Page 76 of Bride Takes a Charmer
Luthor scurried forth. “Aye, Mama.”
“I need you to go and find Walen. Tell him Niahm needs him. And then go to the midwife’s cottage. It’s the last cottage on the lane toward the bridge. Tell her to come quickly. Can you do that?” She had faith in him but he was quite young. Luthor nodded and turned away. “And Luthor?”
“Aye?”
“Hasten. Do not stop anywhere or speak to anyone besides Walen. Find him and send him to us and then go and fetch the midwife. Do not forget.” Sorsha watched him slip out the door.
Niahm continued to moan but now she flinched and her body tensed against the bedding.
Sorsha felt helpless to give aid to Niahm. “Luthor is rather young and I hope he does not get distracted. Be calm, my friend, and take easy breaths when the pain comes.” She tried to distract her by making idle chatter. “I cannot believe Corliss pushed me off the cliffside. She was not a friendly sort but to be so cruel…”
Niahm gripped her hand and squeezed it. “I believe it. Aye, she was never a friendly lass even when she was…weeeeee.” Shehuffed. “The pains are getting worse. I hope someone comes before this bairn decides to join us.”
Sorsha hoped so too because, in her condition, there was little she could do to help. “I pray that is so. It seems your babe is unwilling to wait.”
Finally, the sound of someone taking the stairs came along with a loud thumping. Walen rushed into the bedchamber and reached his wife. He peered at her and Sorsha gave him a concerned gaze and a small smile.
“Your bairn is coming. I sent Luthor for the midwife.”
A moment later, Edra entered and Sorsha gave a gasp of surprise when she saw who was with her. Aela smiled and approached.
“My Lady, how pleased I am to see you. Edra told me all that happened.” Aela took hold of her hand. “I have worried so for you and am gladdened that you appear well.”
Niahm groaned and Walen gently helped her to her feet. He wrapped his arm around her waist and when he tried to shift her to the door, Niahm’s knees buckled. Walen said, “Come, wife, we shall get ye settled in a chamber here. There is no time to get ye back to our cottage.”
Sorsha sniffled. “Shaw found you, Aela?” She wiped at her eyes as happy tears gathered on her lashes at the oncoming birth of the bairn and that Aela had finally returned to her. “I am happy to see you and worried for you too.”
“Edra tells me that you took a great fall. I shall look you over but I see your friend there needs urgent help. Let us get her settled for the midwife and I will return.” Aela helped to hold Niahm’s arm as Walen, with painstakingly slow steps, guided her to the door.
“Niahm, I will pray you have an easy birth. I want to know the minute the baby is born. Someone better come and give me thenews.” Sorsha lay back, discouraged that she couldn’t be there with her friend.
Edra pulled the bed cover over her and poured her a cup of water, adding a powder to it and mixing it with haste. “I came to give ye a wee bit of pain relief, Milady.” She pressed the cup into her hands.
Sorsha didn’t want to drink it but there was no disobeying the maidservant. She drank a good bit and handed the cup back. Edra set the cup back on the table and pulled the bed cover from over her leg. Thick planks of wood tied with rope held her leg still. Sorsha hadn’t yet seen the damage. It seemed to her that the cumbersome cure was more daunting than the pain she endured. The initial agony lessened and her leg didn’t hurt overly, but ached now, and only once in a while did a more grueling pain twitch there. Even the tingling in her lower leg and foot had decreased.
“Ye should get some rest, Milady.”
“But I do not wish to rest. I will not do so until I hear a word of Niahm…” But sleep she did when a drowsiness came upon her and even though she didn’t want to fall asleep, her eyes refused to cooperate and remain open. Sorsha closed her eyes and prayed that her friend had an easy delivery, that Shaw returned soon, and gave thanks for her joy at having Aela there.
*
Grogginess thinned asthe veil of sleep abated. Sorsha used her tongue to wet her lips and took a deep breath. Her eyes flitted open and she was unsure of the time of day. The window shutters were closed and two candles were lit on the bedside table. She pressed her back a bit to stretch but ceased when itcaused her leg to shift. The door opened and someone stuck their head through the threshold. She peered at Aela and smiled.
“Good morn, My Lady.” Aela entered and closed the door behind her. The dear woman crossed the chamber and set her healing satchel on the floor next to the bed. “You slept long. That is good because sleep helps us heal.”
“Aela, I am so happy you are here.”
“As am I. Before I give you a thorough look over, I wanted to tell you that Niahm had a baby boy. She and the babe are doing well.”
“Oh, a son. I am so happy for her. Walen must be beyond pleased.”
“He sure is and cannot cease telling anyone that will listen what his son looks like, the sound of his little cries, and that he is grateful that his son does not have his mother’s red hair.”
Sorsha laughed and pressed a tear away at the happiness for her friend. She couldn’t wait to see Niahm’s baby and her. “That is the most joyous news.”
Aela nodded. “Aye, she did not have too difficult a time. That babe wanted to come quickly. Now, I must say how proud of you I am. Your parents would be too. You married a charming, kind man, and have a lovely family. The Mackintosh clan has been welcoming. You found a place that shines with love.”
“I am sorry…” Sorsha set her hand on Aela’s thigh when she sat next to her on the bedding.