.
Now it's BABY time!
.
.
Chapter 91
~X~
Fili jumped to his feet the moment he heard Sier's first cry of pain, taking several steps towards the door before he stopped himself. This went against everything in his blood, to hang back when he knew his wife was in distress. If it were an orc attacking, or something he could battle, he would have been in there with blades flying. Yet there was nothing he could do to alleviate her pain…and Fili hated it.
"Where is Amad?" he asked, looking over at Thorin questioningly. He would feel much better if she were in there helping. "And Oin? Why are they not in there with her?"
"Your mother and Oin are presently in with Bergie," his uncle explained, realizing that Fili had gone in with Sier before Bombur had offered up the news that Dwalin's wife was also in labor. "Apparently, it is her time as well."
"What?" Fili gasped, looking towards the other door that led out of the waiting area. "Has anyone told Dwalin? Why is he not here?"
"He's inside with Bergie," Marigold informed him.
"WHAT?" This news upset Fili to no end. "Why is he allowed inside with his wife and I am not?"
"Well…Bergie is a hobbit, and they have different customs," Thorin told him, trying to calm his irate nephew down. "Apparently it is normal for hobbit males to visit the birthing rooms when their wives are in labor."
"But…but I want to be in there with Sier as well!" Fili all but whined. "I want to go in too!"
Just then the door to Bergie's room opened and out stepped Dis, wearing a confident smile.
"All is in order and our little hobbit is doing well, for her first time," she announced. "Oin is a bit unsure about having Dwalin in there, but he is coping." Dis then turned to Marigold. "Bergie is asking for you to come in, if you would like. It could be a while before anything happens, but she could use the company and reassurance."
"Of course," Marigold nodded, heading for the door.
Just as she entered, Oin exited, making way for his queen. Once the door was shut, he turned and looked at Fili, giving the prince a wide smile.
"I hear I will be pulling double duty today, Fili," he laughed, heading for the other door. "I will let you know how things are going as soon as I'm able."
"No…wait!" Fili called, stopping the aged healer. "If Dwalin gets to go in with Bergie, I want to be in there with Sier as well!"
"Fili," Oin said in a placating voice. "Dwarf males wait outside during this time. It is not right for you to be in there."
"Says who?" the blond prince demanded firmly. "Some stuffy old dwarf healer who has been dead for centuries? Erebor is embracing new ways, new customs, and I think allowing males in the birthing room should be one of them." He turned and looked at his mother with pleading eyes. "Please, Amad…I need to be in there with her. I will go insane if I am forced to wait out here."
Dis needed no more incentive than that, and quickly grabbed hold of Fili's hand, much the same way she had with Dwalin, and led him past the sputtering Oin and into the room. Everyone could hear a few gasps of shock from the other healers, but to their credit, they did not dare kick Fili, or Dis, out a second time.
Everyone left in the room was stunned, no one knowing exactly what to do or say. Finally, Thorin cleared his throat and straightened his tunic, doing his best to appear in control.
"Well, Oin, I suggest you get in there and help my niece and nephew bring their babe into this world," he ordered in a commanding voice, making the elderly healer jump. "Fili was right, Erebor is changing, and I want the newest son or daughter of Durin to be a part of it. Now get going!"
Without a pause, Oin did as he was told, entering the birthing room with a look of determination.
Yet before anyone could even take a seat, the door burst open once more and in came Kili.
"Did I miss it?" he asked, looking around as if he expected to see his brother already holding his new babe.
"No, lad," Bombur chuckled. "These things take time. You didn't miss anything but the princely destruction of custom and code."
"What?" Kili questioned, looking confused.
"Your brother and Dwalin are in the room with their lasses," Balin explained, at last sitting himself down on a bench to wait. "They both insisted on being there for the birth."
"THEY WHAT?" Kili gasped, all the blood draining from his face. "What on earth for?"
"To help," Thorin said with a shrug. He really needed to think on this, since Marigold just might be expecting the same from him! Something then occurred to the king. "Where is Flinn? I thought Dis left him with you?"
"She did, but I took him over to Gloin and Dena's apartment," he explained. "They are taking care of Bram, Tam and Tae, so he has someone to play with and keep him distracted. I promised that I would come back and get him when the baby arrives. I didn't think he would want to sit around here and wait."
"Wise," Bombur nodded, knowing first hand just how long this might take.
