Moaning for Merriment

Birthing the Bug Eyed Baby

Once upon a time there were fae families all over the globe. They offered guardianship to various human families, asking as they were apt to do for unique contracts for their favor.

But some of the favors were a bit much for the humans to really comprehend. Changeling children were traded often, the wanton fierce creatures seeding chaos in the homes and families they joined.

But the blood, it is the best way to confirm loyalty.

Deep in the woods a small cabin puffed out plumes of grey smoke, the sound of pained screams echoing out into the moonlight night. In the woods many creatures heard, running from the sound as though it was a warning of things to come. But at the small window a pair of figures watched the scene within with vicious smiles.

"Rue You have to keep pushing! I can see the babys feet! If you don't you're going to get ripped to shreds!"

Rue screamed again, her face almost purple with horror and fear. "I'll die either way Maude"

The midwife slapped the girl "Stop that nonsense."

Then came the knock at the door. They had waited long enough, and this was the time to do what they had come to do.

"Let us in to do as we will! Let us in!"

Maude jumped out of her skin almost at the sound of voices at her door. The last time she had heard them chaos had ensued. “Who are you here for at this hour? We have no one here for you.”

“We come to help with the delivery in exchange for a unique opportunity for both of you… Besides, there's something you don’t know about the baby Maude.” The more stern voice on the other side of the door responded, and it caused the midwife to shiver. Something felt off to her.

Rue screamed again as the contractions sent pain through her while she tried to bear her child. “Let them in! I don’t care who they are or what they want, if they can help end this let them in!” Her fingertips tore into the bedding, shredding the homespun material as she tried to find purchase to apply more pressure and push.

Maude crossed the floor and opened the door, finding two men dressed in white and red attire. They each wore a tricorn, with a large flower tucked between the brim and the crown. She arched a brow. “You have no reason to be here. Besides I thought you had gone to France with the American Delegation?”

Laughing the taller of the two pushed his way past her towards Rue who was writhing as she continued trying to have her baby. “We did. It didn’t go well. We stayed for a while and came back on La Croyable. Unfortunately the French and Americans appear to be having a tift similar to how some of our Elders do. You know, undeclared.”

Maude sighed and let the next figure in. “Sharpe that’s not funny to say, we only just finished a war with Britain… Not that long ago.” Time moved differently for her cousins and her, so she honestly wasn’t completely certain how long it had been.

“22 years is plenty of time for Humans to find more reasons to fight with each other. You know that.” Sharpe was carefully taking his coat off and rolling the sleeves of his shirt up as he looked over Rues situation. “You’ve been having a rough go with this one haven’t you Maude.”

Sighing Maude slammed the door to her cabin. “For your information this is the first birth that is happening in this cabin in years. I’ve been trying to make sure the work is done outside of my own home.”

Sharpe tapped on Rues knee softly “Let me see lovey!” His tone wasn’t as scolding as it had been, in fact now it almost had a soothing effect as Rue shifted whimpering in response.

“We can’t get the baby to come. It’s just not going to happen and I am going to die because of it.” The girl wailed as more pain shot through her.

“Not today. You’re not going to die today. Because there’s something you don’t actually know about your baby.” Sharpe adjusted and looked at the girl with a sympathetic expression. “It’s partially one of us.”

Maude gasped her hands going to her mouth as her eyes went wide in the flickering light of the flames in the cabin. “No!”

“Unfortunately yes.” Came a response out of the second figure. “Cousin Gerald sent us a letter before he returned to the winterlands. Apparently he decided living among the Humans was too much for him.”

“Clarence what on earth is this girl going to do with a half fae child?” Maude’s tone took on an almost scolding note as she moved in closer to Rue and Sharpe again. “It’s bad enough when someone swaps with them, a half blood is going to be a royal mess for her to care for.”

Sharpe leaned in and carefully curled his long fingers around the babies feet. “That’s what the unique opportunity takes care of.” Sharpe gently gave a tug and Rue let out another pained scream. “You need to relax, just a little ok Lovey? Then we’re going to put an end to this right quick.”

Rue nodded her head, her eyes looked exhausted. “Please.”

Sharpe sat his free hand on top of the lump of Rue’s stomach and tapped at it “Alright you, it’s time to come out whether you like it or not. Your father won’t be here so you can stop tormenting your mother!” Sharpe tugged at the babies feet again, and looked at Rue’s face “Alright now push as hard as you can!”

Rue pushed again with a pained sound and Sharpe gave a swift tug, and like a carrot being pulled from the ground the baby came. Sharpe scowled at the little creature. “You realize you have been a rotten little thing refusing to come out of your mother!” The baby didn’t cry, instead it blinked large black bug like eyes at the fellow holding it. “Come on now, you better start crying or your mum will be upset even more you little beast.” Sharpe gave it a quick swat on its blood slicked bottom and it began to wail.