She was awoken by crying. Tristan growled then looked up to the children. Ruth had stared to wail first, which awoke Tor and now he was crying at the top of his tiny lungs. "They're hungry." Amaya murmured, sighing softly as she sat up. "You'd better pass them to me." Tristan leaned out of bed and picked up Ruth first, pausing to gently brush his lips to her brow and she quietened, which surprised him greatly as he handed her over. Amaya smirked. "I think we have a papa's girl over here." She murmured as Tristan held Tor, rubbing his thumb into the boy's cheek to remove the tears then waited as Amaya first fed Ruth and then Tor, alternating between the two before they were both full.
Copying what she had seen Ragnell do, Amaya shifted Tor onto her shoulder after placing a spare towel there then patted his back, turning her face to kiss her son's head until his stomach was settled and then did the same for Ruth.
Once they were settled again, Amaya immediately fell back asleep and Tristan held her to him, placing his head on the pillow. The sun was beginning to rise but neither moved, too deep in sleep until the babies started to demand more food. Whimpering slightly as Tristan shook her awake, glancing over his shoulder.
"I swear, next time you can do the entire thing." Amaya murmured. "The carrying, the birthing and the feeding." He chuckled into her which instantly made her smile.
"What about the conceiving?" She shot him a dark look before smirking. Amaya pressed her lips to his before sitting up, nodding her head towards their children so that Tristan knew to hand them to her. "They're very small." Tristan murmured with concern. "Are they meant to be this small?" He asked, holding Ruth in two hands with ease. Amaya shifted to lean against Tristan who slipped his other arm around her, Ruth tucked into the crook of his elbow as she gurgled.
"Geraint was bigger but he had Ragnell all to himself. He lost weight the first few days but the midwife assured us that it was normal and then he gained it all back and a bit more. These two came out fighting, so don't worry about them being small." Tristan looked down at Tor then reached around Amaya to touch his head.
"Will they have magic like you?" Amaya blinked. She had not thought about that.
"I do not think so, Merlin had to physically pass his magic onto me. Unless born with actual magical blood, I don't think it can be inherited." She murmured, closing her eyes and began to sleep as Tor fed, only waking up when Tristan's shoulder nudged her so she traded and began to feed Ruth. With a sigh she leaned back into him. "I'm sorry this is going to be harder than we first anticipated. I did not know I was carrying twins."
"Sorry?" Tristan repeated, frowning at her. "It can't be helped, Maya. These things happen." He nuzzled her head affectionately then pressed his lips to her jaw. "They're still a gift and I always enjoy a challenge." Relaxing at Tristan's assuring words Amaya allowed herself to rest some more before finally, both were once again fed.
Amaya sent away the wet nurse graciously as she did not want any other woman having a hand in the raising of her children save for the ones she loved and trusted. With the Saxons now momentarily defeated, Amaya spent most of the day in the nursery with Ruth, Tor, Charlotte, Geraint and later Galehaut. Maia's birth had been difficult because she was so narrow hipped but Amaya had stepped in when her friend began to bleed and could not stop the flow, using her magic to relax the muscles, close up the tears in the muscle and help give birth to a rather sickly looking boy.
They were both thrilled but when the child did not begin to gain weight, they became increasingly concerned. He slept more than a baby should, he barely cried and although he ate normally, his body never gained any weight.
"What if he is ill? Should I take him to a doctor?" Maia worried and Amaya stepped forwards, looking down into the cradle at the pale faced boy with black hair, already beginning to curl.
"Galahad was exactly the same, Maia. I should not worry. All the way through infancy until he was taken he was always sickly and frail. He shall be fine and I can sense no illness. I think he is just his father's son." Maia relaxed, stroking her son's cheek lovingly, kneeling at his cot to continue gazing at him.
"So which one of us is next for another child?" Ragnell asked, bouncing Geraint on her knee. "I vote Maia." Maia blushed then giggled.
"No, Guinevere!" The queen looked up and smiled, throwing a smirk to Ragnell.
"If I know you, you'll be with child again before the week is out. You and Gawain can just never get enough of one another." Ragnell did not blush but smiled proudly, tickling her son's belly.
"Probably." She agreed. Amaya looked down at Tor who was sleeping in her arms. He was already so much like Tristan, just in the way he acted. He did not like people he did not know and cried whenever the courtiers tried to coddle him. He was quiet, reserved and usually frowned but he always relaxed whenever Amaya sang for the babies to help them sleep. Vanora's children were up in the nursery as well, playing with the toys save for the older girls who sighed dreamily at the young infants.
