Sorry for the long wait comments and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated.
Tanu looked at Kendra from across the room. He knew that she would go to Alaska out of a sense of duty more than anything else, despite her condition. He determined that he would have to pull her and Bracken aside after the briefing to let them know that Tess could replace Kendra if need be.
As the six knights met with Stan in his study, Kendra resisted the urge to bite her nails as she listened as her grandfather explained that her primary role would be to extract the Borealis crystals in the cave that housed the fairy shrine. Kendra noticed Tanu watching her from the other side of the room. It wasn't a total stretch to guess what he was thinking, and she could only pray that he would keep the knowledge of her pregnancy a secret until they had a chance to talk.
Kendra listened as Stan explained that the crystals could only be obtained with permission from the fairy queen. She must pay a toll to enter, usually with a magical item. On occasion, the price of admission to the cave would change depending on who sought the crystals. Ultimately there was no way of knowing what retrieving the crystals would require.
As per his request, Seth was in charge of obtaining the bottled dragon breath weapon with Knox's assistance. As it turned out, it wasn't the typical fire-breathing monster that they usually faced. No, this time, they would be collecting hoarfrost. The dragon's icy breath could instantly freeze anything in its path. At the same time, Tanu and Ashlyn would be responsible for getting the walrus milk. This ingredient would have to be obtained last since the potency of the potion depended on the freshness of the walrus milk.
On the surface, the mission was simple compared to the countless dangers they had faced before. They had two days before they would take a plane from Connecticut to Anchorage. Two days to prepare. yet despite the simplicity of the mission kendra couldn't help bet feel something was about to go wrong.
It wasn't much of a discussion of whether or not Kendra should go. At least in her mind, the decision was obvious. She would do anything that would ensure the safety of her child and its future. However, she knew Bracken would be a little harder to convince. He knew that despite the brave face Kendra would try to portray, there was a perennial storm of anxiety that had to affect the baby's health.
Tanu caught Kendra and Bracken discussing the matter in low tones. He wasn't surprised to see Kendra glaring up at Bracken, her hands on her hips. Tanu stained a little to hear the conversation.
"All I am saying is that it's okay if you don't go." Bracken huffed, running his hand through his hair.
"Just because I'm pregnant does not mean I have to be treated like a glass doll!" Kendra retorts as tears start pooling in her lower eyelids.
"Believe me, no one questions your capability," Bracken sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Tanu urged Ashlyn to keep going so that he could talk to Kendra and Bracken privately.
Kendra noticed Tanu approaching and huffed in exasperation. She knew that he would definitely side with Bracken.
"Kendra are you alright," Tanu says gently as he places a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.
Kendra pulls away from him and crosses her arms in front of her.
"Kendra, I'm just worried about you and our baby. Ultimately it is your choice on whether or not you go. I just wanted you to know that there is the option to not go." Bracken says.
"He's right. This is one of those rare occasions where your presence is not an absolute necessity." Tanu says.
Kendra relaxed her shoulders " I know. I just feel like I have to do everything in my power to stop Addanc before he becomes a real threat and acts against the knights of the dawn." She said, her voice lowering as tears began to fall.
Bracken wipes the tears away gently with his thumb. Then wraps his arms around her. He knew exactly what she was feeling. He felt the same sense of duty to protect his wife, their child, and their future. That fierce sense of love and responsibility to help was one reasons he had fallen in love with her. It had never mattered what danger they were facing. Kendra could always be counted on to do her part. She was constant never wavering in her courage, like the northern star. This time though, he really wished she would let someone else take the load that they had been asked to carry.
"Whatever you decide, I will support your decision. Just promise me that you will at least consider sitting this mission out." Bracken pleas.
Kendra nods "of course," she whispers. " I just don't want you to leave me behind. I mean, what if something happens to you?"
Bracken thought for a moment. If he was honest with himself, he didn't want to leave Kendra at home alone, but he also knew it wasn't safe for her to actively participate in this mission.
"What if," he hesitated, "you came on the mission but stayed with the caretakers. If anything did happen, you would at least be aware of it and could get help. You could be the backup plan."
"I can live with that," Kendra said, giving her husband a small smile. She appreciated that despite his own fears, he was willing to support her in whatever she decided and ultimately find a compromise that would satisfy the both of them.
"Great," Tanu said. "I'll let Tess know that she will be joining us."
"we should probably be going too." Bracken said, "we need to get all packed."
"Before you go," I emailed one of my contacts when the Knights of the Dawn, I let him know about your circumstances. He messaged me back and said he could give you guys a call about setting up an appointment. I wanted to make sure it was okay that I passed along your information before I reply back to him."
Kendra looked at Bracken, "that sounds good to me."
Kendra stared at the clothes in her closet. Despite the relatively mild spring the weather in Alaska wouldn't be nearly as accommodating. Kendra knew that there would still be deep snow banks where they were going. She'd been on cold-weather missions before. It had been a while since she had to wear anything heavier than a peacoat. She was dismayed to find that Bracken put all of her cold winter gear in the attic. Before she could say anything about it, she heard Bracken pull down that attic ladder and carefully carry down a sizeable blue storage bin. The bin was full of ski jackets, scarves, and winter boots.
Kendra got the heavy-duty backpacks out of the garage and joined Brackenin the bedroom to pack their bags.
