A Brush of Taed, A Brush of Efil

[Kender Bard]

Locket chatted with Delilah, again in her bedroom. Delilah wasn't as bedbound as Locket had been during the final days of her pregnancy, but she was disinclined to move around as much. Locket, knowing how dreadfully dull being confined to one room could be, had made great efforts to keep her highly entertained.

"And then Max gave him a great big bowl of snow!" Locket laughed, finishing off a story of temple antics. Delilah smiled but her expression was unfocused and distracted. Locket frowned at her in concern. "Are you feeling all right?"

"I think I may be going into labor," Delilah replied with a small frown. "I'm not sure how to tell for certain, though."

Locket blinked, grinned, and clapped her hands in excitement. "Oh! I can help you!!" She asked Delilah a few pointed questions and, satisfied with the answers given, gave a nod of the affirmative. "I think so too! I'll go get Filly and Crawford for you!"

Delilah sat up and slid off the bed. "And I suppose I should go somewhere appropriate."

"This way!" Locket chirped, taking her hand and gently leading her away as she reached out mentally to Filly and Crawford. ~Delilah is having her baby! I'm taking her to the same room you had set up for me, Filly!~

~It's prepared for her now~ Filly assured all three of them. ~I anticipated it would be any day now. I'll be along shortly. How is she doing?~

~Quite well~ Locket replied. ~A little nervous, but once we have her settled in I'll try to reassure her.~ After all, Delilah was having only one baby. That couldn't possibly compare. Though Locket had the tact not to mention that out loud or mentally.

[Darastrix]

Crawford teleported to the room instantly, leaving Lucifer blinking at the space he'd been occupying for a moment before retuning to his work.

~I'm already there,~ he sent back. After a pause, he sent Lucifer an apology and explanation, which was brushed off with the king's usual aplomb. He imagined Lucifer had guessed what was happening a second or two after he disappeared.

[Kender Bard]

Delilah greeted Crawford with an almost apologetic smile--as if to say 'Oh my you've caught me looking quite a mess. Sorry my dear.'

Once Locket had seen her settled in comfortably to her cot, she tilted her head and asked, "Do you want me to stay or go?"

Delilah reached up to brush her cheek affectionately. "You can go. If I desire your company, I'll ask Brad or Filly to contact you."

"All right," Locket replied agreeably. She didn't mind; it was going to be an intense time, and too many distractions would be unwelcome. "But you better make sure I'm the fir- .. Se-... Third person to know whether it's a boy or girl." She frowned in mock severity. "Understood?"

"Of course," Delilah replied with a small grin, then grimaced. Locket pecked her forehead and slipped out of the room, leaving her alone with Crawford. She held a hand towards him imploringly. "Nervous?" she asked, her tone implying that she was far more anxious than she'd let Locket catch on to.

[Darastrix]

Crawford clasped Delilah's hand in both of his and brought it up to his lips to kiss. "Nervous," he agreed with a rueful smile. "And excited. You're in the best hands you could possibly be in," he added, partly to reassure them both and partly because he did have faith in Filly's skills as a midwife and healer.

[Kender Bard]

"I know," Delilah agreed lightly. "Having you here helps too."

"It always does," Filly replied, striding into the room with her bag of necessary equipment. She moved around the room to set things up; everything necessary needed to be close at hand or within easy reach. And the work kept her busy, which she was thankful for. "This is your first, Delilah, so this will likely take some time. I brought a book with me when Locket had her triplets and I was glad I did. So try to get some rest when you can. You'll need it. And don't be alarmed if you try to reach for your powers and you can't. It always happens in childbirth. The Forces must have decided it'd be a good idea if an expectant mother couldn't wreak havoc around herself."

"A good idea," Delilah replied with a faint smile. "I wasn't planning on doing anything with my sign, but it's good to know I won't be deafening anyone on accident."

"I'll make the same offer for you, Brad, that I did with Nagi," Filly remarked. "You can stay here or I can call you back later when things are actually interesting, or much later when everything is done."

