The next month wasn’t spent in peaceful splendor. Marren made extra effort to keep himself busy, but he continued to use our private way of communicating. He remained on edge about everything. Jiren hadn’t made an appearance yet, and that made it worse. I tried to comfort him as best I could, but he wouldn’t stop worrying about the baby. Nor would he tell me why.
All of the races had come together to form groups of Watchmen to actively patrol parts of the immortal realm in search of any sign of Jiren or his whereabouts. The mountain village was well guarded, especially my room. And I never spent a moment alone.
Okelo had spent every waking moment with me, along with Serid, who had grown to the size of a toddler. He spoke in full sentences in common and his native language, and he play-fought Enid in my room with wooden swords. Enid stood on his knees with one hand behind his back, gripping his belt. The giggles that emerged from that small child could shake Jiren from his seat. Not that I would want to find out. The kid just had that kind of power.
I enjoyed the playfulness of the two, especially since being confined to my bed for the previous week. Horrid cramps, that would give changing a run for the money, would rip through my stomach and last for what seemed like hours when only minutes passed. And the baby had grown to a point where anytime it moved, it would hurt. Okelo insisted that I remain in bed for the remainder of the pregnancy. I was getting too close. But, the next full moon wasn’t for another two days, which I took every chance to remind Okelo of.
“That was only a saying, you could go into labor within the next day,” she would always say.
This time was no different.
“Besides,” she added as an afterthought, “The baby’s movements have slowed. That is a sure sign of birth.”
I tried to ignore the way that anticipating the amount of pain that I would go through made my body react. Like being constricted in tightly bound rope or being held underwater with no hope of air.
Enid, having lost his battle against the Great Serid, approached to give me whatever news he could. He had been bombarded by Serid the moment he walked through the door and begged for a practice fight before he talked to me.
“How are you holding up?” His eyes were filled with the concern of a father.
“I’m well, Athair. How are things in the outside world?” The outside world was everything outside the door to my room.
“They found evidence of tracks just on the northern side of the dwarf’s territory. No one knows if they belong to Jiren or his followers.”
“If he has any left. I hear they’re coming in at a slow trickle if they make it alive.”
“It is true that Jiren’s followers seem to be dwindling. As word of what you and Marren proved to the rest of the Ancients travels through the remaining territories, more and more decided to leave his lead. Though, none were helpful in revealing the details of his plans.”
I tried to pay attention to what Enid discussed with me through the tapping of a wooden sword against the stone of the open window. I kept thinking something sat on the verge of my thoughts, inching closer with every tap. Okelo snapped something in the native language and stomped over to scold Serid, who appeared like he had just lost his favorite toy in the world.
Okelo scooped him into her arms then turned toward me with a smile. “I’m taking Serid to our room. I will return when he’s asleep to check on you again.”
I nodded as she stomped with frustration out of the room. “Something is bothering her. Marren too, but they’re not telling me. Do you have any thoughts on it, Enid?”
I gazed deep into his blue eyes. He sighed, walking away from the side of my bed.
“I’m afraid I do not, A’lainn.”
I raised an eyebrow to his back. “I will find out eventually. I’m just concerned. He’s been so wound up the last couple of days. He’s barely said anything to me, and although I understand the ways of his people, I still don’t understand why he won’t at least peek in on me.”
“I wish I could tell you, but even I am not privy to such things.”
I was compelled to stretch, reaching my arms way above my head and curving my back just slightly. Instead of it feeling like it normally would, it seemed as though a sword sliced through my stomach. I let out a howling scream, falling back against the bed and clawing the pillow in my tightened fists. The baby moved within me, sending another sharp slice. I laid there, writhing in pain while Enid shouted something about getting help and disappearing into the hall.
One last slice of fire burned through my abdomen, followed by a huge warm gush of liquid pouring from in between my legs. It soaked the bedding and my gown, forcing them to stick to my legs. I reached down to feel what it was, only to bring my fingers back into view tinged with blood.
Marren! The baby! I tried to put as much desperation into my unspoken words as I could. Within the time it took me to endure another agonizing cramp, he was at my feet, pulling the blankets from my legs and lifting the bottom of my gown over my bent knees.
His eyes never touched mine. He kept them on everything but my eyes. I was scared and unsure of what was happening.