Urgent Business Indeed|Aegestrom, Maelstrom

[Kender Bard]

Lya didn't go far outside of the room before turning and taking Shadow's hand in her own in a surprisingly firm grip. "The baby is coming, I believe," she told him bluntly.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow bit back the 'what? now?' that had been on the tip of his tounge and replied calmly, "Then we'd best get you comfortable, love." He gave her a reassuring smile and added, "At least this one has slightly better timing then Lumi did."

On the way to the birthing room, Shadow knocked on Flash's study door and sent him to run ahead and alert Tavia that it was time. By the time the King and Queen arrived at the birthing room, the healer/mid-wife was waiting for them. "Well, Lya, ready to welcome another little one into the world?" she asked, moving to rub Lya's back soothingly. "How long have you been having contractions?"

[Kender Bard]

"A couple of hours," she told Tavia. "I ignored them at first because, well, I've been having them all month as you know. But the last hour has had several and they are getting much stronger than before. I recognize the signs." She flashed Tavia a smile. The mother-to-be was not at all worried, not really. She moved to lie down, wanting badly to get off her feet. "But yes, I think I'm ready." She flashed Shadow an amused smile. "Is my lord husband?"

[Northen Light36]

"Never," Shadow replied honestly, giving Lya a warm smile and taking her hand again when she was settled. "I hate to see you hurt, my love, for all I've looked forward to seeing each of our children."

"You have a sweet husband," Tavia told Lya with a smile. "I'll make sure he has healing water for his hand when this is over," she adds teasingly.

[Kender Bard]

Lya laughed softly but it cut off into a grimace and she squeezed Shadow's hand, lightly (for now) through it.

It was time to begin.

---

The entire event went smoothly and surprisingly quickly. Not more than four hours passed, with Lya never reaching the same levels of pain she had experienced with Luminous.

She was still very tired by the end. Eyes closed and catching her breath, she asked lightly, "What is it? A boy or a girl?"

[Northen Light36]

"A perfect little boy with a healthy set of lungs," Tavia replied, wrapping the crying baby in a blanket. "And, unsurprisingly, another Wind/Storm. Who wants to hold him first?"

"Lya can, if she wishes," Shadow replied, smiling gleefully. "She did all the work after all." He kissed the top of Lya's head.

[Kender Bard]

Lya did want to and so stretched out her arms and cuddled her new child closely. "Ohhh, shhh," she whispered to the infant, cuddling him closely as she scooted back against the pillows to sit up better. She traced his signs softly with her fingertip, smiling. "Hello little Dami," she cooed. She flashed Shadow a bright and happy smile. "He is perfect isn't he?"

[Northen Light36]

"As perfect as his mother and sister," Shadow replied, returning Lya's smile with an equally happy one of his own. "Thank you, love."

"And speaking of his sister, would you two like me to find her for you?" Tavia asked.

[Kender Bard]

Lya tried not to wince. She wasn't sure she wanted to put up with a sulk of Luminous's if that's what it came down to. But... She glanced at Shadow. "Do you think she'll behave herself? If she will... Then yes, I would like that."

[Northen Light36]

"I think she will," Shadow replied. "And if not, she won't stay. Tavia, please make sure Luminous is aware of that."

"I will," Tavia assured the king, and went to fetch Lumi from her lessons. Outside the classroom, Tavia knelt down to Lumi's level and told her, "Your parents are hoping you'd like to meet your new sibling. But if you do, I want to know that you're going to be good-natured and happy about it, Princess. Your mother is very tired and I don't want her stressed."

[Kender Bard]

"I don't have to be happy," Luminous told Tavia steadily. She didn't frown but she didn't smile either. "But I won't bother mother. I just want to look at him or her and leave again, if that's all right."

[Northen Light36]

"Fair enough," Tavia told the little girl. "That's fine."

Shadow gave Lumi a warm smile when she entered the birthing room. "Lumi sweet, come meet your new brother," he told her.

[Kender Bard]

Luminous couldn't help the interested quirk of her brow when Shadow said 'brother.' She walked over and glanced over her mother. Lya tilted the baby carefully to show him to her.

"Hm," she remarked. "What are you going to call him?"

[Northen Light36]

"Dami," Shadow replied. "After my friend, Damien. Ann's uncle." He smiled at the baby boy then at Lumi and added, "It also goes well with Lumi, I thought." He reached out to take Lumi's hand, though not so firmly she couldn't pull away. "What do you think?"

[Kender Bard]

"Ann will be happy, I think," Luminous said, slipping her hand out of his. She managed to force a small smile for her mother, who smiled back. "Well, back to work." Turning, she left quickly.

"At least she's trying," Lya noted at her retreating daughter's back.