Chapter Text
Cold wind, tide moves in
Shivers in the salty air
Day breaks, my heart aches
I will wait for you right here
Oh-oh-oh baby, when you look for me
Can you see forever?
I begin, baby, where you end
We belong together
Circle in the sand, "round and "round
Rising of the moon as the sun goes down
And you complete the heart of me
Our love is all we need
Circle in the sand
Circle in the sand
‘Circle in the Sand’ - Belinda Carlisle
Over the last few months I have completely secured seven of the nine planes, and word has spread far and wide that to stand against me is suicide. This will do most of my work for me. The best thing I can do right now is to let that marinate.
Many of the recent meetings have taken place by the fire with a very pregnant Nyx in my arms as I gently stroke over her belly with pride. Lovingly.. it"s a symbol to all of both my joy.. and virility.
Heading over to the soul vault with the Archivist, I try to run him through the recent acquisitions as we go.. setting scroll after scroll in his arms while rattling off instructions. I’m just over halfway through when Sapphire saunters up. “No time right now Sapphire, need to get these properly filed now.. it represents many moons of work. Be by in a bit.” “Sure,” he purrs, “I just wanted to let you know I think your prince might be on his way. But by all means..” Patting the Archivist on his broken back, I turn and run to the boudoir.
She is panting hard when I get there.. but whatever pain she is in passes pretty quickly. “Jaheira?” She asks, hopefully. “At once. I’ll go get her love.” Planting a kiss on her head, I try to reassure her. “You hold on for me.. my strong girl. I’ll be back before you know it. Sapphire?” “On it!” He snuggles down by her.
She’s easy to find.. shouting orders at a bunch of harpers pulling a crumbled stone archway out of the Chionthar the rebuilding still well underway. Seeing me, she stops and hops down from her perch with a knowing look towards my mild anxiety. “It’s time, isn’t it?” she asks, while checking her bag for necessities. “Yes, she is calling for you.” “PEOPLE!! You must all somehow figure out a way to pull the stone WITHOUT my loud guidance. I will return when I can!!” “I think we can manage, mother..” Rion calls out. With a snap of my fingers, we disappear.
The hours pass in ever longer periods of pain. Jaheira seems to be helping her through for most of it. Sapphire and I get water, rags, more water, ice, more… water… and occasionally press on her lower back to alleviate some of the pain when we aren’t standing around feeling useless.. which Sapphire accomplishes with a bottle of whiskey in one hand, a book in the other, and by himself on the porch.. looking out across the red mountains.. slightly shaking.
Jaheira takes a short break, joining Sapphire out on the balcony. “Everything okay?” he asks at her approach. I join them both. “I mean it is.. if you consider “okay” to be a reasonable description in regards to the birth of a cambion.” She drinks deeply of some water as she takes a brief seat. “There are claws.. soft yes.. but sharp as well. Wings pose a particularly difficult issue.. even with the waters of your bath we still would like to get the small one out without having to resort to cutting.. I don’t care how into pain you think she is, that would be highly unpleasant for both her and the child.”
“Agreed, let’s avoid that then.” I think I sound pretty reasonable.. calm.. hopefully. “Oh yes!” she responds “We shall just.. avoid it! Why didn’t I think of that, devil?” Okay.. less calm. “Was that sarcasm? What do you need in order to avoid this.. unpleasant situation?” I am pretty sure Sapphire has gotten paler as we speak. “Well.. do you want the quick version or the long, detailed, and gory version?”
Glancing at Sapphire, I reply. “Let"s have the quick one.. if you would Jaheira.” She sips more water and breathes deeply for a few moments. Nyx whimpers with some discomfort inside followed by calling towards us, “I’m fine!! I’m okay.. I think..” “Okay, yes.. the short version is that I will need to, effectively, try to reach in there and keep tiny devil parts from getting stuck or damaging stuff on the way out.. this is made likely both easier and harder with the addition of the healing waters, but a lot less likely for any death, so.. that is a relief I think.”
She heads back in to check on Nyx, leaving the two of us to just look towards each other uneasily for a bit. “Hey.. she is gonna be okay eventually here right Raph? I mean this does all end with everyone being okay.. because that is how this all *needs* to end. You wouldn’t let anything terrible happen here.. right?” Stroking his back a bit, I try a small amount of comfort out. “I.. yes.. we will all be great! There is nothing to worry about at all Sapph.” He chuckles darkly. “You are typically a *much* better liar.”
***
“She could use you boys if you would,” Jaheira shouts in our general direction. Nyx decided at some point that the bath was the most comfortable spot and has not left it for some hours now. She has been mostly quiet except for loud breathing and an occasional moan. Approaching her now, she looks distressed. “Everything okay harper??” My voice betrays my anxiety. “Yes, she is fine, everything is fine. We are getting to the hard part though.” “Wait!” pipes in Sapphire, “..this hasn’t been the *hard* part? I swear, woman, there is not enough whiskey in the world for this.”
