The Secret Magic: 1: Complications
By: Karigan Marie
Chapter 4: And When the Angels Weep
During the first few months of Daine's second pregnancy, everything progressed nicely. She had morning sickness often, but never nearly as bad as with her first pregnancy. Numair, although more confident of Daine's condition, continued to not only watch her carefully, but to also insist she go see a healer every week to make sure everything was as it should be. During her third month, Daine worried herself sick about the baby; thinking that any moment, she could miscarry again. But, to Daine's joy, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Everyone gave her encouragement. Queen Thayet checked up on her regularly, Alanna, whenever she came to the palace, would check on Daine herself. Even King Jonathan would inquire how she felt and if everything was going smoothly whenever he happened upon her. Daine, worried at first, began to fill up with excitement. She was going through a model pregnancy, and that was a great sign.
Her fourth month however, took a turn for the worse. At the beginning of May, Daine caught a bad case of the spring flu. She found herself in bed for a week and a half coughing up her lungs. Even though Alanna was away, Numair made sure she had the best of care. He hardly ever left her side, even when she begged him to go to bed and get some sleep. He refused to leave her.
After Daine recovery, she then was forced to endure horrible morning sickness. She was always tired, always cranky, always sick, and always not hungry. The first three illnesses didn't worry anyone. Women always had those symptoms when pregnant. But Daine hardly touched her food during meals. Even when the King quite frankly ordered her to eat everything on her plate during dinner one night, she could not manage to get down half of it.
Numair was nearly out of his mind during this difficult time. He tried desperately to encourage her to eat and get rest, but to no avail. Daine tried, though. She tried to eat every time. But she could hardly put food in her mouth without wanting to vomit. She knew the situation was bad, very bad, and she worried so much that she hardly got sleep at night.
One morning, Daine opened her eyes. She felt a bit strange. She scratched at an itchy nose before sneezing. 'Uugh, must be the pollen,' she thought. She turned her head to the side and saw a neatly written note from Numair.
Magelet,
Jon sent for me early this morning on business concerning the illegal trade going on at the borders; you remember, we dealt with some smugglers last year. I didn't want to disturb your rest. I should be back by early afternoon. Please, please try to eat breakfast. Take it easy and do not push yourself.
Love you,
Numair
She smiled saucily. He would leave her here in bed to sleep while he got to find out more about the traffickers down south. With a sigh, she sat up in bed to start her day. 'Why do I feel numb?' That's when she noticed, with absolute horror, that blood smeared her nightgown. She checked herself for injury. "Where is it coming from?" She asked frantically. Her face turned stark pale when she saw that it came from between her legs. "Oh gods, no!" She whispered. She crawled out of bed and went to the door. She wasn't in pain, but the numbness she felt didn't stop panic from creeping up her spine. Tears welled up in her eyes. She looked down the hall frantically but saw no one. She yelled out for help desperately. "Help me! Somebody, please, Help Me!" She fell to the floor with a screaming sob. Panic swamped her. "Please, no!" she whimpered. "This can't be happening."
Down the hall, a servant turned the corner in a hurry. When he saw Daine on the cold stone floor, he ran to her side. "Me' lady, what is the matter?" Noticing the uncontrolled sobs, he looked her over. He immediately saw the problem. The woman, who clutched at her stomach, allowing the nightgown to stretch over a bulging belly, was pregnant and bleeding. Bleeding from a place he knew a pregnant woman should not be bleeding. He carefully picked the young woman up and carried her down the hall in a gentle hurry. He whispered kind words to her in an attempt to calm her fears. "Now now, me' lady, you be alright, ye see.
"…on that note, Jon, I don't know what to tell you. These break-ins to the mages wing are starting to worry me. There are herbs missing that could be dangerous to people. My Lord Provost is squirming to get his own hands on the crafty thief that has been in and out of there with no trace this past year."
Jon sighed, and looked at Numair with tired eyes. "I see. Alright then, let's see if we can get some more information on it first." Numair nodded and turned to go out the door. "Numair, wait a moment, please." The tall mage turned back to his king with a questioning look. "I just wanted to ask how Daine was doing. She seems weak lately."
Numair sighed and ran his hands through his hair nervously. His eyes took on a look of worry. "She's...doing alright, I suppose. This month has been rough; she's had bad morning sickness. You already know she's not been eating all that much. She seems to be doing better, though."