"They're all so perfect! Like little cherubim." The eldest girl sighed again. Although her name had previously simply been One, she had renamed herself Jocelyn after her parents had married. "I cannot wait to marry and have children."
"You are too young to be thinking of such things." Amaya told her sternly, picking up Ruth to balance her on the other hip when she began to demand attention. "You're only what, twelve?" Jocelyn rolled her eyes.
"Fifteen! Nearly sixteen." Amaya blinked, staring in shock at the young girl before looking to her friends.
"I think I am getting old. Children all look the same age to me." Maia laughed prettily then swept Galehaut into her arms.
"Let's go find our men, shall we? Let them do their part of watching over their children." Ragnell agreed, standing up with Geraint as Guinevere swept her daughter into her arms. Amaya smiled at Charlotte as she beamed up at her then frowned at Ruth who glared back before grinning.
With Guinevere's maids close at hand, they walked down to the training ground, Vanora's older girls following before running ahead to watch the men fight. When Lucan turned and saw Amaya walking towards him, his face broke out into a broad grin and he leaped off the bench and ran to her.
Demon barked and followed, lolloping after the boy upon seeing his mistress. He made to jump up but stopped, seeing that his mistress carried the two infants with her so he sat down quietly and waited for her to reach him. "Good boy Demon." Amaya praised then slowly lowered down for him to see the children. Demon always expressed a loving curiosity towards her children, sniffing them intently and nuzzling them to make sure they were alright before always standing protectively close by.
"Can I see?" Lucan asked and Amaya chuckled.
"If you sit down, I'll let you hold one." Lucan instantly darted to the bench then obediently sat down, watching Amaya as she set Ruth into his arms. "Mind her head, you have to hold it because she doesn't know yet to support her own weight." She murmured, guiding Lucan's hands until he held the baby properly and then he clung on, looking down with a curious expression then looked up.
"She looks like you." Lancelot laughed, coming over then placed a hand on Amaya's waist, pulling her closer.
"No, they both look very much like me, don't they my sweet?" He said to Amaya who arched an eyebrow at him then glanced behind him.
"I'd be very careful as you turn around if I were you, Lancelot." She smirked and the knight looked back to see Tristan standing there, arms folded across his chest with an unimpressed look on his face. Lancelot grinned at him.
"Don't you think so too Tristan?" The scout growled at him.
"Away from my woman, before I ensure you can never touch another woman again with either your hands or your pride." Lancelot laughed but lifted his hands in surrender, stepping away from Amaya as she sat down beside Lucan.
The knights all stopped what they were doing to fuss over the children. Even Ywain had a soft spot for little Charlotte who seemed able to charm absolutely anyone. Tristan came and knelt before Amaya, looking down at Tor who kicked his legs free then reached out for his father, recognising him instantly. Lucan laughed as Ruth made a strange gurgling sound then exchanged children so that he could hold Tor as well. Ruth gazed up at her father then reached up. She loved playing with his braids, especially to pull on them really hard because it made him growl and she found she sound very amusing.
Dagonet quietly approached, putting a hand on Lucan's back as he sat down on his other side. "They're growing strong." He remarked, tilting his head down at Tor who pouted slightly up at him, making the taller knight chuckle at the expression. "Already has your looks, Tristan." The scout rolled his eyes and said nothing, glancing to his son with a silent pride.
"Stop hoarding them children and bring them over here!" Bors called, making Galehaut wail at his boisterous tone and Galahad shot the knight a frosty look before trying to calm his son down. Lucan slowly slid off the bench, carefully holding Tor and Tristan watched him like a hawk as he cautiously walked over to the others, Dagonet at his side.
"Protective are we?" Amaya teased and Tristan turned to look back at her. He shrugged.
"I don't know what else to feel." Amaya chuckled to herself, shaking her head before pushing Ruth into Tristan's arms as she began to wail. At first he recoiled, unsure of what to do but Amaya gave him no choice but to hold onto the child as she drew away. "But…I…" Tristan stared down at Ruth who continued to cry, lip trembling as Amaya stood and walked to the others. "Maya!" She laughed, turning her head to arch an eyebrow at Tristan.
"Go on, try something." She encouraged so Tristan looked to Ruth then changed grips, holding her to his face then scowled.
