Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2012. Rewritten: 2014. Found: 2018.

Arjiki Encampment,

Thousand Year Grasslands,

Summer,

1861

A soft growl escaped her throat.

"Orso giù, principessa! Orso giù!"

She dug her nails into her husband's thighs as she continued to bear down.

Harder. Another push, and another and another.

"Non mi toccare!" Both the shaman and Sarima backed away as she ordered; for she knew by now what to do, what her body was doing. Eyes shut tight against the pain, she rested her head against her husband's shoulder, forcing herself to take slow, deep breaths, even as she continued to push.

Eventually, after many hours, she finally reached down; the babe slid out of her and into the world, a strong, healthy cry piercing the air. As she lifted the babe from between her legs to cradle against her chest, she turned to her husband. "Marito, un altro figlio. Un nome?"

He met her gaze, tears blurring his vision as he glanced at the babe against her skin. Their beautiful son... a moment passed, before he whispered,

"Nostro figlio... sarà... Manek."

A tiny smile tugged at her lips, and she turned her gaze back to the babe in her arms. "Manek." She knew the reason why her husband had chosen such a name. It meant 'Child of Two Worlds', and though she was confused because of the meaning, she accepted it, brushing her fingers gently over the baby's forehead. Fiyero, however, knew the meaning, and he knew the significance, even if his wife didn't or refused to acknowledge it. This was the babe that had been conceived the night he'd informer her that her family was still looking for her; that they'd seen the men in search of her... this was the child made from that night nine months earlier.

It was a sensitive subject, her family. Her other family, Fiyero had to remind himself, even though the family they had created had now grown by one...

He shook his head. Nine months was enough time for avoidance, that he and Elphaba could truly discuss the altri- 'others' as his wife called them. The preparations for the birth had been simple, for Elphaba had done this before, and knew now what to do, what her body had needed to do, but it was no less thought-consuming. But now that Fiyero could conscntrate, on someone like his son, who was now tied to both worlds, not just by his name but by his mother as well...

As the tribe was informed of the safe delivery of the Crown Prince and Princess's third child and celebrated, Avaric slipped into the tent, Irji and Nor with him. Both children stayed close to their grandfather, uncertain of this new, tiny human nursing at their mother's breast. "Fiyero, il su nome?"

The young prince met his father's gaze. "Manek."

"Ah." Avaric nodded, instantly understanding. He gently pushed Irji forward. The two-year-old glanced back at his grandfather before making his way to his father. Fiyero pulled the boy onto his lap, having moved to sit by his wife, and the child looked up at him.

"Fratello?"

His father nodded, kissing his black hair. "Si, fratello, Irji." The child turned back to stare at the baby, before curling into his father's chest. It was clear that the little boy didn't know what to think about the new arrival. Nor stayed with her grandfather, not wanting to get any closer than she had to. Fiyero gently rubbed his son's back, glancing at his wife, who smiled softly, before returning her gaze to the baby in her arms.

She sighed; he really was beautiful, with her black hair and his father's blue eyes. He would look exactly like his siblings, exactly like his father, once he got older. As long as he is as kind and gentle as his papa, that is all I care about. She hummed softly, watching the baby nurse at her breast. How had she gotten so lucky? What had designated that she be the one to live among the Arjiki? What was it about her, and not the other captives, that dictated she survive?

"Fabala?"

She slowly tore her gaze away from the baby, looking up to meet her husband's beautiful blue eyes. "Si?"

He cocked his head, studying her. "Stai pensando?"

She glanced down at the baby, before looking first at Avaric and Nor, and then turning her gaze back to Fiyero and Irji. How did she explain that she had been thinking about her family? The one she'd built here, but that the family she'd left behind, the one who was looking for her, was still on her mind? That she was was afraid they would come and try to take her back with them... that they would force her back into a life she didn't remember, with a family she had no memory of? Though a year had passed, the thought that scouts were still looking for her still weighed heavily on her mind, day and night-

So she went with the best option. With a soft purse of her lips, she whispered,

"Niente."

Her husband raised an eyebrow, sharing a glance with his father as he adjusted his hold on their oldest son. It was evident by the look they shared that neither man believed her lie for a moment, but neither called her out on it.

Hours later, after Avaric had left to inform the rest of the tribe of the birth of their new son, and the two oldest children were tucked in bed, Fiyero joined his wife. He adjusted his hold on the newborn, for Elphaba had laid the baby in his arms while she got ready for bed and quickly ran a comb through her hair, yanking the tangles out, and it was then that he confronted her about it.

"Fabala, non mentirimi." She stopped, glancing at him over her shoulder. Her teeth slid out to worry her lower lip, and she watched as he gently rocked Manek as the baby began to fuss. His voice was gentle; he wasn't angry with her, just hurt that she would lie. "Anch ' io sono preoccupato."

A slight wave of relief washed over her, to know that she wasn't alone.