Disclaimer: I am poor and own nothing. And because I'm poor, this is my only source of entertainment, so please do not sue.
Authors Note: Writers block sucks. Sorry this is short, but I didn't want to add more and take away from the moment. Hope you enjoy!
THANK YOU ALL REVIEWERS!
The Priestesses of Avalon
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Birthing
Dagonet had no idea how to react as the women began filing into his room, pushing him away from his screaming wife, blood now covering the sheets, and out the door to where the Knights, Lucan and Fay stood waiting. "Why do they keep pushing me away," he growled, slamming his fist against the wall, the sound echoing throughout the temple, the few Priestesses remaining outside the room looked at him oddly before rushing therein, casting their eyes upon the floor.
"Easy Dag, easy," Bors said, clasping one hand on Dagonet's shoulder, the other going behind the distressed mans neck as his head fell into his hands.
The clicking of boots on the stone floor caused all the men to turn to see Sonia, Shireen and Mariska walking briskly down the hallway, the light fabric of their robes flowing about them. Shireen's hair was held back in a long braid, and she bit her lip nervously as she moved down the hall. As she passed Galahad instinctively reached out, capturing her hand and giving it a squeeze.
She paused and looked at him oddly for a moment. "Do not fear lady, all will be well," he assured her quietly, looking shyly down at her hand as he gave it another squeeze, his eyes darting up quickly and looking at her from beneath his chocolate curls.
She smiled softly at his reassurance, squeezing his hand back, earning a light blush from him before he released her hand, letting her enter the room.
"Dagonet," Mariska said, coming up to the large man and taking his face into her hands, Bors moving to the side. "You trusted me without a doubt in Elysia nearly one year ago, did you not?"
"That was different Mariska, her life means more than my own," he answered, the worry and pain in his voice breaking her heart.
"Hear me Dagonet, it is just the same," she squeezed his cheeks tighter, giving his head a gentle shake. "You trusted me then, do you trust me now?" Her eyes bore into his own intently, her face awash in seriousness and determination.
"Aye, as much as my own sister," he nodded his head.
"Good, then know that above all else, Hayley and your child will draw breath when this is done, that I promise you," she stated resolutely, bending his head down more and placing a firm kiss on his forehead.
Tristan watched on with the others as Sonia paused before him. Without looking to him she spoke. "You have been good for her Scout. She is even stronger than she was before leaving us to heal you." She turned then, locking eyes with him and placing a hand on his shoulder, leaning forward as if to kiss his cheek, her voice dropping slightly so the others could not hear. "Despite what it would appear, I do believe that love can overcome all obstacles, and I do want her to be happy. Remember that when this day is out, and remember you are the only one who can make her so." She gave his shoulder a squeeze and released him before turning back to Mariska. "Come child, she needs us now," she walked slowly into the room, Mariska trailing after her, glancing once over her shoulder at her family before shutting the door.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Inside the room, Hayley screamed, her arms out to her side as she gripped the sheets, blood soaking thorough them. "It's too soon," she groaned through gritted teeth.
"Do not worry so much Hayley," Varvara said, as she bustled forward with a basin of water, Faina and Eavan following close behind, with basins of their own, Luminita, Bethania and Jia following them with clean blankets and pieces of cloth, the others bustling about as well.
"Sorcha, come and heat this water," Esmeralda said, placing a hand on the young red haired woman's shoulder and leading her towards where the basins had been placed.
"Of course lass," she rushed over placing a hand on two of the basins, one on each, muttering a few words in Gaelic beneath her breath. Within moments her hands were glowing a dull red and a bit of steam began to rise from the water.
"Not to hot sister," Izumi murmured from the window, her hands out before her as a large ball of water floated from the spring outside, hovering above the basins at her feet, filling each in turn.
"I remember," Sorcha replied, biting her lip as she moved on to two more basins, Ayo and Jia bringing more over as Izumi filled them.
Mariska meanwhile had moved to the head of the bed, taking Hayley's hand in her own as she brushed back the elder woman's hair. "I promised him I would live Mariska," she breathed, fighting against the pain. "But I fear I will break it."
"Nonsense sister," Mariska soothed her, continuing to brush back her hair, kneeling next to the bed. "You have nay broke a promise yet in all the years I have known you, why start now?" she tried to smile but it was forced at best, and hardly reached her eyes due to the worry and dread over clouding all.
"I cannot let my child die," Hayley replied, squeezing Mariska's hand tightly as another contraction hit her. "Anymore than you could sister," she ground out between clenched teeth, the statement ending in a choked scream.
"And you won't have to sister," Mariska locked eyes with her. "I won't allow it."
"It's almost time," Zita said from her place at the end of the bed, sticking her head up from between Hayley's legs. "I can already see the child's head."
