Selfless Love pt.25
Hello, hope you are having a good day.
Sefa and Merlin tried to have another child but it didn't happen. They were sad but they were happy for the two daughters that they did have. Hundreds of years passed. They didn't age. Merlin and Sefa remained 24, Faith remained 17, and Ava remained 4. When they were given the chance to travel to the new world, they did. They lived in a fort up north. Merlin was a soldier helping to fight for freedom. One night, he went home and saw the girls sewing.
"I'm home." Merlin said. Sefa went to Merlin and they kissed. Merlin went to get changed. Sefa went in the bedroom and kissed Merlin passionately. Merlin kissed back. Merlin tried to pull away several times but Sefa wouldn't let him. "Sefa, what is it?"
"I'm pregnant." Sefa answered. Merlin kissed Sefa again.
"That's the best news I've heard in a long time. How far?"
"Halfway."
"Halfway? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I was worried that I would lose the baby. It's been so many years and after the miscarriage, I had one hundred years ago, I've become terrified."
"Shh, you won't lose this baby." Merlin whispered as he kissed Sefa again. He pulled her close. "I understand why you didn't tell me. How do you feel?"
"Fine." Sefa answered. Merlin put Sefa's head on his shoulder and hugged her.
"You won't lose this baby."
"I hope not."
The next several weeks were hard on Sefa as she panicked with each move that the baby inside her made. One night, Merlin could feel Sefa start to panic as the baby kicked. He sat up and pulled her close.
"Sefa, the baby is fine. It's just kicking." Merlin whispered.
"I can't help it." Sefa replied.
"I know."
Merlin put his hand on Sefa's stomach and felt the baby kick.
"It's strong." Merlin said.
"Yes, it is." Sefa answered.
"That's a good thing. Every time it kicks, it means that it's alive. It's safe."
Sefa nodded. The next day, it was raining heavily. Merlin worked helping to improve the fort and watching for enemies. When he went home, he was drenched.
"I'm home." Merlin shivered. The girls ran up to him and hugged him.
"Daddy, you're wet and cold." Ava exclaimed.
"I know. Where's your mother?"
"She's in bed. She had an attack and she has orders to stay in bed till the baby is born." Faith answered.
"Did the doctor tell her that?" Merlin wondered.
"No, I did. All the doctor did was criticize and belittle her. Go get changed and warmed up before you catch your death."
"Yes ma'am."
Merlin went to the bedroom and got changed. He saw Sefa sleeping. When he was dressed, he sat on the bed and squeezed Sefa's hand. Sefa moaned and opened her eyes.
"Hey, what happened?" Merlin asked.
"I don't know. One moment I was fine and then the next minute, Faith was helping me calm down. She said that I had dropped." Sefa answered.
"You must be close."
"That's why she wants me to stay in bed as much as possible."
Then they heard a knock at the door.
"Come in." Merlin said. Faith came in.
"Father, there's a man here to see you." Faith replied.
"I'll be out in a minute."
"I'll tell him."
Faith left the room. Merlin and Sefa kissed.
"DO you want to walk around?" Merlin wondered.
"Yes." Sefa sighed. Merlin helped Sefa out of bed. They walked out of the bedroom. Merlin saw his boss.
"Sir."
"Merlin."
"What is this about?"
"Starting tomorrow, you will have double shifts. You will sleep in the same quarters as your fellow soldiers."
"What about my wife and children?"
"They will be cared for and you can see them on break."
"With all due respect, I can't. There are plenty of men here who are not married who are more capable than I am. You know that."
"Are you questioning my judgement?"
"No, but my wife could have the baby anytime and they are my first priority. I have to take care of them."
"You will do as I say till the baby is born. Then I will find someone else."
"Yes, sir."
The lieutenant left.
"He is the most heartless man I have ever met." Merlin groaned as he helped Sefa sit down.
"AT least it's only till I have the baby." Sefa sighed.
