So, this chapter gave me a bit of trouble since it covers Soo's pregnancy, and my bitch ass has never been pregnant and has zero intentions to be. I was going off a week-by-week breakdown of how a typical pregnancy goes, barring complications, and watched some depictions of childbirth in media to figure out how to portray this correctly.
If anyone who has been pregnant has any criticisms on the portrayal of the pregnancy, feel free to correct me. Like I said, I have never been pregnant and was going off what is available through medical breakdowns and media.
Please enjoy and review/fave/follow!
Words: 2,488
Posted: 01.20.2022
The Law of Surprise – Sonya Belousova & Giona Ostinelli
Week 13
The dizziness would be the death of me but thank god the nausea had finally disappeared. I was finally able to eat without bringing it back up after every meal.
Despite her own duties, Luna managed to find the time to help me run the manor. Even with my sudden increase in energy, it was a lot for one pregnant woman to handle.
I had begun to set up the nursery, not all on my own of course. Since the confirmation of the pregnancy and not being quite out of the danger zone yet, Ravus had refused to let me do any real sort of physical labor. I had to settle for directing servants and occasionally my husband on where to put furniture and what colours to paint the nursery with. In addition to ordering everyone around, I was allowed to put away all the adorable baby clothes, swaddling blankets, bedding, and small soft toys. Thus, I spent much of the time within the nursery cooing at the adorableness of everything.
My change in behaviour amused Ravus to no end, my near constant good mood making me more affectionate with my husband when he could spare the time. Touch became a gesture I craved like all the strange concoctions of food this pregnancy caused. Luna welcomed my touch with open arms, allowing me to rest my head in her lap as she read in the library or relaxed in the gardens.
Ravus was thrown off by the sudden change in attitude, not used to touch outside of our couplings.
Even when he was busy, I often found myself drawn to him, gravitating to his study to read on one of the unused sofas as he focused on paperwork.
The companionship was soothing. And it certainly helped that he was easy on the eyes.
Another thing I had noticed in recent weeks – my attraction towards Ravus. I never acted on it, of course; we had done our duty so there was no further need to be intimate. But it didn't hurt to look when he went without that awful coat and was left in fitted slacks and a button up shirt.
It was incredibly frustrating to look but not touch.
Week 18
When the fluttering began, it was so soft I could barely tell that it was happening. I had thought that it was maybe psychological or had something to do with my changing body.
It took a long while for us to figure out that it was the beginnings of the baby's kicking.
Ravus had a new habit of unconsciously pulling me into his space and resting his hand on my stomach when we were sharing a sofa while reading and completing work.
Once, when his hand was absently resting on my belly as we read in silence, the fluttering began, much stronger than usual. Ravus stiffened as the flutters continued, only moving when the ceased for a moment.
"Was that the baby?" he asked in a whisper, looking down at me in shock.
My eyes widened, my mouth forming a small "oh" before looking down at my own stomach.
This made it feel real, much realer than it had felt before.
Ravus set his book aside, coming to kneel before me and placing his hands on either side of my stomach, searching for that little flutter.
I redirected his hand, watching his face morph into an expression of awe.
"Hello, little one." He whispered, a smile forming on his face as the kicks increased as if in response to his voice.
I smiled lightly, thoroughly content in that moment.
If someone managed to capture a photo of that moment, I would thank them profusely.
Week 25
I take back what I said about the kicks. They were a pain and felt like the demon we called a baby was rearranging my organs while playing kick ball.
I was miserable. I was waddling. I did not enjoy the waddling. I felt like a penguin that had swallowed a beach ball. My small frame did not help my situation, the baby appearing far bigger than it actually was on my small body. And the swelling, it was a nightmare.
Some of the older women who had remained as servants to the Fleurets said I was carrying a strong boy since the baby sat low in my belly and was constantly kicking. But of course, the gender of the baby was unknown to us all, as they were constantly being uncooperative during ultrasounds.
Ravus felt that it was a boy, though I felt that it was more of a desperate wish to avoid the disposal of Luna in favour of a young, impressionable future oracle. I, on the other hand, felt that it was a girl. I just had a gut feeling about it.