"Positions ladies," Jasmine urged, as together, the women formed a circle round the bed, Hayley at its center.
"Hayley, you must push," Zita said, gazing up at her.
"It is too soon," Hayley breathed, clenching her teeth as yet another contraction hit, squeezing the bed sheets in substitute of Mariska's hand.
"If you do not child, the babe is sure to die," Sonia stated from near Zita, staring hard at one of the many women she viewed as a daughter. "Now push!"
"I can feel its life ebbing away," Hayley moaned in response, involuntarily pushing with the contraction.
"That is normal," Mariska assured her.
"It is leaving your womb after all," Shireen said, glancing between Hayley's pained face and Esmeralda nervously, the other girl giving her a reassuring smile that did not quite reach her eyes.
"Let us worry for the child," Constance stated, handing Zita a towel that Sorcha had warmed in her hands.
"You just give her to us," Bethania stated firmly, her voice sounding much older than her true age.
"That is easier said than done I fear," Beatrix murmured to Ayo as Hayley let out a blood-curdling scream that echoed throughout the temple.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Outside in the hallway it took Bors, Arthur and Lancelot to hold Dagonet back as he reached for the door, Hayley's screams reverberating through the building.
"This is part of it Dag," Gawain stated, moving to help the others.
"Just like Van remember?" Bors agreed. "Woke the dead she did with the last one, surely you remember."
"Let them work Dagonet. Certainly that will do her more good than us barging in," Galahad agreed, looking worriedly about his brothers.
"You must have faith Dagonet," Fay spoke up, cradling the trembling Lucan closely humming softly, trying desperately to drown out the sound of his mothers screams.
"I cannot just stand out here and do nothing!" Dagonet growled, pushing away from his brothers and running his hands over his head in frustration.
"Listen Dag, we know it's hard, especially me, but you got to let 'em do wot they do best yeah?" Bors tried his best to comfort his brother, but alas it was all in vain.
"But Bors, I cannot just stand by and listen to her screams," Dag looked at him pleadingly tears pricking the large mans eyes.
"You don't have much of a choice," Lancelot said, knowing how frustrated his friend must feel. Knowing how frustrated he would feel if it were Esmeralda's screams cutting through the night.
"Dagonet listen to me," Arthur sighed, stepping forward. "Hayley and the baby will not die. I can promise you that."
"How can you be sure Arthur?" he asked, for the first time in all his years of service, doubting his commanders word as another of Hayley's screams echoed down the hall.
"Because, Jasmine has assured me that she shall live. She went and spoke to the Fates when we made camp that night while Esmeralda sang," Arthur explained, gripping Dagonet by the shoulders and shaking him lightly. "Hayley is not going to be the one to die today Dagonet. Nor is your child. I swear it to you."
Dagonet locked eyes with Arthur, wanting desperately to believe him as understanding passing between them before he nodded slowly. It was the ever-watchful scout however who picked up on the hidden meaning behind Arthur's last statement and brought it up before the group.
"Who is going to die then?"
All eyes turned to Tristan before settling back on Arthur, who had released Dagonet and was now standing in the middle of the room, his arms crossed over his chest. "I am afraid I cannot say," he sighed, knowing that it would be a rare thing for any of them to take that for an answer.
"Why? Did Jasmine not know?" Galahad asked, the fear that it could be Shireen, passing over his heart. And while he did not know her as well as he liked yet, he could not stand the thought that perhaps it was her.
"Nay Gal, she knew," Arthur sighed, casting a sad glance at his men. "She knew."
Before any of them could press further, another scream penetrated the air, this one louder than any that had come before it.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
"Sonia she has no breath," Zita exclaimed, holding Hayley's lifeless daughter in her arms.
"No, no, no," Hayley sobbed, reaching a hand for Mariska, the other woman flying to her side.
"Hush now, all will be well," Mariska assured her, casting a worried look towards Jasmine, knowing the other woman could feel the fear in her, and see it in some sense.
"I cannot let her die, tell him that," Hayley sobbed, prepared to give up her life for her child, the same sacrifice Mariska's mother had made so long ago on her mind. "Tell him I had to break my word."
"No Hayley! You do not!" Mariska barked at her.
"Even if you wanted to, tis too late now," Ayo's voice said sadly causing all their attention to turn towards the end of the bed, where Hayley's baby began to cry violently, and a Priestess lay motionless on the ground, a gilded athame protruding from her chest and a puddle of blood surrounding her body, her face turned serenely towards the heavens.
It was then, Bethania began to scream.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
"What do you think has happened?" Fay's voice was hardly above a whisper as she spoke, breaking the silence that had fallen since the final cry had sounded from the room some time ago. That of a child.
