#this audio has been in my mind for months I needed to draw this sooner or later

[especdreamy]

Not much to say about this

[efrmellifer]

Advenientia

“You seem distracted, Lord Commander,” Lucia commented.

He blinked once, then again. Drawing his mind back inside, reminding himself he was supposed to be working, not letting his mind wander, wondering and fretting.

“There would be no use in lying to you. I am,” he sighed, eyes drifting to the bit of sunlight on his desk. “I’m worried, more than anything.”

Lucia slouched her way out of her proper posture, no longer at attention, but not exactly at ease, either. She stood on a cocked hip, one eyebrow rising even as she took on a concerned tone. “And what about this time?”

Again, Aymeric sighed. “About Etien, though I doubt that comes as a surprise. The last few months, she’s been like a furnace needing fuel. From what I understand, it takes a lot of energy to be carrying multiples, especially when the odds were against her conceiving anyway.”

Lucia just nodded.

“But now, the poor thing is hardly eating, and this morning when I kissed her goodbye, she was so much colder than she had been.”

There was a heavy silence, Aymeric returning to worrying and Lucia processing what he had told her.

Finally, she spoke. “In that case, I think the thing to do is call the midwife. Better to be proactive over nothing than ignore something serious.”

Another few grounding blinks from Aymeric. When he opened his mouth to reply, his linkpearl went off.

Even through the grainy audio, a mix of pain and panic were evident in Etien’s voice.

“Aymeric? I really don’t feel well at all. Can you… can you make yourself available?”

He looked at the papers strewn over his desk, then up at Lucia.

She just nodded to him in response.

“Of course I can. I will be at your side in but a few moments’ time.”

The line closed.

“Thank you,” he said on the tail of another sigh, handing the metaphorical reins over to Lucia. “It would appear I will be calling the midwife. If anything significant occurs… if, Fury forbid, something happens, you’ll be the first to know.”

As Aymeric walked, he muttered to himself, little half-prayers and flustered cursing as he waited for the midwife to answer. All told, he wanted to run through Saint Valeroyant’s Forum, or even better would be to use the aether system, but he needed to have time to call I’rixa.

After what felt like an eternity—he was halfway up the stairs to the Pillars—he heard her answer.

“Good day, what can I—”

“Etien is sick,” he said, the words coming out in a rush. “She has eaten little for the last three days, and her temperature is low. Now she has asked me to attend her. How quickly can you get here?”

“Within the next bell,” I’rixa replied, sounded a little ruffled herself. “Keep her warm and as comfortable as you can until I get there. Please. And take a deep breath, m’lord. By the end of the day, you may be a father.”

He swallowed. “Right.”

He kept walking, picking up the pace just a little bit,. He was passing the Athenaeum Astrologicum now. Not long to go.

Aymeric practically tripped up the stairs into the house, throwing off his coat as he made his way to the bedroom.

Etien was stood at the window, dressed in her nightgown.

It was, as they had joked what felt like so long ago, left completely open to give her room. Well, not quite completely. She had one button done, the very top, just under her collarbone.

This was, as well as Aymeric could remember, the first time that that button had been fastened. He laughed softly, and she turned from the window, making her way over to him.

She looked pained already, and hindered by her own body, but she wrapped her arms around him, purring and nuzzling him.

“Thank the Twelve you’re here,” she murmured.

She was still a little cooler than he had gotten used to, but she seemed less pale and peaked.

“Or, really, thank you for being here,” she continued. “For coming so quickly.”

“Of course, dearest,” he responded, his knuckle drifting down her jaw. “Is there anything I can do? I already called I’rixa.”

“Oh, she’s coming?”

“This sounded serious. I thought it best she come and make sure you were well. You, and them.” He laid a hand on Etien’s stomach, pulling it back like he’d been burnt when the texture of her skin shifted below his hand.

“What in the seven hells was that?”

Her teeth were grit, her ears flat, and her forehead pressed to his side. “I think they’re coming, too.”

