She'd asked for Ailith. Just another face once to Maukurz, a face he'd frankly forgotten until that horrific moment in the hayshed. Ailith: more likely to scream and stick him with a knife than to help his baby come into the world. Maukurz was surprised by the ease with which he picked out her scent from all the others. She was living in the little village now, in a sturdy hut that puffed a steady stream of smoke into the rainy night. Maukurz stood in the mud outside, knowing that every moment—every breath—was precious and desperate, but still he couldn't bring himself to invade her home, or throw rocks at her door, or any other thing.
He'd have to find Edwyn first. And Edwyn had already told Maukurz that he was staying in the big house. He would get Edwyn, and have Edwyn bring Ailith out… and then Maukurz would think of some way to get the woman up the mountain.
Maukurz ran across the fields, towards the manor house. He could see dim firelight in the upstairs room where he'd once found Halla. Maukurz pulled off his sandals. Gripping the slippery rock face with shaking hands and unsteady feet, Maukurz climbed up the window, inhaled deeply to see if he smelled the Rider alone. Reassured, he pounded furiously on the shutters.
Moments later, the scent became strong and Edwyn smacked the shutters open so fast Maukurz had to wrench his head out of the way. The groggy-eyed white-skin blinked in surprise; and then understanding set in.
"She's having the baby?"
"She's been having the baby for two days. It won't come, and she's giving up. She wants help. She wants Ailith."
"Shit," Edwyn hissed. "Shit. All right, get… get down… And try to stay out of sight! I'll be right down. Go to the front door and wait… discretely."
Maukurz hit the ground with a thud, sending a shock up his spine. He yanked his sandals back on with a hard hand and ran around the house, splashing mud all over his legs. Edwyn hurried out as well, yanking his boots on and almost forgetting to shut the door behind him.
"I don't know if she'll come, Maukurz. She doesn't like your kind."
Maukurz shook his head, jogging beside Edwyn. "Don't matter. She gotta come. She gotta help."
"You know where she lives?" Edwyn asked, slightly fearful of the desperate Uruk beside him.
"Know her smell."
"Maukurz… I won't help you if you plan on snatching that woman and bringing her to your home. And really, I don't know what good she'd be able to do anyway. She's no midwife."
"I won't snatch her. And she's gotta know somethin' I don't," the Uruk maintained. "And Halla wants her," he added in a shaking voice.
"We'll see. Here… wait on the side of the house. And put this on."
Edwyn tossed Maukurz one of Finnan's hooded cloaks. The Uruk made a face at the scent, but swung it over his shoulders and pulled up the wide hood. Even so hidden, it was easy to make out what he was from his wide build and his grey mud-stained legs. If anyone woke and came out, took a close look, Maukurz would be caught and likely killed, and Halla was done for.
Edwyn said a quick prayer, then began to knock hard on Ailith's door.
After a few desperate moments she opened it, swathed in a warm wool robe, her blonde hair loose and tangled. She looked at Edwyn's grim face and sighed deeply. Then her eyes switched over Edwyn's shoulder, and he saw her jaw tighten. He saw a flash of murder—and recognition—in her eyes, and shocked, Edwyn looked over his shoulder. Maukurz, of course, had not obeyed Edwyn. He'd crept behind Edwyn, and now he knelt in the mud in front of Ailith's door, his eyes down and his palms up and out, the rain pouring down on him.
For a long moment, Maukurz kneeled before the woman, and all was silent but for the pouring rain. She ain't gonna do it. I don't deserve for her to do it.
"I knew this would happen," Ailith said quietly. "Wait here."
She shut the door, and Edwyn whirled on Maukurz. "Left a bit of it out, did you, Maukurz?" Edwyn hissed angrily.
Maukurz hazarded an upward glance, the rain making his grief-stricken face look ravaged by tears. "Not your concern," he said quietly.
"You want me to help you? You want me to trust you? Don't ever do that to me again!"
Maukurz shook his head enigmatically, and Edwyn sighed.
"In the fall the Dunlendings killed an Uruk. He one of your fellows? Trying to rape women?"
"He didn't rape anyone," Maukurz said, trembling as he fought to keep his anger down. "They lie."
"And how many are you?"
"Just four now. And we don't bother anyone. The War's over, Edwyn. I left all that behind with it, and so did my brothers."
Edwyn groaned softly. "No, you don't cause any trouble. You just seduced a nobleman's wife, and brought her as close to death as you could."
