35. Birth

They startled awake a few hours later, just before dawn, when Varhog's youngest sister Breetuk ducked through the door. As a Kull, she had to stoop even lower than Varhog, and she was breathless as if she had been running. "Myrin's having her baby right now!" she panted. "If you want to see it, you must come!" She turned, exiting the same way she had entered.

Varhog stood, still holding Willow. "We should tell Eragon and Arya," she sleepily muttered, so he walked with her back to the bedroom, exactly as he had two nights before, though this time he was so much less tense. He gently rapped on the door, pushing it open slightly.

"Firesword," Varhog said, loudly enough to get Firesword's attention. Arya was curled next to his side, the blankets pulled up over her shoulders and her husband's arms around her.

Firesword blinked his eyes open. "You have returned," he stated in a clear voice, and Varhog remembered that his sleep was lighter, like that of the elves.

"Yes," Varhog answered, "and Myrin's baby is being born. If we wish to be present, we must make our way there at once." He retreated down the hallway to give the two in the bedroom a chance to arise and waited in the front room with his face pressed to Willow's hair, breathing deeply to smell her. She had dozed off again, still nestled so warmly in his arms.

A few minutes later, Firesword and Arya emerged hand in hand. "Lead the way, Varhog. We can keep up."

Varhog grinned, knowing they could actually easily outdistance him. They left the hut and broke into a loping run, Varhog moving just as easily as if Willow hadn't been in his arms. She wouldn't have been able to keep up, though she was tall and fast for a human, and she seemed content to hold on for the ride.

-:-:-

They arrived at Tarhvek and Myrin's hut within minutes. The cold, early morning air had invigorated Willow, though she was warm and snug in Varhog's arms. She felt perfectly alert and excited for what was about to happen. Varhog knocked on the door to announce their presence before simply letting himself in. There were many Urgals in the front room, all of them family and most of them female.

Breetuk said, "Myrin wants the visitors to be present. The rest of us have seen this often enough. We're waiting out here so there will be room in the bedroom. Hurry! She's close."

They made their way back to the bedroom, Varhog in the lead and still carrying Willow. When he reached the door, Varhog gently pushed it open.

Murtagh and Nasuada were in one corner, standing against the wall with Murtagh behind his wife. Nasuada's face glowed with joy as she gazed at the scene on the bed. Varhog made his way over to stand by them with Eragon and Arya following, and they lined up opposite the bed.

Tarhvek sat on the bed with his back to the wall and a few pillows behind him. He was bare chested but had his pants on. Myrin was naked except for the undergarment over her chest, which appeared to fasten in the front. She squatted in between Tarhvek's outstretched legs and leaned back into his chest, her belly round and ponderous. Their three children were sitting around them on the bed, chattering excitedly but quietly. The two little girls petted their mother's hands.

At that moment, Myrin had her eyes closed and her head bowed. She appeared to be holding her breath, but then Willow simply realized that her exhalation was very slow and controlled. Tarhvek supported under her elbows to steady her and ease the strain of maintaining her squat. After a few more seconds of this, Myrin relaxed into her mate. She breathed in deeply and looked up, noticing the newcomers and greeting them with a bright smile. "Varhog, I'm so glad you made it! The baby's almost here."

Tarhvek stroked Myrin's arms in a soothing gesture, softly murmuring, "You're amazing, Myrin. That one was longer and stronger. The baby's nearly here. It moved down so much that time." He moved his hands to her belly, stroking there next.

Myrin whispered to the baby, "Thank you, little one, for waiting just the right amount of time. Now all are here who wished to see your arrival." She looked up at her son. "Do you think you'll get a brother, young Tarhvek?" The boy grinned widely, reaching forward to pat her breasts and exclaiming what sounded like, "kee kee." Willow wondered if it was the way the lad referred to his mother's milk. Myrin lovingly touched his small face. "Soon, honey. You'll share with the new baby when it arrives."

Tears came to Willow's eyes. It was so precious. There was no screaming or pain, just a family enjoying the most miraculous experience they would ever share. Arya and Nasuada seemed equally touched.

Then Willow noticed Myrin's womb tighten downward, and Myrin leaned forward once more, closing her eyes and deeply filling her lungs. She rested her arms lightly on her knees, no tension in her hands and her lower back pressed into Tarhvek as she curled even more around her baby. Her quiet exhale evolved into an instinctive groan, muted but powerful. From what Willow could see, there was nothing Myrin could do to stop the efforts of her womb and once she assisted them in the slightest, the urge to bear down overpowered her. She continued assisting her uterus and though she did not strain, her face had a look of intense concentration.

