The Keep - Birth

“It’s almost over.” Difyr assured Pinja. “Aalyssa can see the head.”

Pinja did not think she could take it any longer. She felt like the baby was tearing her apart. She threw back her head and screamed so hard she thought she thought her face scars were reopening.

🪑***
Lek could not sit still. When he brought the last buckets of hot water up the stairs, Milie let him know that it was almost over. He wanted to follow Millie into that room, but instead he joined his aunt and uncle in the room down the hall. He spilled water into his boot before he realized he was still holding the buckets of water and set them in a corner of the room. He fidgeted and paced. He could hear Pinja screaming now, she sounded so tired. He did not care about the baby at this point, now he was afraid that this was killing her.

His Aunt Brighid and Uncle Shawn were anxious too, but clearly much better composed and were actually sitting. Brie’s leg jogged a little, but the two were much better composed.

When a baby cry was heard Brighid and Shawn jumped to their feet. Lek expected Millie to come to the room at any minute, but she did not come.

“Something’s wrong. What’s wrong?” Lek asked Brighid as if she would know.

“Calm down Lek.” Shawn said.

Lek shook his head. Pinja could be dead. He started to leave the room when he heard Pinja cry out again. Lek hesitated. So she was not dead. But what was going on? He could hear that the baby was already born. Lek started for the door again, but Shawn caught his shoulder and held him back. Lek shoved Shawn off and burst into the hall. He started to go to the room, when he heard a second baby crying.

♊***
Difyr and Millie checked the babies over and cleaned them while Aalyssa healed Pinja. Pinja had lost a lot of blood, but from what Difyr could see, the babies were healthy.

“Do you want to hold them?” Difyr asked Pinja.

“No!” Pinja said, weakly throwing an arm across her face so she would not even see them.

“She really wants nothing to do with them.” Millie said softly. “Maybe I should just take them to Shawn and Brie.”

Difyr had hoped that Pinja would at least be willing to nurse them for a few days, but doubted that would ever happen. Fortunately there were other nursing mothers in the Keep that Difyr had spoken to that would be willing to help. Difyr could not blame Pinja, after what she went through. Difyr nodded to Millie. With Aalyssa tending to Pinja, the two carried the babies into the hallway.

Where they found Lek, looking wild eyed. He gave the babies a brief look, then looked at Difyr. “How is Pinja?”

“She is very weak and tired, but she will be alright.” Difyr said.

Lek nodded. He looked at the door to Pinja’s room, almost looking like he would go in there for a moment and Difyr was about to tell him to not, when he suddenly turned and ran down the stairs.

Relieved, but feeling sad, Difyr went with Millie to give the babies to Shawn and Brighid. They had not been expecting twins but Difyr was sure they could find room for two.