Oh my, it's been some time since I've updated! I hadn't realized how much time had actually passed.

Thank you to those who've reviewed and (not so subtly) urged me to continue Now on to ch. 10

- - - -

Lina gasped and clutched the blanket beneath her in an iron grip as the contraction intensified. The pain was strong, surprisingly so, but not utterly unbearable; the worst was that she'd only have a minute or so between the waves of pain that crawled over her extended belly.

"Don't hold your breath!" the midwife scolded as she helped prop the sorceress up a bit more. "Breath as normal as you can. Deep breaths if possible."

Lina growled something incomprehensible but as the next contraction began, she forced herself to inhale deeply, gritting her teeth against the pain. "Where's Xelloss?!" she growled, turning ruby eyes on the room's other occupants.

Amelia frowned and shook her head, turning to Zellas. The blonde shrugged slightly, though she answered, "Away on business."

"Business!" Lina snarled. "What the Hell could be so damned important that he'd miss this?!" She'd known how much her lover was anticipating the birth and with worry eating at her more and more as each contraction came and passed, she couldn't understand his absence. "Get him back here. NOW!"

Zellas watched the redhead as she leaned back on her pillows. Her breathing was laboured and sweat trickled down her temples as she laid there, her eyes closed against the oncoming pain. She's becoming exhausted, the Beastmaster mused to herself. She'd studied humans before, and from what she could see from her vantage point, Lina's delivery was just the same as most others. Isn't it? With a quick glance, she noted the concern clouding both the young Queen's and the midwife's eyes. Beckoning to Amelia, she led the way out of the room to ask her in soft tones, "What worries you? Is not all well?"

Amelia swallowed hard with a backward glance toward the room in which Lina lay. "No," she replied quietly. "Lina-san's contractions have stopped once already, though they're strong now, and her energy's fading quickly. The midwife believes it to be her bleeding. She fears internal bleeding. If this baby doesn't come soon," the young woman began, her eyes rising to look directly in the Dark Lord's, "Lina-san will die."

Zellas nodded once, slowly, indicating her understanding though she said nothing. She could sense the sorceress' emotions, even outside the room, as well as the Queen's. Both were exuding true fear among the jumble of other feelings. "Can nothing be done? A healing spell?"

Amelia shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid not. Not until after Lina-san delivers. The spell she has cast around her womb to protect the baby, also shields it from any kind of healing spell as well. Whatever damage there may be cannot be reached until after the baby is born." She studied the tall blonde before her for a long moment, noting that the woman seemed uncomfortable, almost unsure - a reaction she'd never expected to see from the Dark Lord. "Can't you call Xelloss-san back?"

Zellas frowned as she thought, absently pulling a cigarette from, seemingly, nowhere and lighting it. Exhaling a cloud of smoke above the young woman's head, she vanished.

- - - -

Akkari paced anxiously around the spare room off of Lina's room, patting his young daughter's back in an attempt to soothe her wails. Katarri flailed ineffectually against the young King's arms as he bounced her gently, her cries growing louder the more he tried to calm her.

"Hush, my baby," he crooned. "Mommy's busy, love…"

Amelia appeared in the doorway from the other room, concern etched into her normally cheery features. "What's the matter?"

"Hungry, I believe," Akkari answered softly as he noted the drawn expression on his wife's face. "Do you have a moment to feed her?"

Amelia was torn. Her daughter needed her, but so did her friend and mentor… "Just a second," she told her husband before she disappeared back into the room. After a moment, she came back, closing the door gently behind her before she strode quickly over to retrieve her wailing infant. "Hush now," she whispered, putting the babe to her breast.

"Sit, darling," Akkari offered, pulling out a chair at the nearby table, but Amelia shook her head.

"No, thanks. I'm just going to feed her quick, then I must return."

"Is Lina-san…?"

"She's not doing well," the young woman answered in a soft voice. "Find Zelgadis-san. Tell him that Lina-san's having a lot of trouble and to come see me."

