Chiyo in Bastat (complete)

    I’m resting with Addor just outside Bastat, for some reason, these past few weeks I have felt completely and utterly exhausted. There are some mornings it is a struggle to get up, and other days my usual vigor is sapped from my body. Sometimes, resting with Addor, who is cool and provides shade, is all I can do some days.

    Addor lifts his head and sighs. “Lady Chiyo,” he replies. “There is something different about you.”

    I grunt and stroke his side. “What do you mean?”

    Addor lowers his head down towards me and sniffs me. I push against his nose, and he growls low in his throat.

    “What?” I sigh.

    He inches close again, smelling my skin and hair. “From the look of things, I believe you’re with child.” He says. 

    If glare up at him in shock. “Excuse me?” I scoff and stand up. “My sister is the one who is pregnant.”

    “That isn’t what I said,” Addor growls. “I said that YOU are the pregnant one.”

    I shake my head at him, defiant that I am not. “You must smell her on me!”

    Addor sighs. “Fine. Do not believe me, dear friend. I have simply been alive for centuries and have seen many children. But you? You know better.”

    I scoff, kicking sand at him before storming back home. As I reach my house, I feel myself start to swoon. I try to shake the woozy sensation from my head.

    “Lady Chiyo, are you alright?” Seif comes up behind me, balancing me before I toppled over. “You don’t look so well.”

    I push off him. “I’m fine. I’m just fine.”

    “Let me walk you home,” Seif says. 

    He leads me into my home where Othet is meditating on the stone hearth. He stands up, a concerned look at his face. 

    “What’s wrong? You look pale,” he takes me from Seif, and I grimace.

    “I’m fine!” I huff. “There’s nothing wrong with me.” 

    Othet takes me over to the bed, but I refuse to lay down.

    “Chiyo,” he uses a stern voice with me, and I chuckle. “What?”

    I smile up at him. “You sound like Penu.” My laugh turns into a dreary sigh. “You sound like a dad.”

    Othet touches my forehead and frowns. “You’re not well,” he makes me lie on the bed, and he removes my head covering. “You’re a little warm. That’s not good.” He makes me drink water, and he takes out his diving crystal.

    “Put that thing away,” I grumble. “I’m telling you, Othet I’m fine.”

    “I’m not risking it,” Othet huffs. “Just be still for a moment while I do this.”

    I lay back and sigh, relaxing in the shade of the hut felt nice. Even after the ridiculous thing, Addor said, maybe I am getting a little sick.

    Othet gasps and I peel my eyes open to look at him. “What?”

    Othet’s face goes through a range of emotions. He looks confused then startled, shocked, then elated. He lays his paw on my stomach.

    “Oh no!” I sit up, shoving his paw away. “What do you think you’re doing?”

    “Calm down!” Othet grabs me. 

    I struggle against him. “No! You’re all crazy! There’s nothing there!”

    “Chiyo!” Othet grabs me and holds me still. “Chiyo, the baby,” he whispers.

    I whimper, and the tears start to come. “No,” I cry, and I fall into Othet’s arms. I cling to him, and he holds me tight.

    “Aren’t you happy?” Othet asks. “Don’t you want a baby?”

    I tremble and shake my head. “I’m scared,” I whisper.

    Othet looks me in the eye, wiping away my tears. “Chiyo,” he whispers. “I have never seen you afraid. Why are you now?”

    “I don’t want to be like my mother,” I confess. “She gave birth to me and was never the same again. I don’t want to have a child and then not have the strength to raise it. It is my baby, it will be wild!”

    Othet chuckles and kisses me. “Your sister has given birth to three, and with the fourth on the way she is stronger than ever.” He brushes the hair from my face. “Your mother gave birth to you under horrible circumstances. You will give birth healthy and surrounded by love and comfort. You can be here or in the High Country with your sister.”

    “I want to be here,” I whimper. “But-” I cling to Othet, and he kisses my forehead.

