Chapter Twelve
My time came in the dark of an icy winter night. I woke to the labor pains, like a fist wrapped around my insides and squeezing. Trying not to yell, I woke Asvald and he helped me walk into the main room and wake Alanna and Groa, who put some water over the fire. I wanted to hold my baby, but at that moment, the fact that within a matter of hours I would be a mother was more overwhelming than my fears of the pain or possible death, or even the desire to nurse my little one.
"Oh God, oh God," I groaned o8ut of fear and paced, my heart racing in fear. "Don't let me die, please," I prayed, needing some kind of comfort. Another pain gripped my belly and I cried out, panicked.
"You're alright, Eachna," Groa mumured gently, though she made no attempt to touch me.
I let out a long drawn-out moan and then the pain left me. With a sigh of relief, I sat by the fire and tried to eat some bread and butter to give me strength through the long night ahead. My lips moved in silent prayer, my hands moving constantly over my tight, round belly.
Alanna took the children to spend the night with Halla and her husband, and when she returned, the midwife was with her.
"There will be no heathen prayers. I want no chants to your gods. Alanna will pray for me, won't you?" I asked and looked at her. She nodded with a smile.
For hours they left me alone, letting me lie down when I wanted to, and letting me pace when I wanted to. The pains were unbearable, and sometimes I would burst into tears until it faded. I never faced any pain like that before.
When I felt that the baby was coming, I wanted to lie down, but Groa insisted that I squat, that it would be better for me and the baby. I did as I was told, and Groa next behind me, supporting my back and keeping me steady. The midwife was in front of me, ready to catch the baby. The pain blurred my eyesight, and it seemed like a never-ending groan poured from my mouth. I felt the crown of the baby's head emerge, gasping at the horrible burning pain.
Groa murmured encouragement in my ear and rubbed my lower back. The midwife guided the baby's shoulders, and seconds later, the baby slipped out in a wet rush. I gasped with relief.
"It's out?" I asked in shock, staring down at my red baby. "It's over?"
Groa laughed and patted my shoulder and kissed my sweaty cheek. "It's over, Eachna. Your baby is here."
Though I had been staring at the baby, I finally truly saw it, a smile appearing on my face as I looked upon its little wrinkled body, and heard its cries of surprise and anger from being forced from my safe, warm womb. The midwife was wiping the child off with a soft rag, but I pulled it away to see that I had given birth to a son. Asvald had been right. It was a darling little boy, delicate and red. I almost laughed as I realized that newborns were honestly not pleasant to look at, and were only beautiful to their own parents.
"Hello baby," I whispered as tears flooded my eyes, so much in awe of this little person I had created that I could hardly speak. I cried happy tears as the midwife cut the baby's cord and counted his toes and fingers. But I knew even before she told me. He was perfect.
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Once the afterbirth was delivered, Groa helped me over to the bed and I laid down, thankful for the relief. While I was laboring, a large skin had been draped over the doorway, to give me some privacy. Alanna pulled back the skin to allow me to see the early morning sky, brimming with vibrant color, a faded glory that refreshed me and encouraged me.
"A new day for the beginning of a new life," Alanna said and came back to my side to kiss my cheek. I smiled and the midwife laid my newborn son on my chest so I could nurse him. The baby calmed at the warmth of my skin, his head turning to the side to latch on to my breast. I gasped at the beauty of this moment, and more tears slid down my cheek. It hurt to nurse him, for it caused cramps in my belly and his jaws were strongly clamped down on my nipple, but it did not ruin how perfect it was. The child cooed, and his tiny hand pressed to my skin.
"I love you," I whispered and touched the soft blond hair on top of his head with my fingertips. My son opened his eyes fully for the first time, blinking up at me with grey-blue eyes. My smile widened and my heart stretched to hold all the love I felt for my baby. He smelled sweetly of newborn, his little body warm against me, his skin soft and tender.
"My little bump. You will always be my little bump," I murmured down to him with love. This was the best day of my life.
It was later that afternoon when Asvald came into the longhouse. I had spent most of the morning sleeping, but I awoke when he entered.
"Are you well, kone?" He asked, kneeling beside the bed and taking my hand.
I smiled and caressed his cheek. "I am well, though a bit sore and tired."
"May I hold our child?" he asked, looking at our sleeping baby in my arms. I gently lifted him up and placed him in Asvald's waiting arms.
"Meet your son," I said, proud of my little family. Then I realized something. This was the first time I'd thought of Asvald as my family. Our son made everything seem perfect, like every bit of pain and every day of loneliness was meant to be.