"Well, it would appear that everything is well in hand here," Ilin nodded, heading for the door. "I should go pick up my own children and take them off Dena's hands. I will take Flinn back to our apartments as well, so come find the lad there when it is time for him to meet his new sibling. We will be anxiously waiting to hear word…on both our expectant mothers." With that she left, leaving the four males alone to wait.
"So," Balin said looking at the three other dwarves in the room. "Did anyone think to bring a deck of cards?"
.
.
To say that Sier had been shocked to see Fili reenter the birthing room would have been an understatement, but once he had taken hold of her hand, she knew she would never let go. Having him there was a blessing she had not anticipated, and the idea of sharing the moment their child was born thrilled her to no end.
"I will not leave your side, I promise," Fili had assured her, glaring at the other healers, daring them to contradict him. He was the crown prince of Erebor, and there was no way they would dictate where he could, or could not be, while his wife needed him.
"I am so glad you're here," she whispered, squeezing his hand tightly as another wave of pain hit her. "I was so scared when Flinn was born, and I have to admit…I am not much braver this time either."
"Well I'm here, and I won't let anything bad happen, I swear it," Fili told her, leaning in to kiss her on the forehead. "We'll do this together, and soon we will be holding our new little one in our arms." He was trying to sound much more confident than he truly was. For he knew the risks and the potential for things to go wrong. Yet Sier was a strong and determined dam, and he had never known her to fail at anything she had set her mind to. She would get through this just fine. He had to keep telling himself that.
"How is Bergie?" Sier asked, during a small break in labor. "I heard she is here as well?"
"Aye," Fili grinned, holding her hand as he smoothed down her sweat soaked hair. "You and Bergie will be raising your little ones together. Dwalin is apparently in with her as well, though I fear he might be more of a hindrance than a help." He had to laugh at the idea of the angry warrior holding his ax to the neck of the healers every time his wife was in pain, threatening them if they did not help her. This caused Fili to wonder if doing so might just help Sier in some way….he then quickly dismissed the idea.
"I am sure that Bergie appreciates her husband being there as much as I do," Sier assured him. She might have said more, but she was instantly doubled over in pain as another spasm gripped her stomach.
Fili bit his lip and tried not to panic. This was going to be a very long night.
.
.
Meanwhile, Dwalin was not faring much better. Bergie had been moaning and squeezing his hand for hours now, and he felt next to helpless. Oin and Marigold kept directing him on what to do, giving him cool rags to wipe her brow and urging him to speak encouragingly to her. He did all this, and more, yet nothing seemed to lessen his wife's distress, and that was beyond frustrating to the action driven warrior. Oin had come in and gone out several times, leaving the healing maids in charge when he went to check on Sier. It made Dwalin laugh when he heard that Fili had also insisted on going into the room with his own wife, making the bald captain not feel quite as bad. If Fili could do it…so could he! At least he hoped so!
.
.
"How much longer will this take?" Kili groaned after several more hours had ticked by. He leaned his head back against the chair, slouching into an almost horizontal position as he waited.
"No telling with babies," Bombur told the despondent prince. "Bram took almost a full day to arrive, while Tam and Tae came much quicker. Still, there is no rushing this, it will happen when it happens."
"I hate waiting," Kili huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and looking perturbed.
Just then Dis exited Sier's room, coming out to update those waiting anxiously for news.
"Well, we are still waiting," she announced with a tired smile on her face. "Sier is doing very well, and being a second child we can only hope she will have an easier time of it. I will go check in on Bergie next and let you know what is happening there."
"And tell me how my brother is doing," Balin requested, still very much against males being allowed in the birthing rooms.
"He better still be standing, is all I have to say," Dis threatened, as she headed into Bergie's room.
.
.
Dwalin was indeed still upright, though he was currently white as a sheet. If he had thought seeing his wife dealing with the pains before labor began was bad, he was certainly not prepared for when Oin instructed that she start pushing! Hobbits were apparently much faster at the birthing process than dwarves, and even the healers were shocked that she was ready so soon. Still, there was no denying that the baby was ready to come out, and Oin prepared himself for the delivery.
"Hold her hand, Dwalin," Marigold instructed. "She needs something to squeeze while she pushes."
The hardened warrior did as commanded, though soon regretted it when his wife's hand clamped around his like a vice, squeezing so hard he worried she would break his fingers. When did hobbits become so strong?
