The Winters Tale - 4 thru 6

The Winters Tale - 4 thru 6

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Part four
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Time moved on like it always had in Sanq. Peaceful and relaxing with a few minor bumps along the way as the love affairs of the most questionable couple errupted for a day or two. It had never changed between them no matter how many years passed. The Fire mage and Blood Mage where two of the most incompatible people anyone had ever met. And yet to this day they still remained as wedded spouses. If it wasn't the passion of their arguments it was the passion of their re-union.

As if Cecilia didn't have enough emotions swimming around her to deal with already. Sitting up in her bed within the company of her older sister she sighed softly to herself. Reaching down to stroke her swollen area of flesh that protected her smallest child, she wondered to herself if her father's side of the family was not cursed to bare a family many children. She herself had been one of three children for her mother then lastly came her youngest brother Touya. Her father had been child number thirty with twenty-nine older sisters parading before him. Though glad her children had all be mixed of boys and girls she couldn't help but wonder that fact as she remained in bed with her hopefully last child.

It's not as if she didn't want more children, but she didn't wish for so many to take care of and keep her from her duties around the kingdom. They had said they didn't mind if she took the time off and that things where peaceful. But as the apointed Wind Mage to Empress Liliane Peacecraft, it was her duty to assist the current ruler, not be laid up in bed. Cecilia smiled softly and hummed to herself the tune her mother always sang. Softly she spoke up to the child within, "I love you my little one..... be safe within me and I shall treasure you dearly....."

Talia who had been the keen sensed one glanced back towards her sister, "Having doubts over being with a sixth child?"

"Perhapes just a little....." the younger by minutes replied sadly, "I do not wish to feel this way....... but I am...."

The water mage smiled slightly and leaned back, "Do you remember what mother told us of your Aunt Selene?"

Cecilia lightly reached over and held her sister's hand, "Yes I do...... Mother was so tired of laying in bed she got out and walked around the palace ....... Only to be found later by Aunt Selene who scolded her greatly..... Mother was with three of us at the time she should have been more careful....."

"Mother always knew her limits.... besides..... the moon flower would not let harm befall the children of her beloveds....." Talia replied lightly leaning her head against Cecilia's.

"I know...... thank you for reminding me...... " she sighed then smiled gently, "Tell me.... when will you find someone to settle down with?"

"........ I think the one I was ment to be with died a long time again...... before he even had the chance to grow up....." the saddness of the taller woman's voice filled the air softly.

Cecilia looked at her sister and touched the side of her face remembering the days when she left to find out what trully happened to her wolf father. Only to find that more who held a gift either like him ore different had been left for dead by the villagers and their elder. "..... Talia do not think that...... I want you to be happy....."

"I am.." she replied softly, "Knowing that you are well with more cubs makes me happy....."

"Oh Talia....." the soft spoken woman replied watching her wolf like sister with teal colored eyes. "When do you think the snow will fall heavy...." she asked trying to take their minds off the subject.

"Not for a few more days......." Talia spoke calmly looking out the window, "The air is not chilled enough for it to snow much and stay....."

"Thank you..... I'll keep that in mind...."

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Part five
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Had snowflakes been people Cecilia could have considered the rest of her day to have been a blizard. She had seen both of her aunts, her uncle, her great uncle, grandfather and mother, her second father and mother, and even Ta'lon's parents had arrived to see how she was doing and to spend a little while with the grandchildren. Now finally in peace and quiet the young mother sank back against the pillows and sighed softly after closing her eyes.

"You.... are not happy?" she head the voice of her beloved from the doorway.

Opening her eyes once more, Cecilia looked towards Ta'lon and smiled, "No I'm fine really..... I am happy that I got to see everyone today..... I just wish they wouldn't fuss so much...."

Ta'lon slowly walked inside and sat beside her, "They came because they worry.... and care for you very much....."

"I know.... and I know you worry too... but we've been through this five times already... each time I've gotten well again....." she replied looking up at him.

He nodded in agreement then reached over to gently touch her face, "But... you look...... so much paler now then before...... not like the last time...."

Lightly leaning in against his hand she smiled softly enjoying the cooler feeling of his skin, "I'll be fine... I promise...."

Having already expressed his concern for her and seeing as how she made light of the matter in general, Ta'lon knew that today was not the day to argue over such things especially when she needed rest. "I will go and get an ice pack....." he stated calmly getting up and laying her down, "Are you hungry at all?"

"No not yet..... I think I'll lay down for a rest while your gone..... where are the children?"

"Your... sister and Aunt are watching them... my mother followed along since Meiran started crying for her...."

Cecilia smiled remembering how attached their littlest one was to their father's mother. "I knew I felt her upset before but only briefly...... I am glad she is alright now.."

Ta'lon left the room nodding and made his way to get supplies from the infirmary wing of the palace. Closing his eyes for a moment he sighed but immediatly opened them feeling a strong power wash over his skin. "..... hello... mother.."