Aymeric rubbed Etien’s back. “All right. I have every faith you will handle this with your usual aplomb. And I’ll be right here with you, as long as it takes.”

_

By the time I’rixa arrived and had been ushered to the bedroom, Etien was reclining in bed, all the nice linens stripped from the bed and sitting folded on her vanity’s chair. Her hair was braided, and she was completing the final stitches of the second blanket.

Finished just in time.

The midwife bustled in, hand immediately coming to Etien’s forehead, then her cheeks.

“Stick out your tongue.”

Etien’s lips parted,  her tongue lolling out.

“Wider, please.”

Her mouth stretched wider, followed by a melodious ‘aaaaaaa’ that turned to a high-pitched whine.  Etien’s eyes screwed shut, tears slipping from the corners as her hands settled on her belly.

I’rixa’s hand slipped under Etien’s, feeling the contraction of the muscles below the skin.

“This is probably for the best,” she noted, half-turning toward Aymeric. “Any longer, and they might have been too big for her to deliver the usual way. And then we would be hauling her to the infirmary. And we don’t want that, do we?” she asked, returning her gaze to Etien. “Deep breath, and out like you’re trying to make a candle flicker, but not go out.”

Etien breathed in, and let her cheeks puff out before she began to properly control the exhale, a steady stream of air making I’rixa’s shirt flutter.

“Excellent job. Oi, papa, come encourage your girl. She’s got a long night ahead of her, and I think she’ll be wanting you close by sooner rather than later.”

Aymeric started from where he was leaning against the wall, trying to stay out of the way, and came to the side of the bed.

He took Etien’s hand from where it lay on her stomach still, winding his arm around hers.

“Aymeric,” she whispered on the tail end of her breath.

“Yes?”

She squeezed his hand. “Are you excited?”

“I am. But for now, I want to focus on you, and making sure you come through this as easily as possible.” He looked up at I’rixa.

“Do you want me to call Whitecape?” she asked.

Aymeric was silent, his lip bitten as he considered.

She had to stop herself before she accidentally let slip the almost-rude ‘are you scared?’ Of course he was scared. His wife was in pain, and they had both been taking extra precautions to make sure she stayed safe. They were so close to the finish (of this stage of it all, anyroad), but this was the point where it could all go wrong very quickly. His love for Etien was written plainly on his face as he debated the question, looking down at her. This fear was born of love. And as the midwife, I’rixa was the one in charge, the one with all the knowledge. So she changed the wording of the question, and therefore its spirit, but not its message.  Whatever would make them all feel secure.

“Would it make you more comfortable if we had him here?”

He looked up at her again, jaw slightly slackened before he closed his mouth and swallowed. “Are you confident you can do this without his help?”

“I am secure enough in my training and capabilities that I can at the very least decide when we’ll need to call for intervention, if we must. All right?”

Aymeric started to nod, but then he turned to Etien. “Etien? What do you think?”

“I think… we can at least start.” She took a sharp inhale, followed by a shaking huff. “Last thing we need is everyone finding out what’s begun here.” She laughed, fixing her slightly-sweaty grip on Aymeric’s hand. “I’m in no state to entertain.”

I’rixa patted her side, then let her hand rest on Etien, waiting for the next contraction. “Thattagirl. Then we should be about it.”

_

When the controlled puffs of Etien’s breath gave way to a drawn-out sigh, overshadowed by a high, mewling cry, the atmosphere in the room brightened significantly, even though the sun was closer to when it had set than when it was going to rise.

I’rixa was quiet for a moment, giving Aymeric a moment to sweep back the fraying strands of Etien’s braid and kiss her forehead while she settled.

Then, I’rixa delivered the news. “You have a daughter. A miqo’te. Got some strong lungs on her, listen to that.”

“Can I hold her?” Aymeric asked.

���Ordinarily I would tell you yes,” I’rixa replied, “but your lady love here has a ways to go, I think, so we require a third, and maybe a fourth, pair of hands before we can hand Baby over.” She wrapped the newborn up in one of the receiving blankets, and held her there. “So, maybe it’s time we called in Whitecape? And perhaps someone who can keep Etien calm while you’re busy with the baby. I’ll stay here, and she’ll be safe. Both of them will.”