Week 32
I couldn't see my feet anymore. I could never get comfortable, and the Braxton hicks contractions hit at the most inconvenient of times.
I was so exhausted that I barely managed to pull myself out of bed most days. I felt awful and often grumbled at Ravus whenever he tried to initiate contact with me.
Week 39
My anxiety was through the roof, causing a constant restlessness in me that was driving Ravus mad. I was unable to sit for long periods of time before going off and looking for something to do. I often found myself in the nursery, refolding all the clothes, blankets and other items I could organize with ease. There was no rest for me the closer I came to my due date.
Day 275
Was it normal to want to kill your husband for putting you in this situation? I panted as another contraction hit, still too far apart to be considered active labour.
Leaning against the bedpost, I grit my teeth as the doctor badgered me to get into bed as I laboured. Despite being young and never having a child before, I was smart enough to know that gravity was my friend and would make this go much faster.
"Get me a midwife, before I tear his head off." I hissed to Luna, who only nodded her head before taking off.
Ravus was absent at the moment, busy in a meeting when I had gone into labour. A message had been sent off to him, but depending on the mood of his fellow commanders, he might not be free from them so soon.
Servants who had been chosen by me ahead of time, older ladies who had seen and experienced childbirth themselves, surrounded me and brushed off the doctor's protests. Lucia, a sweet woman with a wizened face wiped away the sweat from my face and neck, guiding me to sit down on a chair as the contraction eased.
Whoever said childbirth was a beautiful thing could shove it.
"Where's my husband? I'm going to kill him if he doesn't get here soon." I demanded through gritted teeth.
"Lord Ravus be here soon, my lady. From what I heard he is just managing to wrap up the meeting." One of the servants replied, pulling my hair away from my sweaty nape.
"Well, my husband better get here fast, these contractions are getting worse, and he might just miss the birth of his first child."
"First child? Does this mean you intend to have more, my lady?" The elder woman teased with a knowing smile on her face.
"Not if I kill him first. I'll never let that bastard touch me again!" I screeched as another contraction hit me hard.
"All women say that, and go on to have many more children, my lady." she replied with a humorous tone to her voice.
"I'm going to be the exception for once. No more babies for me, thank you!" I panted out as the contraction passed.
"We shall see, my lady."
Another servant rushed into the room alongside an unfamiliar woman, "My lady, the midwife is here."
"Thank god." I groaned in relief.
The midwife began to take stock of the room before her eyes focused on the doctor and narrowed in disgust.
"Someone get this man out of here; this is woman's work." She commanded, the women moving around her as she ordered them about.
"How dare you! I am the princess' primary physician! I was hand-picked by the Emperor himself to care for and deliver this child." The doctor argued, red in the face as he was ushered to the exit by the maids.
"And I'm telling you to get out of this room before I throw you out! You have no place here." The midwife yelled, fully prepared to follow through with her threat.
The doctor glanced around, finding that he had no support among the woman gathered. He retreated with a huff, exiting with a slam of the door.
"My lady, you've done a good job so far. Let's see if walking will speed things along." The midwife suggested, helping me to stand without the support of the bedpost.
"Okay…" I whispered, shuffling along beside her.
I was screaming at the top of my lungs, clutching at the bedsheets as I doubled over in pain.
"That's it, deary. Just do whatever your body tells you to do." The midwife assured me, wiping away sweat with a cold cloth.
"Is Ravus here yet?" I whimpered, trying to hold back the tears.
"He's on his way, my lady." One of the servants promised, stocking up on towels and warm water as we neared the peak of my labour.
"Lady Lunafreya is here, my lady!" a maid called out, my sister-in-law rushing to my side. Her cool hands were a blessing on my burning hot skin as I leaned into her touch.
"I came as soon as I heard." She told me as she stroked my hair out of my face.
"At least you're here!" I said through another grunt of pain.
"Where is my brother?!" the blonde woman called out to the maids.
"He'll be here in five minutes, my lady!" one answered from where she stood by the door, furiously whispering with another servant.
"Soo, we need to get you on the bed now. We're getting close to the end." Luna whispered, helping me to crawl into bed as another wave of contractions hit.
