New Beginning, Bound And Chained 2
By: V. L. Marquette
Lightly edited by: Ravyn
(Authors Note) This is a work of fiction, nothing more. Any resemblance
to anyone, alive or dead is purely coincidental. But, honestly folks, this
takes place on another planet. So this little warning is kind of silly don't ya
think?
*****WARNING***** (NO ONE, AND I DO MEAN NO ONE.) Under the age of 18,
or who lives in an area that this sort of material is illegal, should not read
any farther.
CHAPTER 11
Lauren was amazed at how quickly her labor went, once Trinna had turned
her mind fully to helping deliver her daughter. There was no pain, and very few
contractions before the small infant slipped from her.
Trinna patted the infants' feet lightly, to get the child to begin to
breathe. A tiny cry rang out through the room. It was more a mew than a cry.
"Cay, hand me a towel. Then come here, as this little ones father, you really
should cut the cord before I see to it that she is dealt with." Trinna pulled
the afterbirth from Lauren, reaching for a clamp to block the cord before it was
cut. "You have a very lovely baby Lauren. A tiny bit small, but if your life
was even half as bad as you have described, she could be much worse."
Caytin too a thin, clean blade from Trinna, cutting the cord, before
gently beginning to wipe the birth fluids from the fragile little form. "She is
lovely little one. How anyone could think to want to see such a beautiful life
cut short is unthinkable." There was no doubt to the infant's paternity. The
thin silver fuzz on the top of the girl's head was all that was needed to
announce it. But the child's eyes, were her mother's. As bright and clear, an,
amber as Lauren's were.
"Well hurry up Cay, I still have things to take care of with her." She
shook her head, grinning at Lauren. "Father's, I swear. The way they carry on,
you would think they were the ones that had done all the work." She took the
infant back in her hands after Caytin had finished cleaning it and seeing to the
cord.
"So, Lauren, any thought of a name now?" Caytin took her hand again as
they watched Trinna work on their daughter. "The primary job of the men, might
be to raise the children that their ladies give them, but it is still the
woman's place to name her child."
Lauren looked from him to where Trinna was seeing to her daughter. "I
don't know, I haven't even seen her yet."
"So in other words, Cay, give the girl a few minutes. I am sure she
will let you fawn over your new baby soon enough, but let her at least have a
few moments to look at the child and think." Trinna fussed at him as she handed
the baby to Lauren. "There you go my dear. A healthy baby girl." She stood
back smiling as Lauren and Caytin looked over the little life she had just
placed in her arms.
Lauren's hand was trembling as she touched the baby's, 'her', baby's
cheek. "Oh, you are so pretty." She tightened her hold on the mewing infant in
her arms as she broke into tears.
"Yes, dearest, she is. You have made me a very happy man today."
Caytin kissed her forehead. Reaching out to add his hand to Lauren's. "Hello,
stranger, you are by far as lovely as your mother is."
Trinna worked on Lauren's body healing it to the point that the young
woman could walk away from this day, without any viable or internal weaknesses
of just having given birth. "Now, my dear, may I see your baby again? She
still has a cord that I need to see too." She held out her hands, waiting for
Lauren to release the baby to her. "That's a good girl." She carefully
un-wrapped the baby. "See sweetie, your mama and papa are right here, just as
soon as I am finished with you, then back to them you will go." She beamed with
love and acceptance as she lay a hand flat on the tiny life's belly in her hand.
But the beaming and happiness were quick to fade.
"Caytin!" Trinna hissed as she lay the infant on the bed beside Lauren.
Her gifts going again to do war with death. "The bell, call the Temple!"
*Mistress! * Caytin's mind was frantic as he struggled to hold Lauren
as they watched Trinna dance with death again, to save a life. But this time,
the life was so much more precious to him. It was his new daughter. *Ring the
bell, call the Temple! Lauren's baby is dying. 'My' baby is dying. *
Almost as quickly as the thought was passed, the sound of the bell rang
out. A desperate sound, summoning any and all the fully trained Healer's that
could hear the summons to come.
*Hold on, love, the summons is being made now. * Kaj was not one for
wasted words as she moved down the halls towards the Men's Quarter's at a dead
run, almost running into Kerfan who had heard the summons as well.
"What is wrong Kaj?" He fell into stride with her as they both rushed
to where the battle with death was taking place.
