Terni's Pov...
I was in the garden with Thistle and Thessa, It was not covered with lovely blossoms as it was in the summer, but there were no other people here, which made it ideal for a quiet stroll. "What do you think the babe will be?" Thessa asked, walking on my left.
"A boy. Though Nikhil disagrees" I said with a smile. Subconsciously, my hand went to my large stomach. "That is odd, for a man to want a daughter first" Thessa said, a soft smile adorning her features.
"I told him that, but he said that he does not care. Son or daughter first, he would love them either way, and we could always have more children" I told her and she laughed. "When do you think Thorin and the others will be back?" Thistle asked, suddenly.
"Not for a while, why?" I asked softly and she looked up at me. "Honestly" she began, "I am worried about Aden" she continued and we both looked at her. "And what about your brothers?" Thessa asked, an almost playful smile on her face.
"I worry about them as well, but they know the sea, they have been on many raids too. But Aden has never left this land. What if something happens to him" she tried, a frown embedded into her features. "He will be fine" I tried to reassure her but she shook her head.
"How do you know for certain?" she questioned and I fell silent, I did not know for certain.
"I do not know...but I have faith in the gods" I told her and she sighed.
"You care a great deal about the boy, Aden" Thessa stated, as she resumed a slow walk ahead. I turn to see Thistle's face flush as she looked away from her mother. "I-I do care about him, mother" she stutter out, the blush on her face burning red.
I could not help the smile that slipped onto my face. "You and him seem to be good friends..." I started but purposely trailed off. "We are good friends, great friends in fact" she agreed, almost too quickly.
By now we had all continued to slowly stroll through the gardens. Turning to look at her I continued. "Maybe when he finds a girl he wishes to marry, he will let you meet her first" I teased and almost grinned when her shoulders tensed and her eyes suddenly narrowed at the thought.
"I am certain that whoever she is, she will be lovely" Thessa said, teasing her daughter. "Do not say that" Thistle said softly, her voice a whisper. "Say what, dear?" Thessa asked and I smirked. "I know it is selfish to say, but I do not want Aden to be with any other girl" Thistle murmured.
"Then who will you have him be with?" I asked, looking ahead, as we came to the exit of the garden. Thistle mumbled something. "What was that?" I asked, having not heard her clearly. "I want him to marry me" she said a bit louder this time.
"Why?" Thessa asked, stopping to look down at her daughter. "I-I love him" she said quietly, a pink tint coming to her cheeks after she said the words. "You two will make a lovely match" Thessa said and Thistle's eyes brightened almost immediately.
"Wait, you mean you are alright with us being together? Truly?!" she said, sounding almost too excited. "Why not, I have seen the way he looks at you" Thessa told the younger girl. "I have too" I chimed in. "It is the way Nikhil looks at Terni" Thessa said, causing both Thistle and I to blush at her words.
"Speaking of which, have you thought of a name for the little one?" Thessa asked, and I gave a small smile at the question. "Yes, I ha-" I started but was cut off by a sharp popping feeling in my lower belly. The feeling of something wet running down my legs followed it.
My hand instantly went to my bloated stomach, as I felt a wave of pain wash over me. "By the gods" I cried out, doubling over. Thistle and Thessa looked at me, panic written over the younger girl's face, while her mother looked at me in confusion for a second before realizing what was happening.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I felt the pain subside a bit and reached my hand out to Thessa. "Thistle, fetch Nikhil and the mid-wives. The baby is coming!" Thessa ordered, taking my hand and moving to my side to support me. Thistle nodded and took off running towards the house.
"The baby is not supposed to come yet. It is too soon" I cried, as another waves of pain passed through me. My breathing had become laboured and I could feel beads of sweat gather on my forehead, despite the chilly weather.
"Come, we need to get you inside. Early or not, the baby is still coming" Thessa said, trying to keep her voice even as she helped me out of the gardens and into the house, Nikhil meeting us at the door.
Being as gentle as he could, he lifted me into his arms, and proceeded down the halls towards the birth room. The mid-wives were already there, as well as servants laying out towels, fresh water and whatever else was needed for this birthing.
"Get her out of that dress, and lay her down here!" one mid-wife ordered and I felt someone cut the back of the dress open and pull it off of me. I was laid down on the bed, in nothing but my chemise. "You need to leave" someone said and I looked up to see them trying to usher Nikhil out of the room.
"No!" I shouted, before squeezing my eyes shut, in pain once more. The room went silent, waiting for me to speak once more. "He stays!" I demanded as soon as I was able. "But-" one of them started but I was having none of it. "He stay." I managed to say through clenched teeth, as more sweat gathered at my temple.
"Yes, my Lady" they all responded in unison. With a nod, Nikhil moved to my side, his large, warm hand took mine in its grasp. "I will be by your side till the end" he said soft enough for only me to hear. I nodded and tightened my hold on his hand.
"You are not ready to push yet" one of the younger mid-wives said, and the others nodded in agreement. "You will have to get up and walk around for a bit, Terni" Thessa said and I nodded. Nikhil helped my sit up, before helping me to my feet.
