Yla

Cana rushed to the house, her old knees were tired and she was out of breath when she made it to the small hut, a villager opened the door to her, she climbed the stairs and inside a small room she found Adda already in labor, Nivek gave her a weak smile as she entered the room. Nivek’s face was white with worry for his wife and their unborn child, Cana understood the tension building within him, after all this is going to be their first born. Cana’s presence somehow gave a little bit of relief to the new father-to-be, after all she is the village matriarch. Cana, herself predicted that Adda will have a difficult childbirth, one reason is her weak constitution, and second is that she is the Protector of the Light of Fadia, the most powerful source of magic in all the lands, being the protector, her pains release magic that may attract evil that may consume her, and her unborn child. Many instances of such has happened before she went into labor.  “Quickly, quickly out of my way, the baby’s almost here”, said Cana at Sivelle, the village healer, and to her assistant. “She’s been having an average of six contractions for the last three hours Lady Cana,” said Sivelle, “but its not getting any better, she’s tired, and her breathing is uneven, she’s to lose consciousness if this continues”. Cana looked at Adda’s pale face, her eyes were starting to dilate, Sivelle was right, she asked the assistant to step aside and Cana took her place, she told the have conscious mother to push whenever to feel a contraction. Beads of sweat formed in her brow, screams of pain echoed within the room, but relentlessly told Adda to push in attempt to try and keep her awake, Sivelle and the assistant was in a frenzy, asking for towels, hot water almost every minute. They feared that if it takes any longer the child may die of suffocation, they did all they can to keep her awake. Adda breathed heavily as pain seared all throughout her body. It was a pain unlike the ones she experienced being the protector. Her mind was going blank with each passing minute. Seconds feel like an eternity as she lay down, giving birth to her firstborn. Still, the thought of the child, her first child gave her strength. Fear was written on Nivek’s face, he held Adda’s hand tightly giving her all the support he could give. Finally after five gruelling hours, Cana held in her arms a beautiful baby girl. Cana passed on the child to her mother, whose face was etched with exhaustion and pain of her labor that seemed like an eternity for those who were in the room, but as Adda gazed on her child all of it has gone with the wind, the joy of seeing her newborn swept away all that she experienced. Tears welled in her eyes, as she hugged her baby, all the pains she endured - it was all worth it, for she brought into this world this beautiful being that she held in her arms. Nivek took his family in an embrace, he was the happiest man alive for all he cares, the fear of losing Adda or his baby to death during childbirth was unbearable for him, so this moment, he was thankful to all the Gods in the heavens for this moment. Slowly he raised the face of his sobbing bride, kissed her on her forehead, he gave her a soft reassuring smile, “Smile” he said to her softly, “You wouldn’t want our baby to see such an ugly face on her first day in the world. The world is beautiful Adda, its full of joy and laughter, so let us not welcome her into this world with tears in our eyes, smile. After all today is a joyous day, tears have no place in days like these”. “They’re called tears of joy, you moron!” said Adda wiping her tears giving her husband the best smile she could give that moment.  “Crybaby!” said Nivek as he kissed his wife on the lips “Bully!” answered Adda. “I love you.” “I love you too.”  Cana looked at the family she helped to create, her heart couldn't help but swell with joy for them, they were a beautiful sight to behold. "Now, that's done, i guess it's time you should give her a name, you silly little kids are having a child of their own", said Sivelle with a smile "Yes, what will you name her?" said the assistant, "she has the face that of an angel; raven black hair,  an adorable nose and bright brown eyes, she looks a lot of Adda in my opinion". Adda laughed, "that's good news then! After all her father's looks are of no good". "Hey, hey! I can hear you! Besides I'm undeniably handsome! You could ask anyone!" said Nivek with a laugh. Laughter after the ordeal that has just transpired was something that everyone needed to forget the stressful event of the night. But Cana had to break the onset of jokes to keep everyone's focus, "So what will you name her?" she asked. The couple looked at each other and smiled as if they were waiting for this moment the whole night, Adda nodded to Nivek, "Yla, her name will be Yla", said Nivek putting his arm around Adda. Cana was caught by surprise by their answer; Yla, they named her Yla, it was a word found only in the language of the nymphs. Yla is a word that literally translated to "Fate Changer". It was the first time in history for a child to be named in the language of the nymphs, and much more she was named Fate-changer by her parents.  "What a beautiful name, Yla", exclaimed Sivelle's assistant, clapping in excitement. Common people didn't know what the name meant, but Cana knew that Nivek and Adda were aware of its true meaning. She held her silence, it was their choice. When the matrons had left and Adda and the child went to sleep, Nivek accompanied Cana downstairs and offered her a cup of coffee. "No thank you, but if you have some tea I'll be obliged", said Cana smiling at the new father. Nivek smiled and nodded, in a few minutes Cana and Nivek were sipping from their cups some tea, and Nivek even prepared a small tray filled with bread, hams, and cheese. It had been a tiring night, he was so worn out.  "We saw your reaction earlier, you seemed to be shocked by our choice of name, my Lady", said Nivek wearing that childlike smile he always has when he is happy. "Yes, I didn't expect it, but it wasn't my place to say. If you don't mind sharing the reason behind naming the baby in the language of the nymphs." replied Cana as she made herself a sandwich, "and more calling her Fate-changer." "Yla is a fate-changer, she is our little fate-changer our world, and life will be better with her. Adda dreamt of greatness for this child and with it constantly she sees the word Yla, and we interpreted that it was the Light of Fadia wishing for us to name her Yla. We think that its such a beautiful name for our baby. " Cana stayed silent once again,the Light of Fadia, she thought it was the first time in a very long time that it had presented it's will and imposed it on her protector. "Did the Light of Fadia showed anything else", asked Cana "No. Adda said that it merely showed her name and a happy child and nothing else." The days that followed were filled with messy diaper changes and crying but the new parents did their best to care for their new baby. One hectic morning a knock came to the door of the small hut. Nivek rushed to open the door, the women of the village has been helping the new family with everything, especially with Adda still unable to do many of her chores, but to his surprise it was not the village women but there standing on the doorway was a man. He moved out of the way to let the man in there abode, they stared at each other and was quiet. The man wore black from head to foot, ash blonde hair, and candle pale skin, and green eyes. The silence was deafening, until Adda's voice broke the silence, "Nivek who is it?" and quickly after that she came down the stairs carrying Yla. At the sight of the man dread loomed over Adda's face, she hugged Yla closer to her, shielding her from the man's sight. She wanted him out of her house and away from her child. The man's face contorted to a frown as he saw Adda with the baby, he took a step closer to her and looked at the beautiful baby that were in her arms. Nivek placed his hand on the man’s shoulder as warning for him not get any closer to his family, the man looked back at him and shrugged off his hand. He moved away from the Adda and Yla and Nivek placed himself between them, protecting his family. "She's beautiful." he said, meeting Adda’s eyes in a hoarse voice. "Are you pertaining, to my wife or to my child, Agima?" Nivek snapped at him Agima turned to Nivek, his eyes were filled with anger and hate, but he didn't say a word to him. Adda tightened her hold on Yla, who started to cry, she didn't want him near her baby, she didn't want him to even speak her own name, he had brought too much pain in her life from the last time she had seen him. Now she's finally starting a new life, a happy life with the man she love and nothing will ruin this happiness of hers.  "Adda, please go upstairs with our baby, she seemed to be upset. Agima is about to leave anyway", said Nivek gesturing towards the door trying to sound polite. Adda nodded and left the room. When they were alone Nivek gestured to Agima again that he should be on his way. "I shall be back for them Nivek", said Agima as he walked out. "No Agima, you won't be." He closed the door behind the man and attended to his wife and child. He promised on the grave of Adda’s mother that he will never let any harm come upon her again, and it was a promise he was willing to take fulfill even at the cost of his own life. No one, not even Agima will harm his family ever again.