Topic: The "Midwife" is Here

Jonayen

Date: 2013-05-27 17:40 EST
Jonayen had slept remarkably well at the Red Dragon Inn. Her first evening in Rhydin had been uneventful. After having a drink and meeting a few people at the bar, she had retired to her room. After a long journey of days and nights on the road, she had slept deep and dreamless. She stretched and yawned, then swung her bare legs over the side of the bed. The room consisted of a small but very comfortable bed, a small wooden table with two chairs, and a wash basin and mirror.

"I could use some coffee" she muttered, and walked over to the mirror to assess the situation. Her tanned face stared back at her, deep green eyes still blurry with sleep. She had shoulder length blonde hair that was in quite a disarray at the moment. She grabbed her weather-beaten travel bag and retrieved some toiletries and a fresh set of clothes. Next to the travel bag was another tote that carried her professional accouterments. Midwifery was her only skill; she sure hoped people had babies in Rhydin. Korrana slipped into her thoughts " Jonayen's mentor that had left her before she could be fully trained. Jonayen's trek from her homeland to Rhydin had been so exhausting that she really had not gotten to mourn Korrana's passing.

Korrana was not Jonayen's mother " that much she had always known. But Korrana had raised her as her own child. Jonayen now knew the circumstances of her own birth, a secret that Korrana had kept from her for the first 22 years of Jonayen's life. On her death bed, Korrana had told Jonayen the truth. Jonayen was not surprised by the fact that there was a secret to her birth, but she was not expecting what the truth actually was. Jonayen had always assumed that her mother had died in childbirth. Or that she was some rich man's bastard, and that she had been hidden from his wrathful wife. What Korrana had finally confessed had left her with more questions than answers.

But delving into the past was not going to help her in the here and now. She needed some income, so she got to work on making a posting:

Experienced Midwife

Jonayen Rain is now available in Rhydin to provide both pregnant and non-pregnant women with advice and guidance throughout the stages of a woman's life. Jonayen can be found at the Red Dragon Inn.

She took Korrana's last name by default when she was growing up, and she liked the sound of it so decided to keep it even now. Having freshened up, she packed her belongings and headed downstairs.

The Inn was quiet at this early hour, but she found a fresh pot of coffee so she helped herself. "Put it on my tab!" She grinned, then posted her sign where she saw fit.

Jonayen

Date: 2013-06-12 17:31 EST
A stormy night, twenty-two years ago...

The sea was raging, waves were crashing against the docks mercilessly. The sky was a dark green color and full of flashes of lightning. By the time Korrana arrived at the Keep, she was drenched to the bone. The Queen was heavy with child, and a messenger had been sent to Korrana to inform her that she was needed, that it was time. Korrana had cared for the Queen throughout her pregnancy, and things had progressed smoothly. The Queen had been nervous, anxious as all first time mothers were, but would not say much to Korrana at their visits leading up to today. Korrana entered the keep through the commoners' stable, leaving her pony with the stable boy to be watered and fed.

"Midwife," the Queen's maid bowed slightly to her. "You are needed in her chambers, she is deep into her pains, she is crying out for you."

"Okay my dear, let us not delay," Korrana said as she slipped out of her cloak. The maid was silent and tense as she led Korrana through the maze of dark gray stone walls. Servants were scarce, and those she did see were quick to scamper away. The whole castle was holding its breath, partly due to the storm, but mainly because their future king or queen could be born that night. The kingdom would accept a first born child or either gender as their ruler, a boy was not required.

They arrived at the Queen's chambers and Korrana entered. "My Queen," she said, bowing to her. The Queen was in her enormous bed, lying on her side as another maid knelt next to her with a small bucket. The Queen retched into the bucket, dry-heaving until she could barely catch her breath.

"Oh midwife, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!" The Queen yelled to her. Korrana took the maid's place, and set the bucket on the floor.

"No, no....you are not going to die. You must use these pains to bring your baby out." Korrana turned to the maids. "Could we please have some water and a cloth, new bed sheets, and a stool my dears?" The maids scurried away, grateful for something to do. The Queen panted as her contraction subsided.

"I cannot do this!" she screamed. Then she locked eyes with Korrana. "I will either die here or by his hand," she muttered as she collapsed onto the pillows. Korrana frowned slightly.

"My Queen, please come to the stool, the labor will be quicker this way. Hurry, before your next pain comes." The Queen obliged and squatted onto the stool just before she began to groan again, and then a gush of clear fluid mixed with blood splashed onto the floor beneath her. "Now we are getting somewhere!" Korrana said, trying to sound relaxed and cheerful, as her adrenaline began to kick in. Korrana knew the Queen was carrying a big child, her belly had measured large at their last meeting. Please do not let the babe get stuck, please gods. Korrana pushed firmly on the Queen's lower back back, helping to ease the unbearable pain that all mothers endure. One of the maids placed a cool cloth on the Queen's head, and in this way it continued for another hour.

