Chapter 18
An eight month pregnant Adena sighed for the umpteenth time, her darling husband carrying her back inside the castle with a permanent frown. The new castle was completed (thanks to a bit of magic on Morgaine's bit) in her sixth month pregnancy and was located even further south of Hadrian's Wall. The Wall was located closer to future Scotland, so locating to Camelot during her third, fourth, and fifth month of pregnancy was not something Adena wanted to experience again. The castle was closer to the sea that faced France; the stone castle was impressive even to Adena.
When Arthur announced the name of castle and the small city within its tall and un-breech-able walls to the villagers that had followed him from Hadrian's Wall and others closer, Adena couldn't help but laugh. Despite telling them the things she knew from the stories she has heard, Adena has never told any one of them the name they had come to live in.
When they had a meeting of just the knights, Malia, and Adena in the throne room, Adena told them why she was laughing. That, in itself, made the group laugh, knowing that their fate was slowly falling into place as it should have been. The Woads and those that were both born on this island and came to live on it, were more than happy to have a queen that held the powers of Avalon within her veins. It only meant more protection and security on this new found peace within the island.
Arthur soon started to recruit new knights, and by Adena's seventh month of pregnancy, the men had found knights that had the same name as those they had lost years before. Although the men were emotional, they did not elaborate to the new knights rather they embraced them and became as close as they can as those they had lost. Every time Adena's stomach grew, Lancelot was marveled at the sight. Yes, he has seen Vanora pregnant before, but she wasn't carrying his child (no matter how much he teases Bors of one of his children being his).
Entering their room (which was a small home in itself, minus the kitchen area), Lancelot turned right through another door that was their bedroom, going right to their king size bed and placed his pouting wife on the bed. He sighed to himself, sitting next to her and brushing her hair back from her face. He, too, hated the fact that Adena was supposed to be bed rest from here on to the birth of their child in the next month. But whenever Lancelot wasn't looking, Adena would sneak out as quickly as a cat, despite the heaviness of being pregnant.
"Love, both the healer and midwife said you have to stay in bed from now on. You cannot be on your feet anymore." Lancelot tried to reason with his wife.
Adena's bottom lip wobbled, turning her head away from her confused and concerned husband. "Fine, leave me then! If you don't love me anymore just say so! You do not have to place me on house arrest anymore so you can go with your other lovers! I can imagine that they are far prettier and skinnier than me! Why would you want to be near your pregnant wife?"
Lancelot sighed, having heard this argument so many times since Adena has been pregnant. "Adena all I'm doing is leaving for a few days time with Dagonet and a dozen new knights to see what they're capable of doing when separated from the others. You know you are the only woman I want, you are my wife. And you are not fat, just pregnant; a beautiful pregnant woman who is all mine."
Adena's whole body shook as she tried to hold back the sobs. "Just leave already, no doubt one of your many lovers is waiting for you!"
Sighing sadly, hating that they were parting under these conditions, Lancelot stood to leave. "I love you, I promise to be back as soon as I can love."
He was just turning when Adena took his hand, gripping it tightly, making him look back at her silent tears streaking her flushed cheeks. "Please be safe and come back to me unharmed."
Lancelot smiled, sitting back down on the edge of the bed and leaned over to kiss his wife slow and passionately. "I promise, now please be good and do not leave this bed! Vanora well be in to check on you as her eldest daughter, Number Two, will be with you all day and night to help you with anything." he whispered, brushing the tears away.
Adena sighed, nodding softly as she placed on hand on her bulging stomach and the other to cup his face. "I love you,"
"I love you more."
And with a last kiss, the couple parted, Number Two quickly coming into the room as soon as Lancelot left. Already used to the mood swings (having been through them with her own mother nine times), Number Two took to making the older woman comfortable as much as possible.
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It was midnight and four days since Lancelot has gone with Dagonet and the other knights into the woods. Adena was sleeping peacefully until a sharp pain had her scream out and sitting up, her right hand going to her bulging stomach. Not even a second later did another sharp pain passed through her abdominal followed by a crying scream. Number Two quickly rushed in from the small bedroom off to the side, looking both concern and afraid.
Noting that Adena was clutching at her stomach, Number Two threw the large fur skins and saw the blood soaking both the bed and Adena's night gown. Eyes widening, the younger girl ran out of the room and started to knock loudly at the door across the hall. It was Gawain who had stumbled to the door and glared at the person who rudely woke him up. However he had woken up completely at the sound of a woman screaming bloody murder in the room across from his.
