The very morning after the twins were born, Eragon learned from Murtagh that Nasuada had given birth to their daughter the same day, so healthy in her pregnancy that she had passed her full term mark by several days. The birth had been perfectly normal, and she and the baby—whom they named Selena, after Murtagh and Eragon's mother—were doing amazingly.
Since he was scrying anyway, Eragon decided to contact those on the Isle to share the news of the two births and three babies, as well as to find out when the Riders planned to return to Alagaёsia. The Riders on the Isle joyfully received the glad tidings and said they were ready to come at any time. They decided to leave directly and come as a group, stopping first to see Murtagh and Nasuada in Ilirea before visiting the four other Riders in Varhog's village. From there the group would divide so the dwarves could return to the Beors, while Grintuk went on with the dragon egg to Anghelm. Tomath would easily be able to visit his family in Daret and planned to split his time between there and Varhog's village as much as possible.
-:-:-
Willow slowly recovered in the weeks following the twins' birth, not leaving the bed on her own two feet for the first month. Varhog always carried her to use the washroom and right back to the bed, and their family was close at hand to bring food and attend to any other mundane tasks.
Early on, Myrek and Rinna presented Willow and Varhog with a very thoughtful gift. With the help of their mother, the girls made the twins simple leather bracelets. One had the name Varhog burned into it and the other William. Willow and Varhog could tell them apart, but everyone else struggled since the babies looked exactly identical, so the bracelets became priceless in helping them know which twin they were holding or helping.
Though Willow did no exercise that involved getting out of bed, she still regained her pre-pregnancy form in record time, for baby Varhog and William nursed religiously every hour for an efficient ten minutes, draining Willow's breasts in the process, only to be ready to return exactly fifty minutes later to do the same thing all over again. To keep up with the demands, her breasts were constantly making milk, and they quickly depleted any fat stores she had accumulated during the pregnancy.
Willow had to eat voraciously to keep up with the demands of the twins, who grew even taller and got quite chubby within a matter of weeks. Varhog always treated her to breakfast in bed and fetched her food at least twice a night, as the babies continued this nursing pattern around the clock.
Willow was able to engage in her favorite form of exercise blessedly soon after the birth, though it was so demanding on her body. After her womb stopped bleeding, it never did again, due in part to Arya's healing magic, as well as to the consumption of the placenta, the babies' constant nursing, and the fact that she didn't bear any weight on her feet for the first month. But Willow didn't lose any strength because she tended to take after Myrin by keeping her husband extremely busy in bed, so thrilled she could once again face and reach him without the bulk of the babies between them.
-:-:-
"It's not fair that everyone can't enjoy becoming new parents like this," Willow commented after one such spirited exchange. "We haven't a care in the world. No fields to tend, no business to look after, no money to worry about. We're surrounded by family and friends who wait on us hand and foot. I get to stay in bed all day with my husband, making love and feeding my babies, while everyone around us does the cleaning, cooking, laundry, and everything else. It's a dream come true."
"You earned it, Willow," Varhog said, stroking her waist.
"Why would I earn it and not every other woman who goes through the difficulties of pregnancy and childbirth?" Willow demanded.
Varhog smiled. "I don't know, Eartheyes. Maybe everyone just needs to start living like the Urgralgra and then every new mother would be treated as you are."
"Good point," she agreed, noticing how he traced over the pattern of stretch marks on her abdomen. "They're so unattractive," she complained. "Maybe I could heal them with magic."
"I wish you wouldn't," Varhog earnestly replied, moving his eyes away from her body to look at her face. "When will you believe me that I love the way you look, the reminder of what you went through to become a mother and make me a father? Aside from the obvious evidence of our sons, your body looks as strong and lithe and amazing as it did before the pregnancy. Not even an extra curve anywhere, except for here," he trailed his fingers over one of her breasts, "to remind me of the changes your body underwent. You're so beautiful, Willow. Just as you are. Please don't change to pursue some ambiguous image of perfection. You're the embodiment of perfection in my eyes. Aren't they the only ones that matter?"
"Yes, I suppose so. Very well, Yelloweyes. I'll believe you." She giggled as his continued stroking made her milk let down. The twins had finished nursing about thirty minutes earlier, which meant they would be ready to do so again in about twenty more, but there was always an abundance of milk available. It started as a slow drip before flowing more forcefully, whereupon it sprayed Varhog all over his chest from both breasts. "I never expected there were so many openings," Willow cried, laughing harder. "It squirts out in over seven places!"
