The calm after the birth lasted exactly three days, before everything turned hectic again. Numair returned to teaching the Pages magic in the palace, whilst Daine cared for Sarralyn.
Numair walked up the stairs to his room, whistling. The pages had been full of enthusiasm and congratulations for him and his wife. He'd just run in to Thayet, who had kissed him soundly on both cheeks and promised to visit soon. He reached the door and paused, listening.
"Sarralyn, please. I need to feed you! No- don't do that. Please, just stay still for-" He heard Daine sigh deeply, and walked into the room. The child in her arms was almost a blur, she was changing shape so fast. The wildmage looked up tearily. "She won't stop changing. I need to nurse her, but I can't if she doesn't stop! I CAN'T!"
Numair sat on the floor beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Sarralyn looked at her father, and stopped shifting. Daine took her chance and attempted to nurse her daughter. To her relief, it worked, and Sarralyn began to feed. Numair loosened his grip on his wife to give her more space. Daine looked up, and pursed her lips slightly. Numair took the hint, and kissed her, careful not to squash Sarralyn. He broke away slowly, concerned.
"How are we going to manage, magelet? You'll exhaust yourself trying to keep up with her."
Daine frowned in determination. "I'll just have to manage. There isn't long 'til her naming ceremony. Maybe Ma can help. We can stick it out 'til then." She returned to concentrating on Sarralyn.
"…Now CHOOSE!" Sarra demanded of the child in her arms. After a moment, she handed a human baby girl back to her mother. Daine smiled in relief and Sarra smiled back. "In future, dear, don't shapeshift whilst you're pregnant. It gives them the wrong ideas." She nodded briskly, and the naming ceremony continued.
Hours later, full of the congratulations of their friends, Daine, Numair and Sarralyn returned to their palace rooms. Once Sarralyn was fed and tucked into her cot, her parents returned to their bedroom. Numair smiled at Daine, who, now that she no longer had to worry over nursing a shapeshifting baby, was brimming with joy. He sat on the edge of the bed to remove his shirt and she scrambled over to sit beside him. He turned to her and began to nuzzle and kiss her neck. She giggled lightly, and he growled in the back of his throat. Pinning her down on the mattress, he raised an eyebrow.
"Something funny?" He whispered, his voice husky. In reply, she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him. He deepened the kiss eagerly, running his tongue over her lower lip teasingly. He stopped before things got too passionate, and looked at her seriously. "Are you sure you're ready for this? You're not still sore from the birth?"
"I'm fine." She reassured him, stroking his cheek. He reached into a pocket in his breeches and brought out a silver pregnancy charm on a delicate chain.
"Because you "lost" your last one." He smiled, and slipped it over her head and around her neck.
She shook her head, bemused. "I love you."
"Love you more, magelet."
"No." She shook her head again as she brushed her lips against his. "Not possible." He growled in the back of her throat and kissed her harder.
Later, when they were done making love together and were lying in eachother's arms, Numair thought of something. "Magelet?" He whispered softly, unsure if she was still awake.
"Mm?" Daine looked up at him sleepily.
"No more shapeshifting babies, alright?"
She grinned, and snuggled closer against his chest. "Agreed. No more shapeshifting babies. Just normal ones."
"Magelet…" He sounded slightly alarmed, and she chuckled.
"Not just yet, obviously. But in the future. I think I'll want more children. I like being a Ma."
"Goodnight, magelet."
A/N- Reviews? Tell me, should I continue this? Or do a sequel? Both options would have the same contents, but I'm wondering which you think makes more sense?