"That woman, the pregnant one that I left in Cay's care. She has given
birth, and the little one, is dying. Trinna must feel it is beyond her
abilities, she had Cay, send out a call to me to set the bell ringing."
Kerfan picked up the pace he was taking. "Merciful Mother, that child
has to be near mindless by now." He held the door for Kaj as she came bursting
into the Men's Quarter's.
"Which room Jerrick?" She didn't have time for pleasantries.
"That one Mistress." Jerrick nodded towards a closed one. "Is there
something wrong?"
Kaj didn't answer him. She headed for the room, and slipped in without
knocking.
The sight the met her cut at her heart. Her sister was fighting over a
tiny body, her consort and mate was holding the young woman that she had put
into his care just yesterday, trying to sooth her. "Cay," she whispered, moving
to where he held the girl. "Go love, get Kerfan. I'll hold her until you get
back. But my sister is going to need help until a fully trained Healer gets
here. Kerfan is his father." There was no need for any other explanation.
He nodded. "Little one this is my, our mistress. She will sit here
with you for just a few moments. I won't be gone far or for long." He hushed
her as she began to protest. "I must do this. Our baby, she is too close to
seeking the Dark Mother's peace. Trust me enough to trust her." Her brushed
his lips over her brow. "It's gong to work out." And he pulled away.
Lauren watched, silent tears streaming down her face, as Trinna fought
for her daughter's life. "She is so pretty, don't you agree?" She whispered to
no one inparticular. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do, when she dies."
Kaj grabbed her shoulders. "You listen to me girl. I am mistress of
this house." Her tone was like ice. "No one, do you hear me? No one, dies in
it without my permission." She crushed the younger woman to her, as she watched
her younger sister work. 'Mother, please, help your Healer in this. I don't
pray often, I leave that to your Speakers. But if this child dies, there is
going to be so much pain. Please, Mother, hasn't my house suffered enough'?
She offered a quick plea to her Goddess.
Kerfan came into the room, followed by Caytin. He didn't need to be
told what to do. His very soul told him what was needed. "Here you go, honey."
He wrapped his arms around his daughter as she fought.
Kerfan's added strength, was enough to help Trinna hold on to the
fragile spirit. Wrapping it in her care, holding it until one of the
better-trained Healers could make it there. "Got her, just don't let me go
Papa." She gritted her teeth still struggling to keep the life from slipping
from her grasp again.
The sound of someone clearing her throat broke Trinna's concentration.
"Back away now, little sister. You have fought long and hard, let me see to it
that it is finished." A woman dressed in blue stepped up and lay her hands over
Trinna's, her power melding with the young journeyman. "Poor little baby." A
strong, soft voice crooned. "Kerfan, take your daughter and pull her back now.
I have the child."
Trinna fell back against her father. "Goddess, I have never felt that
much of an effort. Not even when I fought for my consort's life, if was like
the baby wanted to die."
The priestess lifted the baby in her hands, seeing not only to her life,
but also to finishing healing the child from the remnants of her birth. "I must
say, sister. If I had not seen it with my own two eyes, I would have doubted
the fact. Even if I knew it to be true." She handed the crying baby to her
frantic mother. "Kaj, see what you and your mate can do about calming this girl
down. Her child will be fine."
Kaj finally felt like she could breathe again. "Kareen, I didn't know
you were in the Temple."
"There isn't a one of us, who has been willing to leave the Temple for
the last few days, we keep running up on things that need our help. Besides,
Kerfan is my nephew, and his child, who is so very talented, is my great niece.
Do you honestly think I would be anywhere but close to home when she was this
close to taking her final vows?"
Trinna laughed. "Mother Kareen, I'm not that close. I'm what, a cycle
or so away? Are you telling us that you plan to live in the Temple until then?
You, I grew up with you always out of the Temple."
Mother Kareen just chuckled at her. "A cycle, girl who are you trying
to fool? The only reason you haven't taken your final vows yet is that you had
yet to come up against something that was beyond your abilities. And we cannot
have you join the Speakers unless you understand that you are not ever alone."
She touched Trinna's cheek. "You are a woman grown, mated and with child. You
are also my sister's granddaughter. Of all the children she bore, it was her
son, who gave the Temple someone who is equal to her skills." She patted Trinna
on the cheek. "We were a bit worried after you battled death to save your
consort, that it was going to be forever before you learned that you aren't
capable of doing everything. Particularly after what you did with that thing
that had hurt so many."
