Chapter 20

Lya was already asleep when Alistair came in. She'd had so much trouble finding a comfortable way to sleep these last few weeks that she took to getting sleep whenever she could. He closed the door silently and moved carefully into the room. Not wanting to wake her up, he stood for awhile beside the bed, looking down at her. Finally he realized that he should probably get some sleep as well. Her erratic schedule had thrown him off, too. For some reason, he had trouble slumbering away peacefully when she was tossing and turning and finally getting up because there was no point in lying there any longer.

He slipped into bed next to her, carefully wrapping his arms around her. She mumbled something in her sleep and stirred, but didn't really wake up; just settled back against him and drifted back down into sleep. He lay there, inhaling the flowery of her. She had taken to taking a lot of baths lately, saying that is helped ease the ache in her back. As a consequence, she also spent a lot of time having perfumed oils rubbed into her. He rather approved of it. Eventually, the slow rhythm of her breathing and the warmth of her against him lulled him into sleep.

Lya woke up with a sudden start. Alistair was in bed with her, cuddling her close, but he was asleep. So that wasn't why she was awake. The curtains fluttered gently in the early summer night air, but there were no unusual sounds coming from outside. It was still early in the night, the moon barely casting any light into the room. She shrugged and was settling back down when it came.

It wasn't pain, not exactly, but more of a sudden, rippling pressure that crossed her stomach. She gasped and held her arms across her abdomen. She breathed steadily until it passed and then relaxed. Shaye and Wynne both said she would know when her body was ready and, oh boy, it was telling her it was ready. She leaned back, grabbing Alistair's shoulder to shake him awake. "Alistair! Alistair, wake up!" He muttered something and tried to turn his head away, but she just shook harder. "Wake up, damn it!"

Alistair felt something jostling him and heard his name being called. Finally deciding the person wasn't going to stop, he woke slowly. "What?" he mumbled, opening his eyes to see Lya shaking him. The upper half of her body had twisted towards him as she tried to wake him, and she was very insistent. There was an odd expression on her face, and when she saw that he was finally awake, she said, "Go get Wynne and Shaye."

He was suddenly totally and completely awake. "It's time? Are you sure?"

"Yes, Alistair, very sure and if you don't go soon, I might stab you."

He practically threw himself out of bed and hastily scrambled into a pair of pants. He jerked open the door, startling the two guards standing outside. "Go get the mages," he ordered. "Now!" One of the guards immediately took off running and Alistair left the door open as he went back to Lya. He helped ease her into a sitting position, propping pillows behind her for stability, and then started to light candles and lamps to provide light.

It seemed like forever, but it was probably only five minutes before Shaye walked in. She didn't appear at all flustered at being roused suddenly from her bed, but she did walk in saying, "You know, just once I would like to attend a birth that starts in the morning."

"Where's Wynne?" Lya gasped as another contraction hit.

Shaye went over to her immediately, seating herself on the edge of the bed. "On her way. She'll be here shortly, Lya. She's not quite as nimble as I am." She rested her hands lightly on Lya's stomach, feeling carefully. She nodded as the contraction passed. "Very good. Everything seems fine."

Wynne came into the room, using her staff as a walking stick. Shaye rose as she did and the older mage took her place at Lya's side. Wynne asked her several questions, pausing and also feeling Lya's stomach as another contraction came and went. She nodded, satisfied, and gestured to Shaye. The red head went to the door and began giving instructions to a servant who had accompanied them.

Lya shifted uncomfortably on the bed and Wynne immediately turned her attention back to the queen. "Do I need to stay in bed, Wynne?" Lya asked. "I'm not really comfortable." Wynne looked thoughtfully at Shaye.

"She could walk around for awhile. It would probably make her feel better and it would loosen her up," Shaye said. Wynne nodded.

"Alistair, come here," Wynne ordered crisply. He came quickly; feeling awkward, not knowing what to do or say. He just wanted someone to tell him what to do. "I want you to walk with Lya. She needs to move around, but her balance isn't the best at the moment. She will also need support when a contraction comes and I don't think any of us want her falling down."

"Should she really be moving, though? It won't be dangerous or anything?" Wynne gave him a foreboding look and he gulped. "Yes, ma'am," he said quickly and gently helped Lya out of bed. He was helping her stand when Shaye appeared at his side holding a shirt. She supported Lya while he quickly threw it over his head. "So, uh, where do we go?"

