Bittersweet Birth

Lord Alan of Trebond paced the hallway outside of the room in which his wife was in labor. She had been very pregnant with their first child for the past nine months, and Alan was anxious to share in the joy. He had chosen, however, to wait outside of the room as his wife gave birth. The sounds alone were sending chills down his spine. It sounded as if something were wrong, but Alan trusted that the village healer, Maude, would take good care of his wife and newborn child.

Suddenly, he heard the screaming of a baby. Moments later, another screamed. Alan stopped dead in his tracks and widened his eyes. The door opened to reveal Maude's face. Her mouth was smiling but her eyes were worried. "Your lordship, its twins." Alan beamed. Maude held the door open so he could go in. His wife lay on the bed looking quite pale, and Maude's assistant held the babies. "A boy and a girl, your lordship."

Alan looked at his wife. "What's wrong with her?" he demanded of the woman. "Why does she look so pale?"

"She's lost quite a lot of blood," Maude explained gently.

"No!" Alan rushed to his wife's bedside and took her hand. "Look at me!" The lady of Trebond looked at her husband with a new weakness in her violet eyes.

"Thom and Alanna," she whispered hoarsely. "Their names are Thom and Alanna." Her eyes slowly began to close.

"No!" Alan roared. He turned wild eyes to Maude. "Do something, damn it!" He looked back at his wife. "Don't leave me. Don't you leave me." Maude placed a hand on the lord's shoulder.

"She's gone, your lordship." Alan glared at her.

"I can see that," he hissed. He looked at his twins and softened somewhat. "May I hold them?" The babies were placed in his arms. Alan kissed both of their foreheads. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"There was nothing you could've done," Maude assured him.

"She could heal," Alan snapped. "Why couldn't that help?"

"Many women die in childbirth, sir," the healer reminded him. "Gifted or not."

"Are they Gifted?" Alan asked of his children. Maude nodded. Alan frowned. "I do not want them taught." He thrust the children back into her arms. She looked aghast. "Those are my orders, Maude. They are not up for discussion."