"I know not," Gawain murmured to her, drawing her nearer, his chin resting on top of her head, his arms wrapped firmly around her body. Lucan had long sense vacated her arms and was with his father, both man and boy clinging to one another as they all waited.
"I wish they would tell us something!" Lancelot growled, running his hand through his hair as he continued to pace the hallway anxiously, Galahad fidgeting near the wall and Dagonet and Lucan rocking slowly back and forth, the gentle mans eyes trained on the doorway. Bors stood close to his side, much as he had since this whole ordeal had begun and Arthur and Tristan were both leaning against the other wall, all of them feeling more helpless than they ever before remembered.
"Arthur, why can you not tell us who was going to die?" Galahad asked, looking pleadingly at his commander. "Give us some kind of hint."
"It will strike us all, that is all that I can say," Arthur sighed looking sadly at his men not for the first time that day, his eyes lingering a bit longer on Tristan than the others, causing the scout a good deal of concern.
It was then the door creaked open on its large hinges, moving painstakingly slow to the men, woman and boy who all jumped forward, eager for news.
It was Bethania who exited, sniffling still, more tears welling up in her big blue eyes, silent sobs racking her small body while she struggled with the weight of the door. Constance came forward then, pushing it the rest of the way, allowing Varvara to exit, scooping the little girl into her arms, shushing her gently, tears falling from her own eyes as well.
One by one the priestesses began to exit, all with red-rimmed eyes, and tears staining their cheeks. When Izumi and Zita came out, they held each other as they made their way down the hallway, not even stopping to look at the knights. They returned a few moments later, carrying a stretcher into the room.
"What has happened?" Dagonet asked Ayo, unable to contain his concern for his wife any longer.
The ebony skinned young woman looked at him, a great sadness and loss clouding her eyes, causing his heart to clench. "A child was born," she replied. "And a priestess has died to save the mother and the babe.
"Yes, but who has died," Galahad asked, worry and impatience in his voice. He should not care about her so much so soon, but he did.
By now all the priestesses were present and accounted for save Jasmine, Esmeralda, Mariska, Sonia, Beatrix and Shireen and all the men present were worried.
It was then a small cooing sound from the doorway drew the men's attention away from Ayo to Jasmine who stood framed, clutching a frighteningly small bundle in her arms.
"Dagonet come and meet your daughter," she murmured softly, her unseeing eyes trained on the baby, the blinding white light of her innocence warming the priestess to her core.
Without thinking, Dag handed Lucan over to Bors and slowly stepped forward, Jasmine coming and meeting him halfway, looking down at the bundle in her arms. She was so small that she looked as if the slightest breeze would crush her into dust, never to be seen again. Tentatively he held out his finger, gently stroking her face and could not help but smile as she latched onto to it, squeezing it strongly, cooing once more.
"She's strong," he whispered proudly, his smile growing as Jasmine gently handed her off to him.
"Like her da," Bors grinned, coming over with Lucan then, the other knights and Fay too, unable to suppress their curiosity any longer stepping forward, Arthur wrapping his arms about Jasmine's waist, kissing her temple gently while his men and Fay cooed at the baby.
"She is strong," Mariska's voice sounded from the doorway, startling them all. She stood there, one hand bracing herself against the frame, the other massaging her lower back. Her hair was down about her face, shining almost red in the candlelight, her face tired and pale and blood covering her dress and hands, tears staining her cheeks.
She took a step forward then, continuing to speak, everyone's eyes upon her as she moved. "She will be a great warrior one day, her fathers daughter. And a great sorceress, her mother's as well. And nothing shall ever touch her," she stopped before Dagonet and the baby, Galahad and Lancelot moving out of her way, locking eyes with him while she rested a hand on the baby's forehead. While she spoke, Beatrix came into the hall, sadness in her eyes, but a small smile on her lips.
"For the magic is strong in her and she will be protected. Not only by a king and his knights, but by the temple of Avalon itself," the last words were hardly above a whisper as she dropped her eyes towards the baby, still stroking her cheek gently. "For it was a great priestess that died so that she could breathe life, and it is in honor of that priestess she shall be guarded."
"Who are you to say?" Beatrix said suddenly, drawing angry glares towards her, her face determined as she looked hard at Mariska.
Mariska, not looking up from the child, let a single tear slide down her cheek, a sad smile on her lips as the baby opened her eyes for the first time, looking up at the priestess in wonder. When Mariska spoke next her voice was laced with tears, and her hand sought desperately for her child's heartbeat within her womb, her eyes looking up and locking with Tristan's. "So say I, Mariska of Britain, High Priestess of Avalon."
It was then Shireen and Esmeralda exited the room, followed closely by Izumi and Zita, Sonia's lifeless body between them.
That was when Dagonet and Hayley's daughter once again began to cry.