"But I couldn't do anything other than hold on to the baby, and I needed
my father's help to do that. How strong can I be, if I could not save one tiny
life?" Trinna didn't understand.
Mother Kareen shook her head. "Your mate, even as hurt as he was,
didn't want to die. That child, whose soul was just barely connected to her
body, she didn't know that there was any hope for her, she had no will or wish
to live. You are without a doubt a full Healer. The only thing that holds your
back is that you have not, as of yet taken your vows, so you have had to
stand-alone. But once you take them, the Mother will connect you to the rest of
us." She smiled at Kerfan. "To think, your mother had protested your wedding
Azrena. The only crime is that your lady did not live. You are the only one of
her children to have the ability to pass along the gift. Had she lived on,
perhaps you would have fathered more with her. But the Mother called her to
rest. And you have not sought our another woman. I understand that you are
free now, but nephew, you do not have to give up your freedom to seek out one of
the ladies in your home."
"Kareen, just because I happened to luck into fathering my mother's
equal, does not mean that I am the only one of the nine she gave life to, that
will ever follow in her steps."
"You are the youngest, and of the lot your mother gave birth to, you are
the only fertile of her son's. Of your six sister's, three of them have gone
on, to join your mother. And the other three, only one of them chose to be
willing to try to pass her gift on. She has only sons and of those three sons'
they are all bedwarmers. Now tell me Kerfan, did your desire die with your
lady?"
"Aunt!" He looked uncomfortable. "Do you not think this is the wrong
place for this kind of talk? Trinna is my daughter."
"She is also, not only mated and with child, but a Healer as well. I
understand, you are a father, she is your child. But children do grow up. Now,
the Temple has kept our silence in regards to you, for the last near nineteen
cycles. We had hoped that with time, you would finally heal, and seek love
again. But it would seem that you have closed that part of yourself off." She
looked at him with a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. "You are my sister's son.
Do not make me call down the Temples will on you and force you to wed again.
Free or slave, it does not matter. You are a man of the Danes. By law you are
called upon to father three, at the very least."
Kerfan pulled himself up, looking his aunt in the eyes. "And I have
fulfilled my requirement to my city. Trinna is not my only child. She has two
brothers' now. I went out and took two of those children that came seeking a
hearth and home. I took them as my son's. I have a Lover, who stands with me
as their father as well. When Azrena died, I had come to terms with the fact
that I would never find love like I had with her, ever again. But now, with
Shern, I have found it. And I will not give that love up."
Mother Kareen just shook her head smiling softly. "Don't be a fool,
Kerfan. Since when did seeking to further your bloodline, cause a threat to any
love? He is male. You can never take him as anything but your Lover, but look
around you. There are some now, that could be sought and if you took another as
your consort, you don't have to give up your freedom. And once you have done
that, then you can take your little Lover as a mate as well." She looked to
where Lauren huddled against Caytin, clutching her baby. "Like this child,
Caytin brought the old mother, and the other to the Temple yesterday. She is a
slave here now, and shall remain so for the next two cycles. Do you not think
that you could woo her in that time? She has proven herself to be fertile."
Lauren looked from the priestess to where Kerfan stood an uneasy look in
her eyes. "Master," she pressed against Caytin.
"Ssshh, it's okay little one. Not even the Speakers of the Mother can
force a man or woman to wed." He looked up to the priestess. "Can they?"
"Perhaps you should ask our little sister here, after all, she is the
one that will soon join us." Mother Kareen looked to Trinna. "So, sister, is
the Temple empowered with the power to force any citizen of Dane to wed?"
Trinna looked to Kerfan. "Yes and no. We can not force a slave to wed
that must be wholly by consent. But, a free citizen, then yes. But, only, if
it is believed that they are incapable of fulfilling their duties. I'm sorry
Papa, but by the law, you must seek another consort. As sweet as my two new
little brothers are, they are not of your body. They don't reckon in the
count."
He turned and growled at his daughter. "I have bled for your mother for
almost nineteen cycles. Isn't that enough, how much more can I be asked to
carry?"
"If you were any male but who you are, I would not press it. You have
given much in your gift of your daughter. But you aren't any other male. You
are one of the few proven fertile men that can pass the gift." The priestess
lay a hand on his shoulder. "Believe me Kerfan, if it were not for the fact
that now, with as many more that are joining our city, I would not press. Now
again, choose who ever you will, any woman who is unmated, or has only one
consort would do. But I expect to see you offering a child to the temple this
time three cycle from now. Or I will wish to know the reason why not."