    “No buts, save for the ass of our little one,” he comforts me.

    I blubber and sob into his shoulder. Othet rubs my back, holding me until I’m done.

    Penu confirms the pregnancy, assuring me that I will be safe and healthy when the baby arrives. 

    “If I am to be a grandfather, I will see to every moment of this journey,” he beams at you. “I did everything I could for your mother, but the damage was done already. You are starting out stronger than most.”

    “I’ms till scared Penu,” I murmur, my arm clasped around my stomach. “I’m used to being a warrior, not a mother.”

    “Are children not little battles?” Penu asks. “Do they not fight and scream and cause war?” he grins at me, petting my cheek. “Warriors beget warriors,” he winks. “I should know, I raised both you and Othet.”

    “Yeah, but Othet was a good kid,” I laugh.

    “Not with you around,” Penu offers me a drink. “This will help with the fatigue. The little one is getting all the nutrients while you are left with the scraps, so your body unbalanced.”

    I grimace. “Oh, that’s awful.”

    “Most good things are. Finish it up. All of it.” He tilts the bowl back to my mouth. “There you go, last drop.”

    I cough and wipe my mouth. “That will help?”

    “Drink it with every meal and before bed, and it will,” Penu says.

    I scoff. “I can’t drink this four times a day!”

    He taps my belly. “Unless you want to get eaten by the baby, you will.” He then looks at me. “I also suggest you go and visit your sister when she gives birth so you can prepare yourself. Birth is beautiful, but it is also vicious.”

    “Is it worse than being stabbed?” I ask.

    “I am not sure. I am merely a man. But I have birthed just about every child in this village since I was sixteen,” he says. “I have seen the women in pain, and I have seen men in pain. Men don’t know anything about pain.”

    “Oh,” I grumble, fidgeting in my seat.

    “You sister has had three already, correct?” He asks. “She is a wealth of knowledge to you, especially since you are sisters. Your bodies are similar, and she will know the struggles you will face. I highly suggest you and Othet witness this next birth.”

    Othet agreed, and when the time was right, we traveled to the High Country to be with Mythri during her final month. I am nearing my fifth month and have started to show. I am also ravenously hungry all the time, so I am excited to be in the palace where I can eat without shame.

    Mythri is on bed rest, and her belly is like a mountain under the sheets. She rubs and kisses my belly, whispering sweet nothings to my child.

    “You’re quite big for five months,” she says. “That’s how I was with Himank and Dhaval,” she replies.

    “Do not curse me, sister,” I scold her. “I cannot handle two at once!”

    Mythri giggles and rubs her own belly. “It is a blessing,” she replies.

    I huff and glance out the window, looking at the sunset. “Does it hurt?”

    “They all hurt,” she answers. “It is unbearable and unending.”

    I squeeze her hand tight.

    “But, it is worth it,” she replies. “The moment you hold that baby in your arms it all fades away. Nothing matters but keeping them from pain.”

    I glance back at Mythri. “I’m so scared.”

    Mythri pulls me down and cuddles me. “That is normal. When the boys were born, I was completely out of my mind. I had no clue what to do. But Amit was there, and he made the world make sense. Othet will do the same if you need it.”

    “I’m not worried about that. Othet is like Penu, he’s made to be a parent. I’m worried that I won’t be a good mother,” I murmur.

    Mythri runs her fingers through my hair. “You will be, in time. It doesn’t happen all at once. Instinct kicks in for the first few months, and after that, you learn. You grow with the baby.”

    I take a deep breath and place my hand on her belly. I feel the baby kick and my eyes grow wide. “Did you feel that?”

    Mythri grimaces. “All the time. This little one will not stop moving! I swear, I’m going to bound their legs when they get out, or else they’re coming out running.”

    I smile, rubbing her belly. “You said Amit is hoping for another girl?”

    “He loves his Damini so, he’s hoping for a copy of her,” Mythri chuckles. “We want to name her Tali.”

