Lina: Twisted Fairy Tales Book Two

25: Best Laid Plans

Unfortunately for Papa, he didn’t get to do as planned. We barely had time to walk into my parent’s bedroom before it became immediately obvious that the rest of our day was to be derailed. Mama was pacing around the bed, hands placed at her lower back, a grimace on her face, taking long, deep, puffing breaths.

“Oh-” I barely muffled the curse. “Should I send for the Healer? Or someone to take you down to his hut? Or..?” My mother’s head snapped to me and I winced, but she merely shook her head. I exhaled in relief, shocked I had gotten away without being the subject of her ire. She was already looking red-faced and sweaty, and that rarely boded well for anyone.

“No. It will be a while yet, I should think.” Mama huffed, then her eyes fell on the tray in Papa’s hands and she waddled her way towards us, making grabby hands. “Oh please tell me that’s water in that jug. Give it to me!”

“I don’t know if you should-” Father protested, but Mama merely glared at him, snatching it and sucking the drink down straight from the jug before he could prevent her from doing so.

“Don’t.. Tell a pregnant woman.. What she can and can’t do..” She panted around her drink. I chuckled at Papa’s resigned expression as he laid the tray on a vanity nearby.

“Should we get you in something a little less restrictive?” Papa asked gently, walking over to hug Mama from behind as she once more took up her pacing. His hands circled under her stomach, lifting the weight for her, and her head fell back on his shoulder with a groan, the relief visible on her face.

“Yes please.” She mumbled, and without being asked, I hunted up a fresh shift for her from her trunk. After handing it over, Papa darted his eyes at the door and raised a brow, my cue to fetch or send for a Healer or one of his apprentices while she was otherwise occupied. So while he helped her change, I slipped out the door and found myself racing down the hall almost mindlessly. At the head of the stairs, I nearly tripped when Uncle Tyrus’ voice called to me.

“Where’s the fire? Trouble?” He was grinning at me when I turned.

“Mama’s giving birth!” I yelped back breathlessly and Uncle Ty paled.

“I’ll just uh.. Come with you then.” He changed directions as I bolted down the stairs gasping soundless snickers. To say mother did not have the best personality when in a bad mood would be an understatement.

Unfortunately, at the foot of the stairs, I charged right into my brothers.

“Gods damn it Cor! Si!” I struggled to free myself from twisted skirts and cursed the day my mother relented to my grandmother’s badgering about making me dress more lady-like. The twins were nearly identical down to matching freckles across the bridge of their noses that they had to have gotten from father’s side of the family, as they did their lighter complexion and untamable hair. The only difference was the shade of brown of their eyes, with Corwin’s being lighter than Silas’.

“What’s going on?” Corwin rubbed his head as though he’d somehow injured it. That’s how I knew he was fine. He was completely numb from the skull down. According to Uncle Reggie, he shared that trait with his name-sake.

“Stop glaring at us, you look like Mama when you do that!” Silas complained. Silas was usually the more reserved of the two, I had grown up on many tales of our pseudo-grandfather that we’d never met. I grinned viciously, brushing my clothes off with unmatched fury as I stood.

“Speaking of Mama-she’d like to see you boys.” I said sweetly. Corwin tousled his unruly hair and looked doubtfully at Silas who shrugged. Just at that moment, Tyrus made his way down the last of the steps and made a sound of protest.

“Don’t do it boys, it’s a trap!” He cautioned, then bent down closer to them at my glare. “But make yourselves useful and go to the Healer’s, hey lads?” He winked at them and then eyed me over their heads. I tilted my head slightly. I would capitulate my lost revenge for not having to perform the task. “Go, go,, your mother is having the babe!” Tyrus swatted Silas’ thigh and sent the boys running towards the doors to the outside. I watched them go before turning back to Uncle Ty.

“You know, you didn’t tell them which Healer, so they’ll probably come back with the wrong one.” I pointed out, crossing my arms. Tyrus rubbed his hand down his face.

“You waited to tell me that as revenge for stopping them from going up to see your mother, didn’t you?” He mock-groaned.

“Uh-huh.” I agreed, flipping my hair and spinning on my heel.

“Ah well, it will keep them busy anyway. Tyrus sighed behind me as I headed back up the stairs. Uncle Ty didn’t follow me, and truthfully, I took a little longer than necessary to climb to the top and then walk the hall to my parents’ room. I could hear Mama’s shouts of pain quite a distance away, so I paced outside her room, trying to decide if it was safe to enter.

Eventually, I peeked inside, only to have Papa wave me in rather urgently.

“The babe’s coming fast.” He told me swiftly. He had hold of Mama’s ribs as she crouched by the bed and he waved me over with one arm before gesturing to a pile of clean linens. “You’re going to have to catch the babe, Malina. There won’t be time for the Healer, and I can’t do both.” He was begging me with his eyes even as I grimaced in distaste and fear. What were the chances she’d kick me in the head like an unruly horse? But it was my Papa asking, and I did have a weak spot for him.

“Alright.” I groaned. “But if she kicks me, you’re on your own.” I warned. For a brief moment he looked stunned, but then he laughed his loud, startled laugh even as Mama began cursing about showing somebody a good kick when this was through. I grinned and grabbed a linen, crouching next to my mother to rub her back.