Nodding, Aymeric started getting ready to head out. But first, he gave Etien another kiss. “I will return shortly. I hate to ask this of you again, but you must be strong while I am not with you.”

She blinked slowly, a small smile arcing her lips. “I think I can manage it. The sooner you go, the sooner you’ll be back.”

He ducked out the door, his footsteps echoing down the hall until the door opened and shut.

_

When Aymeric came back, Whitecape trailing after him and his relief at Etien’s side on the way, Etien was hazily half-asleep in bed.

“Has anything changed?” Aymeric asked.

“Nothing yet. I’ve untethered Baby, and she’s doing well.” She nodded to Etien. “She’s still laboring, but also obviously tired.”

“And I was called because…?” Whitecape asked from where he still stood in the doorway. “I have no training in obstetrics.”

“True, but we expect twins. I wanted someone like you on-hand in case there might be excess bleeding. That, and you are familiar with her usual health, I figured?”

“Well,” he said mildly. “My experience with her is usually when she is in a much worse state. The last time I had to treat her—other than prior to consulting with you, that is—she was carried to me still-unconscious from Ghimlyt Dark.”

“I see.”

“But I suppose I understand your rationale. So here I am, at your disposal.”

“If you wanted someone who’s familiar with my health, you could have called Y’shtola,” Etien mumbled. “She knows my aether signature, too. And she’s a miqo’te.” She turned slightly, onto her hip, to better face Aymeric. “Aren’t you supposed to be holding our daughter?”

“I’m waiting until Estinien gets here.”

Now she smiled. “Oh.”

“Well, you won’t be waiting very long,” he said, stepping past Whitecape.

“Hello, Estinien,” Etien cooed.

He stood next to Aymeric, taking her hand from him. “How nice we get to recreate this scene in your home, instead of the infirmary this time.”

Etien giggled, exhaustion clear in her voice.

“And with an addition to the menagerie,” Estinien noted. “I take it you’re the midwife?”

Introductions were made, and then it was just Etien and Estinien, since I’rixa had led Aymeric off to the side to lay his newborn daughter into his arms, and teach him how to properly hold a baby.

“He looks like he was made for this,” Estinien said, almost sighing. He rested one leg on the bed, half-sitting. “And you… how does it go? Chocobos sweat, men perspire, new mothers glow?”

“Estinien,” she scoffed.

“Did slaying primals prepare you for this?”

“I doubt anything could have. It’s hard.”

“Well, you look to be in capable hands, and I know you have loving support through it.”

She nodded slowly, lightly squeezing his hand. “I am and I do.”

“So all that leaves is the work that, like usual, only you can do.”

“I suppose so.”

Her grip on his hand tightened, followed by a hiss.

Estinien was off the bed, out of his relaxed position, in a flash. “Are you all right?”

“I think it’s time for the next one.”

“That would make sense,” I’rixa commented, returning to Etien’s side. “You got a little of your strength back, and now we’re ready. You did it once, let’s see you do it again, hmm?”

_

Another heavy sigh signaled the grand finale, followed by the fanfare of another cry.

“Incredible,” I’rixa breathed. “A son, Lady Borel. An elezen. They must have been from two eggs. That’s remarkable. And he’s a good size, too. Came just in time.”

While Whitecape did the cutting of the baby’s cord, I’rixa tilted her ear to Etien’s stomach. “Just the afterbirth now. We counted aright, and the twins are beautiful and healthy.”

Etien sighed heavily again. “Thank the Fury.”

“All She did was give you strength,” Aymeric enthused. “The rest you did almost completely on your own. I’rixa has been invaluable in her assistance, however.”

Etien nodded. “Thank you. But I couldn’t have done it without you, either,” she said softly, bringing his hand to her lips to kiss, then laying his palm against her cheek to nuzzle.

As it all came to a conclusion, final examinations being made of Etien and the twins, Estinien took his leave.

