Chapter Twenty- Goddess
"1, 2, 3!" Briseis strained, pushing as hard as she could. The pain intensified for the millionth time, shooting all through her. She let her breath out and leaned back into Carlonia's arms. This birth was longer than those of her sons. Much longer. She lost track of the hours, but the sun had set and risen twice as she lay on their bed.
She nodded, smiling as best she could through the pain that came in waves. The midwife gave the count again and she pushed with all she was. The bones and muscles moved as the midwife called, "I have the head!" Another push and a painful cry and the baby fully entered the world.
There was silence. The crying hadn't come. Briseis immediately sat up and searched as the midwife rubbed the child warm. She saw panic strike the face of the elderly woman. It had been only a few seconds, but Briseis was already petrified. A tiny arm visable in the blanket was purplish and cold, not pink and warm.
No, no, no. Not my baby. Not again. She tightened her grip on Carlonia's hand. "Please no," she whispered, watching the midwife with the bundle.
A small moan then a sharp cry pierced the thick silence. Briseis sighed shakily, tears in her eyes. The baby was placed in her arms, upset and crying. She laughed through her own crying, bringing the child close. The baby twisted a bit in her grasp, settling finally but still wailing.
"Congratulations, my lady," the midwife said. "A new child, this time a princess." She stopped crying slowly, resting with eyes squinted. Then she opened them, flashing the most brillant blue eyes she ever saw.
"Our daughter." Briseis looked into tiny face, tears in her eyes. "I have a baby girl!"
The blanket was different this time. Instead of deep blue, it was light blue, the color of the clear sky. Achilles stepped forward slowly, accepting the bundle for a third time.
"Congratulations my Lord," the aged mid-wife smiled. "The Gods have blessed you with a healthy daughter." He looked down into the tiny face, small eyes open and searching for something. He brought her close to his face, kissing her forehead gently.
"My daughter," he said softly.
Achilles felt lost as he watched the tiny child look about. He had two sons, both whom took great pride in the size of their bruises and scrapes. He was used to separating the boys in their wrestling matches gone awry. A daughter wasn't exactly planned for or thought about. Honestly, neither one of them thought they would have a girl.
Not that Achilles wasn't up to raising a girl. He did not fear parenting at this point, despite many close calls in the past. A girl is new territory and he wanted a challenge. A soft coo brough his vision to focus as his daughter relaxed back into his arms further. When he looked at his new-born sons, he felt a swell of pride and joy at knowing he could teach them to be better men than he. Now as he looked into the face of his daughter, he felt something different. He felt protective, careful, and very much loving towards her.
The essence of the daddy's little girl bond formed and the child lived only a few minutes in the outside world.
He looked to the low-hanging moon that cast a glow upon the two of them. The stars seemed more brilliant and cheery now that he cradled his baby girl. His baby girl, no one else's. Realizing how long he stood out there, he walked to his bedroom where his wife lay exhausted.
He awoke a few hours later, still in the chair across from their bed. He stretched slightly, relaxing forward and looking on his wife. She lay on her back, fast asleep. Her long curls were pulled into two braids, letting the early morning air keep her cool beneath the heavy sheets. He smiled to himself, admiring the one woman that fate deemed him worthy of having.
His attention diverted away to the cradle at the end of the bed. Soft moans and grunts came from within. Quickly standing, he came over to see his new-born daughter begin to wake up with the sun. He lifted her gently into his embrace, letting her head rest on his shoulder. Her tiny fingers scratched and pushed sleeply at his bare skin.
He wandered out onto the balcony overlooking the sea, sharing with his daughter their first sunrise together. Leaning against the wall, he switched to cradling her head and torso in his hands. She opened her eyes slowly, looking into her father's. She was like Achilles in everyway: curly blonde hair, resolve to live and the most brillant blue eyes anyone ever saw. That was why Briseis decided she was to be named for her father: Achillae.
The baby began to get fussy in this position, so he switched back to cradling her against his chest. Achillae's bright eyes watched as the sun crept above the horizon, squinting as it got brighter. Achilles turned and walked inside, kissing the crown of her head. Back to in his chair, he switched her again, laying her in his arms. A little yawn and he knew she would fall back to sleep. He rocked gently as his namesake slipped back into dreams.
A/N: In the home stretch of the story now. Only a few more chapters then my infamous abrupt endings will occur. Beware.
-til' next chapter
Anthestria