Detailed Roleplayers discussion
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McKensie and Lara III
Lydia shook her head hating being a woman at this point, she whinpered as another pain came. The chair was hard and painful "no...no I want a comforyable birth, not like this..." She said stubbornly standing from the chair and pushing away from Emma and her mother "the citizens are giving birth comfortably!"Lavey swallowed feeling intense guilt and pain for her friend "I would have been fine if you said no..I don't want you to be suffering and in pain...it makes me feel horrible all the time! Even my want for my baby dwindles because of thr guilt..."
The queen stared at her daughter, shocked. "But dear..." She started, stammering over her words. "This is the way it has always been done!" She protested.Emma said nothing, so as not to anger the queen, but secretly she hoped that Lydia would change traditions and not put up with the dumb chair.
A sob escaped Iliana and she crumpled into a chair, finding all of this just too much. She hated that she made her friend guilty like that and ruined any of the joy. "No it's my fault." She said miserably, crying into her hands. "I said yes and I'm too weak to even bear a child without complaining." She sobbed. "I'm sorry, Lacey, I'm so sorry."
Lydia shook her head "I'm a child of a chef! I am not your normal princess and I am ending this!" She screamed and gasped out "I want a soft bed and medications!" She fell to the floor the pain getting intense as she cried "I want James..."Lacey hugged her close and shook her head "I'm so sorry Illi, I love you...and you can have the drugs that knock you out so you don't know the birth and you won't feel the pain uou don't deserve..."
The queen just spluttered and fumed as Emma called in servants and had them help her lift Lydia into the bed, setting her up with towels and carefully stripping her from her dress and corset so she was free to move and breathe she held her hand then, smiling gently. "Try to breathe deep, Lydia."James had just gotten back from his hunting trip, and though he was sweaty, when he had heard Lydia scream he had started pacing back and forth outside the door, nearly tearing his hair out.
Iliana clung to her friend as she cried, overcome by too many emotions. She was tired from carrying the baby so long, and guilty for the guilt she had caused, as well as stressed and cranky and in pain. It was not a good combination. "Yes please..." She whispered, knowing that being asleep for it would make it much easier. "Can they actually do that?"
Lydia whinpered and grabbed onto her mother!s hand with her free one and cried squeezing her eyes tightly as she fought the contractions, she sobbed never feeling such pain and wondering why she thought birth was so bloody fabulous in the first place.Edmund pulled him away, he was the footman for James and was in love with lady Emma he sighed getting them both scotch "easy man, stressing isn't going to help her."
Lacey nodded "and I'll pay for the cost dear...I promise you'll wake up in Marcoux's arms with no recollection and...will you be the godmother please? If it's not too much to ask though I know I've asked a lot already..."
Emma and the queen both offered her comfort, trying to help calm her in anyway they could. Emma got someone to massage her back a bit to help with the pressure and she smiled softly. "Don't fight the contractions, Lydia, it'll go faster if you just let it happen." She encouraged.James sighed heavily, taking the scotch and all but downing a mouthful. "I can't take this. I should be in there! These confounded traditions..." He cursed.
Iliana nodded, wiping her eyes until the tears were gone. "Thank you, Lacey." She whispered, trying to console herself once more. "I would love to be the godmother." She said seriously. "Thank you for that, and for trying to help with all this. I'm sorry I'm such a baby." She whispered. "It's not as bad anymore now that I know I'll be asleep."
Lydia started to relax more and breathed through the contractions slowly, she leaned into her mother's shoulder "thank you for being here..." She couldn't do it without either of them, she breathed faster feeling a painful one "Mmm!" And released one of the swear words she knew as a scully chef.Edmund filled it up again "honestly you would pass out...you don't see her up there just hear her..." He blinked as she swore "as I said..."
Lacey smiled and put a hand on her stomach "it'll be done soon Illi...and then you can be with Marcoux alone with the foxes...speaking of which where are the boys?" She asked curiously knowing they weren't there at the mansion.