"Mahal's balls, lass!" he cringed, praying that she would ease up soon. "That be my fighting hand, don't render me useless to my king by clutching me so tight!"
"Trust me, a few broken fingers is nothing compared to what I am feeling right now!" Bergie cried out, lifting herself off the pillows as she did her best to push. "You're a strong dwarrow…deal with it!"
Dwalin shut up after that, not daring to make a peep. He could see that Bergie was getting tired, and for the life of him he had no idea how she had managed this long. Birthing was not for the faint of heart.
"I see the head!" Oin called, a grin on his weathered face. "It won't be long now…just push lass…push!"
"I am pushing!" the hobbit screamed back, gritting her teeth in agony.
"You're doing wonderfully, Bergie," Marigold told her, standing next to the bed opposite Dwalin, holding her other hand in her own. "Your babe is almost here!"
And just like that, there came an instant feeling of relief and the sound of a crying infant, filling the room with the most joyous noise imaginable.
"It's a lass!" Oin announced, holding up a red, wrinkly, squirming child for all to see. "A perfect little dwarf lass if I ever saw one."
Dwalin was speechless. He thought he had prepared himself for this moment, but apparently he had woefully underestimated his ability to cope with the idea of him being a father. He had a daughter…a little lass who would one day grow to be a beautiful dam…one that dwarrows would wish to court! Mahal have mercy on him!
"We have a daughter, Dwalin!" Bergie said among tears of joy. "A little lass to raise and love."
"Aye," he nodded, still somewhat stunned. "Does…does she have any hair on her feet?" Dwalin asked, looking over at Oin questioningly. He had secretly hoped any child of his would take after their mother in that regard, it was just so down right adorable to him.
"Not that I can tell," he laughed. "Though there might be a bit of a hobbitish point to her ears, and she does have a nice tuft of curls like Bergie. Other than that, I would say she is going to be taking after you, Dwalin. All dwarf."
"She's perfect, Bergie," Marigold cooed, looking over Oin's shoulder as he worked to wash the squirming infant. "Absolutely perfect!"
"Are you all right, my plum?" Dwalin asked, looking down at his wife in admiration. "Was it too hard on you?"
"Well, it's not something I would wish to do every day," she said with a sigh, leaning back as she watched Oin rubbing their squalling babe clean. "Yet if it means getting to hold our little one at the end of it…I would gladly do it all over again." Unfortunately, her words were barely out of her mouth before she felt the very familiar, yet extremely confusing, tightening of her stomach once again. Leaning forward just a bit, she grabbed hold of her midsection and cried out in pain.
"OIN!" Dwalin yelled, pulling the elderly dwarf's attention back towards the bed. Handing the now clean infant over to Marigold, he returned to Bergie, quickly examining her for a reason for the pain.
"Well, lass," the healer said with a shake of his head. "They do say be careful what you wish for…since it would appear you are about to have a second babe!"
"WHAT?" Dwalin barked, his eyes darting from his wife to Oin and back again in complete amazement and fear. "TWO BAIRNS?"
"Looks that way," the healer nodded. "And it would appear that this one is in a hurry to follow its sister…so push, Bergie…PUSH!"
And push she did, though she had no idea where the strength came from. Dwalin was starting to feel very light headed, the ringing in his ears almost drowning out the cries of his wife. Yet recalling Dis' warning that she would kick him if he fainted, he sucked in a deep breath and held on for Bergie's sake.
In no time at all, Bergie let out one final triumphant cry and Dwalin watched his second child slip into Oin's steady grip.
"A lad!" the old dwarf announced. "You now have one of each!"
"A son?" Dwalin whispered, this time envisioning a strong warrior, the spitting image of himself. Yet, he really had no idea how he was going to cope with one babe…let alone two! Glancing over to where the healer was working on his second child, he noticed that his son, though no less noisy or messy, looked a bit different from its sibling. Slightly smaller, and shaped more like a hobbit than a dwarf. As he watched it squirm and fight, its little arms and legs pumping wildly, Dwalin felt a swell of pride enter his chest…one he knew would never leave. He had a daughter and a son! Two babes, and he couldn't have been more pleased if he tried.
"Dwalin…my love," Bergie said, reaching out and placing her hand on his arm. "Are you all right?"
It was at that moment that Dwalin realized why she asked, for he was shaking rather uncontrollably, with tears coursing down his cheeks. He was just so happy…so deliriously happy that he had no other way to express it than to blubber like a baby himself. He was a father!