"Go wake the other knights, the healer, and the midwife! Adena has begun to bleed profusely." Number Two told him hurriedly. "And someone needs to go find Lancelot and bring him back now!"
As he watched Number Two run back into Lancelot and Adena's room, Gawain quickly went to do what he was asked, as another screamed pierced through the silent castle. The other knights that have room's closes to Adena and Lancelot's room heard the bloody murder screams and came running out, trying to put on some part of clothing. They saw a crying Adena propped up against the headboard, clutching her bulging stomach. When she looked up at them, Adena motioned Tristan over to her before screaming once more. Adena took a fist full of his tunic once he was close enough.
"You find that damn husband of mine and bring him back–" she screamed, clutching Tristan's tunic even more tightly, bringing him closer to her. "–Please," she stressed out, feeling even more exhausted as the pain continued.
Giving her a curt nod, Tristan hurriedly ran out of the room, praying to the Gods to save both Adena and her unborn child–as well as to never have a woman become pregnant with his child. Vanora came rushing into the bedroom, pushing all the men out to wait in the waiting area. Soon both the healer and midwife came into the room, going straight over to the crying woman bleeding on the bed. They started to speak quietly that neither Vanora nor her daughter could hear what they were saying.
Finally the healer looked up at Adena gravely, "You may have to start pushing early, but I do not believe your child is to live."
This brought a sob to Adena, shaking her head from side to side in disbelief. Vanora glared at the old man, as Number Two placed a cold cloth to Adena's sweating and tearful face. Vanora took one of Adena's hands and gripped tightly as she knew what Adena might be feeling, being a mother herself. The door opened to Morgaine entering with two other Priestesses walking in behind her.
"I believe we can help,"
As Morgaine shooed the healer and midwife out of the room, the other two women begun to prepare some sort of potion or elixir that Adena couldn't see. Number Two stood watching, fascinated while her mother continued to wipe Adena's forehead from sweat, holding her hand tightly.
Screaming and sobbing, Adena turned her head to the Priestess that was considered, in the legends, as an evil witch or an evil sorceress. The beautiful woman standing before her was anything but evil. Apparently the stories of the legends have become so backwards and untrue, Adena wonders how it was they were formed.
"Do not dwell in which you will never know." Morgaine answered the unanswered questions.
Adena laughed/cried before screaming out in pain. "Is this my punishment for saving those who have become dear to me?" Adena questioned weakly. "Because I have found love in who was to die?"
Morgaine laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Nay, my child; this is the result of two pair of babes being born at the same time."
"Twins?" Adena cried out with eyes wide before screaming in pain.
"Aye, twins." Morgaine agreed. "And they did not want to wait the full nine months, it seems."
Suddenly the door busted open and a panicked Lancelot rushed into the room, not caring that he had startled all the women except Morgaine. Before words could be said, Adena screamed, Lancelot taking her hand in his once Vanora moved out of the way so she wouldn't have been run down or pushed harshly aside by the father to be.
"You asshole! You did this to me!" Adena yelled, taking a fistful of her husband's tunic as she did with Tristan earlier, with her left hand. "You are never to touch me again! So help me God, I will castrate you!" Adena screamed again, Lancelot paling (more from his wife in pain and the blood he saw rather than the threat as he has heard worse from Vanora when giving birth).
"Lancelot you must leave!" Vanora told him sternly.
"No!" Adena cried not loosening her hold on him, "In my time the men can stay as we give birth. I want him here, please let Lancelot stay."
Vanora turned to Morgaine, who nodded. "Very well, Lancelot sit behind her and take hold of her hands. The time to push is near."
The younger Priestess closed the door as Lancelot positioned himself behind his crying wife with the help of Vanora. He kissed her brow, holding her hands tightly, as she was him, another scream piercing the ever silent room.
"The numbing paste is ready, my lady."
Morgaine nodded, watching the other two women carefully and closely. The oldest positioned herself between Adena's legs, folding the night gown over Adena's knees, rubbing the paste in the areas needed, before taking a deep breath.
"When I say push, you must do so as hard as you can." Adena nods exhaustedly, the numbing paste working, albeit just a dull thud of pain. "Now, push." Adena did so, screaming in pain, the paste only working when she was still and not pushing. "Take a few deep breaths. Good, now push."