[Darastrix]

"I'll stay," he said decisively. He couldn't very well leave right after Delilah said she felt better with him there, and he doubted he'd be of any use elsewhere. Lucifer certainly didn't need him pacing in his study.

[Kender Bard]

"Very well," Filly replied and picked a seat to settle in, pushing another to Crawford with a light telekinetic push. Delilah flashed her husband a grateful smile and settled in to rest.

---

It became apparent early on that she would have a hard time of the labor. Delilah's cries of pain started earlier than Filly had expected, but she chalked that up to Delilah being an unlucky enough woman to experience particularly painful childbirth. And the first was supposed to be the worst anyway.

As Filly got more involved in the process, though, her apprehension grew. Signs pointed to trouble. She did her level best to not let her nervousness show--that would be the last thing that Delilah needed--but she couldn't help the small ticks of her worry. Her lips were compressed into a fine line and her brow remained constantly furrowed. Finally she glanced at her stock of healing water; there was a lot there, but suddenly she wanted a lot more. ~Brad, please go-~ she cut herself off from asking him to run a quick errand. From how Delilah clutched tightly to his hand with a desperate look of fear, there was no way he'd go and Filly couldn't ask him. She reached out to one of the other healers and sent them to go instead ~Nevermind.~

"Is it supposed to hurt this much?" Delilah gasped, not for the first time.

The first few times, Filly had patted her gently, assured her it wasn't abnormal. Now she just murmured softly, "Try to relax, Delilah." And avoided looking the other woman in the eyes.

[Darastrix]

Brad kept a hold on Delilah's hand, murmuring quiet reassurances and gently sponging sweat from her brow. He was no healer--he knew basic things to keep a person alive until a healer could be fetched and knew even less about midwifery--but he knew Filly. And with each glance at her face, his own nerves grew. His back went absolutely rigid when she started to ask him to go, and he didn't relax much after.

When he looked to Filly at Delilah's question, his own nerves started to tip into true fear. ~Filly, what's wrong?~

[Kender Bard]

Filly didn't want either of them to panic, so as she answered them, she sent out a tendril of calm to both--not enough to alter their emotions, but to help take the edge off their fears. Delilah actually did relax a touch, but she was still worried and in pain. And Filly's answer was for Crawford only. ~I think the baby is breaching or otherwise misplaced. I can do things to fix the situation, but they're risky. Everything, really, at this point will carry some risk. Delilah's going to be in for a lot of pain... and damage.~ She drew in a deep breath. ~If it comes down to it, I need to know now because I might not have the time or concentration--or you the state of mind--to ask this later. Do you want me to focus on saving Delilah or the baby?~

Even Filly's stomach twisted at the question. She didn't even want to contemplate it. But it was a hard, terrible truth that almost every skilled midwife had to come down to that decision eventually, if they stuck with the craft long enough. She wondered if it was fair to ask him, but she couldn't decide it for herself.

[Darastrix]

Any calm Crawford had gained from Filly's empathy dried up at her question. No. Etaf, please, no. He couldn't lose her. Not after so short a time. Not after they almost hadn't been. He didn't answer right away, leaning down to kiss Delilah's forehead so he could master his expression. How could he make that choice for her? How could he look her in the eye if he told Filly to save her, and their child died as a result? But after seeing what Schuldig had gone through after Efil had dropped Harmony in his lap, how could he live with that and the guilt of being responsible for the death of the woman he loved again?

He couldn't. He couldn't.

~Delilah,~ he said, heart breaking with the words. ~Save Delilah.~


~Locket,~ he whispered to the princess. ~Pray.~ The same was sent to the rest of their friends in the palace.

[Kender Bard]

Locket stopped still where she was, her blood suddenly chilling. Her face set to a serious expression, she turned to head for the temple. Crawford needed her to pray. She would pray so hard, Soahc would go deaf.


