Page 98 of The Stolen Kingdom

Melvian was already on her back in bed, squeezing Isen’s hand in her white knuckled grasp. Maris was sure the captain was losing circulation in his fingers, but his face showed nothing but love and adoration for her best friend. It made her miss Valda, as she took off the holster and placed the trident near the door.

“See? I told you having sex would do this,” Maris said while pulling her hair back in a ponytail and trying to lighten the mood but received a glare from Melvian.

“Get them out!”

“In a moment,” Maris said as the door opened to the innkeeper.

“The inn is closed. No one comes in unless it is an emergency, understood?” Maris’s voice never quivered. The innkeeper stood motionless as she watched the scene unfold. It wasn’t until Maris turned and faced her angrily that the poor girl reacted with a soft squeak and a shake of her head.

“I need a bucket of water, a basin, and towels,” Maris said before turning to Melvian.

Melvian’s pained moan filled the room as the door clicked, prompting Isen to move closer. “Breathe. You got this.”

“Keep talking to her,” Maris said as she waited for the innkeeper to come back with what she asked for. The young woman called from outside the room, and Maris opened the door, and allowed her to set everything where Maris instructed.

Maris dismissed the girl, who left promptly, closing the door behind her.

Maris grabbed a wooden stool and sat at the foot of the bed with the basin and towels. She washed her hands, patted them dry, and spread her friend’s legs. She worked her way in and let out a shuddering breath, making Isen’s brow arch.

“Is there a problem?”

“No problem.”

Maris wouldn’t admit she was nauseous and nervous. As her hands moved, she noticed Melvian was already dilated, which meant she had been having those contractions for a while now and was hiding them from everyone.

“You are completely dilated. How long have you been having these contractions?” She tried to hold her anger, but she couldn’t help but let it slip as she addressed her best friend.

“Don’t know! Don’t caaaare!” Melvian shouted, the last syllable escaping as a pained scream. “Fuck, this is way worse than I imagined!”

Isen was on the brink of tears. If Maris didn’t know any better, she was sure he was feeling exactly everything Melvian was feeling now.Poor Isen, Maris thought before taking a deep breath.

“All right. You know exactly what to do. Let’s start with the breathing—“

“I know! I know, I know!” Melvian bellowed, throwing her head back and screaming at the ceiling.

“Hold on to me, Melvian,” Isen whispered.

”Ifuckingam. Can’t you see it!?”

Maris placed a towel underneath Melvian before she spoke. “Baby one is already in position, and he wants out!” Maris said, raising her eyes to meet her friend’s. She gave Melvian a warm smile, sweat already dousing her brow. “At the count of three, I want you to take a deep breath and push. Can you do that for me, Melvian?”

“Yes! Gods, yes! Just get them out of me!”

“You are doing so well, Melvian.” Isen whispered, moving strands of dark hair away from Melvian’s sweaty forehead.

“One, two, push!”

Melvian’s scream filled the entire room and seeped into the halls through the cracks of the old inn. Isen’s encouraging words, as well as Maris’ countdown, blended with the panting and screaming from the young healer.

Maris instructed her to push again, and as she did, her screams turned into wails. Maris moved her hand over the stomach, feeling the baby move as Melvian pushed, and before she knew it, Maris could already see the baby’s head.

“Baby one is crowning. Let’s go! Push!”

Melvian closed her eyes tightly, her chin tucked into her chest, her legs spread apart, and her hand clinging to Isen’s red hand with a white-knuckle grip. She pushed, her groans escalating into a cry before she stopped, took a deep breath, and pushed again.

She stopped only to regain her breath and to blame Isen for getting her pregnant when war had been unleashed on the kingdom, yet Isen did not seem fazed by her words. His eyes sparkled with unspoken admiration as he watched on. A minute went by, filled with yells, screaming, encouraging whispers, and silent strokes, until another distinctive scream filled the room. It was the sound of a new life, change, and a new beginning—The cry of a baby.

“Baby one out!” Maris announced, gathering the baby in her arms. She took in the tiny arms, legs, the round, swollen face, and the loud crying. Brushing the towel over the little legs, Maris took a quick peek and beamed, ecstatic. “It’s a girl!”

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