Manon woke up to Dorian growling irritatedly and climbing out of the bed. "What is it?" she asked rolling over to try and relieve the ache in her low back that hadn't gone away since yesterday.
"The door," he mumbled as he left the bedroom and went to open the door to the sitting room.
She listened and figured that it must be his mother. She had not heard the previous queen's voice before, but the way she was talking sounded autorotative the way a mothers would.
She hauled herself out of the bed and threw on a loose shirt and some leggings. Checking herself in the mirror. She pulled the shirt tight across her abdomen. It really was almost impossible to tell she was pregnant when she wore loose clothing. But according to Glennis, that was very common in witches. But it surely didn't mean that the discomfort was any less.
She entered the sitting room. Dorian was standing in the doorway, with his hand braced on the frame, like he was trying to keep his mother out. The corner of her mouth lifted.
"Dorian," she said, "Is this your mother?"
He turned, obviously not having heard her approach. "Yes, it seems she's very eager to meet you." He put on a fake smile that she recognized as annoyance at being woken up so early.
"Well then maybe you should stop blocking her from coming in."
As he stepped back Manon got a full view of Dorian's mother. She had auburn hair and green eyes. Dorian looked nothing like her.
Georgina Havilliard lowered her head to Manon as she took her in. Manon could see her assessing and nodded back.
"Mother, this is my wife Manon Blackbeak, Queen of the witches." Dorian said wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close.
Georgina said, "I'm sorry if I seem at a loss for words, but I wasn't aware that Dorian was married until last night. I'm pleased to meet you."
"Likewise," Manon responded curtly. The ache in her back felt worse when she was standing, and she was grateful that Dorian was supporting her.
"I'm sorry, you just…" Georgina paused and looked between Dorian and Manon. Observed their closeness. "You just don't look like a witch to me."
Manon grinned, this was going to be fun. Dorian ran a hand across his forehead, "Mother-"
Manon flicked her iron nails out placed a hand on Dorian's chest to stop him. "It's okay, Dorian." She flicked her jaw releasing her iron teeth, "Tell me, Georgina, what do you think a witch looks like?"
The previous queen's eyes were wide, and Manon could hear her heart pounding in her chest, she could smell her fear, as she took in her nails, her grin, the way she held Dorian. Manon thought she might run, but she managed to find words after a few moments.
"Forgive me, that was a silly thing to say. I believe I have some more unpacking to do if you will excuse me." She bowed her head again and descended the stairway.
She saw the guards standing outside the door trying to contain their laughter. Manon herself would have enjoyed it so much more if she was not still in pain.
"Now, I think that was a little unnecessary," Dorian turned toward her, but he too was smiling.
Manon retracted her teeth and nails as the pain in her back sharpened. A seed of fear bloomed inside her as she began to understand what she was feeling. She pressed a hand into her back and turned back toward the bedroom.
"What's wrong?" Dorian asked following her closely.
"My back just still hurts," she dismissed him as she bent over, leaning her arms on the footboard. He came up behind her and began rubbing her back in circles. She heaved a sigh at the relief it brought.
"Should I call for Yrene?" He asked nervously.
She shook her head, "It's just back pain, Princeling. I flew for a long time yesterday, I'm sure I just need to rest." No need to get him all worked up for nothing. This may be the start of labor, and Manon had a sense that it was, but there was a long way yet to go.
"I'm sure she could help with your pain," he offered still massaging, "better than I could."
"Let's just go back to bed for a little while and see how I feel afterward." She bargained with him, "If I'm still hurting by then, you can call for the healer."
He stopped and the pain intensified again, but Manon didn't say anything. She crawled back into the bed and laid down on her side. Dorian pulled her close to him kissing the back of her neck. One of his arms was underneath her the other resting on her small belly.
Pretty quickly Dorian started to drift off, but Manon was still squirming around, trying to get comfortable. "You aren't even sleeping," She felt Dorian's phantom hands start massaging the painful spots on the back of her hips, "You're in more pain than you're telling me."
"I'm fine," she whispered back, "go to sleep."
After another few minutes Dorian's breathing slowed and he stopped massaging. She fought the urge to put her own thumbs in the spot where his phantom ones had been. Finally, after what felt like forever, she drifted off to sleep.
She woke up feeling less rested than before and sucked in a sharp breath that was louder than she intended it to be. The pain in her back was worse and no longer a dull ache. Dorian was sitting almost instantly, leaning over her.
"You're in labor." He said. Out of the bed before she could respond, throwing on his trousers, he ran out the door and was back almost as soon as he had left. "I sent one of the guards for Yrene. She'll be here soon. Tell me what you're feeling. How can I help you?"
