Meeting the Family

Lord Mano sat in the clan's meeting hall. As servants ran back and forth, clearing basins and towels from Lady Lyra's birthing chamber. Labor screaming and shout for assistance from the midwives could be heard from outside.

Lady Lyra has been in labor for 12 hours already. The other wives seated beside Mano put on worried faces while making a sugar-coated sneering comment underneath their breaths. Mano couldn't understand how mothers themselves could be so cruel to another. But over the years he has learned to ignore their petty ways until it impacts the clan.

Another maid came in holding five more jars of honey. This made some of the wives tsk in response.

"How many jars will she consume. I bet she already gave birth and is just stealing away the clan's resources." Lady Delju, the third wife, though whispered the comment to her maid everyone heard it.

Lady Delju was the daughter of Mano's Uncle's nephew. Unlike Lady Thalia, whose family spoiled her from the time she was little, resulting in her straightforwardness behavior.

Lady Delju's family became destitute when Mano's uncle's wife's family were condemned as criminals by the King. Their family's name, clan's title, and riches were deprived of them as punishment; resulting in her money-grubbing behavior.

Mano has long ago known of her ways, but he would not stand for it during the birth of his child.

"If you cannot be supportive while Lyra is giving birth, then leave. I did not ask any of you to be here. Is that understood?" Mano threw his sharp gaze at everyone present. Hearing no response he took it as the affirmative.

A few moments later one of the midwives came into the meeting, bowing to Lord Mano. She smiled as she congratulated him on having a girl.

_______

Lady Lyra had felt the labor pains from early this morning. She notifies Pia to get the midwives and to let Lord Mano know. By the time Lord Mano made it into the meeting hall two hours later, Lyra was in the throes of childbirth.

Lady Lyra had chosen to give birth the sacred way. Unlike her counterparts, who decided to just go to the sanatorium. Her family had always raised her in the old ways. So from the time she realized she was pregnant she handled everything in the old ways. Though Mano had agreed to her wishes, she did leave somethings out.

For instance, when a Fae woman goes into labor they should be baptized in spring honey water for the entire childbirth, allowing the mother and child to both absorb the nutrients of the mixture. She knew if she let this get out, the other wives would complain to Mano, who might just take back his agreement just to pacify them.

Within each prominent clan, such as their Amara clan, has fields of Honey trees. Though they are of different species, each holds great importance. The honey tree species produce different honey with different functions. Health, beauty, food, even clothes have been produced using honey, and of course for raising one's gifts.

So the fact that she was using so much just for childbirth, Lady Lyra knew was going to cause problems.

"Lady Lyra, we need you to give one last big push. I can already see the head." Lady Lyra pulled back all her concentration. Giving one big push on the midwife signal, Lady Lyra felt her child leave her body.

As per the old ways, the midwives quickly changed the water; bathing both mother and child in new spring honey water.

Lady Lyra had no strength left to help with the bathing. All she could do was lay there as the midwives and her maids handle everything. Energy entered her as she soaked the water. She could hear little coo sounds as the midwives bathe her baby clean in the other tub. Looking over at her maid Pia.

"It's a girl?" Lady Lyra asked as Pia comb out her hair before placing in a loose do.

Smiling, Pia responded, "It's a girl."

Laying in bed Lady Lyra held her little girl, who the perfect mixture of her and Mano's features.

________

Lila was pushed, squeezed, pulled until she finally saw a blinding light. After regaining her sight, the first thing she saw as she held up in the air were pointy ears of the midwife. Lila cried out. Trying to get a better look around the room, but with the midwife carry her to the bath Lila didn't get to see much.

Lila didn't put up too much of a fuss when they bathed her, she was also exhausted from the birthing. When they finished they clothed her in a soft fabric before placing her in a woman's arms.

Lila took this chance to see the people around the room. What she could see from the people she passed, they all had pointy ears.

Looking down at their feet, Lila sighed in relief when she didn't see red toed curled belled shoes of Santa's workshop elves.

"As long as it's not those kinds of elves, I'm born into. I can make do."

Looking up into the face of the woman whose arms were around her. Lila figured it was her mother. She too had pointy ears, but her face was what captured Lila the most. And when she bent her head to kiss Lila's forehead. The warmth she never felt before in her previous life, blossomed in her heart. Lila cried.