Chapter 2

We didn't find any berries that day, and I think Mavis expected that.  Mavis snapped me a bit back into reality. One nice thing about absorbing myself into complete darkness? No Charles.

"I'm so hungry, Mavis, be a dear and cook something?" Said Charles in a winey tone through the layers of clothes he was in.

It was in the evening. The weather was cold enough for the fire to be lit. Snowflakes began to fall from the sky despite it being early spring.

"She's very pregnant, Charles. Cook yourself." Snapped Daniel. Mavis was sitting in a chair by the fire. Daniel kneeled by her and felt her stomach.

'How are you feeling?" He asked her, completely disregarding Charles' rude comment.

"I'm fine, I think we have a few more days before the baby comes."

"I don't want to leave your side, just in case." Daniel said.

"How do you expect me to cook? There's no food here!" Charles complained.

"I went hunting today. If you're that hungry go skin the squirrel." Daniel said.

"Squirrel? That's all you got?" Charles frowned.

"If you don't like it, go hunting yourself!" Daniel fought the urge to punt Charles across the woods. Believe me, I was too.

"It's alright, Daniel. Charles, I'll help you cook." I watched Mavis struggle to get out of the chair.

"I'll do it. Don't worry, Mavis. Just rest." I said.

She sat back down in her chair. Daniel covered her up with a quilt.

"Thank you but I'm not helpless." She said.

"I know, I just want you comfortable." He said, stroking her hair.

He handed her the book she had been reading.

"I love you." He kissed her forehead.

"I love you, too." She said before flipping her book open.

I helped Charles cook, even though I had no idea what I was doing.

"This is ridiculous." He whined once more, like a pouty child.

"Charles, whatever you're about to say I can assure you, I do not care." I snapped.

"How can you live like this?" He moaned.

"Live like what?" He said.

"I'm this dusty cottage in the middle of no where! We're lower than peasants! We're the fleas on peasants!"

"If it's so bad here then leave. You have a rich family don't you?" I said.

"I should! I will!" He stormed off and went outside, slamming the door. The cabin had instantly felt more peaceful.

"What's his deal?" Daniel asked me in the tiny kitchen.

"Who knows, he's always been stuffy. I'm sure he'll be back." I said.

"Maybe a few hundred mile walk will mellow him out." Said Daniel.

Mavis clenched her stomach and put down her book.

"Are you alright?" Daniel jumped.

"Fine. Everything is fine. This happens sometimes, nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

"I'm sure. It's alright. This happened a couple days ago and it was nothing, remember?"

"Have you decided on a name?" I asked them.

"Well. We aren't sure yet. We were thinking-."

Charles pushed through the door. He was panting and out of breath.

"Decide to come back already?" Said Daniel.

"There's two men heading right this way. In black uniforms. I don't know who they are. I ran back before the spotted me. Could this day get any worse?" He wheezed.

"I'm going to stop them from getting closer." Daniel departed from Mavis, getting his sword and bow from by the door.

"Daniel. What are you doing?" She pushed herself off her chair.

"They can't find us. You can't run right now. If they find us or alert others, we'll be trapped."

"Please be safe. Please don't go alone. Charles and Zander can go with." Mavis said.

"No, I want them to stay here in case others do get here. I'll be back, I promise."

He threw his quiver of arrows on his back and put his sword in his sheath. He put on a cloak and carried his bow. He approached me.

"Take care of her, Zander. Gods know Charles is useless." He said, giving Charles a side eye glare.

I nodded as he went out the door. I went by her my wife. The warm fire crackled.

"Are you alright?"

She clenched her stomach again and winced in pain.

"Fine. This happens sometimes. Ah!" She cried.

"When exactly are you expected?"

"A few days." She gritted her teeth and breathed heavily.

"Mavis, I don't know much about this stuff but you could be giving birth sooner than you thought."

"No. No. It can't be. Daniel is gone. I can't have it without him! Ah!"

"Mavis, what was the plan you had with Daniel?"

"I need to get down. I need to get onto the bed or something." She said.

Mavis and Daniel occupied the single bed in the home. I brought her to it. She was breathing heavily, she began to sweat.

"Charles, go get some water." I instructed.

"Me? Why me? There are two men out there coming for us."

"NOW, Charles!" I raised my voice.

He scampered off like a pouty puppy, bringing the water bucket with him.

"The pains are getting closer! Where is Daniel?" Her eyes darted to the door.

"Deep breath. Stay calm, it's alright. Daniel will be back soon." I told her.

"I need him, Zander." She squeezed my hand.

"I know. It's alright. Just breathe with me."

She copied my deep breaths as she cried out. She said the pains had gotten closer.

Charles finally came back with the water. I dabbed her sweating face with a wet cloth. I sent him with another bucket to get more.

"I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it without Daniel." She sobbed.

"It's alright, it's alright. He'll be back soon. It'll be alright. At least Charles is gone."

"I think I'd strangle him if he says one word to me." She said. Her face was red as a beaten tomato and drenched in sweat.

"I'm not about to give birth, but I'm with you on that one."

"I don't want to push. I don't want to push without Daniel here."

"Mavis. I'm here for you. No matter what. I know you want Daniel right now, he would be doing a lot better job at this than me right now. But he's protecting us, and when he gets back he's going to want to meet his baby.. So I think we're going to have you have to push.." I told her.

I could see the reluctance in her eyes, but the baby couldn't wait any longer.

She agreed and began to push. She grunted and cried as she began to try to push the baby out. I couldn't imagine the pain she was going through. This wasn't the birth she was supposed to have.

For a moment, I imagined what it was meant to be like. She would have given birth in the castle, surrounded by the best midwives in the kingdom. Likely in a big tub, surrounded by people pampering her during the whole birth. Then, a royal party, announcing the baby's name to the whole kingdom. Instead she was here. In a half burned down cottage with me on a broken bed.

What a life I had given her.

Daniel pushed open the door and threw down his weapons at the door. He slammed it behind him.

"Mavis!" He cried and rushed to her side.

"Daniel!" She cried.

"The baby is coming. It's happening." She she cried, tears running down her red face.

He reached for her hand and grasped it tightly.

"Let's meet our baby."

He looked at me.

"Thank you, Zander."

I nodded and moved back a bit. This was their moment. I wanted to be there to help, but didn't want to intrude.

She cried and screamed. It lasted for several more minutes before we heard another cry, a baby's cry.