The Last One

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 29th August 2024

Characters: Veslera, Toman
Description: Toman and Veslera celebrate the difficult birth of a child
Location: Leeward Lagoon Hold
Date: month 10, day 8 of Turn 11

Veslera

Veslera sighed as she stared up at the waves printed on the blue and
white canopy that hung above her and Toman's bed. For the last two
months of this never-ending pregnancy, she had been confined to the
bed. The healer had already advised that _this_ should be the last
child for the holders of Leeward Lagoon.

Despite loving her children, and thriving in those first few years of
motherhood, Veslera was now acknowledging that she didn't think
another pregnancy wise either.

Thus, when her water broke in the wee hours of the morning, it had
been with a bittersweet realization that she was almost done.

"Toman," she said, waking her husband as she returned from her powder
room where she'd changed into a fresh gown. "Wake up," she jabbed him
in the ribs.

"Ach. Hm?" Toman blinked, squinted, and rubbed his side as he forced
himself to wake up. "Is everything all right, darling?"

"The baby is coming. Now, get out of the bed and go find the midwife."
This was all said matter-of-factly with Veslera's no-nonsense tone.

"Of course!" Toman rushed out the door. Then rushed back to quickly
pull on a pair of pants, and then rushed out again.

He returned in fairly short order with the midwife in tow and looking
significantly more put together than Toman.

"Boiling water? Towels?" he offered. "What do you need, darling?"

"Go get Teslana. She should be here for this," she said of their
youngest daughter, who at the age of thirteen, wasn't far off from the
marriage market, or perhaps pursuing a craft, the way her older
sisters had.

The midwife and her assistant made quick work of prepping towels,
sheets, and then examining Veslera for any progress made. "You've
still some time, madam."

"Good," Veslera said, rolling out of the bed. "I want to walk some,"
she said as she began to pace the room.

Toman disappeared again, and before long, he returned with the
bleary-eyed lass in tow.

"Here we are, love," he said.

Teslana woke up quickly, her eyes widening as she realized what she
had been woken up to attend.

Veslera was pacing frantically, stopping occasionally to brace herself
against the mantle of the fireplace during a contraction. She did this
until she was afraid her legs would no longer support her.

"Okay, let's do this," she finally said to the midwife.

--

The delivery was long and difficult. By the time a wiggling baby boy
was pressed into her arms, Veslera felt weak. "He's here," she
murmured, closing her eyes. "I did it."

"You did it," Toman echoed as he knelt beside her and gently touched
her hair. He was immensely relieved to see that for the time being, it
appeared there had been no horrible complications. "Oh, he's
beautiful. Our little Vareman. How are you, darling? What do you
need?"

Veslera looked uncharacteristically soft, a light glow wreathing her
face. There was a look of contentment and happiness that warmed her
usually cool eyes. Her children were her true joy in life.

"I need... I need..." her face drained of color and then she slumped.

"Take the baby," the midwife barked to her assistant. "Sir, you'll
need to wait outside. Let me work," she said, shoving Toman out of the
room.

Toman's heart sank into his boots. Everything was going so well. But
there was no world in which being kicked out was a good sign. He knew
better than to fight her on it. It would just distract her from the
work she needed to be doing, and seconds could be vital.

When the door reopened an hour later, the midwife's face was serious
but calm. "You may go in and be with her now. She lost a lot of blood
and she is very tired. My lord, if I may...." the older woman tilted
her head, some of her frizzy gray hair falling into her eyes, "this
should be her _last_ baby."

Toman relaxed visibly. She was still with him. He had not killed her.

"Of course. Of course," he nodded. It was a small sacrifice to make
for her life. "Thank you." He touched her shoulder. "Thank you so much
for saving her."

Toman quietly rushed back into the room and took both his wife and
daughter's hands.

"The baby, bring him back to me," Veslera said, her voice wan but firm.

"I'll get him, Mama," Teslana said, hurrying from the room.

Veslera focused her eyes back on Toman. She could see the worry on his
face. "I'm fine," she assured him, squeezing his hand.

Toman gently squeezed back, but he was no less worried.

"Can I get you anything, darling? Anything at all?" He hoped that she
did not need anythingâ€" then he could stay with her. There was no way
he would fall asleep again now.

Teslana returned with Vareman and placed him back in Veslera's arms.
"Just stay with me," she told Toman as she opened the neckline of her
gown and put the baby to her breast. Teslana took this as her cue to
slip from the room, still looking quite green from all that she had
seen. The young girl vowed then and there that she would _never_ be a
mother.

"I'm here," said Toman. He would likely have to speak to poor Teslana
later... "He's beautiful. And so are you. I'm... I'm so... so glad
you're all right." He wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

Veslera's heart squeezed with the fullness of the moment. "Come hold
me, my love," she murmured to her husband.

Last updated on the September 8th 2024

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The Last One