The Reticent Midwife

[Padraig]

What did she mean, keep him away from her? Or rather her away from him? Padraig frowned as he'd tried to hand the new mother her freshly scrubbed baby, and paused with the child halfway between them, cradled in his hands. Was she rejecting her baby, or something else? The question was unspoken, but written all over Padraig's face when he glanced up at Faith.

He didn't argue though, no point when dealing with someone who was feeling irrational, so he simply drew his hands back and cradled the baby against his chest. The new boy was still crying, wriggling and during an effort to comfort him, the baby curled tiny fingers round one of Padraig's own, and drew it to his mouth. Wanting to feed already, it seemed.

He'd have to rely on Faith or someone else, however, to convince the baby's mother to accept him. So the suggestion that they return to the Order couldn't have been more welcome. "I believe I can carry her," he said, standing carefully and handing the baby to Faith. If she'd allow it then, he'd gently scoop the lady Venora up in his arms and carry her back to the Order. She wasn't a large woman, after all, and the Order was just a short distance away.

[Zvezdana Venora]

Zvezdana was in shock, too numb from the birthing pain to register the pain from her bitten lip. She simply stared blankly at Faith as she went about cleaning her up. Her hair was matted, her robes soaked in fetal juices and blood, and her psychological state questionable. Faith was right. This was just another way of reaffirming her fall from power and regality. Had she been a noble at home in Rynmere, she would have been propped up in the bed, silk blankets awaiting her son as he came out. Having birth on the side of the street was far from a noble child's birth. He was a noble boy, born in the gutter.

The baby was handed from one to the other over her. Her eyes followed the crying bundle, wailing at the sudden chill that enveloped him. She was so focused on the bundle that she barely registered Padraig picking her up. Her form immediately melted into his chest, her eyes the only things moving as the three began to move.

"Alzorn," Zvezdana murmured. She had never known until the moment Faith had told her that she was going to have a son. Deep down, her inner mother probably had suspected. Zvezdana had not given thought to her child's name before, but it dropped from her mouth easily.

"His name is Alzorn."

[Golem]

Rewards

Name:Faith

Knowledge:

Cake: A Fun Bedroom Toy
Zvez’s Son: Alzorn
Surgery: Midwifing on the Fly
Etiquette: Birth doesn’t require an Audience
Acting: Fake it till you Make it

Loot:Vri Devotion +1

Injuries:None

Fame:+4 for Successfully Midwifing

Story:5/5

Collaboration:5/5

Structure:5/5

- - -

Name:Zvez

Knowledge:

Endurance: Pain of Childbirth
Endurance: Breathing Patterns through Pain
Psychology: Dealing with Untrusted Woman Between your Legs

Loot: Ilaren Devotion +2, One Baby/Bite Sized Morsel named Alzorn

Injuries:Post-Birth Stuff (tired, hungry, sore, etc)

Fame:N/A

Story:5/5

Collaboration:5/5

Structure:5/5

- - -

Name:Pad

Knowledge:

Faith’s Cake: A Fun Bedroom Toy
Etiquette: Don’t Look Downstairs of a Birthing Woman
Psychology: Dealing with Unexpected Emergencies
Surgery: Tools and Materials needed for Giving Birth
Surgery: Clean off a Baby after it is Born and Keep it Warm
Strength: Carrying a Tired Woman
Zvez’s Son: Alzorn

Loot:None

Injuries:None

Fame:+2 for Helping Deliver the Baby and Keeping Pedestrians away

Story:5/5

Collaboration:5/5

Structure:5/5

- - -

Comments:

Pad: Just noticed one thing- In your first post you said “offered his arm shoulder for Zvezdana to lift and support herself on”. I assume that was just a spelling mistake? In any case, just thought I’d point it out.

Other than that, this was an interesting thread to read and review- I’d heard quite a bit about it, so I was very happy to see that I had the oppertunity to review it. You guys wrote it well- and an interesting way of keeping Pad in the game

Personally, I would’ve like to have seen Pad there at the time of birth- I think there could have been several funny moments there, but ah well. Enjoy the rewards!

If you feel I've missed anything or if you have questions about your review, please don't hesitate to send me a quick PM. Thank you!