To Just Give In
Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape, or form own Dragonlance regardless of what any kender may have told you.
A/N: Chappie Ten! Yay! Anyway having said that this one will be long and hopefully it won't disappoint. Now on to the reviews:
Guan: Thank you, I try adding Tas in every once in a while, he is one of my favorite characters actually.
Calli-Kurama-4eva: Congrats about having a new baby bro...(mine's a pain but I love him anyway) thank you for reviewing :)
Ahn-Li Steffraini: Thank you very much for your review. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 10: A Child is Born
Crysania watched the sunrise from her window. She sipped a cup of tea meant to help her relax. It was probably only a matter of days until she would give birth but any amount of days was too much for her. Her stomach was huge and Caramon had decided any amount of walking was too much for her, so she was pretty much confined to her room. Making matters worse Raistlin hadn't came to visit her in over a week. She patted her stomach gently feeling a small kick in response. She giggled and turned to shout for someone to come feel the tiny pitter-patter coming from inside her, but realized no one would hear her any way. If anyone did it would be Caramon and he'd race in, in a mad panic. She rested her head in her hands her elbows on the window- sill. Beyond the eerie Shokian Grove she could see the rest of Panathalas. She felt a sharp pang of homesickness. Soon she would be home back in her temple. She'd get to show off her baby to everyone. She smiled; she could only imagine their responses when she mentioned the father. She frowned a bit remembering the current situation with Raistlin. Last time he visited it was brief, and he only asked a few questions of how she was feeling. He wasn't there with her though; his eyes had had this far off look in them. He hadn't mentioned what he'd been working so hard on the past two months. But from what Caramon had been telling her he rarely left his lab, and when he did he simply ate a small amount of food then returned. He was quiet, more so than he had ever been, and he seemed completely lost in thought. She remembered their last real conversation, when he had slept next to her comforting her that night. He had spoke of finding another way...She tried to hold back her tears but it was no use, every time she thought back to that night she could hear his voice, broken, lost, confused, but in the end he still had the same confidence. If there was a solution to their dilemma he would find it, and from the way he hadn't been visiting her he better be working hard.
Raistlin awoke to the darkness of his lab. He lit the large candle next to him. He could have easily used a spell to keep the room lit brightly, but he was conserving all of his magic, for what he was planning on doing he would need it. He shuddered, for the first time in his life he was truly afraid. There was much at stake, and the chance of failure seemed inevitable. He had studied all of Fistandantilus' spell books trying to find this "other way" of becoming a god. He had considered giving up even becoming a god, but then what would he do? Go lead the Conclave, Raistlin Majere, the most powerful Archmagus of all time now holds meetings with Par-Salian. The first thing he would do is spit in that half rate white robed old mans face. Was it bad enough that he was left with a shattered husk of a body from the test? No, Par-Salian though he needed eyes that saw nothing but death, to teach him compassion. Oh yes, he had become so much more compassionate. He turned from the red robes to black, betrayed his friends, then his enemies, oh yes, Par-Salian had really succeeded with that goal. Raistlin shook his head, listen to me I sound like a bitter old man. He looked at his reflection in one of his glass jars, though it was not a clear image he could tell he looked older. All of this preparation had taken a toll on him. There was still much more work to do. He only understood very little of the spell still and he only had a very little amount of time before his son would be born and he would have to travel back to the present. He had decided they would all use the device of time travelling, considering the spell for time travel took a large amount of energy, and the one he needed to cast to accomplish what he wanted to do would take much more. Not to mention upon his arrival he had decided they would hold a party of sorts, partly for Crysania, and he had to admit he wanted to show off his son a little bit. He could only imagine their reactions, skinny little, sickly, traitorous, sarcastic, completely unlikable Raistlin has a child before his charming, good looking brother. He laughed a little bit, but that was only part of the reason. He would need them there for other reasons, but that only accounted for part of the group. He sighed stretching out his arms. It was time to get back to studying the spell. He really hoped Crysania could hold out for another week. He really needed it.
