Here comes chapter 3! Drawing to a conclusion quite soon, like 2-3 chapters more. Here is revealed if any of the babies or Amousca survive…

Thanks again for the reviews… always good to hear something from readers. :-)

Chapter 3. Deliverance

"Anomen," Amousca called with a real smile on her face.

David had just given her another little enchantment against pain, and she was able to notice her husband's arrival. Anomen strode across the room quickly, and came to his knees next to the bed of his wife. Her face was white and tired and drawn, her eyes hollow, her body covered in sweat – her gown was completely drenched with it. He was only a cleric and there was not much his battle spells could do for her, but he wished otherwise. She was so obviously in pain, so small, lost in this human-sized bed, looking so vulnerable, and he realized with a shock, was so vulnerable because of all the blood loss, he wished he could protect her. In this instance, however, he was absolutely helpless. He could not put his body between her and the danger, he could not protect her like he promised in his vows at their wedding. He knew she didn't like that much his protective attitude towards her – she was the self-reliant type –, but he couldn't help it. She was precious to him, he cherished her with all his heart, and he felt like it was his duty to take care of her. There was not even a baby born, and already her life force was flooding the floor.

"I am here, my love. My horse lost a shoe in the dark and I had to finish on foot. I am sorry to be late, but I will not leave you again, my lady."

She actually giggled a little and said:

"Everybody is late tonight, but everyone is here."

He didn't know what she was talking about, but he didn't ask, because another degree of pain it her just then, and she had to clench her teeth again. She was squeezing Anomen's hand with more strength than Minsc could, he was sure. When she fell back on her pillow for another short respite, Anomen removed his armour the fastest he could, and went to David to ask what was wrong. The priest told him, omitting a few things since the husband was a cleric, and would know what he was saying.

"I can personally cast many healing spells," Anomen offered. "I only have one greater restoration in my memory at the moment, but I am willing to use it when you see fit, David. You are the physician here. I am just a battlefield cleric."

"How many does "many healing spells" means?", David asked.

"Seven Cure light wounds, Three Cure medium wounds, two Cure serious wounds and two Cure Critical wounds."

The other one opened wide his eyes; it annoyed Anomen at the same time that it pleased him. The part of him that suffered from Lord Cor's lack of approval was pleased, but the part that grew because of Amousca's love and trust was annoyed; did David not know he was very experienced with the battlefield?

"Well, you can cast your Cure light wounds each half hour until you have none left, but begin with a medium wounds spell. We will keep the stronger spells for after the babies are born, or if there are complications."

Anomen went back to holding his wife's hand and mopping her forehead and trying to tell her reassuring words. She was screaming sometimes, but her screams were weaker and weaker. Her forces were waning, Anomen could tell, and he saw the worry and despair on the other priests' faces. The healing spells didn't do much good when someone had lost so much blood. Anomen was struck by an idea just then and, jumping to his feet, he left the room.

He went straight to Keldorn, and asked him Kangaax's ring. The paladin didn't ask a question, neither did Sarevok or Imoen. When they saw the look on Anomen's face, they all kept silence. Anomen took the ring, and went back to Amousca. He slid the ring on her finger, and continued with his spells and holding hand and worries.

Finally, just when David was giving up, and was asking for another Greater restoration to be cast upon her, the head of the first baby came into view. The news apparently gave her back some courage, because she righted herself on the bed. Anomen gripped her hand tight, and tried to make her know he was there, while she was pushing with all her waning strength to give birth to the first of their children.

By the window, the sky was greying outside; the window facing the west, it would be long before dawn would reach the chamber, but the new day was coming near. With a final push and a final cry of pain, the baby, a girl, came forward into this world. David quickly gave her to Anomen, who took the child, cut her umbilical cord with the help of an acolyte, cleaned her, wrapped her in hot swaddling clothes and gently, carefully, laid her in the magically warmed bed where she should be kept for a few weeks, being premature. She just let out a short sound when Anomen cut the cord, just like she was shocked to be ill-treated so, but did not cry.

"Let me see," Amousca cried, unable to sit up straight.

Anomen came back to her.

"It's a girl, my love. A beautiful, healthy girl. You will see her later, but right now your work is not done, and you must not overtire yourself before the end of it."

Amousca nearly cried, but before he was done saying what he said, she was taken over by another huge contraction, and could not think to protest anymore.

She lacked the strength to deliver the second baby, Anomen realized. Despite the ring, his spells and the restoration of the priests, and her courage and her great strength, she was slowly drifting away from him and this world. David knew it, and asked for yet another greater restoration, cast by Anomen this time, but it would not necessarily be enough. Anomen didn't let go of his wife's hand and shoulder this time, when the baby finally was born. David tended the baby with the help of an acolyte, and put him down next to his sister.

Anomen didn't turn to look. Amousca was obviously exhausted, and he was afraid that if he looked away just one second, she would die seeing him turn his back on her. She didn't ask to see the baby this time, collapsed on the bed, so white it was almost like looking at a vampire, if it were not for the tenderness in her eyes.

Then it happened. Anomen couldn't believe it when he saw the next strong, huge contraction. It couldn't be that strong just to liberate her from the placenta, could it? Anomen turned towards David, who just an instant had despair on his face. Then he hid it with professionalism, and came back to tend to Amousca, ordering spells from priests and acolytes and another divination be made.

Anomen knew Amousca very well. He knew by the look on her face, the quick and random movements of the eyes and the head jerking form left to right, the titanic efforts she was making solely to stay conscious. She was back to moaning, not having the strength to really scream. The husband and father stayed there by her side, heart torn that she should go through this, and he could do nothing for her. That he had to stay there, his last and only restoration spent, and watch her drift away into death's arms with no way to keep it from happening, because she was bearing his children.

He felt the overwhelming guilt flooding him, threatening to send his reason spinning way over the frontiers of sanity. He remembered his mother dying, his sister dying, his father dying, none by his fault, Amousca had helped him to understand that. He had lost everyone he ever loved or tried to be loved by. And now, Amousca was dying because she was bearing their children, and he could not help her, and it was because of him!

Suddenly Amousca made one last movement that managed to lift her from the bed, with one last scream, feeble scream, and almost instantly a baby was crying, so loudly it was almost impossible to believe. The third baby was the first one to really cry, the first two only making an angry sound before breathing for the first time.

Amousca was smiling. Her eyes looked at Anomen, but he knew she had trouble to focus on his face. He put his hand to her cheek and spoke to her, hoping it would keep her here and now.

"My love, Amousca, listen to me. Your children are born…"

Surely there cannot be another one?, Anomen prayed silently, frenetically.

"…and they will soon be shown to you. But first, let the priest restore and heal you. You also need to give a final effort for the delivery of the afterbirth. It is almost over, my love, but stay with us a minute longer, that we may help you."

The placenta was expulsed minutes later, while the priests were casting an impressive collection of restoration, blessings, aiding, healing. Blood was hastily cleaned from the floor and the gown changed with great care. Sarevok and Imoen, only, were allowed into the room, because they were blood relations.

Anomen took his elder daughter in his arms. He came close to Amousca, that she might see even in her great weakness, and showed her the red, congested face of the newborn. She smiled at her daughter, then at her two sons, held by Sarevok and Imoen, who also came close to her bed.

"Our children…", Amousca murmured dreamily. "The pain is gone now, and if I may find some peace, I will sleep now, I think."

Anomen nodded, and stepped back with Sarevok and Imoen, to put the children back down into their warm bed.