Full chapter title: But I Won't Cry 'Cause I Know I'll Never Be Lonely
On the island of Terebinthia, in the city of Dath a Athrú, Queen Mallaidh had fallen ill. But it was no ordinary illness.
"I am with child?"
"Yes, your majesty. Do you want me to tell his highness?"
"I will tell my husband myself."
On her way from the physician's study to find her husband, she ran into her father-in-law.
"Mallaidh."
"That's your majesty to you, Lord Iárad Caomhánach."
He gripped Mallaidh's wrist hard, causing her to wince in pain.
"Would you mind telling me why you just came from the physician?"
"That is between me, my husband, and the Good Lord."
"You and my son have been married for a year, and you are not with child yet?! I can't afford to have you remain childless!"
"My duty is to my people and my husband, not you."
"Iárad! Take your hands off of my daughter!"
"This does not concern you, Diolun!"
"The hell it doesn't! I respect my son-in-law, but not you!"
"He's right, Athair. Leave her be."
Mallaidh kissed her father on the cheek, and ran into the arms of her husband, and they walked to the gardens together.
"I'm sorry you have to deal with him for a father-in-law."
"I put up with him because I love you, Ionatán."
"But I am curious, why were you with the physician? Are you sick, my love?"
She took his hand and placed it over her stomach.
"The bog hag Gwrach told me two of our children will help bring down the White Witch Jadis. Lad or lass, this baby means something."
"But if two of our children will help bring her down, wouldn't you be carrying twins?"
"It could mean anything."
"Could it mean that bringing about the White Witch's bane would be the end of us?"
"My love, everything we do comes with a price. Do you know how many want me dead? Being Queen of Terebinthia comes with a price."
"If loving you comes with a price, Mallaidh, then let my debt be paid."
A few days later, Mallaidh got a letter from Aibhistín, just what she needed to bring her spirits up.
"Mallaidh, I don't know if you've received word yet, but I have given birth to my first child. Her name is Faoiltiama. It means wolf lady. I named her that because two of our wolves came into the birthing chamber and chose to be her guardians. Wolves are at her command before she can even walk. She is old enough now, that I thought I could come and visit you for a while. It's been almost a year since we last spoke in person. I don't know if it will do you any good to see me, or how your lords will react, but I would still like to visit. We won't be in the way of anything. Aslan would be coming with us. He wants to discuss some things with you and Ionatán, but I don't know what about. But even if you don't want us to visit, we are going to anyways. With all my love, Aibhistín."
The letter had Mallaidh in tears a bit, and she ordered for the guest chambers to be ready within the week. She did not know when Aslan and Aibhistín would be visiting, but she wanted to be prepared.
They did not visit until two months later, when Mallaidh was starting to show her pregnant form.
"Mallaidh!"
"Aibhistín!"
"I was told that you're with child, but I wanted to see it for myself."
"Of course you did. But let me see your little one."
Aibhistín placed Faoiltiama in Mallaidh's arms, and Faoiltiama went into a smiling and giggling fit.
"She hardly ever cries. It's more like she howls."
"Then the name of Faoiltiama for sure fits her. I can't tell which parent she looks like. Ionatán! Come meet Aslan and Aibhistín's baby daughter!"
"I'm coming, Mallaidh. My goodness, she looks just like both of her parents. Blonde and blue. Have you told them our news, Mallaidh?"
"Yes, my love. She could see our news for herself. My belly is growing rather fast."
"Yes, to be an aunt again. Duana seems to have hit that certain age early, so she dotes on Faoiltiama."
"Poor Duana. It's still hard to believe I was my parent's only child. But I am so glad that we Terebinthian women are not allowed to marry for alliances. Just for love and love alone."
"But Malliadh, Ionatán, your future children is what I need to talk to you about.'
"The bog hag Gwarach has told me two of our children will help bring down the White Witch."
"She is right. Our future grandchildren will also help bring her to an end. Diolun, good to see you."
"You as well, Aslan. I know that Jadis is my great-aunt, but I never knew her in a family capacity. My father left Charn before I was born."