Caramon prepared Crysania's breakfast while Tas told him about a family of kender that he had met while he visited the Panathalas jail. At this statement Caramon raised an eyebrow. But Tas continued unfazed.
"We showed each other the contents of our pouches. He really admired the wooden carving of a kender Flint had made me. But I told him I couldn't separate with it. So I gave him a shiny red rock I had found laying on the ground by a jewelers stand, he gave me a pretty blue ribbon." Tas held out a small tattered silk ribbon. "I'm going to give it to Crysania and Raistlin's baby when he's born." Tas smiled, "I have to make sure he knows his Uncle Tasselhoff Burfoot was there when he was born."
Caramon smiled a little bit putting the food he had just finished cooking on a plate. "That's a great idea Tas...I really should get a gift for the little guy too. But what should I get him?" Caramon scratched his head thinking. "I know I'll make the little guy a small wooden sword. I remember how excited I was when I got my first sword."
"Uh Caramon...are you sure Raistlin or Cryssi want their baby playing with a sword. I mean I would like that gift but, their baby will still be really young." Tas didn't mention the fact that he doubted either of them would allow their child to be soldier.
"Hmm...good point. Well I guess I could make him a crib, but
I couldn't do that till we got back." Caramon said still thinking.
"I bet they'd really like that Caramon." Tas said excitedly.
"But I should probably go into town and buy some clothes an supplies for the baby, just in case we have to stay here a while."
"Oh don't worry about that Caramon I'll take care of all that." Tas said cheerfully heading for the door.
"But Tas what about money?" Caramon called, but he saw Tas was already gone. Shaking his head he laughed. "Kenders."
"Caramon I'm hungry!" Crysania called.
"Oh I'm coming sorry Crysania." Caramon shouted grabbing the plate of food and the fresh juice.
Crysania stood up to greet Caramon but she felt a whooshing felling inside of her and a slight trickling down her leg. Caramon entered the room to see her face bright red her tiny hands clenched into nervous fists.
"I think my water just broke." She said calmly.
Caramon on the other hand all but fainted. "Uh...Um...One minute I think you need to lay down I'll go fetch the midwife." He said his knees shaking. He ran up to the lab and pounded on the door, Raistlin answered it immediately.
"What?" he answered impatiently, he looked like he hadn't slept in weeks.
"Raist, Crysania is watering. I need to fetch the birth lady." Caramon said panting, trying to regain his breath from running up the stairs.
Raistlin tried to comprehend the gibberish Caramon had just spat out. "Her water broke? And you are going to get the mid wife?" Raistlin said slowly.
"Yes, that's what I meant. But you need to watch her to make sure she's safe." Caramon said his breathing calmed.
Raistlin looked back to his spell books. There was so much more he needed to understand. He supposed he could resume his studies when they returned to the present. But then he would have to deal with his frail physical condition and he knew his brother and Crysania were both eager to return back to their own time, so they wouldn't want to stay here any longer than they had to. "Fine, I'll be down there in a moment." He looked over his studies one final time and committing the basics to memory he walked down the stairs to see Crysania.
Crysania sat in her bed beyond angry. She was beginning to have the earliest bits of labor pain now and they had left her alone. Just when she was about to cry out in frustration Raistlin entered the room. "Took you long enough." She said annoyed.
"I was in the middle of my studies." He said plainly
"Well are you going to tell me what the plan is or what?" she said.
"When the time comes. I'll tell you, I don't really completely understand it myself, yet." Raistlin said walking towards the bed.
"Oh are you going to hold my hand?" she said sarcastically.
"Well...I don't know." Raistlin said a little bit hurt. "Listen if you don't want me here I can go back and finish studying." He said seriously.
"No don't go! I just...well, you've been ignoring me..." she pouted
Raistlin laughed, "The only reason I'm doing any of this is you and the kid, otherwise I would just challenge Takhisis. This should be safer at least though, even though it would be easier for me to defeat Takhisis." He said sincerely.
