It had been a false alarm, she'd told him with relief in her voice when the healers and midwives let him back into their room. She was fine, the baby was fine, and Eliwood's relief gave way to exhaustion as he finally went to sleep. Ninian remained awake, though, one hand stroking her husband's messy hair and the other cupping the oversized mound of her belly protectively. Just six more weeks, she thought.
Eliwood murmured something in his sleep just then, and she sighed. She hated that she'd worried him so much...she always hated to worry him, but the look on his face when she'd doubled over with pain earlier broke her heart to remember.
She bit down on her lip, closing her eyes. The pains were terrible, like a vice squeezing her womb...if false labor made her feel like she might collapse and die, would she be able to handle the real thing?
"Giving birth is one of the most painful parts of being a woman," Lady Eleanora had said, concern in her eyes; obviously she worried as much as everyone else that Ninian's small figure would make it a long, painful and possibly life-threatening ordeal. Ever since she'd told Eliwood she was with child he'd become even more protective of her than normal.
Suddenly, he stirred and began to sit up, rubbing his eyes.
"How are you feeling?" he yawned, wrapping his arms around her and stroking her hair.
"I'm fine," she murmured. "Go back to sleep, Eliwood, please...it's been such a long day and you look awful."
"How can I sleep knowing soon you'll be in even more pain?" His palm stroked her belly, a light feathery caress that she would have found comforting any other time but now. She pushed his hand away, and he frowned. "What's wrong? Does it still hurt? Do you want me to get-"
"Please." It came out snippier than she'd intended. "I know you Lady Eleanora and the rest of Pherae are worried about me, that's all anyone will talk about lately..." She inched away from him, clutching the blankets against her.
"You're worried too, though, aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes, and knowing everyone else is just makes it worse!" Tears sprang to her eyes. "I know it's going to hurt, I know I'm small and weak and delicate and this might..." she paused, "kill me...I'm so scared, Eliwood."
He looked down, his face dark with guilt and shame as he seemed to let her words sink in.
"I know." He folded his hands in his lap.
"Then why can't you do what you've always done?" she asked. "Be brave and strong...and protect me..."
"Because this is something I can't protect you from!" he cried out. "I could fight Nergal, I could fight the Black Fang, I could fight anyone who wanted to hurt you, but this...Ninian, I almost lost you once and if something happened to you..." He squeezed his eyes shut. Ninian's annoyance faded and she moved close to him again.
"I know...but please, Eliwood, I need you to try right now." She took his hand and held it against her tummy. "We need you." She felt a kick, their child "voicing" its agreement, and Eliwood smiled.
"All right." He drew her close again, kissing her temple. "For you, I'll do my best," he said, then as the baby kicked again added, "for both of you."
"Thank you." She giggled. "I promise when the baby's born you can go back to worrying about me as much as you want," she teased. He grinned, settling back under the covers with her still in his arms.
"You're so thoughtful!"
As she closed her eyes and drfited off to sleep, she felt his palm caress her tummy again, and she smiled.