Thea101: Yeah, it's kinda hard to imagine Thierry as a five year old. I thought that he would have been the type to be happy go lucky and not all serious like he is now. He seemed like the type to get into all kinds of trouble, but manage to get himself out of it.
He's so serious and logical now, so I thought why not make him have a life before he became broody and sad all the time. So I thought "hey I'll make him happy and care free" which will only last until he becomes vampire. Thanks by the way, I'm glad you like my stories.
Anywho, on with the story.
Part 4: Karina.
Fourteen years later.
"Theorn?" I call to my son, looking out of the main cave to look for him.
"The…" I start to call in an even louder voice turning around to see if I can spot him, but I'm cut off by almost walking into Theorn's chest. "Orn." I finish in a softer voice.
Theorn has a huge grin plastered on his face.
"Yes Mama?" he asks, still grinning. After nineteen years he still insists on calling me Mama instead of Mother, like Conlan.
I shake my head to get over the initial shock of not hearing him creep up behind me.
"Don't do that." I hiss, trying my best to get my heart to start beating again.
"Do what?" he asks innocently.
"Stalking up behind me. Your father does that to me all the time."
Theorn bursts out laughing.
"Like father like son, eh?" he mumbles. "What did you want me for?"
"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to see if you were still alive?" I reply. "I haven't seen you all day."
"I'm still alive, you cannot get rid of me that easily, Mama." He replies, grinning again.
"Dammit!" I mock hiss. "Remind me to poison your food?"
Theorn looks at me strange, as if I really mean it. Now it's my turn to have a big grin and laugh.
"How's the baby by the way?" he asks, after glaring at me.
I look down to my swollen tummy, and stroke it lovingly. This is my third child.
Well, seventh child. But four of the children I had after Theorn, all died. I am hoping that this one won't.
"Oh, the baby's fine." I reply. "Ooh."
"Ooh?" Theorn asks. "Is that I good 'ooh' or a bad 'ooh'?"
"Give me your hand?" I grab his hand and place it on my stomach. "Do you feel that?"
"Yes." Theorn says happily. "Is that the baby kicking?"
"Yes, it is." I reply. "This one is just as lively as you were."
"Really?" Theorn looks at me sideways.
"Yes. You just kicked and kicked. I think that you were trying to tell me that you were there." I reply, grinning at him.
We start to go for a walk.
"So where's Maya and Hellewise?" I ask my son. I am not the leader of the tribe any more. Both of Hecate's girls are leaders.
"Hellewise is somewhere, giving advice to a young witch." Theorn starts. "And as for Maya. Do you really need to ask what she's up to?"
"Let me guess?" I turn to look at him. "She's in the forest trying to find a spell to achieve immortality?"
"Yes." Theorn sighs.
"She had better give up. There is no such thing as immortality." I say.
I have a very bad feeling about it though. But I have no time to ponder over this feeling, because a huge contraction erupts though me.
I clutch my stomach and double over in pain, screams bursting from my mouth.
"Mama!?" Theorn yells, bending down and holding me up. "Are you alright?"
"The baby." I gasp. "The baby's coming Theorn."
"What should I do?" he starts to panic.
"Get me to a healing woman." I pant.
We walk back to the cave, with me holding on to Theorn as he guides me back.
Just as we are half way there, my waters break.
"Uh…is this normal?" Theorn asks. "What is that?"
"Yes Theorn, it's normal." I pant. "It is just the fluid that protects the baby."
Theorn gets me to the small birthing cave, and he goes and looks for the healing woman.
Three babies have already been born in this cave, in a space of three days.
Theorn comes back in, with the healing woman. This one is not the same one that delivered Conlan, Theorn, Maya and Hellewise. She died. This one has taken her place.
She is about to pull my deer skin dress up, when she remembers that Theorn is still there.
"I'm sorry Theorn, but you are going to have to leave." She says, going over to him, and lightly push him away.
"No!" he snaps. "I am not going anywhere until I know my Mother is alright."
She is about to reply when another scream erupts from me. She rushes over to me, momentarily forgetting about Theorn's existence.
Theorn goes over to me and sits with his back to the healing woman. He sits facing me. He reaches out and holds my hand.
The healing woman pulls my dress up and has a look.
"Nariko? The baby is almost here." She says to me. "I can see the head. I want you to start pushing."
I take a deep breath and do as I am told.
After a few minutes, the healing woman looks at Theorn,
"If you are going to be staying with her, at least make yourself useful?" she says, handing him a wet cloth. "Wipe her brow with this."
Theorn wipes my brow, and I start screaming again.
"Push Nariko, push." She says. I get the strange feeling of déjà vu.
After pushing for what seems like an eternity, I hear my child cry.
"It is a girl." The healing woman says. After cutting the cord, and wraps my daughter in some deer skin, she hands her to me.
I have a baby girl. I think to myself. Nobody knows why, but there are more girls born than boys. And it is extremely rare for someone to give birth to a son, and then give birth to another boy. I was just blessed, by having two boys.
"What are you going to call her Mama?" Theorn asks, looking down lovingly at his baby sister.
"I am going to call her…Karina." I reply.
"Karina?" Theorn asks. "What does that mean?"
"It means Dear little one." I reply.
"What does Theorn mean?" he asks.
"Theorn means thunder. You were born during a thunder storm." I reply.
"I was?" he asks bewildered.
"Yes." I reply.
"Theorn?" the healing woman interrupts. Theorn looks at her. "Go show your sister to your father, and let your mother give cleaned up."
"Alright." Theorn carefully takes his sister from me, and goes out of the small cave and into the main one.
"Alright, let's get you cleaned up." The healing woman helps me to the warm spring, and helps me get undressed, and helping get into the water.
After I get cleaned up, and get dressed, Theorn comes back with Karina.
"Here you go Mama." He says, handing her over to me.
"Thank you Theorn." I say taking her from him.
"I am going to feed her. You can run along Theorn." I say to him. "Shouldn't you be out hunting with the other men?"
Theorn slaps himself on the forehead before answering.
"Yes, I am." He answers. He hurries away, and I go into the main cave to feed my hungry newborn daughter.
A/N: About two or three more chapters left, and this fic will be finished. Then I am going to take a break, and then update "The Dark Prince" as promised. Please review and let me know what you think.