A/N: I'm so sorry it's been so long! I've been busy with track and finals coming up. Anywho, here it is! Thanks for not giving up on me!
Summary: Daine has her baby.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, it all belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Daine gasped as the first contraction went through her, clenching her fists. It wasn't too painful, but it signified the beginning of something much worse.
"I'm not ready for this!" Daine cried, terror gripping her in its talons, paralyzing her and making her heart stutter.
Her next thought was of the animals. The fear had come so quickly, she had forgotten to block her connection and prevent the nearby animals from feeling the emotions consuming her.
All around the palace, creatures great and small went berserk. Cats scratched humans that held them, desperate to get away; wanting to reach Daine but too panicked to know how. Dogs bit people, horses reared, hooves striking stall doors and riders alike.
It's okay, Daine called out to them all through her magic. Calm down!
Slowly, the activity quieted down. One mage—at the time teaching a class of pages—saw the chaos and left his classroom abruptly, sprinting as fast as he could to his chambers.
"Daine!" he yelled, leaping up the stairs three at a time.
Daine swore when she heard Numair's strangled voice coming closer. She went to the door, pulling open before he could run into it.
He put his hands on her shoulders, wide, frightened eyes meeting hers.
"Are you alright?" he gasped, the adrenaline leaving him as a shaky exhaustion took over.
"I'm fine, Numair," Daine assured him.
He shot her a doubtful look, and she smiled in an attempt at nonchalance. "I am in labor, but it's not a big deal. We have time." Her voice broke on the last word, betraying her true feelings.
"We need to get you to the infirmary," Numair said quickly, already half carrying, half guiding her out of their rooms.
Get Alanna, Daine requested, spotting a small sparrow outside the window in the hallway. Please, she added. She didn't want to ask it of Numair—he seemed to be a little calmer, and she didn't want him to have to tell their friend what was happening. It would cause him to realize what she had already comprehended—she was going to have a baby. Soon.
"At least the baby isn't changing forms," Daine pointed out. Numair nodded distractedly.
She didn't get the chance to say anything else in another attempt to help get both of their minds off what was coming—Alanna was already racing toward them.
The sparrow got to her that fast? Daine wondered. Her question was answered when Alanna reached them.
"I saw all the animals, and I figured I knew what was going on," the Lioness explained as she joined Numair, helping Daine down the stairs.
"Don't worry," Alanna reassured them both. "It'll be fine."
Daine wasn't so sure of that, but she didn't say anything. Her next contraction was more painful than the one before, and she winced.
They made it to the infirmary, and Daine laid down on a bed in one of the rooms. Being there made everything all the more real, and she closed off her bond to animals completely, not wanting them to react to the wild emotions racing through her.
Numair took her hand, standing on her right. As the contractions got more frequent and hurt more she held on to him like a lifeline. Alanna helped, telling Daine what to do.
The hours passed slowly, and at last the baby was born. She instantly started changing gender and species, and Daine was infinitely glad she didn't do that during the birth itself. As it was, Alanna put the puppy in Daine's arms.
She and Numair beamed down at their child, happiness filling them.
Later, once they were back in their chambers, Daine would discover just how hard it is to feed a baby that changes constantly, but in that moment, there was only joy. And when Daine got her first glimpse at the baby girl her daughter would one day be permanently, she knew that she would love her baby no matter what.
Sarralyn Salmalin smiled up at her parents for the first time.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! RR!