Manon pushed herself up and stood, "I don't know."
He came close wrapping around her, she laid her head on his chest gripping his arms. "I'm here and I'm not leaving." He whispered into her hair. They stood like that for a while until there was a knock on the bedroom door. Dorian shouted for Yrene to come in.
The healer did not waste time, she went right up to Manon and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Can I touch your belly?"
She nodded consent. As Yrene placed a hand on Manon's belly she felt a cool relief spread through her back and she sagged further into Dorian.
"Baby is well," Yrene told them. "This is early labor. At this point it's very difficult to tell how much longer this could take. It could be hours or even days. I would suggest trying to rest up as much as possible. Eat if you can and stay hydrated."
"Thank you" Dorian responded.
"I'll come check on you again this evening if I don't hear from you before then. I'll have someone send up something for you to eat on my way out." When the healer's hands left her body, Manon felt the pain return and held in a whimper of pain.
This was ridiculous, she needed to pull herself together. She took one more deep breath and let go of Dorian. She strode back into the sitting area and plopped down into a chair. Running her fingers through her hair and braiding it back.
Dorian sat down next to her, watching her from the corner of his eye. "What do you think we should do?"
"We're going to eat and then you are going to visit with you mother and attend that meeting that you have this afternoon." She told him. The dull ache in her back but now there was a sharp pain on the top of her abdomen coming in waves as well. When he looked like he was about to protest she held up a hand. "There are other things for you to worry about. You heard Yrene, it might be a few more days. I'm going down to check on Abraxos and then I'll probably come back here and rest some more."
"I really don't know if that's a good idea. I'd much rather stay with you. What if something happens while I'm away?"
"If something happens, and I doubt it will because witch births are notorious for taking forever, then I will send for you." She looked over, challenging him to argue with her.
He sighed, defeated. He moved to standing right in front of her, his hands cupping her cheeks and planting a kiss on her forehead and then another on her lips. When he pulled away, he had a serious look to his face, "Manon do not hesitate to call for me if something changes. I mean it."
She nodded, "Promise," she whispered as another pain shot across her belly.
Dorian kissed her one last time and left as well. When she was alone, she leaned forward onto the table next to her. It alleviated some of the back pain and she rested there.
There was a knock on the door, and she got up to open it. It was Yrene again.
"Sorry to bother you again," The healer said, "I just wanted to talk to you for a moment without his Highness present. I brought the food too, she gestured to the tray she was carrying."
Manon stepped out of the way and let the healer in. She waited until Manon sat and then sat as well.
"I wanted to talk to you about your trip and what you're feeling, exactly. It might help me get a better understanding of what's going on in your body."
She picked up a piece of meat and nibbled on it, but it was massively unappetizing, so she didn't finish it. "What do you want to know?" As she spoke another wave of pain ran over her belly, but she kept her face neutral.
"How long ago did all of this start?" Yrene asked.
"Well right before I left the Wastes, I was feeling uncomfortable, but not like this. About halfway through the trip I had to stop and…" she trailed off fiddling with the food in front of her.
Yrene didn't speak, just raised her eyebrows, waiting for her to continue.
"I lost this thick slimy stuff," she looked up at the healer again who was smiling gently and nodding like she understood. "After that this incessant pain in my back hasn't gone away."
"The mucus plug isn't necessarily an indication of labor starting but does mean that your body is getting ready for the delivery. If you said your back pain started soon after I would be inclined to assume that's when your labor started. So that's been what?" she paused thinking, "A day and a half? Do you know how long witch labors usually last?"
"I've never been to one personally but was told that they tend to take days." Just as she finished that pain shot up and over her belly again, cramping down, the pain in her back flaring up. Yrene must have noticed her discomfort because she was standing behind her in seconds.
"I'm going to touch your back, Manon," she said softly. Her hands did not bring complete relief, but enough that she sighed and felt she was able to breathe normally again. "Have you slept at all?" she asked as she rubbed the exact spot that was causing her discomfort.
"Some," she rested her head on the table, letting Yrene work on her back, "I've really only been in and out of sleep when I lay down. Not enough to regain my strength."
"I can whip up a sleeping tonic to help you if you'd like," Yrene offered, still massaging her back, "It might help you before things get too intense."
Manon shook her head. She didn't want to force herself to sleep. "No, but would it be too much to ask of you to come down to visit my Wyvern with me? He tends to get restless when I'm away for too long and he's gotten particularly obnoxious about it since the pregnancy."
"Of course," the healer offered. "Let me just send a note to Chaol to let him know where I'll be."