"Aye, lassie," he nodded, wiping at his eyes in hopes of salvaging some of his dignity. "I couldn't be better. Don't mind me…I'll be fine in a few minutes." Yet in his heart he knew from this moment on, he would never be the same again. From here on out, his life revolved around three things; his Bergie and their two bairns. Everything was now about them.
"Two, Dwalin…two!" Bergie stated in a shocked voice, looking very tired, yet equally happy. "Everyone said I looked very large for my size, but I never dreamed it would be twins!"
"Yes, my little sugar plum. One for each of us to hold," he laughed, watching as Oin and Marigold approached with their two babes. "And since we have never been ones to do anything halfway, why should we do any less when it comes to having children?"
The old healer placed their son into Bergie's eager arms, while Marigold helped Dwalin fumble around until he had a gentle grip on his daughter. The tiny infant looked almost lost in his big, meaty hands, yet now that she was there, Dwalin knew he never wanted to let go.
"Look," Bergie said, pulling back the blanket as she inspected her son. "He has dwarf ears…but hobbit feet."
"While our lass has hobbit ears and dwarf feet," he laughed, tearing his eyes off the babe in his hands long enough to inspect the one that Bergie held. "I think she has your nose."
"And he has your hair," she giggled, rubbing his bald little head lovingly.
"Now, now, lass, don't you go making fun of me," Dwalin scoffed, though no one believed he was truly upset.
They took a moment to switch babes, allowing each one to hold the other for the first time. It was indeed love at first sight, and Bergie now had no question in her mind whether she would be a good parent or not. She would fight and die to protect her little ones, and she knew Dwalin would do no less. There would be plenty of love and laughter to go around, and she knew that both her son and daughter would never want for anything. They were perfect.
"What are you going to name them?" Marigold asked, the happy couple completely forgetting there was anyone else in the room.
"Name them?" Dwalin repeated, looking up at the little hobbit lass with a shocked expression. He then stared down at his wife, the two of them exchanging looks of agreement. "Oh, we have two perfect names already picked out."
Yep, they sure do...PERFECT names too. But you won't find out what they are till tomorrow. ha ha. I would normally feel bad about leaving you on a cliffie...but I am posting daily now, so I can't feel too bad for ya. ha ha.
So, how many of you guessed twins? A boy and a girl?
You will find out what Fili gets tomorrow. I couldn't stick too many births into one chapter.
Guest Reviews:
Feu d'Argent: Awww, never thought about them sewing the buttons on their coats...but I like the idea of them making a necklaces out of them. The next chapters I write will be on part three...but I am taking a much needed typing break for a day or so first. ha ha.
Emrfangirl: Glad you liked the button thing...it was a last minute idea as I just felt they needed 'something' more. Yah, Gandalf forgot he left some fireworks at Erebor, otherwise he would have been in on it for sure. ha ha. Of course the mountain didn't blow up...not with Flinn and Frodo as lookouts! ha ha. As for your baby guess...you got one kind of right so far. Dwalin has a girl.
abc: Happy you enjoyed the fireworks...Fili was very proud of himself. ha ha. And yep, I figured I needed to mention something about Beorn marrying since in LOTR it says he has a son...a grown son. So they need to hurry up. If YOU think you are anxious for the babies to come, just imagine how Fili and Dwalin are?! (Or at least Fili...Dwalin already has his two)
Kendall Merritt: Sorry to cause you heart distress. ha ha. Yep, baby on board still for Fili!
gginsc: I am posting as fast as I can! I need at least a day to find time to respond to all your lovely reviews. ha ha.
Guest: Yah, Birth is NOT for the faint of heart! I had invisioned them birthing on the same day ever since I found out they were preggers. And yes, it does speed things along. ha ha. Glad you enjoyed the fireworks...the hobbits did too. And yep, after I take a few days off from writing, I will be elbow deep in part three. I am very excited. Kili and Tauriel have not seen each other in a while...so there might be a bit of awkwardness for sure. ha ha. Yep, as you now know, Dwalin has a lass too. So we just have to wait and see what Fili gets.
Aranel Mereneth: Yep, only a few more to go till the end of part 2. Then I take a few days off and start writing part 3! Ha ha, great grandpa Thorin? Please tell me he won't take his teeth out or ask the kids to pull his finger. ha ha. And yes, ONLY in Fan Fiction...*sniffle*