"Come, my love" Nikhil said, as he helped my walk to one end of the large room and back again.
Valin's Pov...
We stood on a hill, looking down at an open field of wheat and a village on the other side. There was not many people around the edge of the village, so no one saw us. I stood at Thorin's side, a small smile on my face as I felt his eyes on me.
"What is the matter?" I asked, turning to look at him. "Are you sure, you are feeling alright? You were ill this morning" he said lowly and I smiled up at him, before speaking. "I am fine Thorin, I do not feel ill now" I told him and he sighed.
I had woken up sick this morning and Thorin was completely against me going on the raid today. I was only here because I somehow managed to convince him that I was fine, but he was still worrying about me.
"If you feel like you are going to be sick again, please tell me or anyone else. They will take you back to the camp" he said and I nodded along with his words. "I promise, if I feel ill while here, I will have someone escort me back to my tent to wait for you" I promised him and he sighed.
"Thank you" he murmured, taking me into his arms and pressing a soft kiss to my temple. The sudden tolling of a bell drew all our attention to the village. "Do you think someone spotted us?" one man asked and I shook my head.
"No, they are all heading towards the church" I told them and some nodded while others looked a bit confused by my words. "I used to live in a village much like this. On a specific day, everyone in the village went to church to have a mass. A pray hour" I tried again and they all nodded, seeming to understand.
"That would make it easier to attack the village. We go in, raid their supplies and go. The less attention we draw, the better" Thrain said and I nodded in agreement. "But what if there is something valuable in the church?" a woman asked and they all turned to look at me.
"Is there anything valuable in the church, Valin?" Thorin asked and I looked back at the village with a sigh. "Yes, there is sometimes gold there...good steel" I told them, and a few grinned. "We will raid the church" the same woman said and others agreed with her.
"Okay, but try not to kill anyone in there, please?" I asked and Thorin nodded. "Okay, move out" Thorin called and the command was passed down the line. I grabbed my shield and we all moved down the hills quickly, ducking down and weaving our way through the tall crops.
Climbing over the waist-high wooden fences, we entered the silent village. The streets were bare of any humans, a stray cat being the only living thing I saw besides my own people. "You lot, get those houses. Thrain and company, sack that half. The rest come with me" Thorin ordered and everyone split up.
I followed Thorin to the church, the doors were closed as I expected, a mass was in session. "Do we knock or - " a younger lad asked sarcastically and I felt my lips tug into a smile at his cheek. Thorin smiled too, though he still rolled his eyes at the boy's words.
"Open it" he ordered and two of our men pushed the large, wooden doors inward. The slight creaking had alerted some but it was the loud slam against the walls that caught everyone's attention. "Everybody be calm and no one gets hurt!" I shouted in the common tongue but they all looked at our group in fear.
"Take anything that is valuable" Thorin ordered and they spread out around the church. I walked down the aisle, everyone cowered away. "You bitch!" someone shouted and I turned around to see a man standing there, glaring at me.
The others moved forward, weapons drawn but the other church goers began to plead with him to be silent and sit down. He began to approach me and Thorin turned to stop him but I raised my hand slightly, stopping both men on their attempts to reach me.
"I know you" I told him and he took a slight step back. "You were there that day, remember?" I asked, taking a step towards him, he stepped back once more. "You pushed me aside. To save your own ass. You are pathetic, a coward" I spat out.
"Was he the reason you were hurt when we took you?" Thorin asked and I nodded. I drew my sword, the steel hissed loudly in the silent room.
"I should be thanking you for bringing my husband and I together. But I had wanted to kill you for so long. I also think I would be doing some helpless girl a favour by killing you. No one would have to suffer the plight of being a coward's wife" I said, walking a bit faster.
He turned to run but I kicked him behind his knees, making him fall flat on his face. Grabbing him by the hair, I pulled him up. "Please, please do not kill me. I beg of you. Valin please" he begged pitifully.
I scoffed, "You should not beg me, beg my blade" I spat out, bringing my sword to his throat. "Plea-" I slit his throat, he tried to struggle but I held him in place as blood sprouted from the wound.
When he stopped moving, I let him go. Someone screamed at the sight of his dead body but I felt nothing. Cowards like him deserved to die as far as I was concerned. Someone stepped out of the row a few feet from when I stood. "Do you have something to say?" I asked, glaring at the woman, her head was covered, her face hidden.
"Well?" I growled and she looked up, as she pulled the cloak down, revealing herself to me. "Well, this was not how I would have hoped to meet my daughter when I saw her again. Would you not think, Valin" she asked and my eyes widened.
"Mother"
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There you go.
Please forgive me for this delayed chapter.
I hope you all enjoyed reading and I would like to thank @negrinha1980W , @TheRealColourBlue and everyone who voted, commented, shared and added this book to their reading lists. It gave me the motivation I had been lacking to do this chapter. So thank you all.
I hope you all have a good day/night.
Till next time.
Lots of Love.
XxNikkyxX