Chapter 21: Choices

"It's a girl"

Willow's words echoed in Airk's ears as he looked down at the wiggling form that the Nelwyn placed in Raina's arms. He hoped for and dreaded this day. He prayed for and feared for this child. His child. He thought his fears would swallow him from the inside out when he saw his child, but they did not. Instead, he felt pride and nothing less. He saw the best of himself and Raina all in this screaming, wriggling form.

"We have a daughter," Raina whispered.

"She's a fighter, like her mother," Airk replied.

"And stubborn like you," Raina laughed.

Across the room, holding his hostage, Madmartigan was laughing. "Well, well, I never thought I'd see this. Airk Thaughbaer is a daddy."

Airk's gaze turned sour as he glared at Madmartigan and Sorsha. "You even look at her the wrong way and you're a dead man."

"No you won't," Madmartigan said. "You need me to win this war for you."

Airk drew his sword. "Yes I will, and no I do not need you."

"If you were gonna you would've done it a long time ago," Madmartigan said pointedly.

The temperature in the room dropped to a frigid temperature. No one knew what to say as the two men glared at each other. At long last, Raina cleared her throat.

"For f****'s sake, play nicely boys," Raina groaned. "In case you haven't noticed, there's an army out there bound to slaughter us. So if you don't learn to play nice we're all dead. And I would like to see Willow grow up."

"Willow?" Airk asked.

"That's her name. Our daughter," Raina replied.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Airk asked.

"Do you still want that sword hand because I can finish it off," Raina laughed.

"Willow Thaughbaer she is," Airk declared. "Named after a peck, you poor girl."

"Airk, my love, that peck helped us deliver our girl," Raina said. "So be nice."

"This is all very touching, but back to the army about to wipe us out?" Madmartigan asked.

"There's an even bigger army at Tir Asleen if we can just get there," Willow replied.

Airk turned to the chaos outside. He thought of the thousand men he had left at arms. Now only Madmartigan and a single Nelwyn were going up against Bavmorda. The idea was insanity to him.

"I've lost more than half my men fighting Bavmorda," Airk said. "Now you and this peck are gonna take her on?"

Airk remembered who Madmartigan was. He was no knight and he had no honor. He remembered that he served only himself, no one else. "You always told me you served no one, Madmartigan. Since when are you a crusader?"

Madmartigan could say nothing as he held his hostage. Airk guessed as much by Madmartigan's lack of response.

"He's not gonna help you, peck," Airk said to Willow. "He's a worthless thief."

Madmartigan was quick to defend himself. "I'm not a thief, Airk."

"He's not a thief," Willow defended before he paused. "Are you?"

Madmartigan could say nothing, thinking of what to tell the Nelwyn. All his life, Madmartigan swore to serve no one but himself. In that moment he made a new promise.

Rising to his feet with Sorsha, Madmartigan spoke. "I serve the Nelwyn, Airk."

Raina smiled and Airk wore a stunned look to see the change in him. All the years he had known him, Madmartigan served no one but himself . Now this tiny baby and Nelwyn made a change in him. After all these years, Airk could not believe what he had heard. Madmartigan was no longer the foolish boy he once knew. He had a purpose now, just as he did.

"Wanna come with us?" Madmartigan asked, cracking a toothy grin.

"You'll never make it, Madmartigan," Airk replied.

Madmartigan nodded. "Then once again we say goodbye."

"It won't be the last time," Airk replied.

Airk surveyed the perimeter outside as Madmartigan, Willow and Sorsha stepped outside. Airk watched as Madmartigan rode away with his hostage. Once the Nockmaar soldiers were caught off guard by Sorsha as a hostage, Airk saw his chance. He and his men came rushing out of the tavern. Airk and Ronan fired their bows simultaneously, hitting two soldiers. Airk took out a guard, pummeling him to the ground. Before he could get to his feet, Airk saw a dagger fly by his head and hit a Nockmaar soldier in the heart. When he got to his feet, he saw Raina holding their daughter Willow standing in the snow.

"Sure you didn't need me to watch your back?" Raina asked.

"Wow," Airk said, at loss for words.

"Wow?" Raina asked.

"Wow, as in I don't think Kael could give birth and kick ass later," Airk replied.

Airk watched as Madmartigan and Willow rode off into the distance. He thought about what Madmartigan said. He knew if he was going to defeat Nockmaar he was going to need him. He was a different Madmartigan.

"You want to go after him, don't you?" Raina asked.

"What? No!" Airk replied firmly.

Raina smiled, knowing her husband better than he knew himself. "You know he's different. He's not the same Madmartigan, and you know it. If we're going to defeat that she-b**** Bavmorda, we need him and Willow."

"It doesn't matter because they'll never make it to Tir Asleen," Airk argued.

"They've made it this far, haven't they?" Raina argued. "And that baby is the key to our future. If we don't help them we're doomed."

"I'm not helping Madmartigan, no way," Airk argued. "When has he ever helped us? I'm not doing him any favors."

"We're not doing him a favor," Raina countered. "We'd be doing Galladoorn a favor."

Raina held up Baby Willow. "We'd be doing our daughter a favor."

Airk knew she had him. He could not help Madmartigan, but he could help his own child.

"Never underestimate a mother's love," Airk said.

Airk turned and rallied his men. "We ride for Tir Asleen!"

Raina smiled. She was ready for this day. She had spent nine months protecting her child. She was willing to fight and even die if it meant saving her daughter.