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A Child is Born

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Ariana Lenoir
Lore Master
Lore Master


Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 1140
Location: City of Britain

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject: A Child is Born Reply with quote

"It is time... " Shiori said gently as she watched Ariana's body bend over as it leaned heavily against the wall.

Ariana looked up as she exhaled slowly. "Do as I instructed then, " Ariana responded as she breathed deeply and made her way slowly to the bed.

"You should not be left alone right now, "Shiori said with careful concern.

"Women 'ave been birthing children since our time began. " Ariana said abruptly. She waved her hand dismissively, attempting to direct the woman as she continued to move towards the welcoming softness of the bed.

"Ariana... it is your first child and the importance of this child..." Shiori said as she attempted to quietly plead her case.

Ariana turned, her eyes like a tempestuous winter storm of colors as she raised her voice. Despite how some might argue it to be impossible, Ariana drew her pained body into a regal stance despite the ungainly swell of her belly. She lifted her chin and set eyes wild with an inner strength and fire upon the frail old woman. Her voice was completely in control and did not waver even slightly as she spoke with a tone of command and absolution, "Ye will do as I say an' ye will do it right now. This child's life does nay, nor will it ever, have greater importance than what I wish. Now leave and do as I bid or I shall have not only your employment with my family terminated but your life as well."

Shiori looked in horror at her for a moment before quickly fleeing the room. Ariana took a deep, slow breath and turned back towards the bed. She took a step and felt her legs buckle as another pain began to wrap itself around her. As her body began to slump to the floor a pair of unseen hands caught her and carefully held her aloft. Adonias carefully lifted her back onto her feet as the labor pain began to slowly subside. He held her with her back against his chest until she found the strength to stand again. She murmured a word of appreciation. He let his hands slip from around her and once more faded deep into the shadows to continue his ever watchful presence near her.

Hours passed and the day came and went. The sun streaked across the starlit sky practically unseen under the thick cloud of darkness that clung to Umbra like a blanket. Time was meaningless to the laboring woman. Each moment held still in painful clarity in Ariana's mind as she pains began to quicken with the natural progression that all women had been held slave to. The scents of myrrh and jasmine from smoldering incense in the braziers filled the room as the candles stood in flickering silent vigil as they were replaced as they burned themselves out. Sabine sat on the bed and placed another cool cloth across Ariana's brow. Shiori kept her distance, but faithfully continued her attentions to the tasks that needed to be done. Basin water was replaced with cool water, candles replaced and incense relit. Despite the warm light of the numerous candles, the corner nearest the bed remained untouched by its intrusive light. Adonias stood unseen, wrapped in the thick, serpentine shadows of unending night that were his power to call. Epoch stood at the far end of the room, watching with those ageless green eyes that had seen dozens of his mortal progeny brought into the world over the centuries. Takai and Phaidra stood together near him, watching and whispering to one another. Phaidra had been reluctant to be present for the birth, but in the end Takai insisted. Blood prevailed and the two watched as one, their hands entwined together tightly.

The night began to crest and begin in its downward spiral towards the approaching dawn. In the last couple hours of darkness, Ariana's final abrupt cry pierced the night air. A few moments later, a child's strong wail arose as if to compete with its mother to sunder the stillness and gentle quiet of the surrounding night.

The child was cleaned and swaddled by expert hands and placed into the waiting arms of Epoch. He looked the child over carefully as it blinked with a furrowed brow up at him. He reached down carefully and untucked one of its small hands from the warm comfort even as the child's face seemed to frown in disapproval. He reached over and removed a glass dome which lay protectively over a dying rose. He picked up the rose and studied the child's eyes once more before placing the thorny stem in its open hand. Reflexively the hand closed and the sharp thorns pierced the child's skin. The frown spun to surprise and then anger as its tiny hand bobbed helplessly against the blanket, unable to release its painful prize. Its loud cry rose up once again as Epoch closed his eyes and smiled. Opening his eyes, he leaned down and looked into its eyes. "Silence... " and the child's mouth opened and its eyes blinked in wide-eyed expression before quieting. Epoch pulled the rose from the child's hands even as the petals seemed to shed their mortal coil and fall in a flurry to the floor. He replaced the rose carefully under the glass even as life seemed to breathe into it as a blood-red rose bud grew and bright green leaves grew and unfurled from that blood-stained stem.

Epoch tucked the child's bloodied hand back within the blanket and walked over to where Ariana lay. He leaned over and placed a kiss upon Ariana's forehead and then rested the swaddled baby into her waiting arms. He looked down at them and then into Ariana's eyes, whispering. "It is acceptable. Contact me when you wish your payment and I will deliver you safely into immortality, granddaughter." He turned and strode, disappearing from view even before he reached the far end of the room.

Ariana looked down at the small child, whispering aloud. "What was the child born?"

"it is a girl, cousin. " Sabine said hesitantly.

A slight frown crossed Ariana's pristine features before quickly being hidden as she looked into the girl's eyes , "Welcome to this world... my... daughter. May you bring this world to its knees..."
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