Pregnant with twins and sore eunuchs...

Sibylla is notified of Hermie's presence again in the demme! She can hardly wait to SEE HIM!

Since the imminent time is drawing near...Sibbie prepares an offering to be sacrificed to the goddess, Artemis. Artemis was known to be the protectress of women in labor...but there were also tales of her shooting arrows and bringing about sudden death to women in childbirth. Sib thought she better play it on the safe side and make a huge offering.

As the eunuchs stumble back to her oikos...Penelope disgustingly shouts to them.."you good for nothin' roman eunuchs..what now? You expect us to nurse you and feed you too?" Sib just didn't know whether to thank Cimbrius for the eunuchs or to slap him silly for the gifts!

Sib has to go put her feet up now...later!

Emergency Callout!

I can see the enemy clearly. Reflected sunlight glints from countless spearpoints and helmets, and a huge rolling dust-cloud rises behind their line, stirred up by countless feet. Closer they come, and now I can make out the lamdas on their shields, and the blood red of their tunics. Scarlet and gold... there's no shouting, only the buzzing of pipes and a low, growling paen sung in unison by thousands of voices. With one accord the front rank levels its spears and I see that they are all pointing directly at me.

Our line is formed, file beside file, our shields locked. We stumble forward toward this glittering tide that bears down upon us. Suddenly, a mob of unarmoured men are running toward us. They swarm across our front, slings whirling above their heads. Missiles start to thud in amongst us, mostly caught on shields but sometimes finding their mark. We have no answer to this...the rear ranks try to raise their shields for protection...more and more the lead projectiles rain down upon us. I hear the constant noise as shot crashes on shield.

With a start I sit up. Ahh, was it only a dream? but I can still hear the noise! Slowly it dawns upon me that someone outside is hammering at my door. Who could it be? It is not yet dawn - could a drunken band of revelers be trying to break in? A voice is heard over the knocking.
"Master Hermokrates, master Hermokrates, please open your door! Can you hear me? My mistress needs you!" I recognise the deep tones of Polyphemus, Sibylla's giant manservant. Fully awake now, I quickly rise from my bed. Adrian's pale face appears in the courtyard. "Open the door," I say. "That's Polyphemus. The lady Sibylla must be going into labour."

HERMIE...UGHHHH....THE BABIES ARE COMING..

After Penelope and Lactosia shoo away Alix's party messengers...a party would be fun to go to tonight! *Darn I hate to miss a good party!* Just then, Atalante and Radja barge into Sib's oikos...

"OH HADES!...here comes another pain! "Get that darn cat outta here!" Sib yells. Ata shoos Radja out the door...Radja growls as ferociously as Sib!

"BREATHE!"They all shout simultaneously at Sibbie while she takes another swig from the draught of wine...Hermie finally appears at the front door.

"What's this? A party?" Atalante laughs..."Yeah...A LABOR PARTY!" Even Sib laughs through her pain at Ata's joke.

"Well Sibylla, the time has finally come," He rolls up his sleeves and washes his hands in the urn. Penelope pours the water for him.

"Owwwwww-ie!" I yell. Penelope tells Hermie the pains are very close together.
"Go ahead and yell as loud as you want, but first Sibbie, stretch out on your hard bed. I will massage your tummy with the warmed olive oil. Here I'll help you over to the bed," Herm and Poly help Lady Sib up to her feet. She can barely walk.

"Penelope? Fill up these bladders with hot water and place them at her sides. It will help ease the pain. Keep drinking that...Falerian..mmm?" He takes a sip. "I see..wine," Sib can't blame the doctor for having a slug of wine with her condition. Hermie calmly continues ordering the servants and eunuchs to do his bidding. Meanwhile, his servant brings in the oddest looking chair!

"Herm, what is that contraption?" Sib gasps between breaths.

"Sib, you are going to sit in this birthing chair and grip its arms while you deliver the babies. Penelope, please place the pad underneath the chair's opening. And you,Poly, must stand behind your lady and support her!" Hermie begins to massage Sib's stomach and other places. Sib thinks to herself,...*Mmm..no one has had their hands there for awhile!* Herm chuckles because he knows what she is thinking.Then reminding himself of his Hippocratic oath, he checks her cervix every so often and decides it has widened. Time has passed and now Sib must her take her seat on the birthing chair. Sib snaps at them both for moving her AGAIN! Pain makes her very crabby.

Poly...looking as white as Zeus' beard as Lady Sibylla tightly squeezes his huge hands that are resting upon her shoulders. He wants to block his ears from her moans of pain, but her grip prevents him. He never knew this woman to be so loud! He bets even the Macedonians could hear her tonight! He looks at the physician to see what his reaction is...but Herm is just smiling! One of the babies' heads begins to crown and as Herm catches the BOY in his arms, the little guy actually grabs Herm's baby finger....Sibbie can't believe her eyes! Between the tears and the laughter she cries...."Hermie..that one will be named after YOU!"

AND Sibbie is in good hands as they all await to see who is next...