"You also need to have your ascension ceremonies. You are not yet the Triple Goddess, nor do you have the spirit of the sea."
Micheáilín, the first queen of Terebinthia, was the daughter of the Triple Goddess and a mortal man from the other world. This man was named Bruadar, and he came from the other world, Ireland to be exact. Terebinthia was the country he came to, and the Triple Goddess fell in love with him on sight. They married, and she gave birth to Micheáilín. Then at some point, the goddess turned too evil for anyone to handle, and she killed her husband. Micheáilín then in turn killed her mother, but not before the goddess made sure that her spirit would remain in her descendants. Then Calypso, the sea goddess, died giving birth to Istvan, the third Terebinthian consort. She swore revenge on the vampires by insuring her spirit would live on in her descendants.
"Are the ascensions safe to do while I'm with child?"
"Perfectly safe. Micheáilín was with child when she had her ascension as the Triple Goddess, and so did Etain, when she was the first Terebinthian queen to ascend as Calypso."
Aslan lead Mallaidh to an open field, where the bog hag Gwarach was waiting.
"Mallaidh, come to me."
Mallaidh walked towards Gawarch, not knowing what was going to happen.
"Take my hand, Mallaidh."
Gawarch drew a circle around Mallaidh with her staff, and recited an ancient saying.
"Éirigh mar an bandia triarach. Éirigh mar í."
Flames began to appear from the edge of the circle, and as Gwarach repeated those words, the flames rose higher and higher, consuming Mallaidh. But she did not burn. The flames lifted Mallaidh into the air, and as they did, the flames changed into a mighty array of colours. The flames then set Mallaidh standing back on the ground.
"What was that?!"
"That was your ascension. Every queen before you has been through it."
"What about as Calypso?"
"That needs to happen after the birth of your child."
Aslan, Aibhistín, and Faoiltiama stayed in Terebinthia for the duration of Mallaidh's pregnancy, mainly because Aibhistín wanted to be there for her best friend during childbirth.
"Aibhstín, did it hurt this for you?"
"It did, Mallaidh. It did. Duana was right there with me, as was Aslan. Neither of them left my side."
"You had your husband with you for the birth, so I want my husband with me. And my father. Ionatán! Athair!"
"Having a man in the birthing chamber is bad luck, your majesty."
"If your queen wants her husband and father to see the arrival of their first child and grandchild, you let them in!"
"Do as she says, midwives! Aibhistín, I want you to be the one to deliver my baby."
"I'll tell you when to push."
"How much longer, Aibhistín?"
"Just a couple more minutes, Ionatán. It's time to push, Mallaidh."
Ionatán and Diolun got on either side of Mallaidh, and she gripped their arms so hard, they thought she would rip them off.
"The head is out, your majesty. Keep pushing."
Mallaidh let out a scream that she was sure could be heard throughout the islands in the Great Eastern Sea.
"She's here, Mallaidh. She's here. You have a baby girl."
The midwives checked her for any unnecessary bleeding and cleaned her up, while Aibhistín washed and blanketed the new princess. Ionatán ran a cool washcloth across Mallaidh's face.
"She has her father's eyes and her mother's face."
"She has blonde hair, like Mamaí did."
"What will you name her?"
"I can only think of one thing. I want to name her what the whole kingdom is feeling right now, what her family is feeling right now. Bliss. Pure and utter joyous bliss."
The same day that Bliss was named crowned princess of Terebinthia was the same day that Mallaidh would have her ascension as Calypso. Gawarch led her to the ocean, and told her to step into the water.
"Chomh fuar leis an bhfarraige, chomh fíochmhar leis an bhfarraige, chomh mantach leis an bhfarraige, agus chomh buíoch, lig dá spiorad leas agus úsáid a bhaint as arís!"
The waters swirled up around Mallaidh, and plunged her under, but then pushed her back out to the surface. Steam rose up from the waters and turned black, and entered Mallaidh's system through her mouth. Her eyes turned solid white, and the waves pushed her back onto the sand, where her complexion was returned to normal. When she looked back onto the water, it was as calm as it ever could have been.