Varhog chuckled appreciatively, aiming one of the sprays up toward his mouth and succeeding only in getting milk all over his face before it ended. He frowned in mock disappointment.
Willow laughed at his expression. "You just had plenty a moment ago, sweetheart. We had best save what's left for the boys' next meal. Are you liking the milk as much as you thought you would?"
"Mmm-hmm," Varhog replied, wiping his face with the back of his forearm. Willow took advantage of the slickness on his chest and began massaging him, which he savored with a contented rumbling. "It's nice, Eartheyes. But what I enjoy most is that you seem to appreciate my attentions as much as always."
"To say the least," Willow agreed. "I would imagine that some men, if not most, would find the thought unpleasant."
"Their loss," Varhog said with a shrug. A smile appeared on his face as the innocent action affected his musculature and her obvious enjoyment of his body.
"What's funny?" she asked, also smiling.
"I know what you're thinking. It's so clear from your eyes and face. And I also realized that you are getting stronger from lugging around my two huge cubs all day, just as you predicted."
Willow laughed delightedly. "So all-knowing one, what am I thinking?"
Varhog made his voice higher, pretending to imitate her as he adapted her tone of shameless gloating and self-indulgence. "'I love your body, Yelloweyes. It's so perfect. I could grope it all day,'" he quoted. In his voice he finished, "Was I close?"
Willow laughed again, leaning forward to wrap her arms around his neck. "You know me well. That was exactly right, sweetheart. You've never imitated me like that before. It was a good impression. I don't think I could do the same for your voice."
Their babies began to stir on the other side of the huge bed. Varhog reached over to pull them closer while Willow turned around and situated herself between his knees. They had the routine down perfectly. As he handed Willow the first baby and she latched him on, Varhog brought the second baby to her other breast, where he latched himself on and began nursing with his brother. Willow put her arms behind their heads and backs, and Varhog put his huge arms under hers to provide her with a steel support that she could completely relax against. Her arms never got tired this way, and he assured her that his didn't either.
Once the babies were nursing, Varhog continued the conversation to the sounds of their eager swallowing. "I think you should try," he playfully invited. "Imitating my voice. I want to see how you do."
Willow was perfectly happy to keep being silly, so she cleared her throat as if she took his challenge very seriously and, in the deepest possible voice she could manage, said, "'I love your stretch marks, Eartheyes. They're so gorgeous. All women should—'" But she couldn't continue because Varhog was laughing too hard, which made her laugh because she was bouncing around on him. And it also hurt a little to force her voice that low. The babies looked up at them curiously. When her laughter had subsided to somewhat controllable fits of giggles, Willow asked in her normal voice, "How did I do?"
"Not bad," Varhog approved. "I love being with you, Willow. No one has ever been able to make me laugh so hard, and it feels so good. But I need to wipe these tears out of my eyes before they drive me insane."
All of their hands were busy. "Here," Willow suggested, "use my nose." She turned her face up to his, and they started laughing again as he attempted to take her up on her offer.
"Never mind," Varhog lamented. "It's useless. As long as you keep me laughing like this, they'll just keep coming."
Willow rubbed her nose against his shoulder, understanding the ticklish feel of the liquid. The she turned her face back toward his. "I love being with you too, Varhog. Everyone should marry their best friend." He nodded and kissed her. "Unless it's a dragon," she amended.
A sudden knock on their bedroom door made them both look up. Myrin entered right after she knocked, and neither Varhog nor Willow cared that she walked in on them as they were. Varhog was mostly blocked by Willow, and Myrin had seen Willow naked more than once.
"Hello," Myrin greeted. "Heard you two going at it and figured you'd be hungry soon. Lots of laughing."
"Varhog's funny," Willow explained at exactly the same moment Varhog said, "Willow's funny." They both laughed again.
The babies finished up and began squirming to communicate their new need, which was to relieve themselves. Varhog recognized it perfectly. "Do you want to help them, Myrin, or do you want to see your older brother naked?"