The queen nodded, rubbing her daughter's hand gently. "I wouldn't miss it for anything, love. You're doing really well." Emma nodded in encouragement. "Keep breathing, Lydia. They'll get faster and longer soon, and you need to breathe. It'll all be over soon." She promised, not even phased by her swearing. James took the scotch with a slight nod, tensing at any noise that came from that room and he slouched over the table. "Torture, pure torture." He grumbled. "I would rather be in there than out here. My imagination is far worse than reality."
Iliana nodded, sighing softly. She would be done soon. This all would be over. Lacey and Maxwell would get their lovely child, and Iliana would be left with wrinkles and fat, feeling empty and old. "The boys?" She repeated, smiling a little. "They just were mumbling on about, man time, and something special…" She shook her head. "Seemed pretty chipper as they left this morning. No idea why."
Lydia breathed deeply and moaned feeling feverish and the pressure was intense as she turned on her side and shook her head "please can't James be here? I don't believe in that tradition either..."Lacey blinked "that is very strange...especially since you are almost due." She hugged around her belly and shook her head "you know you won't be fat or wrinkled, you are barely stretched out love..."
The queen sighed, knowing she couldn't do much about that and she shrugged. "What's one more rule broken?" She sighed. Emma immediately went to fetch James and he rushed in the room, his eyes wide and worried. He went to Lydia's side, scooping up her hand. "oh love…" He said, kissing her forehead.Iliana nodded seriously. "Yes… I do wonder about those two sometimes." She said, smiling a little, wondering what they might be up to. Then she huffed out slowly. She wasn't so sure about that. "We'll see I suppose." She shrugged, trying to be carefree about it.
Lydia sighed in relief as he came in, she gripped his hand tightly as she arched up to her knees and whinpered leaning into him "James...I can't do this..." She moaned and looked at Emma "why can't this be shorter?"Lacey watched as the two kits ran to their mom and play and yipped around her happily. Lacey giggled "they certainly are a handful aren't tgey?"
James hated that she was in pain. It carved him to his very core an he winced whenever she did. "You can, baby, I know you can. You are the strongest woman I know." He said, kissing her cheeks and hair and face, trying to distract her. Emma smiled softly, checking up on her. "Lydia, you can start pushing now, you're doing wonderfully. The baby is on its way."
Iliana's face lit up when she saw Mila and Shiloh. She loved them both dearly, and had grown very fond of them as they grew up into the skinnier, and faster kits they were now, much more trouble some than the rolly polly babies they had been before. "They are two trouble makers." She agreed, scratching behind Mila's ears.
Lydia nodded and was so grateful James was there with her, she slowly began to push and cried out pushing harder and taking a break breathing hard "oh my word...we are having one child that's it..."Lacey laughed lightly "they certainly grew big...they are a lot more slender and their fur isn't so fluffy." She noted and scratched Shiloh's back and sighed "where are those men of ours?"
James rubbed her back and shoulders kissing her cheek. "You're doing lovely, baby." He whispered, looking worriedly at Emma. "How much longer of this?" he asked. Emma moved to check and smiled softly. "Not much longer. They're almost here. I can see the head now." She said, patting Lydia's leg gently. "You're almost there, Lydia. One big push and you're all done. Just get past the head." She encouraged.
Iliana nodded in agreement. "Makes them harder to catch, unfortunately, and they know it. They've acquired quite the taste for cakes." She said, raising an eyebrow at Mila who seemed to smile. A servant came in the room. "Excuse me misses, but the masters have arrived. They're in the parlour."
Lydia cursed again as she pushed her face screwed in pain and gasping for air the pressure too intense as she crushed James hand leaving nail prints until she heard the first burst cry and gasped looking to see a red baby go into Emma's arms.Lacey pet each of the heads and smiled "everyone has a fondness for Lydia's cake...I don't blame the poor dears." She ran to the parloue and gasped at their condition "Max?! What on earth?..."
James winced when she crushed his hand, but he didn't move, he didn't let go. Emma stayed where she was, gently guiding the baby until it slid into her arms and she smiled down at the squalling child, cutting the cord and wrapping it up. "You have a son." she whispered, passing him to Lydia.Iliana followed behind Lacey just as fast as she could keep up, and she gasped when she saw the mud and water dripping from their husbands. "Just what do you think you were doing!?"
