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I breathe out. “You’re quite active tonight, aren’t you?” I say to my belly.
I try to continue with what I had in mind. However, after a few more minutes, the pain comes back – a little stronger this time. I even hunch over the bathtub to alleviate the awful cramping.
There’s a whisper in the back of my head that these aren’t fake contractions. I try to dispel those scary thoughts since I’m not due quite yet. I still have about two or three more weeks left.
I sit down on the edge of the bathtub, waiting until I can collect myself again. I pant through the pain, slowly controlling my breathing, and just calm down.These are fake contractions. I still have a lot of time.
They must be fake because I’m not ready.
Carefully, I get up to walk around the room. The midwife says that exercise is always good. If I move my legs around then the cramps will stop.
At first, I think it works. But then the next contraction comes. A little stronger but shorter, still nothing I can't manage. I bite my lip to not wake up Carus.
I tense up as the reality of being in labor settles in. We've been preparing for all these months, and it’s been nothing but blissful. But now that I’m here, everything’s coming down like bricks. We’re going to be parents.
I pace around the room, getting comfortable with the fact that I’ll be a mother. The contractions come and go, but they’re not too strong yet.
Carus is by my side after a few minutes. “I told you to wake me up!”
I breathe heavily. “I’m fine. They’ll be gone in a few seconds.”
“Shana, you’re in labor. Stop trying to pretend it’ll just go away!”
I squeeze his hand as the contraction draws out, not saying a word in response.
Carus helps me sit down before he goes for the midwife. The maids, including Asiina, rush into the bedroom and start stripping the bed. The latter helps me change into another gown. It feels quite light and less restrictive. But I can’t wear any underwear.
Soon, the room’s in chaos. Maids rush in and out with kettles of water and different sized bowls for some reason. Carus holds my hand while I work through the contractions.
My water breaks after what feels like forever. They place me on the bed while the midwife prepares me for the labor. Beads of sweat form on my forehead, but it isn’t as bad as I had expected. Not yet, anyway.
“I’m here, my love. I’m here,” Carus says as he places his head on mine.
During the strongest contractions, I can feel soft and warm energy course through my body. Carus is feeding me with his life force. He’s sharing the pain so I can feel less of it.
The mating bond definitely comes with plenty of perks, I’ll say that much.
“Everything’s settled. You’re going to start pushing soon, my lady,” the midwife says.
I nod and work through the discomfort with Carus’s help. He helps me control my breathing and lends me his life force whenever I need it. It’s the best pain management I could have hoped for.
My mind’s in a daze. Despite not feeling the full force of labor, the entire process goes by in a whirl and it’s hard to organize my thoughts. I don’t know what to expect or when to expect it, being that it’s my first child.
As if she read my mind, the midwife starts barking orders. “You’re going to feel a lot of pressure. When I say push, give it all you have.”
“Does it hurt?” Carus asks with concern.
“Well, it doesn’t tickle,” I snap.
He chuckles. “I apologize. After this is over, you’ll be the most pampered woman in existence,” he says before kissing my hand.
The first push comes. I sweat, grunt, and grit my way through it. Carus feeds me more life force, and it’s a precious elixir that is more magical than the whole of dark elf society.
Because of the perk of the mating bond, the birthing process is much easier than I thought. It’s beautiful even, as we both share the same lessened pain of bringing life into this world. A life we both made.
Or in this case, lives.
“Congratulations! You have a boy and a girl!” the midwife announces as she swaddles the babies.
