though I can feel hints of the most telling indicator of him being Kor's, wings. Tiny little wings.

"He's beautiful." Lilas breathes peering at the baby in my arms, "You did it my love, our perfect little boy." He presses a kiss against my head holding me close.

"Yes, our little Nazeph. He's perfect." I reply tired as I start to realise just how exhausted I am, "Do you want to hold him?"

Nodding eagerly Lilas gentle takes the baby from me allowing me to rest back against the pillows at least until the afterbirth comes. Luckily it comes quickly and after it's been checked over by Fayeth to make sure it's all there she and the midwives help me stand and go to have a quick bath while a team of maids enter the room and change the sheets on the bed in record time.

I let out a sigh of relief as I settle back in the clean bed more than ready to sleep for at least a few hours. The labour has no doubt taken hours but I don't know how long exactly so for all I know it could be dark outside. Regardless of the time though I need some sleep. Fayeth and the midwives leave us alone promising to check back in soon and to be nearby if we need them for anything.

"We need to tell Bel and Kor." I say on the verge of sleep looking over at Lilas whose sat nearby still holding Nazeph.

"Don't worry Emmy, you rest and I'll start writing the letter. Maybe after you've recovered I can make a drawing of you and Nazeph for them." I nod tiredly with a small smile. Perhaps just minutes after that I drift off to sleep too tired to even dream.

I'm pulled out of my sleep by Lilas so that I can eat something. It seems that I'd given birth in the early hours of the morning after being in labour all day so he'd let me sleep until breakfast. Knowing that I'm not ready to move though he's had it brought on a tray for me to eat in bed while he sits nearby with Nazeph. Feeling better after having slept and eaten something I gently push myself into a sitting position.

"Can I hold him?" I ask holding out my arms for my baby. It's only been a few hours since I last held him but it feels like it's been too long. As Lilas settles him into my arms I notice that he doesn't look much different than the last time I held him but his hair is dry now. To my delight it seems to be a mix of mine and Kor's being darker than my own red hair but still having a noticeable hint of red.

"I could watch him forever." Lilas comments sitting next to me on the bed gazing at Nazeph in my arms, "He's got hair almost like yours. Think I've heard it called auburn, not quite red or brown but both."

"I never thought I could love someone so much." I whisper brushing a finger against his cheek. He's fast asleep and doesn't wake up at all just wiggles slightly before settling back down.

"Neither did I." Lilas says letting me know I'm not alone in my all-consuming love for the baby in my arms, "He's going to be so incredibly loved."

"You should start that drawing." I tell him wanting Kor and Bel to know as soon as possible. Agreeing Lilas goes and picks up some paper and a pencil before settling down to sketch me and the baby. It's a nice way to spend the morning after yesterday. Simply holding my baby and memorising every detail of his tiny face while Lilas captures the moment forever.

"All finished. I wrote the letter last night so I'll just add this and send it off. Shouldn't be long." He tells me leaving the room after giving me a quick kiss. I barely notice that he's gone to be honest as Nazeph wakes up not long after and begins to cry.

"Oh, Gods." I'm not sure what's wrong and can feel myself beginning to panic, "Fayeth! Nuella! Anyone!" I call out desperate for help. True to her promise to be close by Fayeth comes running into the room.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" She rushes over checking over both me and the baby trying to find the source of the problem.

"He started crying and I don't know why. I didn't know what to do." I rush out praying that she can help. She nods in understanding seeming to calm down now that she knows that we're not in any danger.

"It's okay your Majesty. He's likely just hungry." She reassures me and then helps me undo the ties of my nightdress and talks me through how to nurse him myself. We have hired a wet nurse but I'd made it clear that I want to feed him myself so the nurse will mainly be taking the night shift. While Lilas and I might have a few days of peace but soon enough we'll have to resume our duties as King and Queen so we'll need the help.

It seems Fayeth was right and Nazeph is just hungry as he latches on quickly happily feeding. The feeling of it is strange but I soon barely notice in the face of bonding with my baby as Fayeth leaves giving me some privacy. At least until Lilas gets back from sending the letter but at that point Nazeph is almost asleep not really feeding anymore but suckling for comfort instead.

"Shh. He's nearly asleep again." I whisper as he joins me on the bed again. Keeping quiet for a bit longer we wait for him to truly fall asleep before I hand him over to Lilas while I make do my nightdress back up.

"The letter should reach them in a few days, a dragon messenger is flying full speed to the border for us." Lilas tells me in a whisper so as not to wake Nazeph again.

"That's good I can't wait for them to know." It feels strange to me that something so momentous has happened but two of the most vital people involved don't know that it's happened. And it's possible in the future that we'll have to tell Nazeph that two of his fathers weren't even in the city when he was born although they have a valid reason. "When do you need to return to work?"

"I'm sure the Council can manage without me for a few days. I'll still ask for reports and if anything big happens I'll go in but other than that I want to be here enjoying this time."

"I'll send a note to my ladies letting them know and giving them a few days off. They'll want to come and see him soon though but I want a few days to recover first."

"Of course and I'll probably go and visit the Council the next time you're both asleep to tell them. I wouldn't be surprised if they want to throw another party to celebrate but I don't think we should, with the war picking up we shouldn't spend too much."

"Probably for the best. I'm so tired that I probably couldn't handle another ball, at least not for a month or more." I say trying and failing to stifle a yawn making Lilas chuckle.

"Get some sleep my love. We'll both be right here when you wake up." He tells me kissing my forehead as I ease myself down the bed slightly so that I can lie down. As I'm falling asleep I can hear Lilas talking to Nazeph telling all about Kor and Bel as well as how much we all love him despite that the fact that he's asleep and too young to understand. The very last thing I hear is him quietly singing a lullaby that I've never heard before.