~I will do everything in my power to see them both through~ Filly told Brad, her gaze steady even as her own heart was breaking to see his anguish. But she had to know. Had to. She hoped he could forgive her for making him choose.

Pushing her sleeves up, she decided to get to work. To the tiny, clinical part of her that was focused entirely only on the task on hand, she was grateful. His decision opened a lot more options up to her. Grabbing one of the bottles of healing water, she uncorked it and set it near at hand.

Forces, you owe us all, she thought heavenward. Brother, you claim to love me so stay your hand. Soahc and Etaf, watch over your faithful. And Efil... You cold bitch, you owe me.

---

Time ticked by, impossibly fast, impossibly slow. The healing water diminished steadily as Filly fought an uphill battle against Delilah's poor luck. Delilah had begun to grow increasingly pale, and she'd cried herself out hoarse. Even her strength was beginning to flag.

Filly stole a glance at Brad. Just like with Locket, she wished she had another set of hands for herself, but this time for different reasons. ~Do you think you're steady enough to help me soon or should I ask someone else to come in and assist me?~ Not Schuldig this time, that would be certain.

[Darastrix]

Brad looked at Filly, the strain apparent in his face. He'd been holding onto Delilah's hand the entire time, as though he could somehow send his own strength into her. If there'd been a way to, he would have in a heartbeat. As much as he wanted to be able to help Filly, to feel in control somehow, he couldn't. He couldn't let go.

~Call for someone else. I know it's not true, but I feel like if I let go of her....~ A surge of pain and worry accompanied his words, and he gave a mental headshake.

[Kender Bard]

~I understand~ Filly replied gently. She considered her options and called out to a fellow healer. Once the help had arrived, Filly busied herself again.

Not much longer later, Filly quickly passed the newborn in her hands to her assistant and then turned immediately back to Delilah.

When the babe cried, despite her pain and utter exhaustion, Delilah managed a weak smile for Brad. Her grip even tightened a fraction.

Some of Filly's tension began to leave her as the seconds slipped by, evidenced by the sudden drooping of her wings and a slight sigh. She pulled back, tidying up. ~She'll make it~ Filly told Brad tiredly. She was exhausted as well. ~She's not too strong right now, though, so I want to keep an eye on her, but the worst has passed. The most dangerous part is over.~ She glanced towards the baby. ~They'll both make it, I believe... Just as I promised.~ There was no small amount of pride in her voice. ~Elsie can take care of things from here. I really need to rest.~

She reached out to Schuldig as well. ~I've taken care of things here. Now I could use some taking care of myself. Fetch some chilled wine for me, my dear? I'm going to go pass out in the bedroom.~

[Darastrix]

Crawford breathed out a soft sigh of relief when the baby cried and smiled back tiredly at Delilah, but otherwise barely moved until Filly spoke. ~Thank you,~ he sent, his mental voice barely above a whisper. ~You don't know how much....~ He trailed off and kissed Delilah's cheek, embracing her as well as he could in his position.

"What--" he began, and paused to clear the choked sound from his throat. "What is it?"


Schuldig's returning answer was swift and sharp, even as he paused his pacing in his sitting room. ~What happened? Is everything all right?~

[Kender Bard]

Filly did as she promised, flopping onto her bed and throwing an arm over her eyes to block out any light. She tried to relax the muscles that had been held too tense for the past few hours. ~Delilah's baby was breaching. It's usually a fatal way to birth a child, but there are things you can do. I did them and now they're both fine.~ And not without more than a little luck. There were moments when she'd doubted it was all going to be fine in the end. But Schuldig didn't need to hear that.

"A boy!" Elsie announced with a smile. She'd cleaned the baby up. "And a Mind! Congratulations, my lord, my lady." Moving over, she glanced at Delilah, hesitated a second, but then offered her the child. She looked terrible, but the healer didn't think she'd drop the baby.

Indeed, Delilah mustered the strength to sit up a bit and take the child into her arms, smiling.