Maxwell grinned, hugging Lacey immediately without regards for what it might do to her dress. "Fishing! My dear girl! And hunting! And falling off cliffs! My what fun chasing a rabbit can be." He said cheerily, strolling into the house as the maids rushed after him, trying to insist that he sit and clamouring on saying 'Master! You must stop now! Please stop trekking mud all over the house!'
Lydia gasped amazed at the wonder in her arms, she checked under his arm sure enough the same mark. She held him close playing with his small hand so carefully and smiling at James "he's so handsome...the future king has been born." She said softly so her mother could make the announcement. She kissed his forehead and started to cry in shock from everything.Lacey gasped her dress ruined as he hugged her, she wanted to take a tranquilizer gun to him as he tramped around the house filthy "Maxwell to the showers immediatrly don't touch anything in our room please!" She apologized prefusely to the maids.
Marcoux was taking the smart approach and removed his muddy clothes tenderly kissing Illiana on the forehead as to not touch her.
James smiled, looking down at their son and he squeezed Lydia's shoulders. "He's beautiful, Lydia. I couldn't be more proud." he said softly, hugging her from behind. "You did amazing, love, and now we have a son."The queen rushed out of the room, and trumpets could be heard as they announced the birth of the boy.
Maxwell turned and smiled sheepishly at her, finally slowing. He nodded, taking a deep bow. "Of course, my love." He said, and he scurried off up the stairs, leaving a trail behind him. The maids ran after him, mopping and sweeping up the trail of mud.
Iliana smiled softly, helping to hang his coat and take off his boots. "Did you have a good time?" She asked, curious as to why Maxwell came back so chipper. What exactly had they been up to?
Lydia smiled as she listened to the cheers and announcement, she nuzzled her happy boy "what about Prince Donavan? James as his middle name of course." She pecked his cheek "I couldn't have done it without you..."Marcoux chuckled and nodded "we really did love, Maxwell a little more then me but that's because he could chase the rabbit. I could laugh and watch him make a fool of himself."
Lacey smiled and helped him, she cleaned him up with a sponge bath and kissed him "I'm glad you had fun..."
James smiled softly, watching their little boy sleep. "Prince Donavan James…" he repeated, rolling the words around on his tongue. "It has a certain ring to it." He agreed, catching her lips. "Well it certainly was torture having to wait outside and hear you crying." he said honestly. "However did you convince your mother to let me in? And to be on a bed?"Iliana laughed then, a real laugh like she hadn't had in a while. It was hilarious just trying to imagine that scenario and she shook her head in amusement. "Thank you for brightening up my day, Marcoux." She said, smiling softly. "We'll have to get your pants cleaned. Were you wading through a bog as a past time?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. He wasn't as dirty as Maxwell was, but the ankles of his pants were nice and brown.
Maxwell sighed as the hot water rinsed away the mud that had been clinging to him. It was good to be clean again. He caught Lacey's face in his hands and kissed her deeply. "It was good to get away for a day." he said, and then laughed, as there were now dusty handprints on her. "Looks like you'll need a bath too love…" he said, winking. "How did you and Iliana fare here?"
Lydia smiled "I stood my ground...and it did upset her but honestly I would have been worse off I did it on the chair. I'm just glad I'm done and we have a beautiful boy..." She watched her son and touched his hand "he's so small..."Marcoux smiled and nodded "yes I was fly fishing, I completely failed and ruined the line but it was still fun. Max was off like a wild dog the poor rabbit." He got dressed and kissed her cheek "how have you been doing? Still sick?"
Lacey laughed "I was clean with a new dress this morning!" She protested splashing him "which is ruined but at least you are safe!"
