The room was deathly silent. Keeva lay still on her back, breathing hard.
"Please Lord." She fervently whispered over and over again.
Suddenly a small whimper was heard then a strong cry!
Keeva began to sob. "Thank you Lord, thank you!" Keeva said, her prayer being echoed by Arya.
"Its a boy!" Arya said as she handed the squalling infant to Keeva.
"What are you going to name him?" Arya asked as she began the clean up process of afterbirth.
"His name is Aradan (Are-ah-dahn) Neurion (Nur-ee-on), I wanted something with meaning." Keeva said, holding her son to her bosom.
His soft hair was dark brown and wavy.
Keeva kissed his head gently and then looked at him. She counted toe's and fingers, all there. She watched him breath for a full minute with no odd discrepancies. She looked into his eyes, the deepest lightest blue she had ever seen, and saw him looking back. He was perfect despite being born a month early.
Again Keeva thanked her Heavenly Father for protecting her and her son.
"That's a fine name, I wouldn't doubt that you know what it means too." Arya said a twinkle in her eye.
"Yes I do, it means noble successor." She sighed " I can hope, can I not?" Keeva asked in a whisper to her Father.
Arya overheard her but didn't push the issue. Keeva would tell her when she was ready.
"Are you ready for that bath I promised you?" Arya asked a now jubilant Keeva.
"Yes, that sounds heavenly!" Keeva handed Aradan to Arya and carefully stood. She was weak but she could walk.
She made her way to the tub and quickly undressed.
Keeva sat in the water and relaxed.
Maybe everything will work out Lord, I was silly to doubt. Thank You for my handsome little boy. Help me to raise him to be the man that You want him to be. And Lord? Where ever my family is, please protect them. Amen.
Keeva was sitting on the porch rocking Aradan when Eragon came out of the woods with a dead deer slung across his shoulders.
Keeva watched him come towards the house, watched him light up at the sight of her. Did he like her?
Keeva shoved the rebellious thought from her mind, but just as quickly as it left another took its place. Did she like him?
Keeva shook her head slightly. "That's the second one in a week! What do you think us women will do with all of that meat?" Keeva asked when he was in ear shot.
"Well I figured since Aradan and I are growing boy's, we need all the meat we can get!" Eragon replied smiling at Keeva before gently touching the babies head.
"Hey big guy, you wanna come hunting with Uncle Eragon?" He asked him in mock seriousness and Keeva couldn't keep the giggles that spilled into the soft morning air.
"Eragon, you mustn't tease him, you'll make him cry again." Keeva said between laughter.
"Hey! It wasn't my fault that his diaper was dirty. I had nothing to do with it!" By now Eragon was having as much trouble speaking as Keeva was he was laughing so hard.
He leaned over to set the deer down, and that move alone saved his life.