"I must push, I feel it!" the Queen cried and then leaned forward off her stool, squatting with her elbows on her knees. Korrana could then feel the babe's head, each push bringing it closer to life. The Queen's maids steadied her and offered encouragement, as Korrana remained silent and focused, her responsibility was the safety of the Queen and the heir to the throne. The head emerged, face down, then Korrana helped turn the baby sideways, delivering one shoulder then the next easily, and the rest of the babe slipped out. The baby cried out strong and vigorous.

"My Queen, you have done it, you have a daughter." Korrana spoke softly.

The Queen began to weep. "My little girl, oh gods, my baby, she looks perfect," she exhaled as she fell back into her maids' arms. A young woman by the door slipped out to inform the King's man that waited outside.

"Let's get you to the bed, My Queen, and we will get you ladies cleaned up." Korrana took care of the cord once the Queen was in bed and handed the baby to her. With a tug on the remaining cord, the afterbirth delivered. The Queen was too enraptured by her child to notice. The Queen's belly felt full and soft, and there was a bit more blood still than Korrana would have liked. We must get this womb to clamp down....she thought. Then the young woman reentered the room.

"The King would see his child, my Queen." she said timidly. The Queen looked to Korrana. "For a moment only, then she must be returned. She must be cared for by her mother." The young woman nodded and took the baby girl, holding her carefully.

"Go with her, in case there is a need for something," Korrana ordered the two remaining maids. They bowed to her and pattered out. Korrana caught a glimpse of the King's man outside, relief was on his face. A gush of blood and fluid suddenly soaked the bed and the Queen moaned, "No! It's back, I can't!" Korrana checked the Queen and was shocked to feel a tiny little bottom of another baby presenting. "I can't, I will die one way or another!" the Queen was panicked, suddenly delirious. Korrana gritted her teeth - not only a twin, but breech as well. It was good that the first baby had fit through easily, this one would come as well, just with a little help. But it needed to happen quickly, as the blood loss was becoming worrisome. "My Queen, you must push! Grab your knees!" The Queen pushed and pushed, and then the bottom half delivered, followed by one shoulder and the next. The head needed guidance " Korrana tucked the chin with the back of the baby to her. It took only seconds, but it seemed like an eternity until the babe's head was free. Korrana stimulated the baby, this one also a girl. She remained blue a bit longer than her older sister, but she soon cried out as well and lived. She swaddled the baby in a blanket and laid her on the bed. Then Korrana attended to the Queen. Her second placenta delivered, and her uterus contracted nicely, staunching the bleeding. Korrana finally was able to take a deep breath and wipe her brow. This had been much more than she had expected.

Then the Queen shrieked. "No, no, take her away, she will be my death!" she wailed. Korrana looked at the Queen, worried that she had lost too much blood. "My Queen, it is over, you are recovering..." but the Queen was looking at the second baby girl aghast. Korrana then noticed it too. This baby looked wholly different from the first. Where the first had a head of dark hair, deep blue eyes, and fair skin, this second baby was nearly bald with a light fuzz of blond. Her eyes were shockingly green, and her skin was more rosy pink. Korrana couldn't believe it, she had never seen this in all her years. So rare, yet possible. "My Queen" Korrana gulped, "...is this...?" The Queen wailed, the storm masking her sobbing.

"Please Midwife, you must take her, or we will both be killed." The Queen was sitting up in bed, and she had grabbed on to Korrana's forearm with a grip like a vice.

"What....how" Who is this child?" Korrana mumbled, stunned.

"Stash her in your bags and leave this realm," the Queen said, and then with a deadly calm added, "That is an order from your Queen. I will tell them you were needed in the village, now go!"

Korrana felt her chest tighten as anxiety bubbled up inside her. Take this child" Where" What will I do with a baby' With no options, she checked on the baby who was sleeping contently, and then wrapped another heavier blanket around her. "Would you like to hold her once, my Queen?"

"I.....I cannot, my heart will break apart..." the Queen whispered. "Go".

Korrana placed the baby in the larger of her two bags, leaving some of her more replaceable equipment behind. She bowed to her Queen, then left, closing the door behind her.

Oddly, the King's man was still out in the hallway, standing guard. Why would he not be with the heir? Korrana looked closer at the man; he was handsome, with a mop of blond hair and golden skin. Then he looked back at her, locking his blazing emerald eyes with her own. Korrana stifled a gasp. She realized she would be saving this man's life as well today.