The Birth and Revelations
A bath and nap renewed Ilona. It was good to be home again.
Caring for Hákon had initially been physically demanding but grew to be more emotional as their relationship developed.
It had been challenging trying to honor Erik’s long-standing grief and help heal his emotional wounds of loss while caring for Hákon.
She had done all she could. They were in her path for a reason she could nae fathom.
Perhaps their child and Hákon would grow to develop a friendship later in life.
Rathnon returned bearing gifts for Ilona.
“I had to leave these under Sigrid’s care when I returned from my duty to the king.
The queen has invited us to visit during fair weather, after ye have recovered from childbirth.
She informed me she looks forward to seeing ye, especially as ye both will have young bairns.
” He gave her several plants he had brought back in wooden boxes for her to plant. His gift of plants made Ilona smile.
“Close yer eyes, while I bring in yer next gift.” Rathnon carried in the rocking chair Ivar had delivered in a wagon, and placed it before the hearth. Then he took Ilona’s hands in his and led her to stand before it.
“Now open yer eyes and see yer surprise.”
Ilona took her hands down from her eyes and gazed first to Rathnon before seeing the rocking chair.
She leaned into him and said softly, “It is lovely, Rathnon. Thank ye.” Tears sprang to her eyes and Rathnon silently wiped them away.
He sat on the rocker and pulled Ilona into his arms. He cradled her and rocked her in the chair.
“What do ye think of it? Did Ivar make this how ye imagined for our bairn?”
“It is more beautiful than I imagined. Did he carve the back?”
“I helped him make and carve it, and he gave me instruction and tips along the way.” Ilona smoothed her hands over the satin finish of the wood grain.
“I ken it is a work of love for me and our bairn.”
“Aye, it is. Ye are the light in my life and my love.” They had dinner and slept in their bed, happy to be home and together again.
The remaining days of Ilona’s pregnancy were busy.
Ivar delivered the beautiful, handcrafted baby cradle and Ilona loved it.
She remained busy making the baby’s room exactly how she wanted it, with room to accommodate Sigrid after the baby was born.
Worried for Ilona’s welfare, Rathnon worked shorter hours and returned to check on his wife frequently as the time drew near for her to have their bairn.
He insisted Ilona worked fewer hours too.
Each day they walked to the loch and back, holding hands as they walked.
Liv checked Ilona every few days in preparation for her labor and delivery.
On a beautiful clear spring day, Ilona heard the call of a lapwing bird and her contractions began.
Rathnon was nae home. Ilona walked into the fresh air and sunshine.
Liv had prepared her well, so Ilona remained calm as she slowly walked through the forest, down the hill to the village, and to the healer’s hut.
Villagers greeted Ilona, and she gave nae indication of any distress.
As soon as she knocked on the healer’s door and Liv bade her enter, Liv took one look at Ilona and kent her time had come. She examined Ilona and assessed the progress of her labor.
“It is early yet, but I am glad ye came now. Your labor could progress quickly or the bairn could take their time. Right now, I want ye to walk around the room for a time until yer contractions get stronger. I’ll get a message to Sigrid and the midwife, and someone will fetch Rathnon for ye.
He will want to be close by or at yer bedside. I’ll be but a moment.”
When Liv returned, she readied the towels, sheets, and linens she would need.
She hung several pots of hot water over the hearth.
Liv gave Ilona a cup of tea before her contractions started in earnest. When Rathnon entered the healer’s cottage, he saw his wife in a nightgown in the birthing bed.
Pensive, he gazed at his wife and clenched his hands into fists seeing her distress.
Liv greeted Rathnon and instructed him to sit in the chair beside his wife.
He held her hand and mopped her brow from the perspiration of her strenuous exertions in labor.
Liv tucked linen around Ilona’s hips, leaving her abdomen exposed.
Liv had Rathnon place his hand over Ilona’s abdomen to feel how hard and strong her contractions were.
“Ye are doing well, Ilona. I ken this babe wishes to make their entrance to the world soon.”
“Yer abdomen is hard as wood, Ilona. I wish I could take away yer pain,” Rathnon said with a furrowed brow and low voice. Ilona squeezed Rathnon’s hand hard as another forceful contraction bore down on her.