    My eyes grow wide, “After mother?”

    Mythri smiles up at me. “But who knows? We usually choose a name that we feel when we first hold the baby. So we shall see.”

    Not long after, I am woken from my slumber by one of Mythri’s nurses. Othet and I are rushed to the royal bedchamber where Mythri is huffing and puffing. Amitis by her side, holding her up and letting her squeeze the living daylights out of his hand. I join Mythri at her side, fanning her and keeping her hair from her face. She screams and cries, and there is blood, lots of it.

    For hours she pushes and screams, crying to Amit. Finally, one final push and the screams of the new baby fill the air. The doctor washes the baby, and it screams and screams and screams. The baby has lungs that could make Bastat turn her head.

    Finally, the little bundle is placed in Mythri’s arms. “It’s another prince,” the doctor replies with a hushes voice.

    Amit looks displeased, after all, he was looking forward to another daughter. But when he holds the new baby in his arms, his usually stern expression melts. He kisses and whispers to the baby as it whines and whimpers.

    “Chirayu,” Mythri says suddenly.

    I turn to her, seeing her beaming at me. “After his aunt.”

    I blink tears from my eyes, gasping as Amit hands the little boy over to me. I look at him, seeing he is all squirming and pink. His eyes aren’t even open yet. 

    “Chirayu,” I whisper to him. “Hi,” my voice trembles.

    We stay another few weeks before heading home to Bastat. Penu and the rest of the tribe have gotten the house ready for us. They’ve got a new bed and have set up the crib for the baby. They’ve made toys and blankets, and have stocked the house with supplies.

    As I enter my last few months, my belly swells to gigantic proportions. I’m placed in bed rest, barely able to even walk without assistance. 

    One day, to my shock, Mythri and Amit arrive in the village. Chirayu has gotten chubby, and his fur has grown in. 

    “What are you doing here?” I gasp as Mythri kisses me.

    “We’ve come to help take care of you,” she replies. “Plus, we want to see the baby as well. Or, babies I suppose.” She touches my belly.

    “I told you not to curse me!” I huff.

    “Perhaps we were already cursed,” Mythri chuckles as she sits beside me, baby Chirayu chewing on her hand. 

    “I’m glad you’re here,” I whisper to her. “Seeing you makes me feel better.”

    Mythri squeezes my hand, bouncing Chirayu on her other arm. “Seeing you made me feel better too. That’s how I knew we had to be here.”

    “Are you sure?” I ask. “What about the restorations?”

    “It’ll be fine!” Mythri insists. “Kalidas is there, and he knows how to handle things.” He pets my hair from my face. “Addor greeted us when we got here, he’s anxious.”

    “He can’t enter the village, so he has to rely on messages from Othet,” I grunt as I try to adjust myself. 

    Mythri helps me, propping me up just enough so I can get a drink of water. 

    “The boys said they would keep him company,” Mythri chuckles. “They absolutely adore him.”

    “Boys and dragons,” I scoff. I squeeze Mythri’s hand again and sigh. “I really am happy you’re here.”

    One evening, I’m woken by horrible pains. The birth has started. Everything happens in a whirlwind, and I’m so overwhelmed by pain that it’s all a blur to me. One moment I’m alone with Othet, in the next, Mythri is there. A few moments later I’m screaming. I can’t remember up or down or time at all. 

    The next thing I know, I’m waking up to the sound of rain. Blinking through the fog in my eyes I feel someone squeezing my hand. I look up, seeing Mythri sitting beside me. Behind her, Othet is holding a baby, and on the other side of the Amit is holding another.

    “Which one is mine?” My voice cracks.

    Mythri helps me sit up. “I’m sorry, my dear,” she sighs. “You were cursed.”

    I stare in stunned silence as both babies are placed in my arms. They’re pink and fuzzy, but they look very much like their father. Tiny little stumps show where their fangs will grow in. Othet sits beside me, kissing my temple. 