"It's that tough?" she asked sitting up and taking his hand unaware of her own actions.
He smiled for a second feeling her small warm hand take his possessively. "Yes, especially for me. Perhaps if I would have lived my life differently it would be a bit easier but, well you can't change the past." He paused for a second. "Well I suppose you can..." His face went from perplexed to victorious. "That's it!" he kissed her then jumped off the bed and began pacing and talking to himself. "That's the missing part...I knew they forgot something and that's it!" He laughed, practically jumping up and down.
"Raistlin...have you lost you mind?" Crysania said nervously. He was rambling things faster than a gnome and he kept saying he loved her. She was so confused.
"No my mind has finally started working." He smiled. "But for now I'll come myself for your sake. I was so excited because I found the gap in the creation during star birth. You see the High God, when he created the lower Gods, Paladine, Takhisis, Gilean, and all the others, he forgot one spectrum of existence, and so there was no god created for it. Hence an empty section of the sky where no constellation ever shines. Mark my words Crysania, soon it will be my constellation that shines up there." He said his voice filled with determination, his face filled with ecstasy.
She smiled, "I believe you Raistlin I really do, but you won't..." she paused.
"I won't what?" he asked his face becoming confused.
"...Forget us." She finished her eyes shadowed with worry.
His face relaxed and he pushed a small piece of hair that was hanging in front of her eyes aside and kissed her forehead. "I will never forget you or my son. You have my word."
She smiled. "I can't wait to return and show everyone our baby."
"Oh yes, I have talked to Caramon, and he has told his wife to prepare a party with all of our old friends for our homecoming. None of them know yet, but I suppose they'll all be curious as to what the big surprise will be."
"When did you do that?" Crysania asked curiously.
"A couple of weeks ago...it takes a while to gather them all they all live far away, and some of them have rather important jobs."
"And they are all going to be there?"
"Those who can make it will be, I made sure Caramon explained to Tika how important it was though."
Crysania smiled, "Awe, all of this for our little guy." She smiled than took a rather sharp breath.
He couldn't help but notice the guilty feeling he got deceiving her. He had never had this feeling before, he would swear it was as if he had suddenly developed a conscience. He wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or gag. Sure, part of the reason for the gathering was for his son but... well it was better to explain the rest later. He noticed her breathing changed. "What's wrong?" he asked nervously.
"Jus labor pains." She said trying to smile. "Where is Caramon with the damn midwife?" she said her patience slipping.
"He should be here soon. He has been gone for two hours." Raistlin said his voice on edge.
"Raistlin if he doesn't show up...do you know how to?" Crysania said her face momentarily contorted by another spasm of pain.
"No!" Raistlin said jumping up. "I mean, I'd really rather not..." he said trying to calm himself.
"Well if he doesn't hurry you aren't going to have a damn choice." She spat out.
"It's only been two hours...you have at least four more to go. And that is if it is extremely quick" Raistlin said nervously.
Three more hours passed and there was still no sigh of Caramon. As the door to Crysania's room opened Raistlin jumped up as if in salvation, and Crysania's face lit up with hope.
"Boy you guys won't believe what happened in a million years!" the words came from Tasselhoff's shrill voice.
"Oh No..." groaned Crysania and Raistlin simultaneously.
"Wow, nice to see you guys too, so grouchy all the time..." Tas aid shaking his head.
"Please...it doesn't have to do with my brother does it?" Raistlin said desperately.
"Can you read minds Raistlin?" Tas said in awe.
"No but I'm starting to wish I could...Where is Caramon?" Raistlin said his voice filled with nervous anger.
"Hmm...well last time I saw him he was being carted off to prison. You see he went into town asking for a mid- wife I guess, and when you found one, he asked her to come with him to the tower to help a lady give birth. Well the midwife said he was crazy and that no one could enter that tower and when Caramon insisted she had to hurry she screamed for help, and they threw Caramon in jail." Tas finished this laughing. "You should have seen Caramon kicking around shouting that he wasn't crazy...I would have helped him but the crowd was to thick for me to get through."