Willow observed a small bulge slowly moving down Myrin's body toward the opening. From his position, Tarhvek seemed to sense it as well, and he reached under Myrin's leg, holding his hand to the opening of her body and applying firm counter pressure. "The head, Myrin. It's crowning," he quietly informed. Myrin let out the last air in her lungs then relaxed back against him, more breathless than before. She replenished her air supply with slow, controlled breaths.

"That was the first one that took me over," she breathed. "The next one will bring the baby's head and maybe the body as well, if Tarhvek's birth is any indication of what to expect." She fell silent and focused on relaxing and resting before the final effort of her womb. Tarhvek kept his hand where it was, supporting the opening of her body as it stretched under the pressure of the baby's head.

Myrin opened her eyes once more to look at Arya, then Willow, then Nasuada, another joyful smile on her face. "Here it comes," she said. "Soon this will be you." Willow and Arya glanced over at Nasuada in surprise. She only nodded once, smiling and placing one hand over her lower abdomen in confirmation before turning her attention back to Myrin.

Myrin's last words were swallowed in a low hum that grew deeper as she curled over her womb once again. She took in a quick breath but it too was swallowed in the instinctive urge of her body. Her face tensed for the first time as her uterus moved in a powerful effort to push the baby out. She put one hand down next to Tarhvek's as the baby's head slowly emerged. They supported it gently, and the baby seemed to know that it needed to turn so it was facing sideways rather than backwards. This it did and once its shoulders were at the opening of Myrin's body, the body swiftly followed, along with a forceful gush of fluid that reached the children. They laughed in surprise, and Myrin gasped as she and Tarhvek caught the child in their hands.

Willow, Nasuada, and Arya gasped along with Myrin as the newborn baby suddenly emerged from its mother, there for all to see. Willow felt Varhog's muscles tense then heard his soft cry of amazement.

"A son!" Myrin exclaimed in delight, and Tarhvek grinned proudly. The baby let out one gusty cry then fell silent. Myrin laughed and cried simultaneously, a radiant smile on her face. "Hello, little one," she welcomed. "We're so happy to meet you." She shifted slightly, saying to Tarhvek, "I need to sit down. My legs are aching."

Tarhvek held the tiny infant in one great hand while Myrin braced herself against his thighs and stretched her legs out in front of her. Then she leaned back into him with a relieved look on her face, still breathing deeply and recovering from the mighty effort of her womb.

While Tarhvek continued to hold their new son, carefully supporting his neck and head, Myrin used her hands to work along the length of the cord still attaching him to the placenta. She pushed the supply of blood contained in the cord into the baby's body, and Willow watched in amazement as the purplish-gray pallor of the baby's skin took on a ruddy color.

Myrin looked up at them and explained, "The baby is born with only about two-thirds of its blood supply. The remaining one-third stays in the cord and placenta until after the birth, making it easier for the baby to fit through the birth path. It's important for the cord to remain attached to the baby until all of that blood can make its way into the baby's body. I'm simply helping it along, though more will come on its own." She then returned her attention to her baby, stroking his tiny face, arms, hands, legs, and feet. "He's so perfect, Tarhvek. We did an amazing job."

Her mate nodded, kissing the back of her neck. "You did an amazing job, Myrin. He's beautiful." She smiled joyfully as tears once again came to her eyes.

Myrin scooted down a little to be more reclined, and Tarhvek matched her movements so she could still rest comfortably against him. Myrin then said, "Mother, will you get me a blanket for my legs? They're cold." Willow suspected that Myrin also wished to be more modest for the sake of the human males present, now that the moment of birth had passed.

Myrintuk, who had hung back to quietly observe the miraculous event, came forward with a blanket and spread it over Myrin's legs up to the bottom edge of her abdomen, which now looked deflated and saggy. She then grabbed a towel and began drying off the children, who watched their tiny new brother with wide eyes.

With a loving smile Myrintuk said to them, "How did you like your bath just now, children?" The children giggled, and all who heard either laughed or smiled.

Myrin invited the children over. "Come and meet your brother. He's strong and healthy. Stroke him softly, please."

Willow looked at Varhog as she felt him laugh for the first time in days at his mother's comment. "I missed that," Willow said with tears in her eyes. He kissed her. "That was amazing," she added, referring to the birth. He nodded, too emotional for words. Willow twisted to look at Arya. "Is that how it is among the elves?"

Arya tore her tear-filled eyes from the beautiful scene on the bed, where she had been drinking in every second. "Yes, much like that. We use more singing, at least in the beginning. But near the end, it's much like that. From what I've heard, the urge to bear down is simply undeniable. Nothing can be done to ignore it once the womb insists that it is time. She did amazingly." She turned her head to look at Eragon, who held her from behind. "Well, what did you think, darling? Slightly better than what you heard of Hope's birth?"

