Hi all! Given the rather tragic fate of the baby, I couldn't help but write this. Enjoy!
As always, nothing is mine.
Three shot: Part 1: the baby is born
Every time she closed her eyes, the image flashed before her lids: Lucretia's face- the horror on it as she fell from the balcony. There was no escaping the condemnation in Lucretia's gaze, the betrayal…towards Ilithyia or the gods who had abandoned her, Ilithyia could not tell.
As birth pains wracked her slender frame, Ilithyia could not help but think that this was Lucretia's punishment from the underworld.
The storm that had started earlier in the evening was now out in full force, thunder and lightning splitting the sky. Screams pierced the ludus, as Amana soothed her mistress.
"Where the fuck is the medicus?"
"The child not expected for a few weeks, Domina. He was in town. We have sent some guards for him."
Ilithyia arched off the bed, the result of a particularly strong contraction. "My babe claws at me! He does not want to leave the womb to be born in this cursed house!"
"Be calm, Domina" Amana pleaded. "Be calm, or the child will come early."
"Do not speak to me of calm! My child will not be born here-argh!"
Ilithyia grabbed at her slaves hand, squeezing it hard as another contraction hit. They were coming closer together, and she was terrified. Part of her wished Lucretia was here, but most of her was praying to the gods to make the pain stop and protect her child.
"Amana! I don't care if he is speaking with Jupiter himself! Get the fucking medicus!"
The hours passed by slowly, but the pain did not abate. The medicus came and insisted that Ilithyia remain where she was. At the stage of her labor she was too far gone to move. Ilithyia wanted to claw his face off for suggesting her babe be born in the House of Batiatus, but her strength had been sapped by the pains of her labor.
"How long has passed?" she muttered, head lolling on the bed. The pain was unceasing now, and the medicus had claimed that the child was quickly coming.
"Dawn breaks in a few hours." The man answered, distracted.
"Dawn." Gaius would be getting ready to begin his siege on Vesuvius right now. Fitting that his heir would be born during his triumph.
Another screamed ripped from her throat.
"The child comes." The medicus hissed.
"Yes, I know, I can feel it, you stupid fuck!" Ilithyia shrieked at him before tossing her head back in pain.
"Then you know to push. Now!"
Sobbing in terror and distress, begging the gods for help, Ilithyia did as the medicus instructed.
Gods please watch over my child…give him the strength and endurance of his father. Please, let him have health, my world will end if he is not alright…gods…please…Juno, watch over my son…
A small eternity passed as she kept praying and pushing, and as dawn broke an echoing cry split through the ludus.
"A boy." The medicus pronounced, lifting the squirming bundle and passing it to Amana. As he dealt with the afterbirth, the slave started using water from a nearby basin to wash the blood away.
"Give me my child." Ilithyia slurred, using the last of her strength to push herself up. Slaves bustled around her, changing the linens and plumping the bed beneath her. Amana obeyed, handing her the babe. Ilithyia guided him to her breast, where he latched on. She smiled as her son cooed in her arms, suckling contentedly.
"He is remarkably healthy for an early birth, and seems strong as well." The medicus remarked.
Ilithyia, who was far more aware of the true date of conception, merely commented that the child had inherited his father's strength.
Her babe was beautiful, tiny and perfect in every way. Gaius would have no complaint of his heir, and her son would go on to scale heights unknown in the Republic. Ilithyia could not wait to begin the religious ceremonies, but Gaius was needed to oversee them. She would not have her son unnamed for long. A guard stood at the entrance of the chamber, and Ilithyia beckoned him inward.
"Go to my husband, and tell him that his heir has been born. I don't care what his protests are, he needs to end the siege and come back."
The guard nodded, turned and left. Ilithyia smiled down at her quietly cooing son. Already, the wretched house seemed brighter, her son bringing life into it. She remembered what Lucretia had said. Life flourishes in the House of Batiatus.
You were right, my friend. I pray you find your husband and happiness in the afterlife.
Things would be perfect from now on. And if a part of her was raging in regret and remorse, for Lucretia, for Spartacus, well she would suppress it. Her son deserved no less.
The day passed, but no news from Gaius came.
"What do you mean the messenger has not come back yet?" Ilithyia asked, frustrated. The babe slept on, oblivious to his mother's rage.
"With the siege it could be that…." The guard tried to explain before she interrupted him.
"Fuck my husband's excuses! The messenger was sent at dawn with the fastest steed, he should have been back by now!" Taking a deep breath, Ilithyia tried to calm down. But it was futile. Gaius knew that the religious ceremonies had to be observed in order to avert ill luck from the child, and to avoid the wrath of the gods. Her life had taken such turns, that Ilithyia no longer wished to play with her fate. Not when there was a child in the mix. She would suffer no risks for her babe.
"Apologies, but we must wait for the messenger. Surely your husband will be successful..."
"I do not care for your opinions. Make the carriage ready and comfortable."
"You are going to the encampment? In the middle of the night?"
Ilithyia snorted, fed up with the stupidity of the man in front of her.
"No, I make way to Rome. On the morrow. Send another messenger and tell my husband I shall take the path close to Vesuvius. If he has sense, he will come and greet his heir and return with me. The ceremonies will take place in a timely manner."
The guard began to protest, then reconsidered as he looked into her eyes. Bowing meekly, he made his way out of the room.
Ilithyia sighed, lowering herself on the bed, and turning to her sleeping son. She put a hand on his stomach and watched it rise and fall, promising herself that she would never let anything happen to him.
"Wake me when we are near ready to leave." She ordered Amana, before succumbing to exhaustion, following her son to the lands of Morpheus.