Crysania began to cry and Raistlin rubbed his temples. "Is that all Tas?"
"No. I got these for the baby." He said holding out various sizes and makes of baby clothes. None of the booties matched, and most of the things would be far to big but Raistlin took them gratefully anyway.
"Thank you Tasselhoff. I need you to go now though because Crysania is having her baby." Raistlin said his voice tired and frustrated.
"Can I watch? I've never seen a baby being born." Tas asked eagerly.
Before Raistlin could say no Crysania said, "Tas out NOW!"
"My goodness, some people have no appreciation." Tasselhoff said leaving the room.
As soon as Raistlin heard the door shut he turned to Crysania. "I suppose I have to do this...can't Caramon just do something right for once." He said angrily.
"You know what Raistlin, why don't you let me die so I don't inconvenience you?" Crysania spat back at him.
"Oh be quiet..." Raistlin said as he began to sanitize his hands with a mixture he had made. "In case you are worried, I know what I'm doing, I studied this in the basic medicine classes every young mage takes. I just never had to do this before." He said. His face had a strange expression on it, "I have to check on things." He said looking down at her feminine area.
"Do it then!" she yelled at him. After he had finished checking she looked at him. "So what's going on?" she said whimpering after wards as she was struck by a much more intense pain.
"Well you have another hour before you well...push." His face was reddening he tried to hide it by turning to his side.
"Another hour?" she moaned. "Give me your hand now." She demanded. Raistlin quickly did and she squeezed it very, very hard, in fact Raistlin was almost positive she probably broke his fingers.
"Be careful woman! I need my hands for my magic." He said rubbing his hand.
"Just trying to show you the tiniest bit of what I'm feeling." Crysania said as her face contorted again.
Another hour passed by.
"I HATE YOUUUU!" Crysania growled as she had started the pushing.
Raistlin's face was pale and disgusted as he took on the job of mid-wife. "Yes, I love you to sweet heart." He said sarcastically. He could have sworn she just spat at him. He wiped his cheek, yes she did spit at him, he made a mental note: Never have another child, or at least stay far away when it's being born.
Half an hour later the birthing process was nearly complete and Raistlin had heard curse words he wasn't sure existed. At one point she even curse using her own god's name this cause her to go into a crying/ praying/ cursing mode. "Only one more I can see it." Raistlin said his voice now a little excited.
Crysania did just as he said and Raistlin removed the baby and cut the umbilical cord. He cleaned and examined his son as Crysania had the afterbirth. "He is beautiful." Raistlin said in awe. He had done all of the silly rituals a new parent does, counting fingers and toes, making sure everything is there, and where it is supposed to be. "Absolutely perfect." Raistlin said still mystified, it was an indescribable feeling that he had now. In some ways it was like the ecstasy that magic brought to him, but it felt, more profound, more meaningful. He handed her their son and he smiled as she counted his toes and fingers as well.
She smiled up at Raistlin as she gently stroked her son's face. He had a small amount of auburn hair and his eyes were still closed, but he was the most beautiful child either of them had ever seen. Just as Raistlin was about to remark on what a well- tempered child he was. His son began to kick and scream. He continued to do this to his parents' dismay for well over ten minutes, by this point Tasselhoff had came running in upon hearing a baby cry.
"Oh there he is! A fiery little one isn't he?" Tasselhoff said while examined him.
"Yes he is." Crysania laughed.
"What's his name?" Tasselhoff asked curiously.
"Well I'm not..." Crysania started.
"How about Aidan?" Raistlin asked quietly.
"That's very nice, what does it mean?" Crysania said smiling.
"Fiery little one, just as the kender suggested." Raistlin said stroking his still crying son's face.
"Well what do you think about that little Aidan?" Crysania said holding her son's face up to her own. And to confirm this little Aidan wailed even louder.
They all laughed as Caramon, drenched in sweat from running to escape prison, burst into the room, shouting, "What did I miss?"