Eragon also had a hard time taking his eyes off the family in front of him, but once he had, he gazed at Arya in wonder. "Aye," he agreed. "That was incredible to see only the two of them take care of it so smoothly without any interfering hands. Let's have our baby that way. You'll have to teach me what I need to know. She was so comfortable and in control. There was never a loud shriek or cry. Such noises must scare the baby, don't you think?"

Arya nodded. "Very observant, Eragon. Yes, the baby can feel its mother's emotions and feelings, especially if she's in pain, as completely as it affects the whole body. Did you notice how the baby only cried out once? He was so calmly and gently brought into this world that he only performed the obligatory cry, which assists the womb in clamping down and expelling the placenta, before falling silent. A screaming baby after a birth is often indicating its displeasure and pain at how violent and frightening the experience was for them. This is how childbirth is supposed to be." She returned her eyes to the bed.

Myrin gently scooped the baby from Tarhvek's hands and laid him tummy down over her lower abdomen. The children reached forward at their mother's invitation, gently touching his back and head while murmuring to him in soft tones.

The two-year-old boy, young Tarhvek, who had just moments ago seemed so small next to everyone in the room, now appeared gigantic compared to the miniature size of the baby. He hopefully looked at his mother, once again patting her chest.

Myrin said, "Yes, honey, come have your milk. Your new brother will smell it and soon find his way to join you. And it will help my womb shrink back down. Tarhvek, will you help me remove this top?"

Young Tarhvek waited patiently while his father unfastened Myrin's undershirt. Then the boy scooted up and expertly latched himself onto her breast, leaning his head against her chest so he could still look down at the baby and softly pat his head. Myrin smiled in delight. She was surrounded by everyone she loved most dearly, finally able to meet the baby she had long carried. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply to relax, resting her head against Tarhvek's shoulder as the anticipated surge tightened her womb.

The baby, who at first lay still on his mother's abdomen, soon began to fidget and squirm. Myrin asked the children to draw their hands back and watch as their brother made his way to his food. The baby slowly but determinedly scooted his way up Myrin's body, pushing with kicking motions of his tiny knees and legs and pulling with grasping motions of his hands. Each time he was able to bring his face level with his hand, he would open his mouth wide and search around expectantly. Myrin laughed at his bright-eyed efforts. "Not quite there, little one," she murmured encouragingly. "Keep going." Tarhvek watched over her shoulder, his expression still awed and full of pride.

The baby continued doggedly until he was level with her open breast. He reached out a tiny fist and opened his fingers, clumsily patting around until he found what he was searching for and could see from the corner of his eye—her nipple. He grasped it and pulled himself toward it, once again using his hands and feet. When his mouth was right next to it, he rested his head down in exhaustion at his long efforts, remaining there for several minutes. Then his determination surged again, and he lifted his head to the side while opening his tiny mouth wide to grasp a great mouthful of his mother's nipple. Once he had done this, he automatically began suckling with motions that were completely reflexive at this early time.

Myrin shifted her arm to cradle the side of his body so he could rest his head against it, delightedly crooning, "You did it! Hooray, baby!"

Willow felt like clapping at the amazing display of resolve from one who could otherwise not move himself at all. For him to move that great distance, driven by instinct and reflexes, was truly awe-inspiring. She contented herself with beaming broadly and once again turning to Varhog to share her joy. He returned her smile with one of equal wonder.

Myrin then requested, "Mother, will you please get me a drink?" Myrintuk brought her a glass of water, which Myrin greedily drank. Then she said, "I suppose we should attend to the tree of life." She addressed young Tarhvek, stroking his head. "That's all for now, honey. Mother needs to take care of something. But there will be plenty more in just a day or so and you'll be grateful to share with your brother, since your milk has all but disappeared these last months. I'll also be grateful to have your help removing all the extra milk."

Myrin kissed the top of his head before he withdrew, thanking her with a happy smile and placing his small hand on her cheek while he lovingly said, "Mama." Then he turned and climbed into his grandmother's arms.

Myrin turned her face slightly toward her mate. "Tarhvek, will you please help me get upright again?" She sat forward, and he easily supported her weight with his hands around her waist, not disturbing the baby at all. Myrin tiredly pulled her legs back under her, mostly letting her husband hold her as she caught the placenta with her free hand. It came out with no apparent effort, as it must have detached from her womb many minutes before and awaited its birth in the opening of her body.

Now Willow saw blood for the first time. Very little had been present at the birth of the baby, but a great gush of it flowed out behind the placenta, held at bay until its departure from Myrin's body. But no one seemed at all concerned. Myrintuk had brought a clean dish along with the glass of water, and after setting her grandson down, she extended it toward Myrin, who placed the tree of life inside.

