The sun has high in the sky and a cool breeze drifted off the sea. The city was busy with its comings and goings. A small team of builders had been set the task of creating a small nursery next to the king's room for the arrival of the baby.
Sabriel stood on the roof of one of the towers where a paperwing launch pad had been built. A silver paper wing decorated with silver keys was waiting ready for its flight. She ran a hand along the paperwing, the other resting on her rounded belly. Touchstone arrived coming up the stairs, a little out of breath. He walked over to Sabriel and put his arms around her, stroking her hair.
"I have to go," Sabriel whispered from Touchstones clutches.
"I know but I don't like the idea of you going off to fight dead being pregnant."
"I have to go, I'm the Abhorsen, I need to lay the dead back down to walk their proper path."
"I know" Touchstone sighed. "I just don't like the idea you going out there knowing the baby is on its way soon, that's all."
Sabriel looked up at Touchtone, knowing where this was going. "I'm not a china doll, but if it makes you happier you can come and be my body guard" she grinned, glad for the company for a change.
"So I can actually come this time then" Touchstone joked.
"Yes" Sabriel replied, letting Touchstone help her into the paperwing.
Whistling the charter marks needed for wind and flight the paperwing took swiftly off the launch pad and headed for Roble's Town, not far from the Abhorsen's house. The journey was not very long as they had the wind on their side. When they arrived Sabriel, with Touchstones help, carefully put her charter spelled bells across her chest, being careful not to hit her stomach and let the sounds of the bells be heard. Touchstone with his twin swords followed Sabriel after the horrible tang of free magic.
Sabriel's hand hovered over the bells, it touched on touched on Ranna, and then settled on Saraneth. Carefully, she undid the strap and withdrew the bell. Its clapper rang slightly. Sabriel stilled it, holding it by the clapper with her palm inside the bell, ignoring the handle. With her other hand she drew her sword and raised it to the guard position. Next to her Touchstone drew out his swords and raised them to the guard position also. Both of them where ready for what every free magic creature was lucking around in the woods just out side of Roble's Town.
As they neared the woods Sabriel could sense a group of dead hands, bodies infused with sprits called from death. The dead hands were moving through the wood and were getting closer. There was no running water closer by for protection if things got bad. As they neared Sabriel could sense the dead hands there were at least twelve dead hands hiding within the trees way from the sunlight.
When she thought she was close enough Sabriel took Saraneth by the handle and bell, a deep low sound rang out though the trees bringing the dead hands to Sabriel's will. Putting Saraneth back in its case, Sabriel's hand briefly touched on Mosrael before taking out Kibeth from its strap. Touchstone stood next to her, watching, alert for anything that could be a danger. Ringing the bell loud and clear so the sound rang out through the wood. Any dead that were lurking would now be sent back in to death.
That solves that, Sabriel thought, but where did they come from.
Replacing her bell and her sword. She turned to Touchstone who still held his twin swords.
"I have no idea where they came from. I thought we ridded the Kingdom of all of Kerrigor's followers."
Touchstone shook his head. "I know as much as you." Touchstone said putting his swords away. "Lets get you back home."
Sabriel just nodded. She was very tired and her feet were hurting from walking around.
They had not long been in the paperwing before Sabriel started to get feel a bit funny. Letting out a groan on pain she broke away from the flow of charter marks that were keeping the wind on their side. The paperwing jerked down suddenly making Sabriel cry out again. The wind was blowing in Touchstone's face so he had no idea what was wrong. Ridden with panic Touchstone took over from Sabriel and slowly gained control of the paperwing before the crashed. With both is arms around Sabriel he carefully landed the paperwing on the launch pad back at the palace.
The two guards looked a bit shocked to she the King and Queen/ Abhorsen land in such a state and quickly ran to help, dropping there weapons as they did so.
"The baby" Sabriel whispered to Touchstone. "It's coming"
Touchstone smiled at her and called to the guard. "You get the doctor" Touchstone shouted as the other guard helped to get Sabriel out of the paperwing. Picking her up Touchstone carried her to their room and placed her carefully on the bed, sitting next to her.
The doctor arrived, slightly out of breath. "So the little rascal is on its way"
Sabriel just nodded and held on to Touchstones hand.
"Ok, well it's a good job you got back here when you did then wasn't it."
Sabriel and Touchstone were awards with the cries of their baby in the early hours of the morning. Smiling Touchstone bent down and hugged Sabriel. Wrapping the baby up, the doctor handed it to Sabriel.
"It's a healthy little girl." The doctor said giving a warm friendly smile.
Sabriel cradled the baby with Touchstone sitting next to her, an arm wrapped around her shoulder.
"I'm going to call you Ellimere." Sabriel whispered to the sleeping baby.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, thought I'll get all the homework out the way so I could have a homework free Easter. I hope you like it, I got a bit carried away and didn't know when to stop so it's a long one this time. :)