Before Maukurz could respond—and he blamed himself far more than Edwyn could ever blame him—the door opened. Ailith now seemed to pretend that Maukurz wasn't there at all. She had several bottles in her hands. "This one here is to intensify her labor if the baby has to come right away. This one is to slow it down, as long as the baby's umbilical cord isn't compressed, but you would use this with extreme caution, because it will stop her contractions for an hour or so. But if, say, she's starting to bleed out… You might need it. And this is a harsh pepper that you'd give her to smell, if she's passed out."
"You saw a midwife," Edwyn said, smiling softly at Ailith as she placed the bottles in a small satchel.
Ailith closed her eyes, nodding. "I didn't want to be responsible for her death. So here, take this, and good luck—"
"No!" Maukurz said sharply, looking up finally. "She wants you. And I don't think he knows any more about what to do than I do! Compressed umbilical cord?"
The sound of his voice clouded the woman's eyes with fear and darkness, and for a moment she wavered on the edge of screaming, or fainting. Edwyn put a warm hand on her shoulder.
"No," Ailith breathed, her eyes on Edwyn. "No."
"I'm begging you," Maukurz said desperately. "I'm begging you. I don't… She's not… She won't make it… I gotta get back to her before she dies, please."
"You… are begging me," Ailith said slowly. "I begged you once, I think."
"Maybe we should just go," Edwyn suggested quietly.
"I won't hurt you," Maukurz continued, ignoring Edwyn entirely. "It's no trap. I don't do that no more, and I was wrong then. It don't mean nothin' to you, but I'm dead sorry for it. But this ain't for me. Halla needs you. She's so sick—" His voice broke, and he clenched his fists. "She don't even know what's goin' on no more, she just cried for you. If she—dies—if she gotta die, I want her to at least know I brought you for her. She don't ask much from me… Practically nothin' for all she gave… Shit," he whispered, choked up to the point he couldn't speak any more horrible words about Halla's death. He felt ready to lie down and die himself. "Please help her!"
Ailith was crying silently. "You don't deserve this," she said harshly, seeing the little grey female, the sloshing water. She turned bitter eyes on the Uruk. "I would have welcomed any chance to do you harm, you piece of filth! But now you rob me of that as well, because I can't let Halla die without trying to save her. So: I will go with you to your lair, and I will do what I can to help your Halla, and this innocent child, and if you trick me and trap me and kill me, then so be it. At least I won't be the monster!"
Maukurz gasped, rising up, thanking her endlessly.
"She can't run like you. Nor, for that matter, can I. Ailith and I will go to the stable and grab a horse. You can ride bareback, Ailith?"
She nodded tightly, looking sick to her stomach.
"Then let's go," Edwyn said, taking Ailith's hand. "And bless you, lady," he added, kissing Ailith's hand.
They tied the horse when it could climb no higher. Maukurz offered to carry Ailith, but she clung to Edwyn's back instead. Maukurz nipped his lip bloody watching Edwyn make the perilous climb with Ailith hanging off of him, but he made it. At any other time, Maukurz might have been grudgingly impressed by the slender pretty-faced Man's strength.
"Good spot you have here," Edwyn gasped once his feet were back on flat ground. "That climb was hideous."
"That's the idea. Come on."
The two humans followed Maukurz. Ailith turned to Edwyn, looking pointedly at the dagger on his belt. "You will stay beside me. If it comes to a fight, you kill me first. Swear it."
"Ailith, please…"
"Swear it! I will not…" she shook her head, and Edwyn saw that she was barely holding herself together.
"Fine. I swear. But it won't come to that, I told you already: he loves her."
"That doesn't mean—"
They fell silent, coming before a small cave mouth that glowed a warm orange from the snapping fire just inside.
"Here we are," Maukurz said. He turned, putting his hard palm flat against Edwyn's chest. "I had no choice in this. My commander had no choice. I'm trusting you now, not to betray us. Both of you."
"We won't," Edwyn said rashly, hoping he wasn't making promises he couldn't keep. He was morbidly curious about what he'd find inside a cave of Uruks. Piles of skulls crossed his mind. Ailith clutched his hand fiercely as Maukurz brought them inside.
Two Uruks in ragged clothes of black wool and roughly sewn hide turned at once, anxious mistrust all over their dark, frightening faces.
"How is she?" Maukurz asked them urgently.
The older of the two, with grey in his long coarse hair, shook his head sadly. "She's out cold."
"Hurry," Maukurz said, dashing behind the curtain. Ailith and Edwyn followed. Ailith was trembling violently, thinking that if ever the ambush would come, it would be as she walked behind the sooty dirty sheet.