Akkari nodded and turned briskly on his heel. He didn't question his wife's order, sensing that Zelgadis was being summoned for more than just emotional support. Lina had become a good friend in the few months she'd been at the castle with them and Akkari would do anything he could to aid her; he also hated to see his love suffer. As soon as he was out into the corridor, he sprinted down to the library, where he knew the chimera was busy researching as a way to keep from worrying in the 'waiting room'. "Zelgadis-san!" he called as soon as he pushed the large doors open, ignoring the soldiers to either side of the door, looking at him strangely. "Zelgadis-san!"

"Here," came the soft tenor voice from just to the left.

"Amelia asks you to come. Lina's not doing well; she's having a lot of trouble."

Zelgadis immediately rose and trotted after the King back to the spare room where Amelia stood, burping the infant. "What's happening with Lina?" the chimeric youth demanded when he'd stopped before the young woman.

"I need you to help us. Lina-san's growing too exhausted…"

"What can I do?"

"Be her support," Amelia answered quickly while she passed her daughter back to the teal haired youth next to her. "Xelloss-san's not here and Zellas-san disappeared a little while ago and still hasn't returned. She needs someone as support. I'm too busy with the midwife."

Zelgadis nodded his understanding though he was worried and unsure of how much help he could honestly be. He waited impatiently as Amelia turned to her husband. "Look after Katarri for just a bit longer, then lay her down for her nap. She should sleep for a few hours this time."

Akkari nodded. "Is there anything else I can do?"

Amelia smiled fondly before planting a light kiss on his lips. "I'm afraid not, love. She'd break your hand if she squeezed it…" With that, she turned and led Zelgadis into the room beyond, the door closing behind them.

The young man sighed and glanced down at his drowsing daughter. "Well, at least you're happy. I guess I should go get something to eat. Perhaps I'll bring some up for them after I lay you down…"

- - - -

"Zel… what are you… doing in here?" Lina wondered between breaths.

The fiery-tressed sorceress was leaning back onto a couple of pillows, her hair drenched in sweat, pain and fatigue evident in her ruby gaze. Zelgadis swallowed hard and moved over to her side. "Thought you could use a friendly face," he answered calmly. Forcing a small smile, he grasped her hand closest to him and gave it a gentle squeeze. The grip that his friend returned was weak, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Well… I'm too tired… to kick you… out right now, so… I guess you can stay," she panted through a grimace as she waited out another contraction. They seemed almost constant now and she had to fight the urge to push each time one peaked, but the midwife said just a few more minutes, then she could. Whatever the delay was, she had no idea, but she wished the midwife would hurry and make up her mind soon.

"Just rest, Lina," Zelgadis told her quietly, turning his gaze to the troubled eyes of the queen at the foot of the bed. It was then he realized why Amelia'd called him in. She fears the worst, he thought, and his heart sank. "It's too bad that Gourry and Sylphiel aren't here to see the baby when it comes," he said in what he hoped was a cheery tone when he'd turned his attention back to his longtime friend.

"Yeah…" Amelia began but Lina interrupted.

"It's… for the best… I couldn't… couldn't bear to… have them see me… so close to the end."

"Don't say that!" Amelia protested, tears welling in her large blue eyes. "You mustn't give up hope, Lina-san!"

"I've seen you come back from the brink of death," Zelgadis continued, squeezing the hand he held once more, "so I know you'll pull through fine."

"You know the truth," Lina grunted, squeezing her friend's hand as another contraction came on. Her arms felt like jelly and she was beginning to believe that her belly was on fire. Tired…so tired.

"Push with the next one Lina," the midwife called as she settled at the end of the bed, readjusting the blanket covering Lina's lower half.

"'Bout damned time!"

Zelgadis watched helplessly as Lina grunted and strained a moment later, feeling her grip his hand as she bore down, but the grip was pitifully weak. This baby's going to take her from us…

- - - -

Well, there it is. Sorry it is so short, but it just seemed … fitting to stop it here. I'm off to work on ch. 11 … Honestly! I am! Thanks again to those who'd commented, it really helped in getting me back into my writing. Until next time, everyone,

Ishychan