Pillows were propped up behind me, with Luna taking over for the maid who had been wiping my face with a cool cloth.
"I don't think I can do this…" I continued to whimper, tears running down my face.
"Of course, you can, you're nearly there already." Luna encouraged, wiping sweat from my face and neck as it continued to roll down from my forehead.
A younger maid burst through the doors, announcing to the room, "My ladies, Lord Ravus has arrived at the manor! He'll be here soon!"
"Thank the Six!" Luna sighed, shifting to make room for the impending presence of her elder brother.
Ravus burst through the doors shortly after, rushing to my side.
"I came as soon as I could." He promised, slightly out of breath as he had rushed through the halls to reach me.
"Not nearly fast enough. This child of yours is trying to kill me!" I yelled at him, the pitch of my voice changing as another contraction worked its way through me.
The blonde man smiled, slipping his hand into my own and wincing as I nearly crushed his hand.
"I'm sure it feels that way, darling. Is there anything I can do?" he offered, placing a kiss on the back of my hand despite the pain I was causing him in return for the pain of childbirth.
"Just be here with me. Please, I can't do this alone." I begged him, teary-eyed as I stared into his mismatched gaze.
"I will not leave your side, I promise." He whispered, enveloping my hand in his own.
"My lord, we need you to sit behind her ladyship, it'll better support her as the baby makes its way down." The midwife called out, breaking the moment that we had been sharing.
"Of course." He replied, releasing my hand to strip himself of his coat, boots, and gloves before climbing behind me and pulling me to rest against his chest.
"Now my lady, I know you're exhausted, but I need you to start pushing as soon as you think you need to." The woman assured me, making eye contact with me from the end of the bed.
"Okay…" I whispered, continuing to push as the contractions seemed to be never-ending now.
"That's it, girl! Keep going, just like that!" the midwife shouted, putting a white towel between her hands in preparation to catch the baby.
"I can't, I can't! I can't do this anymore!" I said with a whimper, laying my head back against Ravus' shoulder.
"You can, and you will, my lady. You're nearly there. A couple more pushes and you'll have a healthy baby in your arms." The midwife promised, her gaze shifting from my face to the task at hand.
My screams filled the apartments as maids anxiously fluttered about, changing out towels, cloths, and warm water in anticipation of the moment the baby arrived.
I kept pushing through the contraction, praying that it would be over soon.
"That's it, my lady! I can see the head now! One more big push and you'll be finished." The midwife promised, preparing to catch the infant.
I kept pushing until I felt something shift, allowing the pain to dull slightly.
The midwife stood up slightly, holding the baby in a blood-stained blanket.
"It's a girl!" she called out, wiping some blood and discharge away from her little face.
"Let me see her. I need to hold her, please." I begged the midwife, tired arms stretching out towards her to receive my baby.
"Hello, beautiful." I cooed, looking down at the tiny pink face that whined at all the noise around us.
"Little Stella Lux Fleuret…" Ravus announced to the room, settling on the traditional name we had picked for our potential little girl.
"Stella's stunning, Soo." Luna whispered; all her attention placed on the child as she caressed my daughter's tiny fist with a single finger.
"You have given me the greatest gift, my dear." Ravus said as he lightly kissed my forehead.
"Would you like to hold her?" I offered, turning to look at the blonde man as he shifted to sit beside me.
My husband stared at me in wide-eyed shock, clearly not knowing how to react. I smiled gently, opting to place her in his arms and adjusting his hold where it was needed.
He gazed down at our daughter in pure awe and adoration, eyes flitting around to take in every detail of her face.
I think it was that newfound devotion to our child that pulled at my heartstrings that day.
And Baby Fleuret makes their grand debut as Stella Lux Fleuret! I put a lot of effort into their name, Stella meaning Star, Lux meaning light, where Fleuret refers to a fencing foil or sword.
I didn't intend to end God & His Priests & His Kings so early, but the next chapter is likely going to be the wrap up. I would just end it here, but I still have some details that I want to present that take place in right after this chapter but won't fit in the next installment.
So for now I bid you farewell and I will see you in February! Please review/fave/follow!