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“Are you alright?”
“No, my back is killing me, Davrin. Please stop moving.” Esha grunted and leaned into her husband's chest. His heartbeat had always been soothing to her, and now was no exception. Her eyes drifted, breathing slowly evening out as her consciousness drifted a bit.
“Babe. You can't fall asleep, we're almost there.” Davrin gently jostled her and she resisted the overwhelming urge to smack his arm.
Sleepily, she looked out the carriage window. They were almost to the Dellamorte manor, at any rate. She uncrossed her legs as Davrin pulled her closer and her eyes naturally fell upon her aching bump.
Nine months had flown by so fast. One moment Esha had been staring down the neck of a potion bottle, and the next, Davrin was pulling back out the maternity clothes they'd had made when she carried Matteo for Kal and Lucanis. But now it was different. She was carrying her and Davrin's kid. Their little miracle.
The only issue is that she was so, so damn sleepy all the time. It hadn't been like this at all for Matteo's pregnancy, none of it had. The regular stuff, sure. Sore feet, aching back, all that. But now she was dealing with the constant motion sickness, and her favorite foods made her nauseous too! Her feet were swollen so bad she couldn't wear her nice shoes or walk for very long, and her spine was like a burning rod.
“You might have to carry me…” She muttered, trying to joke, but she was embarrassed as she thought of trying to walk to the dinner table.
“Wouldn't be the first time I've carried you over a threshold.” Davrin said softly, with a teasing lilt as he pressed a kiss below her ear. “Besides, I don't want you to wear out your heel pads.” His hands wandered up and down her back, soothing circles being rubbed in. Esha sighed in relief and collapsed back into him, whining slightly. “Are you sure you're okay with this?”
It took her a moment to respond, her face blissed out from Davrin's kneading. “I already told you, Dav. I'm not missing out on the de Riva family dinner. We go every year.” Her voice was terse as she reminded him.
The carriage rolled over a stone in the road, bumping Esha out of her seat with a startled yelp, but Davrin caught her by her waist and pulled her back into him as she glared at the window. It was becoming late here, the colors of the sky bleeding together into an angry soup of reds, oranges, and pinks.
She didn't even know if she'd make it all the way through the damn dinner, but she was gonna try! She was tired of this pregnancy preventing her from getting out of the house, tired of it making her feet feel like she was walking on beehives.
“Babe?” Davrin's voice sounded distant until his hand was on her shoulder, gently rustling. She cringed.
“I fell asleep again?”
“We can turn around, Esh. No one's going to begrudge you if we do.”
She debated it for only half a second. “No. We're almost there, and I haven't seen them in like two months, Davrin.”
“They come and visit you every week.” He countered gently, squeezing her hand, which felt amazing to her swollen joints. He seemed to notice, and squeezed it again, making her sigh.
“I just…I really needed to get out of the house.” She murmured under her breath. “Been stuck on bedrest for like four weeks now. Can barely get up to go to the bathroom…Matteo's pregnancy wasn't like this!”
Davrin pressed his thumbs into her pressure points on her hand, aiming to alleviate the pain, which she sorely appreciated, but he still looked worried. “Esh…you're growing a unique baby. It's going to be a unique pregnancy.” His hands move carefully to her stomach. “Kal's going to be mad.”
“What?”
He chuckled, looking up at her with teasing eyes. “Kal already told you last time we saw him to take it easy. Yet here you are. He's going to kill me, you realize?”
Her cheeks lit up in horror and embarrassment. “First of all, mister, you are not doing yourself any favors. You're not as cute as Assan.”
“Ouch!”
“Second of all, I'm not gonna just not go to the annual dinner because you're worried about Kal killing you. It's his turn to host.”
“Nice to know my wife doesn't care if I live or die.” His arms snaked around her, and Esha saw the carriage had stopped, and realized what his plan was just a moment too late.
“Don't you dare actually–” she was suddenly aloft, as the carriage door opened and they both exited. She glared at his smug face as he carried her from the carriage and through the gardens towards the door. “Davrin Suledin!”