Rathnon admired his wife and how strong she was in the midst of the powerful contractions.
She didn’t complain but squeezed his hand.
Her ruddy face revealed her exertions. He was glad Liv had agreed to allow him to be with his wife.
Since he was her only family, Liv had acquiesced to his demands to attend to Ilona’s needs and help her.
Between contractions, Rathnon gave Ilona sips of water.
Her labor progressed slowly and felt excruciating to Rathnon.
When she arrived, the midwife attended Ilona too.
After interminable hours, Ilona progressed to where she could finally push.
It was impossible to be modest now as she grabbed her feet in a half-sitting position and pushed when the contractions felt the strongest.
With Liv and Rathnon’s encouragement, Ilona finally pushed her child into the world, as he watched the incredible birth of his child.
Tears streamed down his face as Liv pronounced they had a son, and after drying the baby, she showed Rathnon his naked son.
After cutting the umbilical cord, she wrapped the baby in a blanket and placed him in Ilona’s arms. Liv fluffed up her pillows.
“Congratulations on your beautiful and lusty son.” They gazed in wonder as he cried vigorously. Liv placed the baby to Ilona’s breast.
When the bairn finished nursing, she took the sleeping baby and placed him in Rathnon’s arms. Liv washed Ilona, changed the linens, and dressed her in a clean nightgown with a low top, easily untied for nursing her baby. Ilona slept briefly then, content with her son in his father’s loving arms.
Rathnon had grinned with delight when Liv pronounced they had a son. And now he wore a perpetual smile on his face as he held his son and gazed over at his exhausted sleeping wife.
Their son woke up again and rooted against Rathnon. He awakened Ilona when he realized his hungry son demanded to be fed again. After he nursed, they retied cloth diapers around him and swaddled him in blankets, and Ilona held and admired her son.
“Your son has your hair color,” Ilona said. “It is too early to tell his true eye color. What name do ye wish to give to yer son?”
“I wish to name him Thor, after my father, if it is agreeable to ye.”
“I think naming yer son after yer father is a fitting tribute and one that would make yer father proud. He would love to see ye with a son of yer own.”
Liv brought dinner and held Thor so the couple could eat without interruption.
Thor slept again for hours until it was time to nurse again.
Liv demonstrated to Rathnon how to diaper his son and how to swaddle him in blankets.
He held his son against his bare chest, and the baby snuggled close and returned to sleep.
Ilona took care of her personal needs and drank more tea before getting back into bed.
A lantern glowed in the room and gave off warm light.
The flames of the hearth flickered and danced in the quiet cottage as the baby and his parents slept.
Liv looked over them with pride and gratitude in her heart, overjoyed she could help bring forth their healthy baby boy into the world.
Thor woke up in the night and Ilona nursed and settled Thor back to sleep.
She held him, enabling Rathnon to sleep well.
He looked fatigued in the firelight settling over his features.
Ilona kent he had been worried about her and their bairn.
She whispered to her son how much she loved him and about his grandparents who loved him without even seeing him yet.
She wondered if Rathnon would wish to return to their home the next day.
Liv had told her she wanted Ilona to stay in the cottage and get her strength back for a couple of days before returning to their home.
They stayed the next day and evening under the care of Liv as a new family.
The following morning, they dressed, ate breakfast, and Rathnon carried Thor in his arms next to Ilona as they walked to the longhouse to show Sigrid their son.
Villagers swarmed them as they arrived at the longhouse and congratulated the couple, admiring the sleeping babe in their arms. Sigrid and others in the longhouse came outside, and Sigrid assured them she would join them in their home in a few hours.
Rathnon and Ilona bid farewell to the villagers and continued their walk, returning home with their son.
He insisted Ilona stop and rest for a few moments before walking the rest of the way.
Inside their home, Ilona took Thor and placed him in his cradle in their room as Rathnon lit a fire in the hearth and many lanterns.
Afterward, Rathnon carried buckets to the spring and filled them.
After returning to the cottage, he poured the water into huge pots suspended over the hearth to heat for tea.
Everything was in readiness for their baby in their room and for Sigrid in hers.
Ilona washed her hands in a basin and began to mix ingredients for bread since Thor remained asleep.