XXXXXXXX- It smelled of rain.
It had been raining since the first star broke into the sky. Before it began to rain, Mereavha had been in labor. The child, her second, had made its presence known to the world when Mereavha’s water broke during an evening walk with her husband. Mereavha merely blinked and suggested they turn around so she might change her clothes. Though her water had broke, she felt no urgency to lay down and push the child from her loins. Her husband however, became frantic and lifted his wife up off the ground (careful of course, not to harm her small wings) and began to rush back towards the village.
“Anaen! You’ll throw your back! Put me down!” She said, chastising him.
“Eva, in case you didn’t notice, you’re going into labor with our second child.” He said in a tone that annoyed Mereavha.
“And? That gives you no right to pick me up like I were some crippled crone Anaen Markesh! This babe is no hurry to come into this world. She is so unlike her brother in every way – She will take her time to grace us with her presence.” Her tone was harsh and very matter-o’-fact.
Anaen looked to her while keeping his pace, puzzled. “How are you so sure that our babe is a girl Mereavha? It is not up to you to decide.”
Mereavha smiled at this. The answer was simple really. Her tone softened considerably as she replied, “Dear one, our second is a girl, simply because she is.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure cinta. Mothers have been wrong about such things many times before.”
Mereavha’s smile did not falter. “Trust me dear Anaen. Your second is a little girl. Of this, I am sure.” Her tone was confident, and strong. She was sure that this child was going to be a little girl, and not even Zazzar himself could convince her otherwise.
Anaen looked at his wife once more, this time without puzzlement. His eyes were full of something warm – Something Mereavha could not quite place. Then, her husband gave a crooked smile and kissed her on the forehead, stating nothing. She couldn’t tell if this meant he believed her, or that he simply loved her for being so stubborn.
“Well, my beautiful crippled crone. Let’s get you back to the hut.” And with that, he jogged back to their village as fast as he could while carrying what he perceived to be precious jewels.
When they returned to their little hut, Anaen lay his wife down, and made sure she stay where she lay while he ran to the midwife's hut. Mereavha huffed and did as her husband asked, quite reluctantly. The midwife rushed in, and so began the arduous task of giving birth. It began slowly, and without intensity. The midwife rushed about the hut making sure everything was just so for the child's arrival. Mereavha was made to walk, and to sit. She was made to report the timing of each contraction, and to breathe in just a way. She did as she was told, giving as few sarcastic comments as she could. By the time of the second contraction, the sky had broken and rain began to fell down upon the small village relentlessly.
Mallum sat in a corner, asking his father questions about this and that. When was the baby coming? Was it going to be a little boy? He did want a little brother. Boys seemed much more resilient after all. Eventually, Anaen sent the boy off to bed and in turn began to ask the midwife a number of questions, similar to the inquiries his son had made. The night wore on as the rain beat down upon the ground. Gradually, Mereavha's contractions grew closer and closer to the last. Finally, it seemed she was ready. Thunder rumbled throughout the sky, booming with anticipation as lightning raced through the dark clouds, lighting them up with electric blue.
Mereavha pushed and breathed as she was told. The midwife rushed around her, barking orders out at Anaen as he paced back and forth. Eventually, the midwife said she could see the babes head. It went on like this until dawn. The babe was born, and it let out only a small cry. As the midwife cleaned the bloody child off, Mereavha closed her eyes. The birth was an easy one - Much easier than Mallum's had been. But still she was tired.
Then, the midwife lay the child down in the weary mother's arms. Light began to filter through the hut's windows. It had stopped raining - Mereavha imagined that the skies were a deep, blood red that faded into wondrous shades of orange and pink. The scent of rain filled her senses, and seemed to soothe her weary body. She looked down with bright blue eyes at her new born child. Mereavha smiled down at the babe. She was pink and her cheeks flared an angry red. She had a soft, and small tuft of black hair atop her round head, and small, fragile hands. For a newborn, she looked perfect. And her eyes. Her eyes were so wide, so odd. The right was bright blue and shining. However, the left was a deep and strange color. Mulberry, and simply beautiful. Mereavha blinked and gazed at her child as it gazed up at her. The child was quiet and observant - Another oddity for a newborn.
A few hours later, a witch doctor was summoned. The bones were cast, and they confirmed what Mereavha already knew - Their child was a little girl. Anaen gave a hearty laugh and kissed his wife on the lips, and his newborn daughter on the head. Anaen ruffled his son's black hair and beckoned him forward to look at his baby sister. Mereavha watched as he son looked down on the babe and gave a big grin.
"What's her name mama?"
The tired mother smiled warmly, as she cradled her daughter lovingly. "Anyanka. Anyanka Jadien."