Kendra's cell phone began to buzz in her pocket. Kendra answered her phone.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, this is Dr. Benador. Am I speaking to Mrs. Kendra Sorensen?
Kendra sighed in relief. "Yes, I'm Kendra."
Bracken looked up from his packing in interest at Kendra, confirming her real name"who is it? he whispered."
"The Doctor," Kendra mouthed back.
I'd like to offer my congratulations. Tanu messaged me and told me about your current conditioning. He said you were hoping you could find someone who might help Make sure you and your baby stay safe throughout your pregnancy.
"Yes," Kendra replied. "Thank you for calling us so promptly."
it wasn't a problem at all. Though I have to admit I am not the best option as an OBGYN. I am usually called for in emergencies such as stitching wounds or resetting broken bones. My wife, however, might be more qualified to help as she is a CMP, a certified professional midwife. I told her about you, and she suggested that we make a home visit as soon as possible. If you are free would love to come over and meet you and your husband tomorrow evening after my usual office hours. I understand if this might be a little short notice for you.
"Um," Kendra thought, "let me just talk to my husband really quick and make sure he doesn't have any plans. I am sure that he would want to be meet you as well."
Bracken looked up at Kendra when she referred to him.
Kendra put her hand over the cell phone
"It's Dr. Benador from the knights. He was wondering if he and his wife could come over tomorrow evening for a home visit. Will you be able to be there?"
"Of course, what time are they planning on coming?"
Kendra shrugged and put the phone back up to her ear "tomorrow evening would work great."
"Wonderful, is seven o'clock a good time?" Said Dr. Benador over the phone.
"Yes, that sounds perfect," Kendra replied before offering a farewell and hanging up the phone.
"They are coming tomorrow at seven," Kendra informed Bracken as she let out a breath that she wasn't aware that she was holding.
Bracken put his arms around her. " I can't believe this is happening. It is all coming at us so fast." He said as he kissed the top of her ear.
"I know," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his torso. "I know."
The doorbell rang at seven pm, precisely.
Bracken opened the door. Standing on the front step was a tall olive-skinned man with grey streaks through his dark hair. He held a large black computer bag. Standing next to a lithe woman with dark brown hair pulled up into a neat bun. The woman was smiling broadly despite her professional attire. The man seemed to have a casual grace to him that put Kendra at ease.
Kendra welcomed them into the room as Bracken closed the door behind everyone and followed the small group into the cozy family room. Kendra and Bracken snuggled close in the cream-colored love seat while the doctor and his wife sat adjacent to them on the larger couch.
After introductions were made and light-hearted chitchat, with the wife insisting that Kendra call her Charlotte. Dr. Benador pulled his sizeable black bag forward
"I was wondering if you had any idea of how far along you are?" The doctor asked as he began to open up his bag and pull out a bottle of clear blue gel, a wireless ultrasound probe, and a tablet.
"We honestly have no idea." Kendra replied, "we were under the impression that we couldn't get pregnant."
"Well, if it is okay with you," the Dr. said. " I brought my wireless ultrasound and probe and thought that it would be a good idea to take a look and see how far along you are."
"of course," Kendra replied.
Bracken grabbed one of the kitchen chairs and pulled the coffee table closer to the larger couch. Then Dr. Benador pulled out more supplies like hospital drapes and washcloths and began organizing the area. When the room was reorganized, Kendra could lay on the couch comfortably. Simultaneously, the doctor could sit in the kitchen chair next to the sofa with the ultrasound set up on the coffee table.
Charlotte helped Kendra situate herself on the couch and began draping Kendra so that her clothes were protected. Bracken stood at the end of the sofa near Kendra's head so that he could see the ultrasound machine and hold Kendra's hand.
Dr. Benador put on gloves and began squirting the blue gel on the probe.
"This is going to be a little cold he warned before placing the probe to Kendra's flat stomach.
Kendra winced slightly at the cold gel as Bracken gave her hand a supportive squeeze.
Bracken and Kendra watched the tablet screen intently as Dr. Benador moved the probe to her lower stomach.
"There they are," he declared, looking at the table and pointing with his free hand. "Twins."
Bracken was so caught off guard by the news that he simply leaned his head back and laughed. Twins.
While kendra stared. It was too much. Too much to wrap her head around, to comprehend. In an instant her world was so much larger and yet somehow smaller then she could care to understand.
Yet there on the screen in black and white were two small blurbs all scrunched up. Kendra couldn't make out the difference between a head or a toe, but the sight of it made her chest ache as tears welled up in her eyes again. This time she didn't mind crying so much. She looked up at Bracken, who was beaming as tears slide down his face again, and he kissed Kendra on the top of her head.
"How far along is she," Bracken managed to say.
"let's see," he said, pressing a few buttons on the tablet screen, changing the image from black and white to a three-dimensional color image.
Kendra could see tiny hands and feet. She could tell the difference between the head and the body. The images somehow made it all more real, and the realness of it hurt.
"It looks like you are fairly far along, about ten weeks. I'm surprised that you didnt find out sooner," Dr. Bendador said.
Kendra gawked. "Ten weeks!" She hadn't known that she was pregnant for two and a half months! Good grief. That explained a lot. The mood swings. The cravings. She should have known, should have at least guessed.
"On the bright side." Everything looks healthy and adequately developed." Charlotte said brightly, scanning the ultrasound.
Kendra smiled. She decided she liked Charlotte and that she would be the perfect midwife for the coming months.