This went on for several more minutes until a baby's first cry could be heard. This brought tears (from both in pain and joy) to Adena as Lancelot listened with bewilderment at the screaming child that was of his blood, watching the oldest Priestess cutting something before handing the baby off.
"A girl," Number Two cried as the youngest Priestess went to the side to clean her.
"Now we must do it a second time."
Adena cried, shaking her head. "I cannot, I am too tired."
Lancelot held her hands tightly, kissing her sweaty brow. "You must love, come, you can do so again, you are stronger than you give yourself credit."
Crying, Adena pushed at the other woman's command, telling her husband why his gene had to have twins in the family. They did the pushing routine several more times until a second babe was heard crying.
"Tis a boy," the oldest Priestess replied, before cutting and passing the wrapped baby to Number Two to clean him as well.
Adena sighed, becoming limp against Lancelot as she closed her eyes to give in to exhaustion. Lancelot begun to panic, praying to whatever Gods that was listening to him to save his wife from the hands of death. Morgaine swiftly moved around to Adena's sighed and placed a cool hand upon the unconscious woman's forehead, closing her own eyes and muttering in a language none of the occupants save the other two Priestess knew. The oldest Priestess was cleaning the woman up as much as she can before quickly standing and looking over to the couple and Morgaine.
"She is rested and fully healed. Any blood she had lost due to the early birth has been restored. She would wake in the morn, as the babes, from the sounds of it, seem to follow their mother and rest as well."
It was then that Lancelot heard his children were not crying. He gave cry and a laugh, hugging his slumbering wife close to him, kissing her hair and forehead.
"Come, we must clean the sheets and replace her night gown." the oldest Priestess told the knight, who nodded and quickly moved from behind his wife.
Still dazed, Lancelot couldn't believe that he now had a wife and children. Something he never imagined would ever happen to him for he always believed that he was to die in battle. Something that Adena has changed; forever was he in her debt for he loved Adena too much to leave her, even in death.
"Do not dwell which is now past." Morgaine told him softly, smiling. "But live in the now and that which is to come for you all as a happy family."
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Lancelot didn't sleep much all night, looking over both his wife and children. Come early morning he was at Adena's side, helping her to sit up with pillows behind her to support her aching back. He was brushing the hair from his wife's face, kissing her forehead, cheeks, nose, and mouth. Adena sighed with content, bringing one hand to his face as Lancelot held on to her other. The knight leaned into her hand before turning to kiss her palm with great tenderness.
"I am glad the Gods have spared your life, however I believe Morgaine had a helping hand in asking them and saving you as well." he whispered, not wanting to wake his children just yet.
Adena frowned slightly, a hand going to her stomach before looking back to her husband. "The children?"
Lancelot smiled, turning his head slightly to the two wooden cribs he and his brother's in arms helped made a few months ago. "Sleeping and safe; Morgaine has double check them, they are as healthy as they can be."
Adena sighed, looking back to her loving husband. "How was it that Tristan found you so quickly? I would have thought you were not going to make it back on time?"
Lancelot smiled that quick grin of his, "We were actually just returning back to Camelot when he reached us; I couldn't stand being away from you any longer than the four days."
Adena laughs quietly, sighing. "And I have missed you; now, what do you suggest to name our children?"
Lancelot shrugged before leaning forward to give her a thorough kiss, Adena responding just as heatedly. They then pulled away when one of their children started to cry, followed by its sibling. Lancelot leaned his forehead against his wife, who chuckled in return, taking his face in her hands.
"It will only be like this until they learn to walk and talk." Adena whispered.
Lancelot groaned at the thought of no more privacy, making his wife laugh. Life was truly becoming more than either of them expected; in a good way, of course. With a mock sigh, Lancelot stood and made his way to his children, to take them back to Adena for their breakfast. The knight now knew the meaning of freedom and happiness, and was glad to have shared it with the woman from another time; the woman with whom he fell deeply in love with.
A/N: This was actually the quickest update I've ever done! I don't know how, but I somehow got inspired; maybe because I knew it was ending so quickly and I wanted to get this over with? IDK, but I do hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I wrote it. Please review and let me know what you think! There is only the Epilogue after this and that would be all for this story until I start on the sequel and where I want to take that.