He jerked his shoulder away. "Let me see if I understand you correctly,
'Mother'." He bit out the title. "If I do not do this, I run the risk of
losing what was promised to me with Azrena's death?"
"She should have never been allowed to take you at your age. She was
too old to try to bear another, but her stubbornness out weighted her good
judgement."
"So it has all been a lie then. I was never really free, it was just a
way the Temple had of giving what they saw as proper time to mourn."
"You are as free as any man in this city can be, any woman for that
matter. But Kerfan, it has been how long? She is not coming back. It is time
for you to let go."
Trinna took his hand. 'Papa, I never knew my mother, she died so long
ago, but I know how fine a woman she was, because I know what kind of a man you
are. I also know, because I am a woman, that if I died, I would not want my man
or men to live on forever without another. She would want you to do this."
He sighed. "Okay, honey, if I have to do this, I think I can chance it
another time. But hear me. If I take another lady and wed her, and she leaves
me as your mother did. I will never try again. You will never know how much I
loved and still love your mother. There for a time, when she first left me, I
was so tempted to follow her, but I had you. I couldn't leave you to be raised
without me. But if I do this, and fate turns its back on me again. There is no
power in all of creation that will make me seek another. I will follow her into
the peace. You are here. You have three men who will help you to see to it any
child that I father with her, is cared for. Is that enough for you?" He looked
up at Mother Kareen. "I mean it aunt. I will bend this last time. Just as
soon as I can find another woman that both my Lover and myself, not to mention
my boy's are comfortable with. But this is it, no more."
The priestess shook her head. "I swear boy, you are as stubborn as your
father was."
"Well now you know where my daughter gets her willful streak. Trust me,
aunt, the girl came by it honestly. With a mother like Azrena and a father like
myself. What else could she be but a fighter?"
Everyone had forgotten Caytin and Lauren in the middle of their talk.
So it was a bit shocking when Lauren gasped. "That's it." She looked to
Caytin. "Your language and mine are the same right?"
Caytin looked at her a tad confused. "Yes, why?"
"A name for my baby. She almost died, but fought to live, true she had
help. But had she not believed that there was now a chance being offered her
that she had not had for so long. No one could have saved her. She fought to
live. Do you think Savell is a good name?"
"It has been a long time since we chose such names for our children, but
you are right. If ever there was a warrior born, it is our little girl." He
kissed the top of her head. "So, Savell. That is a good strong name, you know.
Even if I didn't know what it meant, I would still think it a good name."
It took only a few more moments before the priestess chose to leave.
Extracting another promise from Kerfan that he would finally at long last, begin
to seek another woman.
Kaj shook her head. Reaching out to pat Lauren's hand. "Well, now that
that is dealt with, I really need to go and tend to a few things dear. But let
me be the first one to tell you that you have a very lovely little girl. I have
no doubt's that she will do her parent's proud." She looked at the tiny infant
that was still held protectively in Lauren's arms. "Dear, no one is going to
hurt her. You can let that fear rest now and forever. It might be a little
time before you are strong enough to stand-alone. But until that time comes.
If Caytin is unable to protect her or you, you are now a member of my house.
And no one threatens anyone in it. You have my word."
"Give the girl a little time Kaj. This can't be easy on her." Kerfan
smiled at her. "I don't know if I could think straight myself coming from what
she just came from, and then to watch the child I had just given birth to,
almost die. I'd be as wary as she is."
"Men, I swear." She jus chuckled. "I do understand that it is going to
take her some time to find peace here Kerfan. All I was trying to do was assure
her a little."
Caytin and Trinna looked up at the same time. "Lady," Caytin began.
"Papa," Trinna's questioning words were spoke at the same time. Caytin
nodded for her to continue. "Of all the men in this house, other than Cay, you
are probably the one she is going to be able to trust the most. I don't want to
sound like I am talking about or over her. But if it hadn't been for you, I
don't think I could have held on to Savell's life long enough for Mother Kareen
to get here. I understand that she is still going to need a little time. But
she is still a slave, and will be for the next two cycles. Don't you think it
would be easier on her if you put her under your protection?"