James nodded, so happy that she had been able to stand her ground and get what she thought was right. "You are becoming quite the wonderful queen, you know." He said, tucking her hair back from her face. He reached over to gently run a thumb over the baby's cheek and he smiled. "Yes, and a good thing too, or this whole ordeal would have been harder on you."Iliana smiled then, helping him into the house and to their room, so he could change. "Sounds like you both had a lot of fun." She said honestly, sending down his pants to be washed. "I've been alright. Haven't had morning sickness in a while now. The baby will be coming soon." she said honestly.
Maxwell grinned, his hair sopping wet now. "Yes, safe, and very much enjoying seeing my wife again." He said, reaching over to help undo her dress. He pulled her into the tub then, smiling. "Come on now, you must get clean, can't be having you tramping mud around our house." he teased, winking.
Lydia laughed lightly "it was an ordeal already...I've never sworn so much in the palace...I think my mum nearly passed out on the last swear..." She sighed leaning back in the pillow "Mmm im so sore James...isn't there anything that can help,"Marcoux was shocked "that soon? That's incredible...soon we'll be alone and they can have the baby...it'll be wonderful right?" He knew her feelings of it and he just wanted it to be over.
Lacey laughed splashing him "what did you drink that is giving you such glee and cheer. Your as hyper as that bunny it isn't a common trait for you."
James nodded, as he remembered her cursing. He didn't mind all that much. It was part of her past. He chuckled however, as he knew the queen was probably astounded by it. "I'm sure she had quite the fit." He said, getting up slowly, so as not to disturb them. He grabbed her a hot water bottle and handed it to her gently. "If you put it between your legs, it should help." Iliana nodded, sighing softly as she put away his undercoat and grabbed a new one for him. "Yes, I'll be happy when Lacey finally has her child." She dusted off his coat and looked up at him. "I'm sorry that I've been so horrible about this… I just… it makes me feel very used to have a body inside me that isn't mine." She admitted. "And after, I'll just be wrinkled."
Maxwell laughed, taking some bubbles and wiping them over her cheeks. "No drink, love. Just fresh air!" He grinned, his smile turning sheepish. "And maybe some pastries, that had a good amount of sugary frosting…" His ears turned pink and he looked like a guilty child just caught stealing a pie.
Lydia took the hot water bottle and tucked it under the blankets as she sighed in relief "that's nice..." She watched her son tucking him in the Royal crib and rocking him "he's perfect..." She was amazed at how he didn't wake up with noise "deep sleeper..."Marcoux shook his head and rubbed her belly "it won't be bad and you'll still be gorgeous...and I'll still be so in love with you." He kissed her lovingly and nuzzled her neck "you are amazing...and our house is ready to move into."
Lacey laughed lightly "oh my goodness you are not supposed to have sugar darling...you know this...guess what? Illi isn't going to be pregnant for much longer."
James smiled when she finally had her relief. "I'm glad that feels better." He said seriously. "I hate to see you in pain." he climbed back on the bed and leaned his head back. "He's quite the cutie." He said seriously. "And he's got your nose. And my knack for sleeping through everything."Iliana nodded, hoping he was right. She didn't want to be ugly, and the thought of Marcoux not liking her was unbearable. She hugged him as best as she could around her stomach. "Oh, let's move in as soon as the baby is born!" she said, thrilled.
Maxwell chuckled and shrugged. "What's wrong with a little sugar?" He asked, splashing water over his face to rinse it. Then he grinned. "Oh that's wonderful!" he said, so happy to be able to soon meet their child. "How does Ili feel about that?"
Lydia felt something was very wrong in her heart "try to wake him up with sound James...be loud and try to wake him up..." She whispered leaning over the crib her lip shaking. Something was troubling her and she always heard about maternal instinct and now she felt it.Marcoyx smiled and held her close "I will...it'll be great, the dogs are already loving the new dog park and the house is clean and simple just the way we want it." He promised and caressed her cheek "soon my love..."
Lacey looked down ashamed "she hates me Max...she said that in so many words that she wishes the baby was gone...like i have this fear she'll lose it and just cut it out herself..."