"But he most likely will not allow me to be here when you do have the baby."
"I know. We'll be alright."
"But this means that I am banned from coming home to my family. I have to sleep with the rest of the men who are arrogant and rude."
"Not to mention they like messing with me." Faith sighed.
"What?" Merlin wondered.
"I went to run an errand today and a couple of men confronted me. They touched me, father. I managed to get away."
"We shouldn't have come here."
"But we are here. We might as well make the best of it."
For the next few weeks, it was hard for the family. Merlin was busy that he was unable to see his family. When he wasn't working, he was trying to sleep in the 5 hours he was allowed to rest. Sefa and the girls missed Merlin. They were harassed by many of the men that worked with Merlin. They barely had any food and Sefa was becoming weak from stress and fear. One morning, Sefa was making breakfast. Faith saw how pale and weak Sefa was.
"Mother, let me do this. You need to go to bed." Faith suggested.
"I'm fine." Sefa panted.
"Mother, please. You could have the baby any moment."
Then Sefa gasped and grabbed Faith's shoulder.
"Like right now. Are you having contractions?" Faith asked. Sefa nodded. Faith helped Sefa in bed and did what needed to be done.
"Faith, go get your father. I need him here right now. I know you can save the baby." Sefa panted.
"I know. I'll go get him. Ava, come watch your mother."
Ava ran in and sat on the bed next to Sefa. Faith ran out of the house and saw Merlin talking to his boss.
"Father, mother is in labor. She needs you." Faith panted.
"She can wait. This is important." The lieutenant answered.
"Go take care of your mother. I'll be there in a minute." Merlin ordered. Faith nodded and ran inside. Merlin was about to walk away but the lieutenant grabbed him.
"No, you have a duty to fulfill."
"Look, my wife is in labor and she needs me."
"If you disobey my orders you will regret it."
"You forget, I can go to the colonel and report you."
"I will have you punished."
"Just try and stop me."
Merlin ran to the house and went to Sefa. He went into the bedroom and kissed Sefa.
"I'm here, love. How do you feel?" Merlin whispered.
"I'm close." Sefa panted. Merlin checked Sefa over.
"Faith, I need to cut into your mother. She may be close to giving birth but it will kill her and the baby."
"Ok. I'll be back."
Faith got what Merlin needed. Merlin got Sefa ready.
"Ava, I need you to leave the room. This won't be pleasent." Merlin said. Ava did as she was told. Faith came in with what Merlin needed. Ava stood at the door looking in. No one knew she was there. Merlin and Faith did what they could for Sefa. Merlin cut into Sefa causing Sefa to scream. Faith held Sefa's hand. Merlin found the baby and pulled it out. He nodded to Faith who took care of the baby while Merlin cleaned Sefa up and treated the wound. Faith cleaned the baby and wrapped her in a blanket.
"It's another girl." Faith whispered as she handed the baby to Sefa. Sefa smiled happily and looked at the baby girl.
"Katrina." Sefa panted. Merlin finished treating Sefa and covered her up. He sat next to Sefa and kissed her forehead.
"She is so beautiful." Merlin gasped. Merlin saw Ava at the door and smiled. "Come here, sweetie." Ava went over and sat on Merlin's lap. "Meet your baby sister Katrina."
Ava smiled at Katrina.
"DO you want to hold her?" Sefa wondered.
"Yes." Ava answered. Sefa and Merlin helped Ava hold Katrina. Ava was in awe of her little sister. Then the door was thrown open. Two men came in.
"I hear you disobeyed orders." The colonel said.
"Yes, but as I told you when we came here, my family comes first." Merlin replied.
"But he disobeyed my orders. He shouldn't be allowed to get away with it." The lieutenant answered.
"Lieutenant, I have heard enough. Merlin, you may have disobeyed a direct order but I also know that you have suffered because of orders. I am promoting you to captain." The colonel explained.