"Stop crying." He paused, frowning slightly. "Please?" Ruth continued to wail so he sighed, leaning her against his shoulder. "Come on you little wraith, stop crying before I abandon you with your mother." At the sound of Tristan's warm, accent voice speaking in a beautiful sounding language, Ruth stopped crying to listen. "See? You'll save yourself a headache." He murmured to her, walking over to Amaya who smirked.
"Look at you, keeping her quiet." He scowled at his wife intently.
"Don't ever do that again. I was unprepared." She smiled, shaking her head as she rested a hand on Ruth's head where dark hair was beginning to grow through.
"We're always unprepared when it comes to parenthood. It's how we learn, Tristan, and be better prepared next time. She'll keep quiet for you, haven't you noticed? You are by far her favourite out of all of us." Tristan blinked then smirked proudly, looking to Ruth who had begun to tug on his braids. He growled at her and a small, gurgling giggle left her, making him smirk even further. "See?"
"Fine." Tristan sighed softly, giving in. Dagonet held Tor, Lucan balancing on one of his shoulders so Amaya took her son into her arms as Lamorak looked down at him then rested his hand on his tiny head.
"You look very proud." He said to her then Elyan bounced forwards with a grin.
"He's the nicest of the lot, hardly makes a sound except for Galahad's little one. I shouldn't pick favourites but he's definitely my favourite." Amaya laughed, offering Tor to Elyan who instantly drew back and lifted his hands, panic darting across his face. "I didn't say I wanted to hold the thing."
"Watch it boy." Tristan growled and Ruth giggled again, instantly drawing his attention back with a fatherly smile, though he turned his head so no one could see it.
"She'll be a pretty one, just like her mother." Ywain said, nodding to Ruth as Gaheris joined them.
"Aye, with a temper to match I'll bet. What do you reckon, bow or sword?" The men all looked to one another before agreeing in unison. "Bow." Amaya rolled her eyes then looked behind her with a smile as Lionel placed a hand on her waist then looked over her shoulder to see Tor.
"That nursery is filling up nicely. Maybe it's time we joined in with this new fashion." Lionel suggested to his own brothers, making them laugh.
"Can you see me with only one woman?" Daniel asked, his hands gesturing to his form with a cocky smirk. "When I'm as attractive as I am?" Amaya arched an eyebrow.
"Can you see yourself with any woman?" She retorted and his grin grew.
"A fair stab, milady." He said then reached out his hands so Amaya shifted Tor and let Daniel hold him, the knight firmly holding the boy around his middle then lifted him up. "Ah, you'll be alright, boy, I'll teach you how to charm your way out of or into any situation you please." Tristan thought about making a comment but decided not to as Amaya seemed to have beaten him to it.
"If you even think about putting ideas into my boy's head then I swear I shall cut yours off." She warned, folding her arms across her chest with a warning look, a motherly protectiveness shining in her eyes as Tristan stepped closer to her. Daniel grinned.
"Wouldn't dream of it." He winked to the boy then let Kay have a turn. The knight grinned down at the boy, jiggling him up and down before Bors took over.
"Here's how you do it, you inexperienced little…"
"Language!" All the women reprimanded sharply and Bors grinned sheepishly but then gently began to bounce Tor in his arms, the boy making tiny gurgling sounds before spitting out the contents of his stomach onto Bors's shirt. Amaya's eyes widened before she burst out laughing, grinning from ear to ear.
Bors grimaced then held Tor out who seemed to be smirking with satisfaction. "Here. Take it." Amaya gathered Tor into her arms, wiping his mouth clean as he gurgled up at her. Bors cleaned himself off as the others all laughed.
Lucan tugged on Amaya's sleeve so she looked down at him. Slowly he lifted up two wooden carvings, one of a horse, the other a wolf. "I carved them for you. I only just finished them, or I would have given them to you sooner." He explained and Amaya lowered herself down to her knees, smiling as she reached out and took the wolf carving, which was exceptionally accurate and well carved for a boy his age. She could practically see the magnificent creature preparing to leap for the kill and the horse was of equal quality.
"They're beautiful Lucan. Thank you." She murmured then kissed his head. He smiled as Amaya showed Tor the two figures and he instantly reached for the horse, making Tristan smile.
"His father's son." He declared quietly as Ruth spotted the wolf and instantly reached out for it. Amaya grinned victoriously.
"Her mother's daughter."