STARDUST (birth)

Peace had filled her life, well, as much peace as was possible. Argent had bound herself to Glaciem territory, a growing blimp of a woman who did not wish to endanger her young by daring to wander beyond protection. The Duchess?s symptoms were severe; constant nausea, dizziness, fainting, and just general misery. She?d found herself restless, insomnia worsening, hormones making her a depressed mess of nervous tension and energy. And yet, the time drew near. Her sides swelled, her frame heavy with children, her body displaying that soon she would birth the first of Isardis?s children to greet the lands of Alacritis.
It was fitting that the middle of the night would mark the beginning, the twisting pain in her womb that announced her children were prepared to enter the world. The Duchess had fallen asleep underneath a tree that night, out in the open and pleased, too lazy to return to the den she shared with Eris. At first she thought it was the children resettling; they were prone to movement, prone to trying to find a comfortable position within her body, and she did not mind. Whatever they needed she would provide, dutiful to them as she was to their father, a loving servant through and through.
When the pain grew worse, she knew. She knew in the way all mothers ultimately knew, and she struggled to her feet, whimpering and struggling. ?Eris!? she cried, desperate, barking for somebody to come and offer her assistance. Her legs shook with pain, but she sharpened her resolve, slowly trying to traverse to a den somewhere. She felt light headed, and the pain was the worst she?d ever felt, and all the Duchess wanted to do was lie down somewhere comfortable and ride out the pain as best she could. Giving birth outside was not ideal; it would leave her vulnerable, especially in the middle of the night. No, she needed safety, and she needed it now.