"Thank you sir." Merlin thanked.
"As for you lieutenant, I am demoting you to Merlin's old rank. You are now a corporal."
"But he disobeyed me." The ex-lieutenant stated.
"Yes, but you abused your authority. Be grateful that I am not having you flogged." The colonel warned.
"Yes, sir."
"Get some rest. We can manage without you, captain."
"Thank you, sir." Merlin replied.
"That is truly a beautiful baby. Is it another girl?" The colonel asked.
"Yes. Her name is Katrina."
"You have three fine daughters. Continue to raise them well."
"We will."
The colonel and corporal left. The four chuckled.
"Finally. Now, we can breathe." Sefa sighed.
"And sleep. I really just want to sleep." Merlin answered.
"Then go to sleep."
Merlin laid down and went to sleep while Sefa took care of Katrina. Faith cleaned everything up and made lunch since they had skipped breakfast. Ava was in her father's arms looked at Sefa. She watched Sefa move as though nothing was wrong. Ava sat up and put her hand on the wound.
"Does it hurt?" Ava asked.
"Yes, but the joy I feel is much more powerful." Sefa answered.
"Why did daddy hurt you?"
"What? No, he didn't hurt me. If I had given birth on my own, I would have died. Your father saved me. Did you watch?"
"Yes. I was at the door."
"Oh, sweetie. Your father wanted you to leave."
"I did."
"I know. Come here."
Ava let Sefa hug her.
"I love you, sweetie." Sefa whispered.
"I love you, mummy." Ava mumbled. Then she kissed Katrina's forehead. "I love you, Trina."
"You are going to be a good big sister."
"Just like Faith?"
"Yes. Just like Faith."
Over the next couple of weeks, everyone relaxed and recovered. When Sefa able to get up and walk around on her own, Merlin went back to work. One day, they heard shouting and men running around.
"Captain, we are under attack." A private said.
"Get everyone inside the walls and close the gates." Merlin ordered. Merlin ran to help the villagers get inside. When the villagers got inside the gates, men came out to fight the enemy. The heard shouting and British soldiers came running in. "Protect the villagers. Get inside and close the gates."
They all ran inside but a few were wounded by the invaders. Merlin was fighting a soldier when he was stabbed in the side. He cried out in pain just as a soldier attacked him. Merlin felt a man grab him and take him to the infirmary. He was laid down on a cot.
"Private, get my family. Are the gates closed?" Merlin asked.
"Yes, we just closed them but there are too many." The private answered.
"We can win. We just have to have hope."
"I'll get your family."
"Thank you."
The private left. A doctor came over and started treating Merlin's wound.
"You need to burn the infection out of the wound." Merlin panted.
"I know what I'm doing." The doctor replied.
"Please, hurry. It's hard to breathe."
"I am going as fast as I can but you need to clam down before I have to knock you out."
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you."
Merlin did as he was told. He closed his eyes for a minute and when he opened them, he saw Sefa.
"How long?" Merlin rasped.
"You've only be asleep for a few minutes. How do you feel?" Sefa asked.
"Horrible."
"You've lost a lot of blood. Keep very still while the doctor stitches the wound."
"OK."
When the doctor was done, he sighed.
"You'll live but you will be very weak for many days. That was a deep wound. You're lucky that you've lived this long." The doctor explained.
"Thank you." Merlin answered.
"Get some rest."
Then a couple of men ran in.
"Captain, the men that are attacking. They are not British soldiers. They are Indians." The private said. Merlin sat up.
"What?" Merlin gasped.
"I know. What do we do? They killed our colonel."
"Get everyone out of here. We need to leave."
Merlin stood up and groaned. Sefa helped Him.
"Merlin, you need to rest." Sefa whispered.
"When we are safe. Let's go home and pack. Doctor, get the injured ready for transport." Merlin ordered. They went to their home and packed what they needed. Then the door slammed opened and Indians came running in.
TBC