And then she saw Halla laid out on bare hides stained with sweat and amniotic fluid, a baggy leather shirt pulled up over her belly. An Uruk with shoulder-length braids adorned with small bones sat at her head, her shining blonde hair in his fingers. Ailith gasped, touching her heart softly. Halla was beaten an pale unto death.
"She's been out since almost after you left, big brother. Her belly's doin' this gripping thing every so often, but not much lately."
"Her contractions are slowing down," Ailith said. Without looking at Maukurz she asked him, "Do you know what to feel for?"
"I think so," he rasped, his voice tortured.
"Go ahead and check her then," Ailith instructed. She reached into her satchel, uncorking a small vial that filled the air with a sharp, bitter smell. "Go away," she said, looking quickly to the Uruk at Halla's head.
"Go on, Narzum," Maukurz said quickly.
Ailith knelt by Halla's head. "You poor, foolish girl," Ailith whispered, lifting Halla's head. She stuck the vial under Halla's nose, and nothing happened. "Come on… Wake up!"
Ailith slapped Halla's face lightly, feeling her cold, clammy skin.
"No change," Maukurz groaned. "Baby's right there, I can feel his head, but he just won't leave her womb."
"Her hips might be too small…"
Finally, Halla moaned softly, then sneezed several times. She opened her eyes barely, blinking as she saw Ailith. "You came…" Halla said, her throat scratchy.
"I'm here too, lovely," Edwyn added. Though you aren't looking your best right now, I have to be honest. So hurry up and push this big baby out!"
"Edwyn," Halla said, smiling. "Maukurz…"
"I'm here, ashgaz. I'm right here." He came to her side, taking her hand and kissing it, his face full of pain. I did this to her, he told himself again and again. As much as she trusted me, and I did this to her.
"I'm so tired, Maukurz…" Halla said faintly, her eyes fluttering shut again.
"No, you don't!" Ailith told her firmly, slapping her cheeks lightly. "It's time to work."
"Oh I don't think I can…"
"Baby needs you to, Halla," Maukurz said, choking, putting her limp fingers against his cheek. "And I need you, Halla, please!"
"Drink this," Ailith said. She held Halla's head up and poured the tonic down her throat. Halla whimpered and gagged, and Maukurz thought for a terrifying moment that Ailith was poisoning Halla and his baby. His own eyes didn't weep, but when he looked to Edwyn, the Rider saw the Uruk's fear and grief plainly.
"She knows what she's doing," Edwyn assured him. "We talked about this months ago, just before you and I last spoke. She got that from a woman who delivers babies as her living."
"It will make her labor come back hard and fast," Ailith said. "If this baby can come out, it will soon enough. If not… There's nothing anyone can do."
Baiurz and Shatauz could no longer wait on the other side of the partition. Now the four Uruk-hai and two humans circled around Halla, waiting breathlessly for the medicine to work through her body. When it finally gripped her, the young woman screamed hoarsely, her eyes popping open flushed with pain. Ailith slipped behind her, pulling her up. Maukurz scrambled back between her legs.
"He's moved! I can feel more of his head!"
"Good! Your child is coming, Halla. When the pain comes, you must push with all you have, all right sweeting?"
"It hurts now!" Halla cried.
"Then push! Push now, Halla!"
Halla felt as if her body was being torn in half. Digging her chin into her chest, she fought with the little strength she had left to push her baby out. She hardly felt it over the wild agony of her labor, but the baby moved down further, its head free of her hips. In a moment Maukurz gasped: his baby's head emerged.
"Gently," Ailith warned him, still refusing to look at him. "Don't pull it. Let the baby come to—"
A shrill, hideous scream cut Ailith's words off. This new pain was almost blinding, completely different than the contractions. It was a stabbing, shattered pain in her back that threatened to paralyze her even as there was a sudden lightening of pressure between her legs.
Panicked, Maukurz caught the baby as he came out in a rush of bright red blood. "Oh… oh… A boy, Halla, just like you said— Narzum, bring me the rags and water…"
Ailith could not look to Halla's baby. But more than her own pain, she was afraid for Halla. The girl was sobbing still. "Are you still in pain, sweeting? You have a son, Halla!"
"It hurts so much!" Halla cried. She opened her eyes then, gasping through her sobs to see Maukurz cradling a big grey baby, washing him clean. The baby squealed in protest as Maukurz cleaned his face, and Narzum and Shatauz laughed breathlessly. "Baby…" Halla gasped, trying to smile. But the pain was so horrible, and it wouldn't let up, and she became violently nauseous.
"Where does it hurt?" Ailith asked quietly, fighting not to see the sudden burst of joy around her. She didn't know that Maukurz was torn in two: unable to enjoy his son, his frantic eyes switching back and forth from Halla to the baby.
