Chapter 313 – A Lot of Labor

*** Asariel ***

Why am I naked, waddling through these great halls?

Oh, this baby wants to come soon. I just need to get up to the next floor. I can make it there. I've got time.

The contractions are coming faster and harder, but I'll get there.

The stairs are daunting, as my daughter warns that the true labor is about to start. Did the succubus tell all the maids to ignore me? To avoid my path?

Just one step at a time. You've taken plenty of pain before, so lean on the railing and move your stupid legs. Alzi went up and down stairs all the time, and while even more pregnant, so I can do it too.

Please, Osanna, dear, be ready to help me. I'm not strong, like Alzi.

My legs are shaking by the time I finally make it up to our floor.

"What's taking you so long?" Kelly asks.

"I'm sorry," I cry. "I'm sorry."

"Like I care. Trying to give birth to Alzi's child on the damn stairs..."

She does at least help me to my room. Practically carrying me, really. I'm supposed to be abused in place, not on the move.

"Dear!" Osanna says when Kelly gets me inside our little room. "What do I need to do?"

"I thought you were getting tortured?" Kelly says, getting me onto the bed.

"I'm living in pain," my dear says. "Shut up about torture."

"Whatever. Help your wife sit up a bit with pillows or something," Kelly says. "Split your legs, Asariel. If you haven't dilated enough by now, you're going to have to deal with me forcing you open."

Well, fuck. Everyone said Kelly was a sweet midwife. Were we really this mean to Alzi?

Osanna starts to pile some pillows under me. "Thank you, dear."

"Lucky you," Kelly says. "I don't get to cut you up. Unless the baby gets stuck."

She really sounds sad about that. Please, my baby, don't get stuck in your Mother. I really don't need this woman cutting me up. I'm already sore, the sting of the stick well memorized by my nerves.

"Alright, I hope someone told you this already, but you push when you contract. Hopefully, we can get two in for each contraction. Your contractions seem to be far enough apart that we should be able to. I clearly don't care about your pain, but I do care about my sleep."

"Fuck!"

"Push," Kelly says. "Osanna, show your damn wife some love. I need her pushing, not moaning."

"I am. No need to bitch at me," Osanna says. "I'm working here."

"She is, Kelly. Thank you for your help," I manage to say. Osanna is holding my hand, her thumb running over my knuckles. She always offers me comfort in our sessions, trying to settle me down as fear claws at me.

My body knows the general idea of labor, but my panic is trying to take over.

"You've got this, baby," Osanna says. "Breathe and push. I've pushed you through harder activities."

"Yes, Mistress," I say. Follow your instructions. That's all you need to do. Just listen to the Mistress.

"You'll only get through this if you push. You aren't a tied-up hog that just gets abused. You have work to do," Kelly says. "Like now, push. Scream if you need to."

"AAAAAHHHHH!" I let out, my voice giving out in the middle of my scream. But I push, and I push hard.

"The baby isn't out yet," Kelly says. "Again."

How did Alzi handle so many kids? I can't even do one.

"You can do it, dear," Mistress says. "You can do it. Push for me. Breathe and push. We need to greet our child tonight."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Finally," Kelly says. "Looks like I won't get to cut a bitch up."

"Stop talking to my wife like that," Mistress says. "I'm the one who tortured Alzi. Leave Asariel alone. She was kind to Alzi."

"Tell her to take a deep breath and get ready to push. Her next contraction should be soon," Kelly says. "If Asariel were truly nice to Alzi, she would've kept you in check."

"You've got this, dear," Mistress says. "Breathe for me and get ready to keep pushing this baby out."

"Yes," is all I'm able to say before I have to push.

I'm trying, baby. I'm trying.

…

"The baby is out," Kelly finally says.

Thank the Goddesses, I couldn't do this for much longer.

Why is crying music to my ears right now? Is that why I let Osanna hurt Alzi so much?

I'm so sorry, Alzi. I was meant to keep Osanna in line, and I failed. I took a child from you, even without holding up my end. I'm so sorry. But the baby will be ours. I know you'll love her.

"Can I see my baby?" I ask.

"I'm not a noble," Kelly says. "Just let me clean her off."

"Thank you for your help. I'm sorry for not helping Alzi. If you could help me get some time before Alzi to apologize, I would be grateful."

"Wow, it just takes almost dying in labor for you to figure it out," Kelly says. "I'll get you some time. Here's the child."

"Thank you," I say. Osanna has to help me hold the little girl, as my arms are simply too weak to hold anything right now.

"A dragon," Osanna says. "No wonder it was so hard."

