Chapter 129

It was cold, and she shivered down under the covers more, trying to stay warm. Why wasn't the room warmer? The Invisibles usually kept the fire going. . .

Suddenly, she realized with a jolt of fear she could not sense them, and that she was alone. The fire had died down and was little more than glowing embers and charred sticks, and the air was unnaturally icy.

Given the lay of the room, the door was shrouded in shadow, but she heard the doorknob slowly turn, fancied she heard a triumphant hiss, and she knew immediately who it was.

'Arawn! He's here! Somebody, quick! Help me!'

Trembling, she lay there, staring wide-eyed in the darkness, but she couldn't see anything. . .the fire was completely out now, and her body felt like ice. She wanted the Horned King, but she couldn't make her throat work to call for him...even if she did call, Arawn was here and the lich was on the opposite side of the castle...

Something colder than ice touched her cheek, and she could not help the terrified scream that made itself known as liquid ice swept down her throat, freezing her lungs tight.

'Somebody!'

Avalina gasped in fright, snapping her eyes open and sitting up like lightning, throwing something off the bed in the process. It hit the floor heavily with a snarl of surprise off to her left, and it scared her out of her skin.

Panting, she took in the fire, still burning in the fireplace, sensed the Invisibles in the room and that the door was ajar, all in one sweeping glance.

"Land sakes, human, what is your problem?" Creeper snapped, picking himself up off the floor.

"Creeper?" She squeaked, peering over, her voice shaking as badly as she. She could still feel that icy hand on her cheek. . .

"No, I'm the tooth fairy," Creeper spat sarcastically. "Of course it's me! Who else would it be?"

"Um. . ." Avalina tried to think of a logical reply, but nothing was coming to her frazzled mind and she noticed after a moment she was staring blankly at the goblin.

"Never mind," Creeper groused, facepalming.

"Why are you in here?" Avalina asked, her racing heart beginning to slow back to normal, and realizing that Creeper was in her bedroom, in the middle of the night, and that he was blowing on his hands as if they were cold.

"Are you sure you won't die of excitement if I tell you?" He snipped, glaring at her with his good eye. His voice seemed louder than necessary in the quiet room.

Avalina nodded, looking him over. She could feel the cold air emanating from his form, and he smelled of straw and faint gwythaint musk. And was that rain on his hood?

"I came to tell you that Addie's in labor and you better be right quick if you want to see anything. I ain't never seen a gwythaint birth before and I ain't certain what it's supposed to look li-eeek!"

Creeper yelped and covered his eyes as Avalina hopped out of bed, her white nightgown practically glowing in the darkness, and slipped on her robe and cloak over it.

"A little warning next time?" He snapped, feeling an embarrassing blush creep over his face.

"How long has she been going?" Avalina asked excitedly as she yanked on her boots, ignoring the goblin's remark.

"Um. . ."

Now it was Creeper's turn to be lost for words as he tried to think straight, but his mind had promptly been frazzled.

"Nevermind!" Avalina said happily, hurrying to the door. "Come on!"

Grumbling, the goblin galloped after.

"Go on to the stable," she told him, "I'm going to get the Horned King!"

Creeper instantly shrank.

"No!" He hissed, his eyes wide in panic, "Don't go get him!"

"We'll go get him!" The Invisibles chirped happily and swept away.

"I think he'd like to see it," Avalina explained to Creeper as they hurried through the castle.

"What about me? Did you forget about me!?" Creeper spat. "He hates me! I can't even be in the same room with him. . ."

"We're not gonna be in a room, we'll be in the stable," Avalina pointed out, closing the door behind her as the chilly outside air enshrouded her and the goblin's forms, noticing how the cobblestones shimmered damply.

"Whatever, human," Creeper snarled irritably as he grabbed his lantern off the steps (where he must have left it when he went in to fetch her) and they entered the gwythaint's stable quietly, Avalina softly shutting the door behind her and feeling a good deal nervous despite herself.

Avalina peered carefully over the stall door, taking in the scene on the other side, illuminated by the lantern Creeper hung up.

Addie lay on her side, surrounded by churned up straw, one wing folded beneath her and the other draped over her heaving ribs. As the light hit her she hissed a warning and lashed her tail.

"She didn't want me to leave earlier," Creeper whispered, "But she doesn't want me in the stall either."

"Is this her first?" Avalina asked, to which the goblin nodded his affirmative.

"She's scared and she needs her space," she guessed. "Having us out here will probably do more good than being in there crowding her."

"What should we do?" Creeper inquired.

"There's nothing much we can do," Avalina whispered back, "But if. . ."

A fresh snarl from the gwythaint and a burst of fluid interrupted the girl.

"Oh, good, her water's broke," Avalina whispered, and Creeper looked like he would be sick.

As the minutes passed, they watched in sympathy and wonder as the pain-wracked gwythaint, snarling and spasming, forced the little one into the world. First the tiny muzzle made itself known, then the slender little neck, and the rest came in a single surge, landing softly in the straw, holding the observers spellbound.

Avalina and Creeper grinned at each other, seeing the little thing move inside its protective slimy coating and thrash faintly.

Utterly exhausted, Addie lay there, panting heavily, but with a groan pulled herself upright and thoroughly examined the tiny creature, looking as if she didn't have a clue as to what to do with it.

However, after a moment instinct took over and she began to swiftly lick it clean, starting so badly when it thrashed and bumped her nose both Avalina and Creeper snickered.

Addie gave them a thoroughly unamused look, before the tiny creature emitted a shrill screech that made everyone in the stable jump.