Kerfan considered the thought. "I don't know Trinna. I have Shern to
think about as well, you understand. But if he doesn't have a problem with it,
I gave the Temple my word, like it or not, I am going to have to take a consort
again. So we'll see." He looked to where Lauren was watching him with a very
strange look on her face. "Do you think this is something you could accept? It
doesn't matter if for now you are a slave here. Two cycles is really not that
much time at all. And I won't force a woman who will one day be my equal to my
hand."
Caytin squeezed Lauren gently. "Go on and say yes, little one. That
was what I was gong to suggest to my lady anyway. Yes he has a Lover who is
Catimine, but as you now know it was not the Catimine's that did what was done
to you I am hoping that his boy's species doesn't bother you. Besides, this boy
when he first came here, was all of fourteen. He isn't much more than a child
now." He stroked her cheek. "Trust me, love, of all the men in my house, the
only man I trust more is my Lover, and he is quite unable to help you as Kerfan
can. Jerrick is like, me, a slave. Besides he has three consorts and four
children already. He is quite busy."
She looked from him to Kerfan. "Don't you want my baby anymore?"
Caytin just shushed her. "No power in creation could take her from me.
Not even if I thought letting him adopt her would make this easier on you.
Forgive me little one, but one look at that sweet thing, and my heart was
forever hers." He tweaked her nose. "But as I told you already Lauren. I have
fathered more children in my house, than I can count. And not all of them with
my lady, there are many who have children by me, that now have consort's of
their own. Just because they now have a man, doesn't mean I'm any less their
child's father." The infant that was somewhat squashed between the two, made a
protesting noise.
"Well, Kaj, I think I need to go and talk to Shern. And by the sound of
things, I do think that baby is hungry." Kerfan smiled as he patted Trinna on
the shoulder. "To think, my baby girl is now going to be a sworn Speaker in the
Temple. You do know how to make an old man proud girl."
Trinna laughed. "Old, Papa, you're thirty-six cycles old. Only two
older than my first consort, old please give me a break." She shook her head.
"Well go on, I need to see to it that Lauren's milk comes down, or Savell will
be hungry for longer than she will like. Give my two little brothers a hug for
me." She turned her back on him to attend to healing business.
Lauren jerked as Trinna lay her hand on her breasts. "Come on honey. I
just helped you give birth to this sweet little thing. Surely you don't think I
am going to hurt her." A warming glow enveloped Lauren's breasts. "There you
go my dear. You little warrior won't have to worry about going hungry now.
For that matter, you should offer to help Kaj with her new little son. He was
born on the trip here, but his mother died. I promise you Lauren. You have
plenty of milk. And will continue to have what is needed until they are fully
weaned."
Caytin looked up from, where he was watching as Lauren nursed their
child. "So Lady, any thoughts for a name for our boy?"
Kaj thought about it for a moment; "Originally I had planned to name
him after you love. But now with the name Lauren has given her little one. I
am more inclined to go with the name Averin."
Lauren looked up a little surprised. "Averin, but don't understand. I
understand why my baby could be named Savell, but Averin, that just means
'slave'. Why would you do that to him?"
Caytin chuckled. "No, Lauren. Your are thinking, Axerin. Averin
means, to serve, to obey. Averin is a slave honey. What better name for him
than that?"
"Oh," she just looked down at the little life in her arm that was
nursing greedily. There were so many things she was going to have to learn in
her new life. "What happens to her when she has finished eating?"
"I will see her tucked in the crib beside Averin. And when it is time
for her as well as him to come and feed again, I will see to it that the nursery
slave brings both of them to you. That is of course if you are willing to help
me with him." Kaj wasn't going to assume anything at this point with the young
woman. The Poor child had had too many make decisions for her without ever
thinking about what she thought. "Just think dear, we could raise them
together. How would you like to share the role of motherhood with me? I don't
know about you, but I personally would like to have another woman close at hand
to help at times."
Lauren looked for encouragement from Caytin who only smiled nodding. "I
have all the men in my house to call on if I need help, she is right you know.
Two women together is sometimes easier than just one, when it comes to little
ones as they go through those early cycles."
Lauren looked up at Kaj. "You really want my help?"
Kaj sat on the edge of the bed. Reaching out to take her free hand.
"Honey if I didn't want and need it, I would never have asked."
Lauren teared up again, but this time they were tears of if not
happiness, at least the first glimmer of hope that she had been allowed to feel
in such a long, long time. "Okay, that would be nice."