I really have a little dragon in my shaking arms. Brown scales and little budding horns. She stops crying shortly after I get to hold her. We made a cute kid, Alzi.

"Did Alzi get me pregnant again?" I ask. "She let out a lot of mana, and this wouldn't be the first time she did something like that. If you could let me know, please."

"You are. Twins, this time. My advice would be to get your third over here and start working on a proposal to work for Alzi. I doubt you'll be given much time where you aren't pregnant, Asariel. You have two Mistresses now."

"Thank you, Kelly," I say. "We'll have to think about it. I know Alzi won't let us in easily, and I don't know if we deserve such kindness from her."

"You don't. Now, let me have the kid. I'll wake you up when she needs to eat. You're about to pass out, and Osanna isn't doing any better. Alzi has fallen asleep; your torture is catching up to her."

"As you wish," I say. Now it isn't just me who's shaking. My beloved is struggling behind me, trying her best to make up for our failings.

*** The Mistress (Brothel Owner) ***

"FUCK!" I scream out. It's been hours, and not a single child has come out. If they all take this much time, my old slave will be the death of me.

Maybe I should just let that happen.

"It's close," the midwife says. The healers aren't yet back from the war, so the healing available is limited, to say the least. A natural birth for my triplets. Or a natural death for me.

"You can do it, Ashryn," Ara says, holding my hand. I'm sure I've broken it already. I swear I've pushed with my entire body, and yet the kids refuse to meet their Mother.

Do they know?

"Another push, and I'll try to pull the first out," the midwife says. "Give it a good one, and everything will be fine. You'll have a few moments to breathe, and then we'll start working on bringing the next one into the world."

Ara gives me a gentle kiss as I cry and push with the next painful contraction.

"I've got her," the midwife says. "Give me another push, and we'll have her out."

I give it all I've got, which I doubt is much, but I hear the cries of my first baby, and relief washes over us. I've got a chance to do this. Both Ara and Ava give me a small kiss before the next contraction hits hard. The next child is not giving their poor mother any time to relax.

"So much for room to breathe," the midwife says. "Please, take her. The next is crowning."

"Horns," Ava says. "Dear, you may be having all dragons."

No, I can't do that. “No, no, no,” I cry. "Alzi was that strong?"

"We're together in this," Ara says. "We can do it."

…

"Two," the midwife says. "If you are hiding a potion, you may want to give it to your wife. This isn't a normal amount of blood."

"Normal? The sheets are covered in blood!" Ara screams. "Is Ashryn even awake?"

"Yes," I whisper. Not that I can see anything. I don't know what is keeping me awake. I should be dead by now. I know it. Does a Goddess want something from me? I pull out an old potion. One I shouldn't have anymore.

"Shit," Ara says, the bottle coming to my lips just seconds later. "What the fuck did you do, Ashryn?"

I know, but now I can see, and I need to get this boy out of me.

"Later," I say. "I'm sorry."

"No, you keep this shit to yourself," Ava says. "We know what you did now. The fallout is all yours. For now, you have a beautiful boy to bring into the world."

"Stop talking about a damn bottle and push," the midwife says. "I swear you want this kid to die."

"I'm trying," I say.

*** Alzi ***

"Your Highness," someone says. "You need to wake up."

"Calli?" I mumble. "You look really cute with a belly."

"Thank you," Callie says. "It makes me really happy. Aurora asked me to wake you. Lady Asariel has given birth to a little girl. She is hoping to talk to you, but if you prefer, we can just have you meet the child."

"I'll see both," I say. "How did Shyla get out of my bed?"

"Simple, your Highness," Shyla says, coming out of the closet. "You seemed to be in a deep sleep, and I just moved your hand to Sarania's womb instead of mine. Now, you are meeting with Queens today, so you will need to wear a formal dress. But for the morning, you can just have a simple robe. I'll continue to work on picking out the dress. Do you have any requests?"

"Is blue important to the north?" I ask. Tirlo is blue, and Sarania said that made some sense. I doubt they care about the color of fire when they use ice.

"Yes."

"Make it look like ice," I say. "I want to walk in looking like I own their Queendom already."

"As you wish, your Highness," Shyla says. "I'll have something ready for you. My advice: drag both Esiyae and Azula into the meeting on a leash."

"I shall," I say. "Sarania, can you prepare that for me?"

"As you wish, my Mistress. Spend time with your newest kid and Calli. We'll have you ready for the meeting."

The second I crawl out of bed, Shyla has the robe over me, even daring to kiss me before giving me some slippers to walk in.

Quite the casual morning.

'A SON HAS BEEN BORN' flashes across my vision.