He actually cackled, almost doubling over. “You told me I might have to carry you!”
“Yes!!!” She seethed, smacking his chest. “I said maybe, ass! Put me down!”
Davrin seemed to think about it for a moment, then he slowly nodded, and lowered her to her feet.
Esha almost buckled from the pain instantly. It felt like a million tiny needles stabbing the soles of her feet, and the pressure of the weight of her whole body on the swollen heels was like she had jumped from a ten story building. “Fuck!” She crumpled, but Davrin caught her immediately, lifting her off her aching feet. “Gods, how is that bad? I walked to the carriage, why can't I walk to the door?” She whined, pinching her eyes shut as she tried to ignore her throbbing ankles.
“Because we spent fifteen minutes in a cramped carriage, riding from the Diamond to the Manor. Maybe we should have them move the Eluvian?”
“I don't know…” A hiccup escaped her, and she buried her face in her hands in embarrassment as tears started to well up. “Maybe you're right, maybe we should have stayed home…”
“Esha? Why are you…?” Kal's voice came from ahead of them, then a loud zapping sound and his voice was right next to them. “Are you hurt? Did you fall down? That's bad for the baby!”
Davrin shifted Esha in his arms. “Kal, hey.” He nudged Esha, but she didn't want to speak. She shuffled closer, grabbing onto his shirt. “She's fine. Her feet are sore and she's feeling exhausted. She didn't fall dow–”
Suddenly Esha was moving again, and when her puffy eyes refocused, she was looking up at Kal and not Davrin. Baffled, she turned her head and stared at her equally confused husband. “Kal?”
Kal promptly turned around and began marching inside. “Esha! You said you'd be careful after that happened during your last pregnancy!” She could hear Davrin rushing to catch up.
Wait, was he lecturing her? “Kalias de Riva, I am your older sister, you do not talk to me like that!” They entered the manor and he kept walking, and she recognized the path as leading to the dining room.
She was unceremoniously, if a little over-cautiously, placed into a chair, and the chair was tucked into the table. “Kal!”
“Don't bother trying to police him right now.” Monello's voice came from across the table, and she looked up to see Neve in a similar bind, looking very annoyed. “He's on a war path after Neve jokingly tried to ask for coffee.”
“I'm well aware I shouldn't have any.” The Tevinter woman said, annoyed. “I just thought it would be funny to request some Cafe Pietra coffee. You'd think I'd have slain a puppy the way your brother's face fell. It could have spoiled wine.”
“No wine!” Kal said quickly, snatching the antivan red off the table, even though neither of them were reaching for it.
“Kal…” Esha started, gentle. “I know you're anxious. But this is my second pregnancy, and Doctor Mikail said I'm fine, everything is within normal expectations for this pregnancy.”
Kal's mouth was set in a thin line, unusual for him. Lucanis came up behind him and squeezed his waist, attempting to calm him.
“That's the doctors…” Kal muttered. “But they don't know everything…”
“Wait, my Esha is telling Kal not to be anxious? What world are we in?” Davrin slid into the seat next to Esha and checked her for discomfort. She nodded at him gratefully.
Kal frowned. “But Lonely–”
“Don't tell me you're still using that to torture the feminine-oriented side of the family?” Allona's indignant voice came from behind them, as she entered the dining room alongside Illario, who was carrying a four year old Antonella. “I'd really prefer if it didn't come up at all, honestly.” She gracefully seated herself on the other side of Esha, motioning for her husband and daughter to follow.
“Hey, ciao bellas, how are the submarinas?” Illario sat Antonella down in her seat, and Esha waved at her niece. Antonella grinned and watched Esha's hand before getting very serious. She began to tuck a napkin into her nice dress, and rearrange the haphazardly placed silverware on the table. Once it was clean, she smiled and tugged Illario’s sleeve to show him.
