Chapter 4
Kneeling by Midna's side, the hero did his best to calm her until Zelda returned. The Twilit Queen was panting and gasping, her hands clasped to her belly, as if trying to squeeze the baby out. "Calm down, Midna. It's all going to be fine." said Link, in an attempt to reassure her.
"Try saying that when it's you giving birth instead of me!" she gasped, wincing as another contraction tore through her body like a hurricane.
"Fair point!" he grinned.
At that moment, Zelda came running up, with Impa in tow. The Sheikah nursemaid knelt beside the hero's wife and laid a hand on her belly, feeling for the baby's kicks.
"You're due any moment now. I can feel it." muttered Impa.
"About time too!" yelled Midna. As the labour progressed, the baby's kicks became more and more frequent, getting harder each time the tiny feet pounded against Midna's belly, stretching the skin taut and leaving a foot – shaped impression upon her flesh. Eventually, it came to the stage where she had to start pushing. When Impa instructed her to do so, she gathered up all her courage and, screaming curses against the gods of the Twili, forced the baby out of her womb.
The newborn lay on the grass, covered in its mother's fluids. Impa gently lifted the child into her arms, before cleaning it up, wrapping it in a cloth blanket, cutting the cord and handing the baby to Midna.
"It's a girl!" said Link, excitement dancing across his tongue.
"What shall we call her?" asked Midna.
"Karen." answered Link shortly. Then, helping Midna into Epona's saddle, pulling Kaiya into his lap and taking a hold of the reins, he gave them a gentle flick sending the horse galloping off towards the portal.
A few hours later, Link, Midna, Kaiya, and newborn Karen cantered to a stop up outside the Palace of Twilight. Karen was resting in a sling wrapped around Midna's chest, and Link was careful as he helped her down from the horse. Midna was still quite weak from giving birth, and Link immediately ordered her to rest in bed until she was well again. Despite her protests, she let herself be led upstairs and tucked into bed.
Taking Karen from the sling, Link gathered her into his arms and carried her downstairs, so that she could meet her sister.
"She's so cute!" squealed Kaiya, when she saw Karen.
"Now, you be nice to her, won't you Kaiya." said Link. "Your mother and I went through a lot of trouble to give you a sister." he joked.
"Of course I will, Daddy!" laughed Kaiya.