James frowned, wondering why she would ask him to do such a thing, but when he saw the worry on her features, he didn't question it, and just nodded. He leaned over the crib, whispering to their son at first, and then speaking, and then talking in a loud voice. The baby just kept sleeping. He clapped, frowning. Their son wasn't responding at all. Iliana smiled softly, glad to hear that the dogs were doing alright. "I'm so happy to hear that." She said honestly. She leaned into his touch, smiling softly. "I promised my mother I'd visit today. I have to get going. But I'll be back in an hour, ok?" She said, kissing his cheek.
Maxwell sighed softly, hating that this had caused a riff between his wife and her best friend. "She would never do that." He said gently, tucking her hair back. "It's alright for her to be upset. I'm sure it would probably be upsetting to go through that. She'll probably get better once this is over." he said gently.
Lydia covered her mouth the tears starting to fall, she gently nudged her son and he immediately woke up and looked around confused and starting his cries. She cradled him and rocked crying as she held her poor son.Marcoux sighed and hugged her close "stay in contact please...you know I worry about you constantly. I've already been away from you a week, can't I come with you?...please?"
Lacey nodded and swallowed "I just...I want my baby Max I want it safe and with me not in someone that hates me body..."
James sighed softly, watching as she scooped up the crying baby. They had a deaf son. But what did it matter? He was a handsome baby boy, and would grow into a handsome king. Deaf people could survive in this day and age, he would just have to do things differently. "He'll learn to live with it Lydia, he will still be able to do all the things other boys do." he promised. "Just a little differently, at times."Iliana nodded, pulling her coat around herself. "I promise I'll telephone you when I get there, and when I plan to leave again." She vowed, smiling gently at him as she headed for the door. "I'd say you could come, but you know how antsy mother gets around noble folks. She nearly passed out last time you visited." she said, smiling a little at the memory. "I won't be gone long, I promise."
Maxwell nodded in understanding, holding her close. "I know baby… I want our child too." he said softly. "It won't be long now. You said yourself." he kissed her temple gently.
Lydia swallowed shaking her head and rocking him to sleep "how will he learn...I wanted him to study beautiful music. I know he has opportunities and such but...I feel like its my fault James...he was safe in there and now..." She felt crushed and the 'mommy Blues' were beginning.Marcoux sighed "but you are pregnant...I don't want you traveling on your own..." He couldn't even stop her as she headed out to the carriage "I love you Illiana...I love you so much, please stay in contact."
Lacey sighed and nodded leading him out of the bath tub and to the bedroom getting dressed in her dressing gown "I feel stuck Max...I just want this to be over...I want to be a mom but I don't want to lose my best friend and I can't have both."
James shook his head, hating that she was blaming herself. "Hey, hey… none of that." He said softly, kissing her cheek. "He still loves music, he probably just felt the vibrations, and could still tell it was music. I know of a very famous deaf composer, you know." He said, smiling a little. "Lots of famous people are deaf."Iliana waved from the carriage window, knowing that Marcoux worried for her, and that touched her heart. But she had promised her mother she would visit…Iliana reached her cottage, wincing from another cramp, and knocked on the door.
Maxwell followed her out of the tub, towelling off quickly. He got into his clothes again and nodded. "I know, honey, I know. I'm sure Iliana will be a lot better once the baby is gone. Just give her some time, ok?"
Lydia smiled softly at him trying to cheer her up, it did help and she did feel more hopeful "that is true...I suppose only a mother would fret about something that can be wonderful...thank you for keeping me in perspective James...how was hunting? Did you bring anything back?"Her mother opened the door and smiled "hello my Illiana...how is my precious girl?" She hugged her gently patting her back "how is it being a rich heirs wife?"
Lacey nodded and smiled "I will thank you, and thank you for being my support I can't wait for you to be a father!"
James nodded, glad that he had helped cheer her up again. They had a son, after all, a healthy son, and he certainly didn't want her feel sad on such a happy occasion. "Hunting was hunting, love." he said honestly, shrugging. "We brought back a few hares, and saw a buck, but we have so many already in the palace kitchens just going to waste, I didn't see the point in shooting it." He said honestly. Iliana smiled brightly when she saw her mother and she immediately hugged her, relieved to have someone to talk to again. "I'm doing alright, Mother, it's good to see you." she said honestly. "I still love Marcoux, and no I don't think he's a stick in the mud, if that's what you're asking." she said, smiling a little as she walked into the sitting room.