At that, a bang on the door made them both jump in startled surprise. Jonathan made a face at such a loud knock before saying, "Come in."
A girl about 14 in age came rushing in, out of breath. She looked a little frightened at first but then spilled out a message. "I came up here with a message from the Lioness for Master Numair. She told me not to wait for anything," she blushed "not even his Majesty."
Numair furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What is it?"
"She says to tell ye that ye'r wife is in the infirmary and tha' ye should come down right away. She said it was fair important."
The girl had hardly finished the last sentence when Numair ran past her out the door. Jon followed speedily.
Numair's mind raced as he ran down the corridors. He didn't want to think about what was wrong. Had she gotten hurt? Was she sick? Was the baby in danger? The last thought made his stomach roll and his throat catch. She had had a miscarriage already. Another was a strong possibility. He knew that, that's why he had been so careful with her these last four months. He tried to push that thought to the back of his mind.
He reached the infirmary hall and saw Onua and Thayet standing next to a door. Onua seemed out of breath too, he guessed that she had gotten there not much more before he had. Thayet however was not breathing hard, but her usually beautiful Ivory face was shaded with concern. "How is she? What's wrong?" he said with raged breaths.
"I got here just a moment ago, I don't know anymore than you, Numair." Onua looked as if she were about to cry.
Thayet lifted her eyes to Numair's and managed to swallow a sob as she said, "Alanna and I were walking down the hall and a servant came around the corner with Daine in his arms. He said he heard a yell from your hall and came to see what it was. That's when he found Daine, crying on the floor. She was bleeding." She saw fear in Numair's eyes again and continued. "She was bleeding from between her legs." Numair gave a small moan. "Alanna took her and we rushed down here. She's been in there for about a half an hour."
The blood in Numair's head drained and he felt himself stumble a little. Jon held him up and helped walk him to a chair.
A few moments later Alanna came out. Her face was sad and tired. He stood up with hope in his eyes. Alanna sighed and said, "Numair…" she shook her head, "I'm sorry, the baby…" She didn't have to finish.
He let out an angry cry as he turned towards the wall and slammed his fist hard against the stone, black magic cracking the stone wall. He shut his eyes tight and tried to keep control. A tear threatened to come out. He turned back around and looked at Alanna. "Is Daine alright?" She nodded. "Can I see her now?"
"Not right now." She held up her hands to calm him when he looked upset at her words. "We have to take the baby out, Numair. It will take a while. Daine knows what's happening. Duke Baird will do it. I'll be there at her side, along with some midwives. He says it's best if you're not there when he does it. She has to be awake during the first part, and it can be painful."
Numair's heart lurched at the idea of his precious Daine enduring the pain. He nodded weakly and whispered, "What should I do?"
"You can pray. She needs it. She needs to be strong to get through this without to much pain." Alanna said this in a calm yet strained voice.
Thayet, who had tears streaked down her face went up to Numair and gave him a small kiss on his cheek. "We will all pray for her, Numair." Jon and Onua nodded agreement.
After an hour of waiting, Jon was forced to return to some issues of the state, Thayet accompanied him with sadness. Onua had to go finish mending one of the Rider pony's broken legs. She couldn't just stand around making herself crazy. Numair understood that they didn't want to think about it now. He didn't want to either. But he wanted to be by Daine's side as soon as they would let him. He was deep in thought, trying to comprehend why the God's would do this to his Daine. It didn't make sense. She is the Daughter of two Gods. Not only is one the Hunt God, a very strong God for all of his being a minor one, but also the Green Lady's Daughter. Why hadn't Daine's mother come down to help them? With such background, Daine shouldn't have had a problem with childbearing. It hurt to think about. His hopes had been so great with the first child. Now, when he had finally begun to allow himself to think that things would be all right for her second pregnancy, it had all fallen to pieces. Two children gone, he thought. 'I wonder what they would have been like.' A boy? A girl? Would they have had magic like his or like Daine's? He would never find out. He would never see his children. His heart twisted at the thought. His throat squeezed up and, to his utter horror, felt himself begin to cry. He leaned forward against the wall, his arms up, his head hidden between them. He closed his eyes as silent sobs escaped his lips.