Chapter Sixteen: The First Daughter

It had been between her contractions that she saw him come in. She was then instantly in an absolute state of relief, where not even the birthing pains could reach her. She cried out his name, half terrified of what he may say, and half alleviated at the same time. He cried her name in return.

Kifka ran to the bed, pushing away the healers, and seized Arden in a tender embrace.

"Gods, Sennymay!" he cried. "I'm so glad you're alright!" they held each other for what seemed to be forever; until Darad interrupted.

"Kifka?" he asked. "What's going on?" Artemis moved behind the Prince, for she too was curious.

"Whoever you thought she was," Kifka answered, "forget it. This is Sennymay, my future wife."

A startled cry unleashed itself from Artemis's crimson lips. She stumbled blindly (forgive the pun) to the birthing bed, feeling around with her hands until she found the thief's face. Then she started crying.

"Oh, I knew it! I knew it had to be you! You had the aura about you that no one else could possible have!" Artemis cried. "Oh, Sennymay!" She flung her arms about the rogue in a weeping embrace.

Darad stood at the foot of the bed. He had never really placed the long-tressed Arden as the Sennymay he once saw at the Dance ten or so months ago. He began feeling rather stupid. Even the blind Artemis was closer on the mark than he. Darad felt his face get hot.

Kifka leaned over Senny, kissing her passionately, whispering something sweet into her ear between kisses. "I love you so much…" he'd tell her. "I'm so glad you're here," she'd answer.

Then the final, and most painful, contraction came. Senny screamed the loudest she ever did.

"Here we go!" the healer yelled. He combed his swamp-green hair from his eyes with his thin, long fingers. "Here we go!" he repeated.

Senny held Kifka's hand and squeezed it until it was blue as more and more pain came.

"You're doing great!" the healer reassured her. "Now push! PUSH!"

Senny pushed as hard as she could. Kifka used his free hand to dab with a makeshift tower at her forehead. It went on like this for what seemed an eternity, until the healer cried, "I see the head! Keep pushing!"

Darad bent his head to see if the healer was actually telling the truth. A wave of nausea washed over him at the sight of the blood and the obviously horrendous pain that the rogue was going through. Darad promptly sat down and placed his head in his hands.

The Wizard, the Oracle, and the Prince simultaneously lifted their heads. They could feel it coming, and each one of them placed a hand on their heart in anticipation. Then it came.

The room filled with golden-white light. It seeped through closing and furniture, bodies and souls, giving everything a strange gold aura. Everything seemed to float through it, slowed down by some mysterious force. There was no sound. Only light. The three felt weightless. Sennymay seemed to be the source of the godly aura, and it pushed even beyond the Gem's own glow. Tingling sounds began to echo from wall to wall. Suddenly celestial singing ensued forth in one powerful note. All but the healer lifted their heads in wonder and awe. It intensified, until…

"It's a girl!" the healer cried with glee. "It's a baby girl!" Then the room froze. "It's a… a…" the healer stuttered shakingly. "It's an ANGEL!"

He removed the baby child from his mother's womb. The girl began to cry. It was the most beautiful musical crying. The healer cut the umbilical cord and gently handed the girl over to Kifka. The Father lifted the angel baby up, showing everyone the tiny, snowy wings that grew out of her back.

"An Angel!" their all cried, but Kifka did not care. All he knew was that he was holding his fist daughter.

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