“The ‘submarinas’ are doing fine, Larry.” Esha said, leaning on her elbow. “Dovresti stare attento a come parli. I’ve been studying, stronzo.”
A guffaw came from her brother-in-law. “Fair play, Lo ammetto” He nodded at his daughter. “Good job! Though, Esha, I would remember your audience.” He glared slightly.
Esha raised her arms. “Yes, yes, I will attempt to watch my tongue around the bambinas.” She winked at Antonella, who grinned back. “Speaking of, where's the kiddos, Kal?”
“Right here, Auntie Eshi!” Ren came sprinting from the hall, giggling, holding Leon’s hand and guiding him to his seat. Fey wandered in after, carrying Matteo carefully, and bowing deeply to his aunts and uncles.
“Auntie Eshi, hello.” Fey came close, smiling warmly. “How goes things?”
Esha smiled back, just as warmly, and reached up to pat his lavender colored hair. “Hey kiddo. No need to get formal on me, I'm just your aunt. Do you need help with Matteo?”
As she reached for him, Kal rushed over and gingerly took Matteo from Fey. “You shouldn't carry over 20 pounds, Esha!”
“Kal…i'm seriously fine, okay?”
“Don't make me wrap you up!” He warned.
Looking to her husband for aid, she found him watching her as well, a highly amused expression on his face. “Don't look at me, I agree with him.”
She rolled her eyes. “Let's just get this dinner over with so we can go home.”
Davrin turned to look at Kal, nodding. “Esha…”
“What?” She snapped. She hated this so much. She just wanted to be Esha tonight, not the woman carrying her and Davrin's kid. Why couldn't she have that?
“Good evening, everyone” Viago entered the room, his eyes sweeping over the occupants. He pulled out his own chair, the scraping distracting everyone from Esha, thankfully. But then his eyes fell on her, narrowing in suspicion. He pulled a servant aside and muttered to her, then turned back.
Kal quickly found the seat next to the head one, and motioned for Lucanis and the kids to gather around. Soon, everyone in the room was seated, and the air was as tense as it was going to get. Lucanis rung the dinner bell, and a quiet din of conversation bubbled up, as Allona began discussing with Fey, and Monello and Neve began a lively exchange with Davrin.
As they served the food, Esha immediately noticed her and Neve's plates were different from everyone else's. Most of the plates had steak on them, alongside a vegetable portion, and mashed potatoes. But Esha's plate had no steak. Neve's didn't, either, but at least she had a hunk of chicken breast, it looked like. Esha just had roasted pumpkin.
“What is this, guys?”
Her main father figure didn't even look up. “It's pumpkin, looks like. ”
“I don't even think Fenris would have fed me this.” Esha's nose scrunched as she thought of her real dad. She flicked her fork at the mush, then pointed at Neve's plate. “Why did Neve get meat?”
“We were informed of your constitution a week ago.” Viago finally looked up. “Emesis, digestion issues, delicate tastebuds…” his eyes wandered over to Neve's plate. “Chicken was selected for Miss Gallus because it's low in fat and still a good protein. It is, however, spiced enough to not be as gentle enough on the stomach as you require.”
Esha flushed, her tackles raising. “Why does everyone keep telling me what's best for me? I just want…urp!” Her hand flew up to cover her mouth as her whole world tilted.
Kal shot up, and Davrin's hand immediately went to her back, hovering for a moment as she stiffened.
“Don't touch me, I will cut your hand off.” She growled, her teeth bared. She hated feeling so useless, she felt like a caged animal in a zoo. She glanced up at Neve, hoping for any kind of empathy from her sister in law. But Neve was busy chewing on her chicken seemingly without a care in the world.
Suddenly there was a wetness. It started as a trickle, then a gush, and a shock of pain through her system that only lasted a moment. It was almost as if someone had unclogged a hole. “Da….DAVRIN!” She shouted, her hand flying up to grab his arm. “I think my water just broke!?”
