Chapter 4 #2
Eyja’s gaze flicked to her temple. Apparently, the bruise was still visible enough to make the other woman doubt her word.
The two of them looked at one another, feminine solidarity shining in their eyes.
It was then that Cwenthryth understood that her new friend had probably also suffered at a man’s hand.
She seemed to know how it felt to fear meeting with a tormentor.
Mercifully, she didn’t press on, as if sensing Cwenthryth’s fragile composure was about to shatter.
“Now. Shall we go for that swim? It will do me good, I think.”
“Yes, me too.”
With her help, Eyja stood back up. As soon as she was on her feet, however, her face underwent a transformation.
“What’s wrong?” Cwenthryth was instantly on alert. Had she seen something in the distance? Was someone coming? Godfrid? Had he somehow found her whereabouts? Ice replaced blood in her veins. Please, no. She could not face him now. Or ever. “Eyja, what is it? What’s wrong?”
“The babe.” Her new friend lifted the hem of her gown with careful, wary gestures, revealing her right leg, which was completely wet. “I think it’s coming.”
It quickly became clear that Eyja was not mistaken. The babe had indeed chosen this moment to be born.
Dear God.
After an initial moment of panic, faced with the inevitability of what was happening, Cwenthryth had no choice but to calm down and do what needed to be done.
There was no point wishing herself well away from the mess; she had to stay with Eyja and deliver the baby on her own.
Going to the village to get someone to help would take far too long.
By the time they were back, the babe might well be born.
She simply could not take that risk and leave poor Eyja to face the ordeal alone.
Doing her best to keep fear at bay, she followed Eyja’s instructions to the best of her abilities, and made sure to soothe the panting woman with reassuring words.
Her friend was no midwife, but she had already given birth once, and could draw on the experience to remember what had to be done.
By contrast, all Cwenthryth knew about having a babe was…
Was best forgotten, and useless in this instance.
She took in a deep breath and focused on doing whatever she could to help the other woman through the different phases of labor.
It was hard not to be awed by Eyja’s courage.
It was clear the mother was doing all she could to give her babe the best chance at survival, not worrying about her own comfort and pushing through the excruciating pain.
After what seemed like an eternity, Cwenthryth found herself holding a perfectly healthy little girl.
The relief was overwhelming, so much so that she started crying.
Considering how the birth of Emma had gone, she had been very worried indeed.
Dealing with a normal birth was stressful enough; anything more challenging would have been a nightmare.
But thankfully, the baby had been positioned as it should, and the whole thing had gone as easily as it could go, or so she imagined.
Now all she could do was hope Eyja was not carrying twins.
She wasn’t sure her nerves would survive it.
Cwenthryth handed the little girl to her mother, who was crying in relief herself, slumped against the oak tree.
“There you are. A beautiful daughter.”
“All is well, then?”
“Yes. As far as I can tell, all is well. She’s perfect.”
Eyja made a grimace. “There is still the afterbirth to come,” she said, preparing herself.
Thankfully, this part of the operation was dealt with quickly and easily. Once it was over, Cwenthryth used her own shawl to cover the babe, who had snuggled against her mother’s chest in search of warmth and comfort.
The two—three—women stayed silent a moment, enjoying the relief of knowing the hard part was over. Then Cwenthryth busied herself with cleaning Eyja as best as she could. Once she was reassured mother and daughter could be left alone, she stood up, and went to wash her hands in the lake.
“Stay here,” she instructed when she came back. The babe had already started nursing and everything appeared safe. “I’ll go back to the village, find someone to get you both.”
Eyja would not be able to walk the distance, not after what she had gone through, so she needed someone with a horse or even better, a cart, to come get her.
“Thank you. Oh, if only Moon were here! But he’s gone to the coast.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find someone.”
The first man she saw was, inevitably, tall and blond.
He also seemed friendly and ready to help, nothing like a certain scowling Norseman she could think of.
Deciding he could be trusted, she approached him.
When she said she had come on behalf of Eyja, he introduced himself as Rorik, and explained that he was Moon’s cousin.
Even better. Certain now that he would help her, Cwenthryth told him why she needed him.
“Eyja’s had the babe then?” He sounded utterly bewildered, which was no wonder. “Already? But how? When? I saw her only this morning. She looked the same as usual.”
“I’ll explain everything while we ride.” The explanation could wait, but she didn’t want to leave the mother and child alone longer than absolutely necessary.
“Do you have a horse, or a cart? Or could you borrow one? We need to go get her and her baby. They’re by the lake, and night will soon fall. ”
“Yes. Moon has gone away for a few days, but he’s due to come back tonight. We had better get his wife and child home before he does, so he can see for himself all is well. Otherwise there will be hell to pay, even if obviously, neither of us is responsible for the birth happening out in the open.”
Oh no. Cwenthryth’s stomach fell. Not another gruff, forbidding Norseman who would throw unfair accusations at her…
She’d had enough of that with Steinar. Would this Moon bark at her for not taking his wife to safety before she delivered the babe?
For leaving her alone so soon after the birth?
For allowing her to walk as far as the lake in the first place?
Would he listen to her explanations and believe her when she told him there had been no other choice?
Eyja had said he could be over-protective.
And now his cousin was saying they had better not let him find his wife and child outside.
This could be a disaster, one she was not ready for.
“Let’s go,” she agreed.
The sooner the better.