"Under… under…" Halla motioned her hand limply to her backside. "I can't move… it hurts…"
"Why can't she move?" Maukurz demanded. He was astonished to feel Baiurz squat down beside him, and place his hard hand on Maukurz's shoulder.
"I don't know," Ailith replied quietly. "The baby might have broken something in you."
As little sobs escaped Halla's lips, Maukurz looked down on his plump strong son; then he shut his eyes in horror as the awful guilt overwhelmed him.
The sun was rising by the time Halla was resting in something close to comfort. The baby had broken her tailbone, but the pain, after suffering so much, dulled enough to be somewhat tolerable. She was brutally exhausted, and shivering slightly even though Maukurz had bundled her up in furs. Because lying on her back hurt far too much, the Uruks had rolled up what hides and furs they used for blankets in order to prop Halla on her side.
But the tired smile on her face was full of love. Amazed, she looked down on Baby in his warm blanket, her fingers smoothing over his high, chubby cheeks. His face had such classic human baby proportions that she was astonished and pleased. Yet his features belonged to Maukurz completely, and one day, when he'd grown out of his baby fat, he would resemble his father quite closely. Baby's eyes were slanted the same way, a cloudy dark color that was brightening to a pure deep forest green. He had a thick crop of soft black hair, destined to grow fast and long and tough, like a horse's mane. And he was so grey! Halla looked to Maukurz, who sat just beside her, stunned into silence. "He looks just like you. Except the eye color. He is beautiful."
"Your back's broke," he whispered, miserable.
Halla smiled at Baby, smoothing her finger against his plump palm, making his tiny grey fingers curl. He had no claws at this point, just thin grey nails, tiny, perfect grey nails. He didn't cry, either, but made soft, mewling sounds, much like a kitten, and little squeaks and squeals. Halla adored him completely. "That will heal in no time," she breathed. "We'll have Baby always."
Swallowing hard, Maukurz stretched out beside her, leaning on his elbow. He cupped Halla's cheek in his palm, tipping her face up to his. His lips against hers, he said shakily, "I thought I was going to lose you, Halla."
"I'm here," she told him softly. "I'm here, and Baby's here, and we're not leaving you Maukurz. I promise. And I'll be fine. Look what you have given me!"
"Maukurz," Edwyn called, rejoining them, Ailith holding his hand tightly. "Halla. We're going to go now. Your commander Baiurz already gave me a good drilling, swearing us to secrecy, so don't worry. But Ailith needs to go home."
"Oh, Ailith!" Halla cried softly. "Maukurz, let me have a moment with her."
Maukurz pushed himself up, and walked to Edwyn's side. Ailith gathered her breath, then went to kneel by Halla.
"I meant it," Edwyn told Maukurz quietly. "I won't betray you all. Neither will she. I wish we could figure out some way for you all to safe, but until then… You all stay up here, minding your own affairs. I am glad that I got to know you some. I would like it if our people might see each other as friends, no longer enemies. As long as respect is shown by each."
"We don't mean anyone harm who don't wanna hurt us," Maukurz replied. "You see how it is for us. We just want to survive."
"And raise your son," Edwyn said, smiling. "Quite a big, healthy boy. I've no liquor to toast you with, but I wish him health and long life all the same. And wisdom and justness as well, if we're all to try to share this world. Look out for me, Maukurz. I'll want to check on her, and bring things for her comfort."
Maukurz nodded, too overwhelmed to speak. He hesitantly raised his hand, and placed it on Edwyn's shoulder in friendship.
"Ailith, thank you," Halla said, looking up at the older woman. "You saved my life, and my son. Thank you isn't even enough."
Ailith tried hard to avoid looking at Halla's big Uruk son. But finally she gave in, her fingers trembling over her mouth. The baby was far from human, but bonny and bright, and Ailith felt a tug in her guts, and a wash of guilt. "I'm glad I did it, Halla," she said.
Ailith forced herself to smile. She reached out and swept a lock of hair from Halla's cheek, tucked it behind her ear. "You take care of yourself. Don't get up more than you absolutely have to, until it doesn't hurt anymore."
"I'll be fine thanks to you," Halla said drowsily, and Ailith knew that Halla would be asleep soon.
"I'm going, Halla. I wish you the best of luck and life."
But Halla's eyes didn't open again, and her breathing finally deepened into a restful pattern. She was asleep, cuddled with her sleeping baby. Ailith smiled softly, feeling as if she had finally done some good, perhaps maybe something towards offsetting the cruel murder of her daughter. She stood up and returned to Edwyn, sighing, "Take me home now."