“Well keep your drink then.. but Nyx could use a hand or two. Strong girl. Often those are the ones who won’t ask for support when it’s needed.” Heading to the bath, she looks tired.. the sound of low moaning can be heard between her rapid breaths. I take her hand. Surprisingly.. looking to me for guidance, Sapphire sets down his bottle and takes her other one. “Okay, see if you can get her to still her breathing.. deep breaths. Passing out will do us no good here and she has stopped listening to me.”
“Look.. little one. Deep breathing.. let’s get this over with. You don’t look like you are having a great time here.” “Raph…” she looks up at me, eyes rife with pain, and says.. “Hope.” I chuckle. “Sorry, my love.. even I don’t have the power to stop this so late in the game. Jaheira is worried the rings might extend out the birth or I would willingly share in your pain.” Her breaths still come fast.. moans louder.
Sapphire holds her hand in one of his, running the nails of his other hand along her arm. “Hey.. girl.. I know you can feel me here.. don’t pretend you can’t.” She chuckles briefly, before it gets caught by a sharp cry of pain. “You inhale.. you don’t get to stop until my fingers begin moving back down. Understood?” “Y.. yes..” To my utter shock that seems to mostly work. I begin mirroring him.. trying to guide her breathing through touch alone.
Jaheira pretty quickly begins grabbing various towels, rags and blankets closer to the bath. “Okay, you have to push here Nyx. On your out breaths. Please nod if you understand me.” She nods.. every breath out at this point is a cacophony of howling agony. I’m surprised that Sapphire is still holding her hand despite the racket.. and somewhat proud of him. I try to encourage her a bit. “Nyx.. you have got this.. we have you, we will be right here. You are my very strong good girl.. and you’ve got this.”
“Okay..” Jaheira says to her loudly over the echoing cries, “this next part is going to be worse. You have to hold quite still for me for just a small bit here so I can try to get everything situated to not destroy you. I did warn you this was coming, so, no surprises.. just, let"s stay still briefly and then I will tell you when you can move.” Nyx clenches her eyes shut and fights herself still.
It takes only a few more minutes until Jaheira emerges from the tub waters.. with.. a tiny boy. Pale red skin, a full head of dark brown hair.. four tiny horn nubs.. and quickly stretching two small wings out. He blinks into the soft candlelight.. sputters a bit.. then lets out a very tiny cry. He is.. wondrous.
Jaheira sets him on her chest.. and he curls his small tail up over her. “You can move girl. Raphael, would you like to do the honors here? She holds out a pair of very sharp scissors to me. I remember not too long ago now speaking to an old lady in another realm.. who had a similar pair set beside her. Jaheira points to a thick looking strand of flesh. “In Faerun, typically the partner participates in this ritual, however, if you do not wish to I am fine taking over.” I shake the thought out of my head. “Oh, no I will, of course.” Sapphire, so normally pleased with anything gory, looks briefly away as I cut the cord binding Rem to my love.
Jaheira then busies herself with the rest of the birthing stuff. Nyx still doesn’t look comfortable, but everyone here seems to feel the worst is over. “Oh. He is very small!” Sapphire says excitedly. “I didn’t realize. Look at how cute he is lover. So cute. Very small.” He reaches a hand out towards one wing, stroking a finger along it. “Tiny!”
“Oh gods.. Raph.. he is.. he looks healthy!!” Nyx sighs deeply. “Welcome to the hells Remashel, little Rem.” “Raphael,” Jaheira commands towards me. “Yes?” “Can you hold your son for a moment while I finish this delivery up.. and make sure she is safe. I am certain you have full faith in these healing waters, however I would feel better knowing I checked everything over. Plus, this next part is not so pretty, just give us a few minutes and we can get her into the bed.”
Kissing my Nyx on the lips, I lift Rem from her chest, looking him over. He has stopped crying and simply seems to be looking around wide eyed at both me and Sapphire, who stands nearby. “Would you like to hold him for a bit.. lover?” His eyes look wide and warm. I nestle the tiny red body in his arms and return to Nyx, holding her hand in one of mine and stroking her hair as Jaheira finishes delivering.. then inspects Nyx both visually and magically. “She is great! She did wonderfully. Let’s get this woman some rest!”
Lifting her up easily, I nestle her under the soft blankets, making certain she is comfortable. She holds her arms out for the little one. Sapphire brings him over.. beaming brightly. Setting him down on her chest, she manages to get Rem to snuggle in and start feeding. Sapphire and I lay to either of her sides with arms over her and the new prince. For the first time ever, I address my.. son. “Though born into a dark and tormented place.. for right now.. all is warm and safe little one. Welcome to the world indeed.”