    “We need to decide names,” he says. “For the boy and the girl.”

    I whimper and sniffle. “Maitri,” I reply. “I match her aunt,” I whisper to the little girl. “And Chi,” I murmur. “I carry on his love.”

    Othet kisses me again and hugs me close. “I was hoping you’d do that.”

    “Maitri is first born,” Mythri tells me. “Chi took a little time coming out.”

    I open my robes, letting the children feed. “Well, at least this part will be easy,” I grumble. “I have two of these.”

    Othet laughs. “Now, now, you will have many hands helping you. No need to worry.” He rubs my back and kisses my hair.

    I lean back into the pillows, listening to the twins grunt and burble as they nurse. “This will suck when their teeth come in.”

    Mythri giggles and sits beside me. “It will, but hopefully they will ween before then.”

    I look up at her and smile. “I want to introduce them to Addor, is there anyway?” 

    “You need your bed rest,” Mythri warns me. “And I wouldn’t take the children out just yet. Not until their eyes open.”

    I frown, if anyone deserved to see them, it was Addor. After all, he was the one who first became aware of them. It was also because of him they were even in this world. Without Addor on your side, I would have been dead during the war on Rakshasa.

    Othet and Amit build a bed on wheels with a canopy over it. With it, they are able to take the babies and me to the edge of Bastat where Addor is. 

    “I see,” Addor murmurs as he looks into the canopy. “You’ve outdone yourself, Lady Chiyo.” He places his nose near Maitri’s scalp and sniffs. 

    Maitri burbles and kicks her legs, grunting at the sudden breeze on her head, but she doesn’t cry.

    “Hopefully, they will grow up to be just like you,” Addor murmurs. “We need more people in the world like you.”

    “Thank you Addor,” I murmur. “I’m sure you’ll be around to see that day.”

    Two months later, a procession arrives at Bastat. At this time, I am able to walk around again, so I leave Othet with the children while I go out to see what is coming. To my shock, it is Demir and his caravan arriving.

    “Lady Chiyo!” Demir rushes forward and kneels down before me. “I heard the wonderful news from your sister! I simply had to come and bring my blessing directly to you.”

    “Lord Demir,” I gasp, stunned by his arrival. “This is unnecessary. You could have sent a letter, and that would have been enough.”

    “Nonsense!” Demir scolds. “You are one of my most treasured allies, and I owe you a great deal.” He squeezes my hands. “The least I could do was come here myself. Besides, I wanted to see the children myself.”

    “And what about your new baby?” I ask him.

    A woman walks up beside Demir, holding a large bundle in her arms. “This is my wife, Dali,” Demir says and takes the bundle. “And this, is my little prince, Orrick.”

    The little centaur in his arms is colored just like his father, but his hair is curly and wild like his mother’s. I greet Dali, hugging her and taking her hand as we walk into the village.

    Right away, Demir goes for Maitri. He holds her and bounces her, cooing gently to her.

    “Mythri stills refuses to let her daughter and out son be betrothed,” Dali whispers to me. “You may want to watch out,” she warns. “He wants connections to the Rakshasa that will stand the test of time.” She then rolls her eyes and sighs.

    “Is his mind always going like that?” I ask.

    Dali laughs, bouncing Chi in her arms. “Always,” he laughs. “Had you not married Othet, Demir wanted you as a second wife,” she smirks. 

    My eyes widen, and my jaw hangs open.

    Dali laughs. “He is extremely fond of you. I don’t blame him. You’re beautiful like Mythri but a warrior like Demir. Too bad. Othet is a lucky man. Meeting you now, I wouldn’t have minded one bit sharing a bed with you.”

    “Thank you?” I say unsurely.

    “Chiyo, Maitri and Orrick are already getting along!” Demir exclaims excitedly. He has the two on the bed together. Little Orrick is petting Maitri while she squirms around on her belly.

    “Told you,” Dali whispers. “Put your foot down now, or they’ll be married before we leave the village.”