Hope Falls

"May - Maybe." She breathed, pushing through door to her quarters open and sitting on the sofa heavily. "Get Rauiri now? Please... please."

“I’ll be a moment. I’ll get the guards to locate him.” Indira promised her sister, squeezing her hand in reassurance before heading back to the door.

Avani grabbed the cushion beside her and brought it onto her lap when Imdira walked away. Digging her fingernails into the fabric with gritted teeth.

“He’s in a meeting, so they’ve gone to go get him from it. They won’t be long.” Indira told her sister as she returned, frowning deeply. “I’ve had them send for a healer too. Just in case.” She added before moving to sit by her.

"No, no, not healers. What if they say something is wrong? No." She whined

“Something is wrong. Likelihood is it can be remedied with medicine. Perhaps indigestion or something else. But this isn’t just baby moving, mm? And… and nobody took me seriously when I said something was wrong, with my children. And I know that they couldn’t have saved him even if they did but still… nobody even checked so…”

"You weren't treated right, these people don't know how to treat us right even when they tr- " She cut off, grabbing Indira's hand. "I went to the market yesterday, I want to buy some - something for the baby, when she got here. Some crone of a women was screeching at me, curses and cusses."

“Sorry Aoife, I know you’re on your way to bed but Princess Indira instructed me to grab the nearest healer, she’s panicking about Princess Avani’s babe.” Luc approached Aoife, reaching for her arm to guide her.

---

“It’ll be okay. Probably just need some mint and ginger tea and a lay down. But the healers will make you feel better saying it than me.” Indira took her hand.

"It is always me, isn't it?" Aoife huffed, only half in jest as she gently took his arm to fall into step with him. "Indira has worried about every stage of her sisters pregnancy, I was expecting something soon. What did she interrupt you doing this time? How are things going underneath Cavanaugh?"

---

"Ginger, mm."

“I was about to retire for the night too. She sent the guard on the door for Cavanaugh and a healer, the guard found me and asked if I’d find a healer as Ruairi is the opposite way. And here we are.” Luc hummed, patting her arm. “Not like you to wander around past nightfall. You and your cat are usually tucked away aren’t you?”

---

“Put your feet up, come.” Indira leaned down to ease Avani to lay on the couch.

"Púca has been absent today, I was heading towards the gardens to see if she has gotten herself into trouble whilst hunting. You remember last time she was out this late, you and Vaughn found her stuck in that thorn bush? Stupid creature she can be." She shook her head with a laugh. "You needn't escort me to the Princess' room. I know where she is, if you were going to rest for the night then go. You overwork as it is, I don't want to be signing you off with exhaustion again."

---

"Stop babying me," Avani grimaced, though sighed in relief as she lay against the cushions. "Oh wait, that's... that's better."

“I’ll keep an eye out for your feline, thanks Aoife.” Luc looked almost relieved, kissing her cheek before quickly disappearing before she could change her mind.

---

“That’s good, that’s good.” Indira nodded, patting her leg. “Just take deep breaths mm?”

Aoife laughed quietly at his eagerness, fixing her face to neutrality as the guards let her into Avani's rooms several minutes later. "Good evening, what seems to be the problem?"

"She's moving, kicking and - " Avani grimaced.

"Those are all good signs, it means the sapling is healthy. You are a well versed mother, Princess, there must be some cause of concern." She looked towards Indira with a raised eyebrow in question. "What isn't your sister telling me?"

“Worsening symptoms over the last few days. Sharp pains, trouble walking and severe pressure that wasn’t alleviated until she was laying parallel.” Indira reeled off quietly, reaching for her sisters shoulder. “I think a quick examination and you telling us off for panicking would ease both of our worries…”

“Avani?! Avani!” Ruairi called breathlessly as he let himself into the room, frowning deeply when he saw Aoife. “I - what is wrong?”

"I haven't checked her over yet.." Aoife addressed Rauiri then, glancing to him briefly as she closed the space between her and Avani. Resting a hand on her bump and pressing down, "Have you eaten anything you shouldn't have recently? Done any exercise you wouldn't normally?"

"No, n- ah." She winced at Aoife's touch, reaching her hand out towards Rauiri.

“I’m here.” Ruairi assured, quickly crossing the room and moving to stand by Avani’s head, taking her hand.

Indira got to her feet, quietly pacing the room as she watched Aoife work.

"Has it been happening at the end of the day, normally? Does the pain decrease in severity each time?" Aoife asked quietly, raising an eyebrow at Avani until she received a nod of confirmation. "This is nothing more than your body preparing you. It is a good sign."

“She is okay? The sapling is okay?” Ruairi asked, squeezing his wife’s hand gently. “All is well?”

"Fine. Practice contractions, which shouldn't be happening quite yet which will mean that you are further along than we thought or you are in for a... interesting time when the time does come." Aoife snorted softly in amusement, pushing to her feet. "I'll monitor, or Lily will. Less activity will help you though, and bed rest for the most part. You..." She raised a brow at Rauiri, "Will have to work less. The less stress she has, the better and I am sure your presence will keep her calm."

“Bed rest and peace it is.” Ruairi nodded in relief, kissing the top of Avani’s head.

“In for a surprise? What do you mean?”

"It is normal, our bodies are incredible things. They begin to prepare us to go into labour from six weeks in some cases but obviously we are unaware of it. The closer it gets, the more we feel it. Unless we are over exerting ourselves, and then we feel it a lot earlier. So yes, bed rest ti ease it. If it makes little difference, then you have gotten your days wrong and we will be preparing for a sapling earlier than we thought."

Avani closed her eyes at the kiss, whispering, "It's fine now. Better... laying helped."

“You are sure she is okay?”

“Indira, Aoife knows what she is doing.” Ruairi sighed, moving to scoop Avani up into his arms. “Bed for you, mm? Let’s get you comfy and rested, my love.”

Indira looked at the floor at the reprimand, nodding.

"It is either early preparation, or your sister is simply being dramatic so she can be fussed over by her mate." Aoife assured so only Indira could hear, cautiously patting her arm in some form of comfort. "You may believe it is unlike her, but when a person is mated and feeling vulnerable, as pregnancy causes, then they become irrational. See how the pain has eased as soon as I instructed bed rest, with the man having to spend more time with her? It happened with Florence and Wyatt too, she was constantly exgarratting pains and aches to get his attention."

Avani leant her head against Rauiri's shoulder, relaxing into him.

“Thank you, Aoife.” Ruairi added before taking Avani into their bedroom, gently resting her on their bed and beginning to take off her shoes.

“If you are sure. Sorry, I did not mean to question you, I know you are head healer for a reason. Thank you for coming so quickly, I apologise if I interrupted your evening - she just had me worried. Thank you again - for coming.” Indira swallowed, looking over her shoulder briefly.

"I'm sorry, for interrupting your meeting." Avani whispered. "Was it important? I - I haven't gotten you into trouble, have I?"

---

"You are within your right to worry, with all you went through." Aoife whispered, "And I am sorry if you feel let down by us. I have never had a sapling, so I can't imagine the anxiety of carrying one, never mind the devastation of losing one. Today has been emotionally taxing, too, and if that's effected anything then again I apologise."