Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 49: Winter Storm

Erinne was sweating and panting for breath as she paced around the room. Each step was full of discomfort, but sitting still somehow seemed worse. When she tried, she swore her heart threatened to pound out of her chest, pain shot through her back, and she felt weaker. She glanced towards the window, it was dark outside, the first rains of winter beating on her shutters. How far away was the dawn?

She could sense the stares of everyone around her. Her labor was taking too long. She'd never given birth, but she knew it in her bones, this didn't bode well for her. When her contractions had started, she'd made jokes with Lohke, when they worsened, he'd left her to get the orc women that would help guide her through the birth: Kitchka, Cilla, and Zevra. She didn't know Cilla well, but she'd been asking Zevra questions about motherhood recently as the orc had an eight month old at home. Cilla was an older orc who'd seen plenty of women through many deliveries.

All three of them had already talked her through everything that would happen, what she needed to do, but when pushing time came, nothing seemed to happen, they were still here. As the wind and rain battered the outside of her home, she stopped pacing as another contraction began and she held her hand out and someone grabbed it. She didn't make a sound as it passed, clinging to that one hand of comfort, wishing it was Cold Hammer.

When the pain ebbed, she released the hand and turned her head, "Thank you, Kitchka." Usually, she reached and Lohke took her hand, but he wasn't here right now. She'd heard that humans didn't allow any males in the birthing room, but orcs didn't care and she certainly didn't. She'd demanded he stay, not because she wanted to get at him for Cold Hammer not being here, but because he was her best friend and she needed that comfort.

"The village is surely dancing for you tonight, Sheobulf," Kitchka told her.

"Lohke will have them all in a stir." Cilla nodded approvingly.

Erinne took a shaky breath, "May the Ancestors hear them." She took a shaky step forward and didn't fall so she kept pacing around her small cabin. Lohke had been gone too long for her peace of mind, but the winter rains were rolling in, possibly the cause for his delay. He'd left to retrieve the shaman when they realized her delivery wasn't progressing the way it was supposed to and his promise to have the entire village praying to the Ancestors for her. The more of them that prayed, the louder their voices would be to the heavens.

She didn't know if it would matter.

She couldn't help but wonder, even if she survived this, was this how she lost her son? Would he die in childbirth? Would she? She thought back to the village women at Carenhal where she and Cold Hammer had helped establish trade with the humans. One of the younger women had asked her if she was afraid of being torn apart by the birth. She wasn't then, but now she was. She was afraid of her son not making it into this world, she was afraid he was too big to come out.

"Don't give up, Sheobulf." Cilla spoke as she rose from the bed and made her way across the room to her. "I can see the light going out in your eyes. Do not think whatever it is you're thinking. Wait for the shaman. He'll help-" the door opened, letting in a burst of wind and cold and Erinne shivered as another contraction hit her and she grabbed onto Cilla, nearly going to her knees.

"Cold Hammer!" She called his name as her vision dimmed and she clung to Cilla, but it wasn't her mate who picked her up and carried her towards the bed. "I want him. Lohke,"

"Shhh, I know, Sheobulf." Lohke set her down on the bed gently and cupped her face. She could feel the rain on his hands, feel how cold they were from it. The first winter storm was well underway.

"Do you think he got it?" She asked Lohke. He'd sent a message to Cold Hammer when she'd gone into labor, telling him the baby was coming. He should be home any day now, if he got the message soon enough, he might make it here to be with her when she died.