A contraction wracked the frail woman's body, jerking her into an upright position. She pushed, her husband urging her on, he son by her side.

Alexinar waited... Then saw it. "I can see the head, just a little." She glanced to Ursah's face, saw the strain and determination.

"PUSH" Lyan held her gently.

Ursah gritted her teeth, pushing again, give it everything she had.

"Good," Alexinar said, "I can see the head now, more." She held her hands ready. "more Ursah, one more good push. Now."

The woman groaned, straining with the pain, pushing with her maternal love. She collpased against her husbands chest, and Alexinar gently gathered the new baby girl into her hands. She smiled, handing the infant to Nactonees. "A girl, Ursah. You have a lovely girl."

"PUSH" Lyan urged. He seemed to relize, belatedly, that it was over. Blushing, he coughed.

Nactonees spanked the infant to make her cry. "No." He tried again, looking at her closely. "NO!"

"No?" Alexinar glanced to him. She saw the mark that held his eyes.

"A knife wound," he whispered, his voice choking.

"Wha-"

Ursah lurched forward, screaming in pain, drawing Alexinar's attention back. A second set of contractions began to wrack her body.

"Raije... Another one," Alexinar knew that it was not uncommon for elves to have twins, but Ursah was so frail. Could she stand up against the effort of birthing a second child?

Everything began to happen at once. Nactonees tried in vain to renew life into the still born girl. Ursah pushed, but she had no strength. Lyan urged her on with words on love, whispers of effection. Donnchad arrived at Alexinar's call. The second babe crowned... And stopped