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Cervus stood in the stables, stroking the nose of his stallion. The animal had taken a while getting used to the physical changes of his master, and now seemed to have taken great offense at Cervus' lack of riding him. He didn't understand that the Fey King was still having trouble adjusting to digitigrade legs and hadn't quite puzzled out how to ride again.

He offered the horse a bit of apple, but it fell inside the stall as the antlered man doubled over in pain. Something was wrong. It was a phantom pain, he could tell, not really residing in his own flesh. Only two people might be in pain that he would feel it, his kithain, and his bonded wife. And only one of them was currently expecting a child.

"Lilium..." he breathed, and he staggered out of the stables frantically searching for his queen. "LILY!!!" he called out, hoping for an answer to his cry.

Cervus leapt towards the faint call, his hearing having strengthened with ascendancy. He skidded to a stop in front of Lilium, and gathered her in his arms, lifting her off the ground gently, sweeping her close. "It's all right, my love. Let's get you inside, someplace comfortable, for your delivery."

Cervus smiled softly and kissed Lilum's forehead. "Nonsense, dearest. Like all the beautiful flowers, you flourish in the sun and fresh air. Is it any wonder our child would want to be born there?" He called out once inside. "Anyone within earshot, to the Queen's chambers with blankets and hot water and anything you can think of to help with a birthing!"

Panic was rising in him, but he relied on his training to keep his composure. He had helped birth many a woodland creature, surely a baby could be no worse? But this was HIS baby, and HIS wife. He forced himself not to tremble as he carried the Queen upstairs to her chambers.

Relief washed over Cervus' features at the sight of the shaman. "Ursa, thank the Maker you're here. I think she's having the baby." Cervus gestured with hoof-tipped fingers at the Queen where he'd settled her on her bed, and his fingers trembled, belying his outward calm. His ears flitted this way and that nervously.

"What do you need me to do?" he asked, tail twitching anxiously.

Ursa gave Cervus a speculative look. Stay out of the way. "I think, your magesty, it would be best if you looked into securing a source of firewood and other supplies. Just bring it up here and put it by the door." Ursa thought for a moment. "And I might need you to fetch things from my infirmary room." Especially since it will help keep you out of the way. This is going to be hard enough without a nervous father around...

Sayuri gasped at the sight of Cervus, the antlers, the deer legs and hooves. She covered it quickly, her hand moving over her mouth and she lowered her head.
'I don't know why I'm here,' she explained, gesturing helplessly as she looked up again.
'I just knew this was where I was meant to be.'

She had heard and seen everything but has concentrated more on the pains and trying to keep this child where it no longer wanted to be. Is it too late to back out of this? She thought to herself knowing full well waht the answer was. Why did noone tell her it would be like this? She cried out once more in pain.

At least Ursa was here. But does she truly know what she is doing even? Stop this Lilium. Get ahold of yourself! Concentrate! You can do this. She reached out and grabbed ahold of Ursa's loincloth pulling her closer. "Ursa!" She squueezed out through clenched teeth "Please get this out of me!"