The entire dining room erupted into chaos. Kal and Davrin flew into action the fastest, and after a hurried argument, Davrin was carrying her out of the room, with Kal instructing him on where to go. Through the halls they went until they arrived at the room Kal had designated at her and Davrin's. Davrin gingerly laid her down on the sheets, shouting commands at the servants nearby.
“Get a doctor! And a midwife! And Rosa if you can!” He barked, and Esha was grateful as she groaned. The contractions were beginning to start.
Kal was nervously being held in place by Lucanis. “I told you not to stress yourself!”
Esha glared at him. “Like you all don't stress me out daily?!” it devolved into a cry.
“Amor, we need to give Esha space. She needs room to do her best to bring the little one home.” Lucanis guided a very worried Kal out of the room as Rosa rushed in.
“Where's the midwife?” Davrin asked hurriedly.
“I am a midwife!” Rosa replied. “Now move. Hold her hand, not her waist!”
Esha lost track of time. It felt like days passed of screaming, and pushing, but it also felt like only a few hours. Her brain was a hazy soup of pain and mumbling.
She barely even heard the baby's first cry, her head was so woozy. She only knew it was over when the bundle wrapped in a blue blanket was shimmied into her arms. Her eyes struggled to focus, both through the tears and the haze.
“You did so good, Esha.” Davrin's voice came from beside her. “Look at her…”
Her? Esha smiled loopily. “Issa girl?” She tried to force her eyes to focus. In her arms was the sweetest sight she had ever seen.
Her little baby girl, beautiful. Her skin was rather light, but that was to be expected with Esha being as pale as she was, and she'd already been informed it might darken. The baby had her father's nose, but all other features were too small to tell quite yet, and she didn't have much hair to tell the color.
“She's…” Esha pulled the bundle close, her eyes filling with tears for real this time, streaming down her face. “She's beautiful.”
A cool cloth was pressed to her forehead by Rosa, and she sighed gratefully. “You did very good, that was one of the smoother deliveries I've conducted. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for the other one. Rest up now, my lady.” Her gaze turned to Davrin. “And remember, at least six weeks!”
Davrin shook his head, chuckling softly “I think we're gonna be a tad busy, Rosa.”
Esha's eyes fluttered, staring at the baby. Her other hand moved, touching it's little cheek. It fussed, whining, and Esha immediately shifted and started to coo. “No no no no, it's okay, little one, it's just Mama…”
“Can't call her little one forever.” Davrin pointed out, lowering to sit next to her on the bed, covering her free hand with his own. “We should name her before Kal breaks down the door to make sure you're okay.
“What's your favorite flower, Davrin?”
He blinked, confused. “Why?”
She giggled, squeezing his hand. “Just answer. And make it pretty.”
He looked to be in thought. “Violets. They're pretty, colorful, and can grow pretty hearty in the wild. They can be used in food, as well, so they're good forage.”
Esha smiled up at him. “Violet is a perfect name.”
The smirk that grew across Davrin's face was beautiful to Esha. He leaned down and kissed her sweat-slicked forehead. “I hope she grows as hearty and wild as the flower, then.”
The door opened suddenly, and a parade of people streamed in.
Kal was first, holding a small tray. “Esha! I made these mini honey cakes! You can eat them in one bite, so you don't have to cut it up with a fork or nothing!” He offered the tray to her.
“Thanks Kal, I'll eat them in just a bit. My hands are a bit fu–” Kal shoved one of the mini cakes into her mouth for her. She sighed in delight. Gods, honey cake would never get old.
Monello and Allona were next. Allona was babbling about Nella's hand-me-downs, and Monello was asking Davrin for tips on the birth process.
More and more guests streamed in, but Esha didn't notice any of them. Her eyelids were getting extremely heavy, fluttering open and closed with great effort.
“Davrin…” her own voice sounded far away. “Could you…?” The bundle of joy was slipped from her arms. “Thank you…”
Her head fell back into the impossibly soft pillows, and she drifted off to the chatter of her family around her, and the promise of a new life when she woke.