Beneath the Threads

XXVII.

A few more days passed. The day after the midwife arrived, Robin went into labor in the early morning. It was proving lengthy, just as her previous, and the hours dragged on. She laid back, her gown covered in sweat as the pain drained the energy out of her. Her fears were at the forefront of her mind, but the intensity had toned down when Maribelle gave her a calming elixir. It didn't do much for the pain, but it helped quiet her thoughts. Chrom sat on the bed facing her. He dipped a cloth in ice water and ran it along her forehead. Maribelle mixed a tonic on the other side of the room, one to help give her the strength to get through the pain.

Robin grabbed his forearm as the water cooled her skin. She squeezed.

"Breathe, my love," he encouraged. "You're doing well."

She didn't feel like she was doing well, but she took his word for it as she exhaled. She thought she was just stressed from being in thick of it, but at times, it felt more painful and agonizing than the first time. She brushed the thought away as the midwife checked on her.

"You still have a ways to go, my lady." She frowned. "If you keep progressing this way, you'll labor through the night and the child will be born in the morning."

"The sun just went down." Robin sighed. "Damn it!"

"We'll keep giving you elixirs to help you through. Hopefully things will change during the night. If you need anything, or you feel a stark change, please let me know. I'll keep checking on you regularly."

"Thank you."

Maribelle walked up to her with a cup in hand. She held it to Robin's lips. "Drink. It'll help keep your strength up. I'm sorry, darling. You're in for the long haul."

Robin drank the elixir and scrunched her brows at a new wave of pain. Chrom brushed the hair away from her face and ran the cloth over her temples again. She shook her head and clutched his free hand.

"Why does this feel worse than last time?" she said, her voice hoarse. Chrom helped her take a sip of water.

Chrom frowned. He put the cloth back in the bin. "I'm going to step out to wash up, and when I come back, I'll massage your lower back and hips. Do you think that would help?"

Robin nodded. She smiled through her pain. "Gods...I have such a sweet husband."

"Anything to help you, my love. I'll be back." He rose and stepped out. Maribelle took his place on the bed. She took Robin's hand and brushed her fingers through her matted hair.

"Your breathing as I taught you," she said. "You may not think so, but you're handling it well."

Robin nodded. She stared at the ceiling. It felt like an eternity since Chrom had stepped out, but it had been less than two minutes. After a moment, all of her pain and discomfort faded. She scrunched her brows at the absence of her contractions.

"I told you Grima would make your pregnancy swift and painless…" Validar said in her mind. "Perhaps you'll listen now."

Robin's breath hitched. "N-no!" she whispered, her eyes squeezed shut.

"Accept Grima now, Daughter. I hate to see you suffer. Just say the words, and the child will be in your arms in an instant."

"No!"

"Come on, Robin. Grima is nothing to fear. Reject this offering and suffer the pain of childbirth until tomorrow afternoon."

"Are you...prolonging my labor?" Robin thought. Validar heard her.

"Grima likes to teach lessons to those who refuse his gracious offers. You've already been through this once, I'm surprised you'd refuse when this time is so much more agonizing."

"Get out!" Robin screamed at him in her mind. "Get out!"

"Fine. But, this isn't over. I look forward to meeting my grandchild."

The pain returned, and Robin lost the control she had over it. She began to cry into her hands, her sobs making the pain worse. She vaguely heard Maribelle pleading with her to control her breathing, but she couldn't bring herself to.

"Chrom!" she shouted. "Chrom!"

Chrom opened the door and rushed to her side. He sat beside her in Maribelle's place.

"Breathe, Robin," he urged. "I'm here. It's alright."

He managed to calm her and help her get control over her pain again. He wiped the cloth on her face, wiping away the tears from her outburst. She stared at him, her hand holding her midsection.

"What happened?" He sighed with sympathy. "Did you forget I stepped out?"

She shook her head. "V-Val-"

He didn't let her finish. "Damn it! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I rejected his offers," she whispered.

"Gods...I'm so sorry. I didn't think-"

"It's not your fault."

Chrom squeezed her hand. "I won't step out again. We'll worry about that after Morgan's born. Are you ready for me to massage your hips?"

Robin nodded, her worries plaguing her.

The night passed and the sun rose without much change. Robin was starting to stress at the duration of the pain, and as time went on, her ability to cope with it was wearing thin. She was scared, but at the same time, determined to get through the pain without breaking down. Somehow Validar was watching her, and she wouldn't let him see her succumb to his manipulation. Noon passed by. Maribelle gave her another strength tonic.

"This is the strongest I can give you," Maribelle said. "You'll need it. It's time for the baby to be born. You're almost to the end, Robin. You'll make it through."

"You know I can be stuck at this stage for hours…" Robin sighed.

"Yes, but, there's light at the end the tunnel, darling. You'll be holding the baby by sundown."

Robin glanced to Chrom, who shrugged through his own thin layer of nervous sweat. He was being stretched thin, Robin knew, but he wouldn't speak a word of how he was feeling.

The hours passed. Robin exerted all her energy as the midwife sat at the foot of the bed. Maribelle was her side with her staff on Robin's body. Her stress was clear as her hands shook as she clutched the staff with popped veins. Chrom sat behind his wife and supported her weakening state, and each encouragement he gave her was advice he had to double back to himself. He was slick with sweat, partially from himself, partially from Robin. At one point, he thought he heard Lucina screaming outside the door, only to be hushed and taken away by a caretaker.

Finally, the shrill cry of a newborn filled the room. The midwife placed the baby on Robin's chest and Chrom held the screaming child in place.

"It's a boy," the midwife said. "Congratulations, my lady."

Robin felt the tears on her face as she ran her fingers though the baby's hair. "Morgan…" she whispered. Her shoulder dampened, and she saw Chrom's upset out of the corner of her eye. They shared tears of shock, awe, and relief together as they watched the child cry. Maribelle sniffled beside them and wiped her eyes.

Later on that night, Robin dozed as Chrom cuddled Morgan to his chest. Robin had insisted that Maribelle take a break for herself, despite the protests from her friend. Chrom and Robin wanted to check on Lucina, but they were both far too tired to let a bouncing toddler into the room. Though it was unspoken, they vowed to end Validar and Grima in their own way. Robin grimaced. She had been taken captive again, this time in the mind rather than in the physical. It was going to be a long road to recovery, but in the end, she imagined Validar screaming out in agony.