“I can come back tomorrow, or sometime soon, to receive the proper introductions. For now, I think I had best let everyone rest.” Aware he was being watched, he gave the happy couple a close friend’s goodbye rather than a lover’s.

He kissed Etien’s cheek chastely, a continental sort of gesture, and clasped Aymeric’s hand before wishing everyone a good night and trudging down the hall, clearly exhausted.

Aymeric helped bathe the newest infant, making him ready to be swaddled in the blanket his mother had so lovingly knit just for him, while Etien finished putting her nightgown on again and I’rixa explained another few things, like feeding.

“I’ll be at the inn for a few days now,” I’rixa explained to the two of them when she was done imparting knowledge, and making ready to hand Etien one of her children. “If anything should go amiss, call for me.”

Etien nodded, then reached out for the baby.

“Oh… she fits here so perfectly,” she cooed. “Her hair is so dark. It’s like yours,” she said to Aymeric, giving him a sunny smile.

He sat on the edge of the bed, holding the bundle of their son. “Indeed? Do you think so?”

“Well, we haven’t seen what it looks like grown out yet.”

I’rixa took her leave with a final wave goodbye.

“Someone down the hall should be able to help you out,” Aymeric noted as she left the room. He was aware his manners were lapsing, but at a moment like this? He had other priorities.

He looked at Etien, looking about the same as she had after fighting primals. Tired, yes, bone tired. But beautiful in her victory. Maybe this wasn’t the same as saving the realm from the Empire or gods, but still he was proud of her.

How glorious her triumph. How perfect their reward.

“Do you want to switch?” he asked her, slightly moving his arms to gesture that she could take their son and he would take their daughter.

“Do you think we can?”

“We shall have to get good at it eventually, no reason not to start learning now.”

It was awkward, but they managed, getting the babies settled in the arms of the other parent with minimal upset.

“Already, she’s your little girl, hmm?” Etien asked, running her finger down the soft angle of her son’s nose.

“Our dear little Betula,” he sighed. “She’s so precious, how could she not be?”

“I completely understand,” Etien murmured, beaming down at the boy. “Did you happen to find a name for him yet? I would be loath to fill out his birth certificate with ‘Baby Boy de Borel’.”

“I think I like Landric.”

“Landric, hmm?”

Aymeric nodded. “A name for nobles. It means ‘strength of the earth.’ A little unconventional for an Ishgardian, but he was born of the Black Shroud’s brightest.” He looked up at Etien again, checking to see if she had understood him, and smiling when it was clear she had. “He comes from good soil.”

“I like it, too.”

“You know, earlier you asked me if I was excited, and now I’d like to ask you the same.”

Etien looked up, brows dipping as she thought. “I am. It isn’t that it’s a hard question. I asked you that?”

He laughed lightly. “It has been a long night for you. For both of us. Aye, you did. I told you I was, but I wanted to make sure you got through the ordeal before I started worrying about my own excitement. So now, I most certainly am.” He paused, watching Landric begin to suckle. “And are you happy, my dearest?”

Now Etien’s eyes misted. She had done so little crying during, only a few tears slipping out in the throes of the worst pain, but now they flowed freely down her cheeks.

“Yes.” She sniffled. “I’ve thought about this for years, and now it’s real.”

“It’s going to be work. Another job for the both of us.”

“I helped you save Ishgard and build up the Firmament. It’s another thing we’ll work at together. And what could I want more than that?” She laughed lightly. “Everyone has been asking if I was ready for this new adventure. Didn’t you want to go on an adventure with me?”

Aymeric chuckled, too. “I did say that.” He laid Betula in her cradle, and took Landric from Etien’s arms, to do the same with him. “Now, we need to rest, so we can begin the next day of this adventure as fresh and ready as possible.”

Etien blinked slowly. “Of course.”

A few days later, the announcement appeared.

Please join Ser Aymeric de Borel and Etien Mellifer de Borel in welcoming their twin children, Betula Adrielle Mignonne de Borel and Landric Aurchefan de Borel.