Myrin raised an eyebrow. "I can help them, Varhog. But I assure you, I wouldn't be embarrassed if you weren't. If you've seen one naked ram, you've seen them all. You all have magnificent bodies, though yours is somewhat different because of the modified bristles. Here, why don't we each help one?"
"Fair enough," Varhog agreed, pulling one leg around Willow as she leaned forward. Myrin took baby Varhog from her and went to the chamber pot they had placed in their room for this very purpose. Varhog took William and walked to the window. Since it was already open, Varhog just stood at it, holding William over the sill and cuing the baby to relieve himself, which he promptly did, from both ends. The waste hit the dirt below, and that was it. When Varhog returned, he used a soft cloth to wipe William's chubby bottom, keeping him as he sat back down.
The twins often nursed, then slept, then nursed at their predetermined time, staying awake for the next stretch before nursing again and sleeping. Willow and Varhog never even tried, but the twins fell into this completely predictable pattern all on their own, and their parents simply went along with it. The twins' wakeful time was their parent's favorite, for the boys were both so much louder than Brom, babbling and sputtering nearly the whole time they were awake, especially if Willow and Varhog talked to them, which they always did.
Myrin repeated Varhog's actions when she returned with baby Varhog, laying him down on the bed in front of Varhog before handing Willow a large tray of food. Willow first drank the glass of water, which Myrin seemed to expect, for she immediately refilled it as Willow began eating.
"Thank you, Myrin," Willow said around mouthfuls. "I was just telling Varhog how lucky we are to have our family all around to wait on us hand and foot. I haven't even been out of this bed on my own two feet in a month, but Varhog ensures I get plenty of exercise. Or rather, I insist that he gives me plenty of exercise." She took another huge bite of the vegetable sandwich she was working on.
Myrin laughed. "A woman after my own heart. And isn't it wonderful knowing that no matter how many times you make love, there's no chance you'll conceive again for at least the next year, if not longer, with how demanding the twins' needs are?"
"That is most welcome," Willow agreed.
Varhog animatedly spoke to the babies, who were gesturing with their chubby arms and hands, reaching for his face as they babbled.
"Hello there, handsome fellows," Varhog greeted, raising his voice almost as he had done when imitating Willow. "Look how strong and fat you're getting! You'll put father to shame one day if you keep up this pace. Do you now feel better? Your tummies are full of mother's warm milk. Isn't it tasty? I got some not long ago. It's so nice of you to share. Mother does the nicest things for me when I get to have a turn."
Varhog gave Willow a sidelong grin as she giggled. "And you've been able to go potty. So now you're ready to play and visit. Here, grab my horns. I know how you like that. That's right." In their uncoordinated movements, the babies each managed to close a fist around either one of Varhog's horns.
Varhog continued, "Mother had her turn doing this just a moment ago as well, and it also leads to the nicest things imaginable. Wouldn't you know, it just happened to lead to you both being here? I wonder if you two will someday have horns. We'll just have to wait and see, now won't we? Aren't your eyes turning such a splendid color? Just the right amount of mother's brown to remind father of her every time he looks at you. Isn't she beautiful? See her over there? She'll come visit you in a moment when she's done eating so her body can keep up with the demands of making your yummy milk. Then it will be my turn to eat, so I can keep up with the demands of mother's body." He chuckled.
Willow laughed again as Varhog carried on and on, thinking of anything and everything to talk about with his sons. He was never more talkative than when he interacted with the babies. From their current habits, it seemed like they would talk early on, for they were determined to make their voices heard, somehow apparently knowing that such sounds were extremely important, as the big people around them also always made them.
When Willow was done eating and had drained two more glasses of water, she switched places with Varhog, who pulled on his pants with a grin at Myrin and moved around the bed to start his lunch.
Willow leaned close to the babies and cheerfully said, "Hello, babies!" while resting a hand on each of their bare tummies and rubbing gently. The babies squealed their recognition and delight, giving her the most joyful toothless grins.
"I missed you too, my boys," Willow said, smiling brightly in return, "though you were just eating. Don't you remember? Yep, that was me all right. Oh! Hello, William! I know, I see you there. You're so strong now. You always have been though. As have you, Varhog."