Maxwell chuckled, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles gently. "Oh love, what would I be without you to brighten my days? The least I could do is try to lift you from the harder times." He said, looping his arm through hers. "And now that you've sufficiently scared off my cheerful hyper mood, I vote we go to the kitchens and find some more sugar to replenish it again." He said, a twinkle in his eye.
Lydia smiled "I guess I need to teach the chefs some meatier dishes so that poor animal didn't die in vain...I make excellent salted elk as you recall." She caressed his burly face and pecked his lips "Mmm I love you my prince...ready to go answer the reporters? They won't leave us alone otherwise." She let the wet nurse care for her son as she relaxed smiling at Emma "I give you permission to leave dear friend, you haven't seen Edmund in a long time."She slowly poured some tea for them both with some homemaid biscuits, nothing elaborate she was still a peasant afterall "I never said anything about him being a stick in the mud dear, I only indicated that he is a wealthy heir and that's all I know about your husband..."
Lacey shook her head "I thnk not Maxwell dear, the poor maids are already working themselves to the bone. No, we shall have a relaxing night and hold off on sugar for let's say a week?" She teased pecking his cheek "is father still ill?"
James smiled, liking her suggestion. "How could I ever forget?" he teased, kissing her cheek. "Every one of your dishes is a work of art." He closed his eyes as she kissed him, and nodded slowly. "I suppose we must… mustn't we?" He whispered, reluctant to leave the room. But it had to be done at some point. Emma perked up then, as Lydia gave her permission to leave. "Oh thank you!" She curtsied, "I'll be back by tonight."
Iliana smiled, thanking her mother for the tea. She held the small cup carefully with one hand, the other one massaging her stomach to try and alleviate the cramps as she sipped on her tea. "Well the wealthy and the heir parts are correct." she admitted. "But he is very sweet and cares for me a great deal. He loves animals just as I do, mother."
Maxwell's happy expression turned into something more pleading and he pouted. "Oh don't be like that! I need sugar before the end of the week! Don't deprive me of my single culinary delight!" He begged, clasping his hands together, "Be merciful on this poor sugar depraved man!"
Lydia smiled "Royal duties and all that...don't worry love you'll be fine." She started to feel cold like she couldn't stop shivering, she pulled the blankets tighter but it didn't help. Edmund was waiting and smiled pulling her away, it was forbidden in every sense of the word to have relationships as the palace servants. So it was secret and they never saw each other.
Her mother watched concerned about her "darling are you quite alright?...that...fetus isn't causing you harm is it?" She hated the idea of her daughter being a surrogate, used for her body and not getting a child out of it.
Lacey laughed "darling! I think that sentence in of itself should say you have an addiction that must be stopped. You had plenty of sugar and should balance out your food pallete with something else.
James sighed, shaking his head. "All these duties." he said, his mouth curving as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Are you doing alright, love?" he asked, "I'll go out and talk to the reporters quick, and you can keep resting here, alright?" he said gently, not wanting her to over exert herself. Emma's smile brightened the moment she saw Edmund and she giggled, taking his hand. "Where are we going, Ed? Any special plans today? Lydia said I could have the day off!" She relayed, thrilled. She almost never got a day off.
Iliana hid the pain as best as she could, but she couldn't keep from wincing every couple of seconds. It was getting really bad now. "I'm, I'm alright mother. I'll be ok. The baby kicks sometimes." she said honestly, sighing softly. "At least it will be over soon. I'm not sure how much more…" She winced. "I can take of this…"
Maxwell's puppy face only became pathetic, to the point that he was trying to decide whether or not to pull on tears. Finally he just decided to give it up and he sighed. "but I love sugary foods…" he mumbled, looking rather forlorn.
