Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Blinding

"Your daughter has a set of lungs on her," Yirlitá said as she handed Mal the blue wrapped bundle. "Tis a good sign."

"Wait, daughter?" Murtagh asked. Mal cuddled the wrapped babe to her chest as she let out a faint giggle.

"Surprise? You have a daughter?" She giggled, looking up at Murtagh with a mischievous grin. Murtagh narrowed his eyes at the mother of his daughter.

"You knew?"

"Maybe?" Mal taunted back before the two turned their attention on the quietly gurgling babe.

Their daughter had a full head of dark hair, a color between Mal's black hair, and Murtagh's dark brown. She had a button nose with a dusting of freckles and bow-shaped lips that pulled back as she gurgled.

"A beauty she is," Yirlitá crooned. "now all that is left is to name the babe.

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I clutched at the blue bundle as my brows pulled together. Usually, the woman named the daughters, but it didn't feel right leaving the entire decision up to me. I glanced back at Murtagh, he'd gone quiet after Yirlitá had revealed that we had a daughter.

"Murtagh?" I asked him in hesitation. "are—do you wish we had a son?"

That seemed to snap Murtagh out of his present state of shock. Murtagh reached up and placed his hand on my cheek before he gave me a long, passionate kiss.

"I just wanted you and our child to be healthy," Murtagh said as pulled away and stroked my face. "besides, we can always hope for a son next time."

"Next time!?!" I squeaked out, my face flushing red. Yirlitá let out a cackle as soon as I responded. "she was an accident! Remember!"

Murtagh shrugged at me before he frowned.

"We have a daughter, what will you name her?" I glanced down at the newborn in my arms before looking back up into Murtagh's grey eyes.

"I thought we could both come up with a name," I responded quietly. "she's your daughter too, you have a right in naming her."

"You both needn't feel rushed in naming the babe," Yirlitá said as she stood up. "You've time, but if I may suggest, Shur'tugal, I am sure the bed would be far more comfortable than the floor."

"There is no way I am getting the sheets dirty with my blood, and whatever fluid has decided to come out of my body." I huffed. Yirlitá raised a knowing eyebrow before she smiled.

"Come in child, I am sure your mother wouldn't mind if you and I watched the babe while she cleaned up." I looked up at the bedroom door to see a hesitant Fen clutching at the heavy wood doors.

"She's not going to die?" Fen squeaked out. Yirlitá shook her head and held out her hand.

"Nay, your mother is fine, child." With trepidation, Fen stepped into the room and quietly walked over. I handed my unnamed child back over to Yirlitá before slowly getting to my feet, clutching onto Murtagh for my legs felt like jelly and shook slightly.

With trembling lips, Fen threw herself into my arms and started to sob. With Murtagh keeping me standing, I wrapped my arms around the weeping girl.

"I'm sorry that your first Dragon ride wasn't one of happiness," I whispered into her ear as ran my hand through her windswept hair. Fen buried her face into my chest.

"I didn't know if Leelee and I were going to be fast enough!" Fen wailed into my dress. I gently held Fen's face in my hands.

"Grifen," I said softly, using her full name, so she realized I was serious. "you two flew like the wind, and for that, I am eternally thankful."

"So, you and your baby are fine, right?" Fen asked me as she hiccupped and whipped her nose on her sleeve.

"Fen," Murtagh said, cutting into the conversation. Fen looked up him with a sniff. "Mal and the baby are all right because of you. There is no need to worry."

"Listen to your parent's, little one," Yirlitá said to Fen as she rocked my baby. "what they say is true, now help me watch your sister while your father helps your mother clean up."

"Yes grandma," Fen said through her sniffled before she trotted over to the elvan healer. With one last glance at my newborn, I let Murtagh lead me to the adjacent bathroom and fill up the tub.

He filled up the tub while I leaned against the bathroom counter. I warily looked at the bathtub as water slowly accumulated. I had just pushed out a baby, and the last thing I wanted was Murtagh to see my body post-labor.

It was most likely not a pretty sight. My stomach was probably a wrinkly mess and judging by the wetness on my legs, everything waist down was covered in amniotic fluid and blood.

Murtagh ceased the water spell and turned to look at me. I shifted in place, my eyes darting around the bathroom. Anywhere but him. He sighed and walked to where I stood, braced against a cabinet.

"I don't know why you are suddenly feeling prudish, Mal," He said with a raised eyebrow. "it's not like I haven't seen you naked. Actually, I'm fairly sure I've seen every inch of your body."

My face flushed as I wrapped my arms around my waist.

"You haven't seen me like this, Murtagh," I whispered out. "I've got stretch marks. My stomach sags, and I am covered in all sorts of bodily fluids."

Murtagh gently cupped my face before he made me look at his face.

"Mal, you just pushed something the size of Thorn's egg, out of your body." He said as he stroked his thumbs across my cheeks. "you shouldn't be ashamed of something all mothers deal with."