The babies vied for her attention, and she talked to each in turn. "Oh my! Now you have my nose." Her voice sounded nasally for a moment as baby Varhog tightly gripped her nose. "Good, strong grip, son. You'll be just like your father someday, won't you? He'll teach you to wrestle, and I'll teach you how to really wrestle, so you can defeat him. At least until you're as big as he is." She laughed. "Ah! Ow! Oops. I should have pulled my hair up. Isn't it tempting? Yes, father likes to play with it too, but he knows how to be gentle. You must learn to be gentle too, William. It hurts mother when you pull so hard."
Willow swept her hair into a knot before scooping the babies up and holding one in each arm so they could see each other. Willow and Varhog both loved it when they really got started, for it looked as if they were waving and carrying on the most important conversation in the world. Willow giggled at their animated, earnest expressions.
She asked Myrin, "Is it normal for babies this young to interact and be this noisy? They're just now about a month. I always thought this didn't happen for several more months."
"It is quite early," Myrin said. "None of mine every babbled like that until they were around four, five, six months old. But the twins are the first two babies ever born to an Urgal and a human. Maybe they have some unique traits. Their eyes really are stunning. Such an amazing, light golden brown. They always look like they're shimmering. Did you know all of us fight to be the ones to come over and prepare your lunch? We all want the chance to see you interact with the twins. They don't behave this way for anyone else, and it's so adorable. We especially like seeing our silent, unassuming older brother act as he does. It's so endearing, Varhog."
Varhog grinned as best he could around his mouthful of food, and Willow said, "Isn't it, though? I knew he'd be the best father! They love him so much. It's so sweet watching him play with them."
After swallowing, Varhog said, "Not as much as they love you, Willow. Did you see how they lit up when you leaned over and they recognized you? Those grins they give you are my favorite sight ever. I can't get enough of seeing you with our sons."
Willow beamed at him before turning her attention back to the twins. Their skin seemed to more resemble hers, at least for now. It was slightly paler, perhaps taking on some of the gray of their father's, but it had the healthy pink flush one would expect in two breastfed babies. Their eyes were the light brown she had once thought they might be, but they shimmered as if full of gold. Willow had never seen an eye color like it. They were huge and fat, with delightful rolls all along their arms and legs. Their bellies were round and chubby, they had deep dimples in their cheeks when they grinned, which was constantly now, and they had the sweetest double chins right under the cleft they inherited from Varhog. Willow thought them the most beautiful babies she had ever seen, and everyone agreed because they were very handsome boys.
"They're ready to eat again and take their nap. Maybe I will too," Willow said. "Would you like to join me, sweetheart? I know you're usually more tired than I am, with how busy I keep you."
"Of course, Eartheyes," Varhog replied. "There's nowhere I'd rather be, no three I'd rather have in my arms. Let me go relieve myself and wash up. I'll be back in two minutes."
"I want to come," Willow said. "I'm always sticky and covered in milk and various other bodily fluids. Let's bring the boys for a quick bath. They love the warm water."
"Shall I carry you all?" Varhog asked.
"No, thank you," Willow answered. "I think I'm ready to walk on my own again, if my legs can handle it after a month of being carried everywhere."
She laid the babies down before jumping up and stretching. "Ah, that feels great! No problem! Come on, boys," she said, once again grabbing the babies and holding each to a shoulder. "Time for a bath before lunch and your nap."
Myrin stayed behind as Willow and Varhog headed down the hall, but after a few minutes, she paused on her way out to bid them goodbye.
After addressing their needs in the washroom, they returned to the bedroom, noticing that Myrin had changed the sheets before slipping out after them. The babies were hungry and restless, so Willow and Varhog quickly situated themselves on the bed, helping the twins start their meal.
Once Varhog's arms were in place to support the babies, Willow moved her hands to touch them, stroking their silky soft hair, down their backs, over their dimpled bottoms, and along each chubby roll of their arms and legs. Their eyes drooped in weary contentment.
"They're so beautiful," Willow murmured. "I love them so much, Varhog. Thank you for giving me two babies, for making me a mother. I love you."
Varhog didn't reply, so she turned to look at his face. He was already asleep, apparently as soothed by her presence as the babies were. Willow thought herself the most blessed woman in the world, surrounded by these three handsome males. She kissed the cleft in Varhog's chin, which was the easiest place for her to reach and also one of her favorite features on his face. Then she let herself succumb to the relaxing effects of the nursing.