Lydia shook her head "I feel cold and weak..." She admitted and shivered again her face paling "just feel strange..." She admitted and held onto his hand "don't tell them about his disability."Edmund laughed "anywhere with you love...let us take the trolley and go to the town and I will buy you something nice."
Her mother frowned more concerned now "I'm going to contact the county doctor...you might be in labor darling. Call Lacey and let her know so she can be here alright?"
James frowned, suddenly worried about her. "Baby… that's not very good. I'm going to get the nurse to look at you, ok?" He said gently, tucking her in tighter. He told the maids to fetch her another couple hot water bottles. "I won't speak a word of his disability, you just rest ok?"Emma's eyes widened and she beamed. "Oh yes, let's!" she agreed, absolutely loving the town. She looped her arm through his and lead them outside, walking to the trolly ticket booth. "How's life been? How's the workload been?"
Iliana suddenly drained of colour. In labor!? So soon!? Her breathing hitched, as she started to stress. "Mother… mother please call Marcoux first." She said, leaning against the table. "Please… he has to know… I told him I'd call…" She whispered, fumbling for the phone on the wall so she could call Lacey as her mother had suggested.
Lydia nodded and pulled the hot water bottles around her stomach and back trying to get her warm, she blinkef her eorld going pretty hazy "just come back after..." She pleaded and looked up at the nurse.Edmund sighed "it is well, James is an easy man to serve and he is polite and shines his own shoes which is very nice, what about you? You just delivered a baby how was that?"
Her mother contacted the country doctor and then Marvoux, Marcoux hopped into the carriage quickly and drove there his heart racing. Lacey came along with him while Max stayed home to watch the foxes plus carriage rides made him queasy.
James nodded, kissing her hand once more before he walked out to face the crowds, putting on a smile and telling everything about the delivery and the baby, except that he was deaf of course. The nurse bustled in, checking her temperature and looking in her eyes. She frowned worriedly, and bustled over to the doctor to consult what might be wrong with Lydia.
Emma smiled, happy for her own man to be enjoying his work. She knew it could be tedious for him at times, and she just wanted him to be happy. She got them trolly tickets from the booth and then joined the crowds in boarding the next Trolly. "It was exciting and stressful to say the least." she said honestly, smiling. "Quite the event in the palace."
Illiana was shaking as she gripped the edge of the table, trying to stay upright. But she fell to the floor on the next contraction, hitting her knees hard, her forehead smacking the floor as her arms gave out. She was quite far along already, because she had been ignoring the contractions all together. There was a good amount of blood staining her skirts and on the floor already, and Iliana sobbed as another contraction tore through her.
The doctor frowned and quickly examined her and frowned "she's getting an infection...tell the queen." He said and rolled up her nightgown and examining her "I need tools please nurse."Edmund smiled and led her to the little market and looked around at the handmaid jewerly "gorgeous...did you know that there are merchants that explore the seas selling these? I wish I could have that courage...I always wanted to sail the seas..."
Lacey and Marcoux were there as the doctor worked on delivering the baby, Marcoux brushed the cold cloth for the wound on her head and on her neck "it's ok:..you are doing ok..." Lacey panicked lightly and held onto her friend's hand "it'll be ok..."
The nurse nodded, instructing for one of the maids to go fetch the queen as she returned, immediately getting to work on grabbing the tools the doctor might need and passing them to him. The queen rushed in then, looking quite pale. "The maid said it was urgent!" she nearly squeaked. "What's wrong? What's happened to my daughter?"Emma smiled softly, walking through the markets with him. She stopped by one of the stalls and fingered a dainty strand of pearls. "Oh that would be an adventure…" She agreed. "Maybe you'll be a sailor one day." She pecked his cheek. "and you could bring me back a pearl you found on some lost island."
Iliana was sobbing and moaning, never having been in so much pain in her life. She inwardly cursed that she ever agreed to this. The baby felt as if it was tearing her apart, and she couldn't hear anything but her own cries, her eyes squeezed shut. Mercy, dear Lord! She prayed. And as a young baby's cry pierced the room, Iliana passed out on the floor.
