It took a while to get Elvulia settled down in the birthing chambers. "Where is Fyn?" she kept asking. Arwen calmed her down by telling him he would soon arrive, which he did. He came into the chamber, kissing Elvulia on the head.
"It's finally happening," Fyn whispered. Elvulia nodded, not having the strength to say more. She was sitting upright on the bed because she said that lying down was too painful for her.
"Aughh…" she moaned as another contraction came. Fyn rubbed her back because her body had tensed up. "That felt good," Elvulia said.
"Then I guess I'll keep doing that for you," Fyn answered, "But first, I need to talk to Arwen for just a second." Elvulia nodded lightly and took the glass of water that a midwife handed her.
Arwen was waiting outside, knowing that Fyn would want to talk to her, but no in front of Elvulia. "Arwen, the gardener said something that stunned me. He said that Elvulia may not live through the night," Fyn began, "Is this true?"
Arwen sighed and nodded painfully, "It is."
"No, no…" Fyn muttered, his eyes dazing, "But why?"
"She is losing a lot of blood. Her energy is being wasted very quickly and by the time the birthing is over, it may be relinquished."
"Why her?" Fyn said as tears slid down his cheeks, "Why Elvulia?"
Arwen took Fyn's hand and kissed it as a form of sadness, "Sometimes bad things happen to the greatest of people." Fyn nodded before Arwen added, "But there is still hope that Elvulia is stronger than we expect. She may pull through…but if she doesn't, I think she may want you now." Fyn understood and wiped his tears, walking back into the chamber as if nothing had happened. Arwen was close behind him.
They had entered in the middle of another contraction. Elvulia was walking around the room because even sitting down was too painful now. "Fyn," she whispered her face pale.
"Oh Elvulia," he strode over to her and said, "Lean on me." Elvulia's body tensed up and Fyn rubbed her back as he promised. He kissed her on the top of the head, while Elvulia rubbed her stomach.
"It hurts," she moaned.
"I know…" Fyn said.
"No, you don't!" Elvulia cried, "How would… aughh…" Fyn started rubbing her back. "Fyn," she whispered so only he would hear, "I know what Arwen said. The door was open and I overheard." Fyn looked down and started to sob again. Now they were both crying, "I love you Fyn but I'm going to live. I'm going to sur…oww…" They were both sobbing hard now. Fyn was still rubbing her back but now Elvulia couldn't even seem to stand on her own and was holding onto Fyn so she wouldn't fall.
"I love you too, Elvulia."
A midwife approached them. "Please, Lord Fyn, I think it is time that the babe be brought into the world."
"One more minute with Fyn please…" Elvulia moaned, still rubbing her abdomen, like that would make the pain go away. The midwife looked troubled, knowing he should leave but it might be the last time they saw each other.
Arwen overheard and told the midwife, "One more minute for them." Elvulia smiled at Arwen but was cut short when another contraction came. This time, Elvulia shrieked out loud.
"Fyn! It hurts!" Elvulia cried, telling him to stop the pain.
"I can't melamin (my love)," Fyn said, rubbing her back.
Elvulia sobbed, "Stop rubbing me!" She walked aimlessly towards the bed, letting go of Fyn and nearly collapsing because she didn't have his support anymore.
"Elvulia…" Fyn whispered shocked. Arwen walked over.
"It is just the pain talking; I think maybe it's time for you to leave. One more good-bye." Fyn walked over to Elvulia, who flailed her arms and shoved him away.
"I love you, Elvulia," he shouted over her shrieking. She didn't respond because midwives hurried him away and helped Elvulia onto the bed to finally give birth. Fyn left the room and waited outside, not only hoping his babe would live but also his wife.
After about half an hour of more shrieking, the infant's head was coming out. "Elvulia, it's coming," Arwen told her friend.
"I don't want it to come, I want it out!" Elvulia yelled, pushing and squeezing a pillow that a midwife had given her. Arwen smiled and walked to the front of the bed.
"Elvulia, do me a favor," Arwen whispered into her ear.
"I'm giving birth Arwen!" Elvulia answered, "I cannot do fav… ahhhh!"
Arwen dismissed her comment, "Once the babe is out, don't die on me. Don't die on Fyn. Don't die on your daughter."
Elvulia turned and looked at Arwen, "I won't die, Arwen. I'm stronger than that."
"One more push should do it, Elvulia!" a midwife told the Lady. Elvulia's face was almost as white as snow. She was so tired, she wanted to sleep. She didn't want to give birth. Sleep, sleep, sleep… Elvulia almost blacked out but remembered her promise to Arwen. "Don't die on me…" She pushed harder than she thought she could ever do. It felt like a release. "Don't die on Fyn…" Her daughter was born. It was done. Now she could sleep… "Don't die on your daughter…"
No sleeping. No dying. Not yet.
"Elvulia?" Arwen whispered.
"Yes…?" Elvulia said, in an almost inaudible tone.
"Are you sleepy?"
"Yes."
"Don't sleep."
"Why not?"
"Not yet."
"But I'm so sleepy Arwen…"
"Elvulia…"
"Just a little nap."
"No dying Elvulia, no dying."
Elvulia opened her eyes again. That's right, no dying. Her energy was gone. She couldn't hold on much longer. Where was her child? Her daughter? She had given her life to her daughter? What about her own life? Where was it? Arwen showed Elvulia Fiondra, her daughter. Elvulia had already planned her name with Fyn, Fiondra. After the flowers.
"Can I hold her?"
"Not if you're going to sleep."
"I won't sleep."
"Promise me."
"No sleeping, not yet."
Arwen placed Fiondra into Elvulia's arms. Elvulia cried from happiness. "Hello Fiondra. I'm your mother. You are the daughter of Lord Fyn and Lady Elvulia."