Asvald smiled at the child and touched his finger to our son's cheek. "He has your nose."
I laughed. "Aye, and he has your eyes and your lips."
"And your chin," he said and his eyes met mine. "He is beautiful. Thank you, kone."
I gave him a nod and lifted my arms for my son. Asvald places him back in my arms.
"In nine days we will have the naming ceremony," Asvald said, smiling warmly at us.
"What will you call him?" I asked, stroking my son's downy hair.
"You will find out in nine days." He leaned down and gives me a long, deep kiss. I was glad that in due time, Asvald would join with me once again.
A little more than a week went by, and it was time for our son to be named. I got up and dressed in my finest blue dress to show my status of the chieftain's wife. I nursed him before walking slowly to the common hall, still a bit sore from the birth and trying not to slip on the snow-covered ground, Alanna by my side.
Opening the heavy wooden door with one hand, I stepped into the crowded hall, thankful for the warmth.
Asvald was at the front of the room and his voice echoed off the walls. "Today we welcome new life into our village. A new child has been born! Who bore this child, come forth and identify yourself!"
With shaky legs, I stepped forward through the parted crowd. "I am Eachna and I bore this child," I said and stooped to place our child at his feet. The child cried and I yearned to comfort him, my breasts tingling with the urge to nurse. Before much longer, his cries would cause my milk to leak.
"I am Asvald, son of Bork, and I sired this child," Asvald said and I blushed. He continued, "I recognize the child, named Toki, as my son and swear by the gods to raise him to be a fine warrior." Asvald drank from a horn of mead then bent to lift our son into his arms. I smiled when our son, Toki, stopped fussing because he knew who is father was.
Asvald turned to face me and asked, "Do you, Eachna, accept me as the child's father and swear by the gods to raise him as a warrior of this village?"
I wasn't quite happy about the warrior part, but I said, "I do so swear." Taking the horn of mead from Asvald, I took a sip.
Asvald lifted Toki into the air and shouted, "Here is my son Toki, welcome him to this village!"
The crowd all shouted back, "Toki, we welcome you!"
"It is done," Asvald said and laid Toki in my arms once again, then placed a kiss on my cheek. "You have made me most happy," he whispered. His praise warmed my heart.
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That night Asvald slept beside me, and Toki slept in a cradle alongside our bed. Lying on my belly, I watched Toki as he slept, his little lips parted in sleep, his fist tucked up by his cheek.
Asvald propped himself up on his elbow and peered over my shoulder at our son. His bare chest pressed to my own bare shoulders. I could feel the wisps of his chest hair against my soft skin.
"He is perfect." His breath tickled my ear. Without seeing his face, I could hear the smile in his voice.
I smiled and touched my fingertips to my baby's belly. "I know. Look at his golden hair! It matches yours," I whispered affectionately and gently stroked the tuft of blond hair atop the babe's head.
"You did well, my love." He kissed my cheek and laid down again. Smiling, I rolled to face my husband and trailed my lips along his jawline before pulling back to search his eyes, finding sleepiness and tenderness.
"There is only one thing that is bringing me sorrow. I wish my mother could be here to see my child, along with my sister. I wish they could know that I've had a baby," I whispered, fighting old emotions I longed to escape from. The hope that Toki would ease that pain was still present in my heart and I didn't want to lose that hope.
Asvald looked at me, and I could tell he was trying to be compassionate. "Your brothers learned that you are married all those months ago. I am sure that your family will assume that at one point or another, you would have a child. For now, focus on the family you and I just created."
I kissed him softly, and my body started to react in wanting him. Pulling away, I tried to dampen the flames of desire I felt, reminding myself that I had just given birth a week before.
"I'm glad the baby is born. Now I don't have to share your body with someone else," Asvald mumured and nuzzled my neck.
"We still have to wait until my bleeding stops," I told him, though I loved the affection.
"Mmm," he hummed and kissed my neck before putting some space between us. "I eagerly await that."
I smiled. Everything just kept getting better.
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I gained new respect from the villagers since I had given Asvald a son. Being the chieftain's wife was actually quite fun. People would trip all over themselves trying to please me, to get in my favor.
Life was difficult in a new way as I got up in the night to nurse Toki and my temper was more easily provoked.
But the most special times were when Toki cried in the night for milk, and I would lie on my side as he nursed, his warm little body cuddled to my side and Asvald would wake up and watch over my shoulder. I loved those special moments with the men in my life.
"I was right," he told me and kissed my shoulder. "You are a wonderful mother."
I smiled and stroked Toki's cheek. "He deserves the best of me. He deserves the world."