The doctor frowned "just hold her hand and comfort her, this will be quite painful." He explained as he got down and opened her uterus with the tools and found pieces of the placenta and pulled them out. Lydia thrashed and cried out her eyes just lines as she squeezed them shut.Edmund nodded and had her be distracted by long dyed scarves and bought her the strand of pearls with most of his income. He tucked them away and swallowed "hey Emma? Why don't you find something for us to eat...I'll be back?" He kissed her cheek.
Marcoux held her close and rocked her trying to help her through it, he felt sick she was so ragged and in pain...it scared him.
Lacey snuggled the baby against her chest crying "hey pretty girl,.,hi I'm your mommy..."
The queen bit her glossed lip and nodded, rushing to her daughter's side, and holding her hands. "It's going to be ok, baby, they'll take care of you, you'll be alright." The nurse had to help hold her down as the doctor worked, she hated when the procedures were painful. Emma looked up from the scarves and nodded, wondering where he needed to go off to. But she trusted him. "Of course!" she said, smiling. "I'll meet you right here again with the food." She promised, giving his hand a squeeze as she turned and walked towards the small pastry shops in the town.
It took a few minutes for Iliana to wake again, and when she did, she was trembling. Most of the pain was gone, but not all of it. She leaned her head against Marcoux's shoulder, crying silently. "Let's go home…" She whispered.
The small wrapped bundle in Lacey's arms immediately quieted once it heard Lacey, and the little girl's eyes drooped as she drifted off and slept in her mother's arms.
The doctor was finished and nodded covering her up "we saved her from an infection that could have killed her later...a little pain didn't."Lydia was shaking and held onto her mother "I want to go to sleep...but it hurts..."
Edmund smiled and kissed her as he went to the barge where the pirate sailers were. He cleared his throat "how would one join your expedition? I wish to quit my job..."
Marvoux shook his head "just rest my love..." He covered her up with the blanket and kissed her head "you did so well...good job Illi..."
Lacey smiled and held her close and rocked her, she started to cry and looked at Illi "honey...are you ok?"
The queen nodded, thanking the doctor for saving her daughter's life. The nurse helped clean her up, and sterilize the tools again, packing them away. She replaced the hot water bottle between her legs and tucked the blankets around her, handing the queen a bottle of pills. "These are pain medications, give her one each day only if the pain is really bad." she said. "As they will make her drowsy as well." The queen nodded, immediately pulling out one of the tablets and handing it to her daughter along with a glass of water. One of the men working carrying down boxes out of the ship, paused and smiled at him, scratching his bandana covered head. "Just speak to the cap'n, boy. He'll have you sign on. We sail tomorrow at first light."
Emma had bought two sweet rolls with the coins she had brought for the trip, and headed back towards the booth to meet Edmund.
Iliana nodded weakly, but she didn't want to be here anymore. She wanted to be alone at home, with him. Not anywhere near her mother, or the doctor, or Lacey. When she even looked at the child a hollow feeling entered her gut. She glanced over at Lacey, not hiding her tear streaked face. "I'm fine." She said softly, and tucked her face against Marcoux.
Lydia swallowec the pill and drank the water sighing as she rested against the pillows and fell asleep. The doctor nodded "the nurse will stay here to care for the princess and the child, I know about his disability and there are new techniques for hearing equipment..."Edmund talked to the captain and got signed on, he went back to find Emma and took her hands "Emma darling I have some great news!" He said excited for this new chance and he had to let her know about his love for her "I am going to make love to you tonight and I will not be hanged..."
Marcoux slowly picked her up and tucked her in the bedroom in the back just wanting them to have time alone. Lacey swallowed knowing their friendship would never be the same she called Max to have him pick her and the baby up.
Iliana looked down at her hands. She didn't mean to, but some days, when it was exceptionally hard, she actually found herself disliking Lacey a great deal, and she knew that wasn't fair, but she couldn't help it. She bit her lip. "I just… It's hard, Lacey." She admitted, looking down again. "I never have wanted to be pregnant, and now I have to suffer through the pain of it always, without even a child to look forwards to." She said softly.