"Anywhere she wants, Alistair," Shaye said gently. "I would advise sticking to rooms and hallways on this floor though. Attempting stairs right now would not be the most advisable thing." Alistair nodded dumbly, and keeping one arm around Lya's shoulders and her left hand in his, began walking with her.

They walked the hallways slowly, Alistair aware that they were filling with activity. Maids were scurrying back and forth, bring towels and basins and water into their rooms. They gave the royal couple a wide berth, staring with wide eyes. Every so often, Lya would suck in a deep breath, stopping as she braced against a contraction. Alistair felt so helpless. There was nothing he could do but be strong for her when she needed to lean against him. He was glad, though, that Shaye insisted all those months ago that he stay for the birth. Being here now, he couldn't imagine not helping Lya in whatever way he could.

Wynne and Shaye checked on Lya whenever they made a pass back to the room. "You're progressing very quickly, Lya," Shaye remarked. "A little unusual for a first child, but I don't imagine you'll be complaining, hm?

"Nothing about her is usual," Wynne murmured dryly. "I also never noticed patience as one of her stronger points." Lya laughed faintly, and Alistair wondered if they had all lost their minds. It didn't really seem like an appropriate time to be making jokes to him.

Towards the end of those long hours, they passed Zevran's room, and the elf stuck his head out the door to see what all the commotion was. His eyes widened at the sight of his two friends and for once he was lost for words. The blonde elf Daevanya, who always seemed to be with him now, appeared at his shoulder and tugged him back into the room. "C'mon, Zev, let them be. They don't need us interfering." Zevran let himself be drawn back into his room, a relieved expression sliding across his face.

Lya chuckled. "I would love to see what Zevran would do if he became a father."

Alistair returned the laugh. "I think we might find ourselves short one elven assassin permanently."

"Oh, I don't know," Lya mused. "I think he would probably settle into it eventually. Not that I want him fathering my children, but with the right woman, I think he would make an interesting father." And then her humor disappeared as a harder contraction came. "Alistair," she gasped, "I think we should probably go back now."

Alistair sobered immediately. Holding her carefully, he guided her back to their rooms. Wynne and Shaye were sitting near the hearth, which now burned with a low fire. The night hardly called for the warmth, but the women were using the coals to heat water. Alistair saw the table had been laid out with all sorts of implements and basins and towels and cloths. His mouth went dry as he recalled Shaye's description of birth all those months ago. The reality of it hit him like a blow to the gut.

The mages came over as he eased Lya back into bed. "Thank you, Alistair. You did just fine. Now I think it's time for you to wait outside," Wynne said gently and moved to tug Alistair away.

"No!" The denial came from both Alistair and Lya and he felt his beloved clutching his hand in a desperate grip. Wynne looked surprised and Lya repeated herself. "No. I want him to stay, Wynne. I-I don't want to be alone for this." Lya looked at her old friend. "Please."

Wynne nodded. "Very well," she said. "I can understand that. Alistair, just do what we tell you." He bobbed his head, not quite trusting himself to speak.

Shaye came over. "Sit behind her, Alistair, like this," she said, showing him and supporting Lya as he eased himself onto the bed. Lya immediately held onto both of his hands and leaned back against his chest. The contractions she had been having were coming more frequently and he felt them through her. He wanted to do something else to help her, but had to settle for soft words on encouragement and letting her squeeze his hands to ease her through the pain.

The night had worn on and Alistair was shocked to realize the sky was already light outside. In his arms, Lya's demeanor changed and everything was suddenly more urgent. Wynne and Shaye were both there, encouraging her, telling her when to push and Alistair could do nothing more than hold her. He had heard terrible stories about women screaming in agony and crying, but Lya wasn't doing that. True, her jaws were clenched and he thought he might never regain feeling in his hands, but that was fine. There was one final push, and she cried out. Shaye and Wynne were both suddenly very busy with something very small and Lya sagged back in his arms.

Time seemed to crawl by, the seconds slowing into hours, and then there was cry. First one, then another as a very small person objected to this very rude entry into the world. Alistair hadn't even realized he was holding his breath until that moment. And then Shaye was there, handing a small blanket wrapped bundle to Lya. She looked at them and her smile was wide. "Congratulations, your Majesties. You have a son."