Is something wrong Ta'lon? asked the soothing voice from thin air, since it was not like Nataku to make her presence known to everyone.

"I am worried for Ceci-lia..... she is paler then usual... and yet she insists she is alright..." he replied looking deeply troubled by all of this.

You feel.... that she could be in danger of some sort?

He sighed and looked down while continue-ing to walk. "I.... do not... think she is in .. danger.... I fear that she will die....."

Ta'lon..... his mother started to say but trailed off giving her enough time to appear before him and gently hold onto him in her human arms, "Then you must do all you can..... to make sure she does not die......."

"I.... will mother.... thank you..."

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Part six
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Five times motherhood never made each birth any easier. This time her child desided to be the impatient one. Arriving only six months into the young womans pregnancy. Many where worried. Some hopeful that things would be alright. Fifteen aunts from her fathers side of the family, her aunt and uncle from her mothers side, both fathers, her brother and his wife, his wife's sister and her Empress, the young Empress' family and then on and forth into the fact there where also several pairs of grandparents waiting as well. The children huddled around their grandfather and father asking them many questions while the younger fire mage leaned against the doorway.

Fiama yawned slightly then rubbed the back of her head, "...... I'm sure everything is fine....... we're got the best healers and of course my lovely spouse looking after Cecilia....... " She looked around and sighed, "Your all so tense......"

"...... I... should be ..... with her...." Ta'lon replied nervously.

Talia glanced over towards Ta'lon and lightly patted his shoulder, "It's tradition...... the father of the child must wait out here......... being in the room can be very nerve wrecking for the both of you..."

Of course no one needed to hear the painful cry coming from behind the room door. The children looked worried and Meiran began to get fussy and cry for her mother. With quick thinking they where removed from the hallway by Talia and their Grandmother Dahlia. The others looked nervously at each other none of them speaking up to say anything. And thus time moved on with family and friends awaiting the first set of news.

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Fiama looked up and saw the thread being pulled twice on her left index finger. The young Fire mage frowned slightly and closed her eyes. The others around her looked over and awaited an answer all of them suddenly became on edge. She opened her eyes and sadly spoke up, "It's....... over......"

Ta'lon moved from his space and got in close to the woman guarding the door, "....... w-what ......... h..appened.... to.... Ce-ci..lia......"

"I ..... don't know Ta'lon....... they didn't pull the 'okay' string..... "

The young lightning mage glared at Fiama and his fist shook slightly in anger. Focusing he teleported past the door and into the other room. He saw the blood stained sheets piled up and saw the mid-wives moving around in the next room. His dark eyes returned towards the linens and he felt ill seeing the amount of blood that was lossed. Worry and fear ran through his mind as he began to believe that his wife was no longer in this world. That she might have died from the blood loss and the child too small to defend itself died as well. He shut his eyes and slowly began to shake, his heart pounded against his rib cage and chest in a panic. The dull thumping became frantic and soon what stopped him from going over the edge with grief, was the soft wailing cries of a newborn child.

He turned then looked back over at the doorway seeing one of the mid-wives walking over and holding a well wrapped bundle in her arms. Slowly he walked over and looked at the pale form nestled in amongst the darker blankets. He saw the cherub looking face and the small hands that found it's way outside of the small blanket.

The mid-wife before him smiled and gently handed over the child to him, "It's a little boy....... Lady Hope looked at him and she says he is very healthy for being born so early......."

"...... where..... is ... my wife........ is Cecilia alright?" he asked with worry in his voice.

Hope looked at Ta'lon from the doorway and smiled slightly, "..... she's right....... you worry too much....... Ta'lon....... Cecilia is very tired..... but she'll be alright..... I'm looking after her and I'm going to make sure she stays that way.....her fever made this much harder on her then needed....... with rest.... she'll be fine........ you should go let them see your new son...."

Ta'lon walked over to Hope then looked past her to see his wife sleeping among the pillows and blankets then smiled softly knowing that she was breathing and alive. "....... was she.... in danger?"

"Just a little........ the fever kept her really weak....... but she is doing better....... for now let her rest......." Hope replied lightly placing a gloved hand on his shoulder, "What will you name this last child?"

"..... I will wait for Cecilia..." he replied more calm then before, "I think...... she has a special name for him but she has not told me......." Ta'lon smiled softly and walked back towards the door as he looked at the child in his arms. It's small frail body seemed so light to hold but he believed in the skills of his friends and knew that everything was alright seeing the small nubs on within the childs thin hair line. He smiled knowing what it ment and opened the door to show off his child to all that waited.

Fiama looked back and smiled seeing Ta'lon with the child, "Hey..... Ta'lon..... we just realised that your newest kid is born on the eve of winter....... And I'm guessing Cecilia is alright too...."

He blinked remembering this for a fact then smiled, " Yes.... and your right.... This is the most precious gift..... that anyone in can recieve for such a night...."