Tarhvek continued to hold Myrin up as her mother removed some of the soaked towels under her body and replaced them with fresh, clean ones. Then he lowered her gently back down, helping her get comfortable. Once both of his hands were free, and since Myrin was supporting the baby at her breast in one arm and was waiting for a bowl of water to rinse off her other hand, Tarhvek reached for some supplies laying on the table next to the bed. He used a sharp knife to cut a length of yarn into two equal pieces. With practiced motions he then tied the baby's cord in two places, once several inches from the baby's navel and again a few inches beyond that. When the strings were secured, he easily cut the cord that had attached the baby to the tree of life.

Myrin looked up at Arya, Willow, and Nasuada and said, "If you're interested in seeing this, you're welcome to come over. I'll eat some of it now, then my mother will take it and prepare it for me to use over the next several days and weeks."

Varhog finally set Willow down for the first time in hours, and the three women eagerly approached the bed. Before rinsing her hand, Myrin spread the organ out and showed them how one side was deep red, rough, and coarse like a piece of raw meat. This, she explained, was the side that had attached to her womb. The other side was smooth, shiny, and varying shades of blue, purple, and red. Myrin indicated the many veins that branched along the surface and flowed toward the cord, just as tree branches congregate in the trunk of the tree.

Willow said, "I see what you meant about it looking like a tree. It's amazing." Myrin used the thumb and first two fingers of her bloodied hand to pinch off a small amount of the organ from the coarse side. She pressed it into a towel to remove most of the excess blood and placed it in her mouth, smiling at Nasuada's not-quite-disguised expression of disgust.

"It's actually good," Myrin reassured. "And a very instinctive thing for a mammal to do, though it must seem strange to one never before exposed to the concept." Then she finally rinsed her hand off in the bowl of warm water Myrintuk had brought for her.

Myrintuk took the bowl with the placenta and handed it to Breetuk, who had briefly entered in order to help with this task. She crouched down near the bed, quietly addressing the children. "Come along, children. We'll go get some breakfast and play with your cousins." The children quickly hopped off the bed, and Breetuk herded them out the door, still carrying the bowl with the placenta.

Myrin then said, "Tarhvek and I now want to rest with our new son." She looked at her mother. "Will you ensure that the children are cared for, please? And I could really use more water." Myrintuk brought her another full glass, which Myrin swiftly drained. Then she smiled and handed the empty cup back. "Thank you, mother."

Myrintuk leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Congratulations, daughter. You have a beautiful new son. Don't worry about the other children. They'll be fine."

Myrin looked up at her audience once more. In a tired but triumphant voice she said, "Thank you all for being here to witness that. It was truly an honor to share it with you. I hope it fills you with excitement for what your futures hold. Come back in a few days to meet the baby. He needs time to first get acquainted with us before meeting any new people."

Willow and the other women all murmured fervent thanks for the opportunity, along with promises to return when Myrin was ready for visitors. Before they could leave, Myrin called to Varhog, who was following behind the others with Willow by his side. Varhog stopped and turned to face Myrin as she invited, "Varhog, will you please come over here?"

Keeping hold of Willow's hand, Varhog went to her side. "Yes, Myrin?"

"I want you to meet your newest nephew right now," she said with a glowing smile. Varhog knelt down and peered at the tiny infant, who now slept deeply with his mother's breast still in his mouth. "Varhog, meet Varhog. We're naming him after you."

Varhog looked at her in surprise, his eyes filling with tears. "You don't have to do that, Myrin."

"Yes, I know. But I want to. I'm so glad you were here, Varhog. Your presence meant more to me than anyone else's. It was such a gift to have you arrive back for your first visit just in time to be here for this. This is my gift in return. Next to Tarhvek and our children, you mean more to me than anyone, so it only seems fitting that our second son be named after you."

Varhog placed a hand over her arm where it cradled the baby so his fingers gently brushed the baby's back. "Thank you," he said in a voice deeply affected by emotion. "I'm honored." He then raised his hand to Myrin's cheek before withdrawing it. He looked at Tarhvek. "Thank you too. And congratulations. That was amazing. He's a fine son." Tarhvek nodded.

"We'll go now," Varhog said. "Rest well. We'll come when summoned." They turned to go and began walking toward the door. Then with a knowing grin over his shoulder, Varhog repeated the advice Myrin had given him the night she had helped Willow clean and dress. "Enjoy yourselves, sister. If I know you, you'll not rest long now that the baby is out of your womb. Not that you did before." He chuckled at Myrin's delighted laugh.

Myrin said, "I have to do something to regain my comely shape. Tarhvek will be most willing to help with that."

Willow looked back to see Tarhvek grin and once again kiss Myrin on the back of her neck, clearly demonstrating how much he loved her. They had just painted a beautiful picture for her of how she wanted her own birth to be and of how she envisioned her future family. She and Varhog left hand in hand, walking slowly back to Arya and Eragon's hut.

A/N: The next chapter contains discussion and brief description of intimate love.