Week 8

Kel had a baby bump. Tiny and could be hidden in large clothing but Kel noticed it; Kel knew it was there. She was really worried about it as well. She knew from Yuki's pregnancy that you wouldn't start showing till you were four almost five months along.

For Kel to be showing now meant trouble; huge trouble. This was Kel's first baby – that she was sure of – and unless the Healer she had seen in Tortall had been seriously wrong about the dates she wasn't meant to be showing.

Kel looked at her stomach and rubbed it absentmindedly. Maybe having this baby wouldn't be too bad. With friends like Neal, Yuki and Raoul it was going to be so loved but that was only if she return to Tortall.

"Lady Keladry, are you ready to go?" Emily asked through the door.

Kel looked from the mirror and knew she had to ask her mother about it.

"Can you get my ma for me?"

Emily rushed away and Kel started to pace. What if she was further along then she originally thought? What if she was like five or even six months along? Or what if because she didn't know she was pregnant and had done something to the baby? If she was really five months along then this baby could be in serious trouble.

"Kel, what's wrong sweetie?" Ilane asked walking into the room, closely followed by Emily.

Ilane and Emily immediately knew what was wrong with just one look at Kel. Kel was standing in the middle of her room with only her breastband and knickers on. Ilane smiled at Kel's baby bump.

"You have a baby bump milady," Emily told them with a smile.

Emily was the middle child of her family with three younger siblings. She knew from her mother and older sister what Kel was going through.

"Ma!"

"What do you want me to do Kel? Make it go away?"

"Yes!"

"Okay,"

Ilane walked over to Kel and lent over to her stomach.

"Listen to me baby, stop growing. I think it listened,"

"Ma," Kel groaned.

"What's wrong? Having a baby is great and having a baby bumps means that your baby is growing," Ilane told her.

"But ma! You didn't show with Anders til you were five months along! And you never got morning sickness!"

Ilane laughed with a smile and Emily giggled.

"Milady, is there any chance that you could have twins? Or if the baby is older then you thought?"

"I don't know,"

"We'll go to the Healers and get you checked out. I think it's about time for your next check up,"

As soon as Ilane finished speaking Kel ran to the bathroom, throwing up her breakfast.

"After the morning sickness anyway," Ilane said to no one in particular.

"There is a Healing Woman down the road; she deals with multiple pregnancies. Would you like me to go see if she's available?"

"Please Emily, and could you send in Murphy with the tea,"

"Of courses Baroness…"

"What 'rong?" the Healing Woman demanded as Ilane and Kel walked into the small house.

Emily was waiting outside talking to the coach driver. Kel wanted to ride Peachblossom but Ilane wouldn't let her. Ilane knew that it could hurt the baby.

"We need a pregnancy–"

"Twins,"

Kel stumbled and sat down in a nearby chair. Kel suddenly felt very flush and very dizzy. For a second she thought it was the morning sickness coming back.

"How did you know?" Kel asked softly.

The woman rolled her eyes and walked into another room. Kel stood up slowly and Kel and Ilane followed her.

"Ye would 'ave went to a man if ye thought ye weren't 'avin' twins,"

Kel was lost for words. The woman pointed to two nearby chairs as she sat down.

"Come to me for any problems for the 'est of the pregnancy. Next check-up will be at sixteen weeks and me'll check the bubs,"

"So there is definitely two?"

"Ya,"

Kel groaned and rubbed her temples.

"I was just getting used to one!"

Ilane and the woman laughed. The Healing woman had had two sets of twins while Ilane had had more the two children under three. They had a fair guess what Kel was going through.

"Me names' Ellan and y lass are goin' have bundles of fun…"