The gwythaint gave a deep purr in her throat as she worked, and Avalina was able to make the little one out more clearly.

Hardly larger than a newborn calf, its scales were a deep raven black, much darker then Addie's, and its underbelly and so forth a brilliant amethyst color, much brighter than Addie's as well. Its wings were folded tightly against its back, but as Addie cleaned them they flopped open, revealing themselves to be roughly three feet long apiece. At least, from what could be made out in the shadows and lantern light.

With no horns, no spikes, no claws, and no teeth, it looked a bit strange to Avalina, but Creeper quietly explained to her they were born like that to keep the mother from getting injured while carrying. Embarrassed that she hadn't guessed that already ('There's a reason cows aren't born with horns, you dummy') she quietly asked how soon they would start appearing.

"If the books are correct, in about a week or two," Creeper whispered, "And its colors will start muting as well. It just looks that bright now in the event they were to fall from the nest, the parents could find them easily."

"Wouldn't the fall kill them?" Avalina whispered back.

"Usually," the goblin answered, "But gwythaints are much smarter than birds. They put a layer of forest litter under their nests to cushion the fall. So I've read, anyway. But that isn't necessary here, in the stable."

"Wow," Avalina softly remarked, a new respect for gwythaints growing inside her.

Neither she nor Creeper desired to move, himself sitting atop the halfdoor and the girl leaning on it, watching the new mother bond with the little one inside.

Now clean, the baby nuzzled its mother all over, searching for nourishment, although its vision seemed to be terribly blurry.

Both of the spectators nearly retched when Addie regurgitated some of her breakfast for her offspring but by some miracle held it in, relieved when it ceased after a moment.

Clean, full and warm, the baby was only too happy to curl up by its mother's chest and promptly go to sleep, leaving a contented, chirring but nonetheless exhausted Addie in the stable.

"They're so adorable together," Avalina whispered happily, watching as Addie looked up at her guests, seeming to almost swell with pride as she stretched her wings and folded them neatly to her back.

Creeper curled his lip at her expression but did not argue.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Avalina whispered.

"I don't know!" Creeper hissed, exasperated, "You can't tell til they're older!"

"Oh, right," she said, abashed.

'The Horned King told you that months ago.'

After a few more minutes, Addie made herself comfortable and dozed, worn out, not caring there were people here. She knew they meant no harm.

On cue, Creeper and Avalina yawned hugely at the same time.

"We'd better get to bed," she murmured softly, but showing no move to do so. Neither did Creeper.

"Yes, you should," a voice dredged softly behind them and making them both jump, Creeper's quick reflexes and sharp claws the only things preventing him from falling off the door.

"You came!" Avalina's eyes lit up at seeing the lich, who moved to stand beside her.

"Were you here for the whole thing?"

He nodded his affirmative, making Avalina's smile grow even bigger.

"I'm so glad!" She nearly danced in place.

"Have you ever seen it before?"

He silently shook his head, observing Addie and her new baby over the door.

"Well, you have now!" Avalina whispered cheerfully, "Isn't it wonderful?"

The Horned King did not reply for a long moment, before he slowly nodded.

"What happened to you?" She asked, taking in the brightly colored paper bits that festooned his robe and trying valiantly not to laugh at him.

"The Invisibles informed me of the situation in their. . .usual style," he ground out, looking down at himself with disgust.

Avalina tried to bite back the yawn she felt coming on, but Creeper promptly ruined it with another huge one of his own, and the lich uttered a faint growl of amusement.

"Come," he told her firmly, offering his arm, "To bed."

"Thank you, Creeper," she whispered as the Horned King led her out, to which Creeper, still shaken by the appearance of his master, did not return, simply staring after them with large eyes.

Right before they shut the door behind them, the Horned King turned back and fixed Creeper with a look.

"You get to bed too."

Outside, Avalina laughed softly as they crossed the courtyard. There were only three or four hours til sunrise, judging by the sky's color.

"Have you ever told him to do that before?"

". . .No."

"You sounded like a cranky parent," she snickered.

The Horned King chuckled suddenly as they entered the castle, the answer that came to mind so perfect it couldn't be bypassed.

"He's the problem child."

Avalina laughed even harder than she already was and the lich faintly smiled.

"Oh dear," she gasped, "Are you going to tell him that?"

"No," he answered instantly, "And you had better not either."

Avalina giggled.

"I won't. But the Invisibles might."

"Do not even speak their title," the Horned King grumbled, "They always manage to. . ."

"Bahahaha! Problem child!"

"Ahahahahah!"

"Whoo, that is GOLD!"

"Who knew you'd ever say somethin' like that, Spiky?"

"Bahahahah!"

The Horned King stiffened as the whoops of the Invisibles made themselves known in the room.

Gritting his fangs, he walked deliberately up the steps, fully aware of the girl beside him struggling to hold in her amusement.

"You had better laugh, or I will make you do so," he growled at her, to which she burst into unrestrained mirth.

"You have to admit though," she managed around her laughter, "It's like they stalk you!"

The Horned King groaned.

". . . .You don't say?"

Avalina suddenly cracked up again.

"What's not to like? You have your very own fan club!"

The lich gritted his fangs and stiffened even more, if that were possible, his reply (devoid of any emotion) sending the girl into another bout of helpless laughter.

"Oh. . . .Goody."

Well, Addie's finally had her baby. XD Isn't it cute? And those Invisibles, Hahahah! They never give poor Horatio a break, do they? LOL!