Alexinar: The birth of life

"You have to push Ursah!" Alexinar urged the woman on.

"I can't," she gasped weekly. "I can't..." Her head lolled against Lyan's chest.

"You have to," Alexinar resisted the urge to shake the woman. To scream at her that if she didn't, they would both die.

"I love you so much," Lyan whispered to her.

Alexinar thought for a second. "Alright. Rest."

Ursah took in a grateful gulp of air. She was oblivious to Donnchad and Nactonees. Oblivious the the knowledge that her daughter was dead.

"She needs to be healed," Alexinar stated, and smiled inwardly as Donnchad began to cast healing spells. He needed this as much as Ursah did. He had failed to revive the child who, most likely, had died the moment the Shalonesti's dagger pierced Ursah's swollen stomach.

Carefully, she worked her fingers around the unborn babe's head, "i need you to push, Ursah. Just a bit, just little ones." The woman complied, this was something she could do. But only barely. Already she was close to passing out from exhaustion. Alexinar began to slowly work the child out. She worked her fingers under the tiny babe's arms once the shoulder's were out. "Just a bit more... I need another push."

Ursah strained, giving it everything she had, and then more. She collapsed against her husband. Nactonees waited by his mother's side. Donnchad held the stillborn.

Alexinar gently pulled the baby the rest of the way out. And gently, she handed it to Nactonees. "Another girl..."

Nactonees, hesitantly, slapped the second girl's bottom. He was created with a loud cry. Laughing and crying, he held the girl to his chest.

Lyan kissed his wife's forehead. Tears standing in his eyes.

Alexinar ripped off a piece of her robe, using it to clean Ursah up. She looked at the woman. So frail. So strong. The mother who didn't yet know.