A Happy Event - Eventually.

[channe]

And, of course. It might get out earlier than that --

There's a jolly trilling outside. Here are some of the farm's denizens, Dominik Kaczmarek and the kids and the other few families who have come in from the fields, and they're carrying gifts and the like --

"For the little lord!" they cry, assuming, as is the tradition, that the governor's child is a boy. "We'd see the little lord!"

[Raveness]

Lavender stood fixated for a moment. A moment where she stood, watching and staring. As her brain slowly began to catch up with the events, she suddenly smiled at Cambree and Cinnabar.

Perhaps her own birth was not much different than this one, since her own body was marred with her own feathered protrusions. She imagined if anyone could handle it, it would be Cambree, who was always willing to help poor Lavender with hiding her dark secret. It was always Cambree who calmed her fears and soothed everything over. Always.

Lavender would move to test the kettle water, making sure it was not too hot, nor too cold for the baby and then pour it into the basin. She would not forget her rose petals and hurried to her bag to add them to the water, stirring it a bit with her fingertip.

Careful footsteps took her to fetch a few clean towels to wrap the baby in afterward, in order to prevent the winter's chill. There was also a tiny handmade bottle of a very mild soap, perfect for baby's delicate skin that was placed next to the bath as well.

"The bath is ready..." She would nod toward the two, unsure if she should do it herself, or if the proud parents wanted to partake.

There was a prayer that the midwife and her two coyotes would depart and not stay in the house, but it was a whisper only one other in the room would understand.

If anyone could mother this child, Cambree would be the perfect one.

[Wendy]

Warm pride fills her gaze as it revisits her husband's profile. It is the only warmth her body can emit just now. The grateful fall of her shoulders has her slumping against Cinn. Mild readjustment of her hold on their daughter gives her the access to aim her upward and hold her out to Lavender.

She is their child's guardian should anything come between her care and her parents. Cambree's smile is small, but encouraging, so that Lavender will know that it's all right to take her.

Glenn and Rhaena have performed perfectly, instilling her faith in the two of them while they escort Roslin and Elizabeth.

There are no clothes to shield the baby from their eyes, but there is no worry left over for that while her hands tremble as they do.

Once the child is lifted out of her hands, she will make better use of Cinnabar's warmth and tuck into his side for greater comfort, knowing their home and family is in the best care.

[Jirai]

The Trader glances at the mapmaker, nodding slightly in the direction of Roslin and Elizabeth.

"You take them, I'll go get the other." She spoke for the benefit of the others in the room, not Glenn. And then the scaled girl headed out to catch up with the one who had fled.

[Wendy]

Susan Fick's departure is rapid. She's a sensible girl, though quite young and inexperienced. The Calomel birth is not the first she's witnessed in the hands of her mentor, not by any means, but this was to be a landmark occasion - the first in which she could play a major role.

How many girls being schooled by Mistress Roslin could boast of having tended to the governor's wife?

But things went terribly wrong, and it's taken Susan no time to flee from the chaos of the bedroom. There were cheers in the kitchen when she landed there.

"How's the Mrs.!?"

"What's the ruckus??"

"Was the baby born yet?"

"I can't wait to see the little thing."

With no expression of pardon, but instead flushed cheeks and wild eyes, the teenaged Fick barrels through the group of well-wishers, getting out of Calomel Hall.

"What's she needin' some cake to go with 'er tea?"

Resounding laughter.

She runs until her lungs burn with the need for air, until she is partway down the sloping road that leads to the Calomel's farm.

[Jirai]

Rhaena is not in the best of moods. Oh no. Not at all.

Susan has a head start on her, but the Trader will make it up rapidly, once more using her abilities to remain relatively unnoticed by most. It will take some running, once she is past the crowds, but the clothing she has adopted over the past several months makes such things simpler than had she been wearing heavy skirts.

[Raveness]

Lavender bends to take the precious cargo into her arms. For a moment, there is a gentle rock and a soft smile to her arm's contents. Moving, she glides to the basin and begins to uncover the baby and delicately dip her into the water.

The bath is a quick one, but necessary and thorough. Soap is rubbed into tiny arms and legs, and water is splashed out of the basin when the baby kicks. Rolls of baby fat are scrubbed and massaged lovingly. When the baby begins to complain a little, there is a tender smile given. Lavender's voice softly begins to sing a lullaby that her mom taught her and she used to sing to Cambree's sons.

Once the baby is cleaned up, she is wrapped up in the towels and rocked gently in Lavender's arms as she continues to sing softly to the baby girl. Once the song is over and the deed is finished, Lavender would hand the baby back to Cambree.

[Wendy]

Susan's pace has turned casual now that she has put plenty of space between herself and the events of that upstairs room. Someone is on the run behind her. She turns her head around, expecting to see Elizabeth coming up quickly.

"Beth, can you believe half of that?" she asks, turning around to see where she is going. The rain is coarse on the path, charging tiny rivers over its dirt and stones. The cool air and water feel good on her hot skin. She swings her arms carelessly, and glances behind her again, "Bet you'd never though...t." She swallows, quiets, politely gives a nod.

[Jirai]

"I can, actually."

The trader came to a smooth stop beside the girl before swinging around to plant herself firmly in the apprentice's path.

"The Governor requests your presence."

That was one way to put it.

"You know, if you continue to panic like that, you'll probably have some trouble if something actually goes wrong during a birth."

[Wendy]

Cam is cold. She is obnoxiously shaking and cold. She is still aware of her environment, able to follow the motions of others and hear the conversation, but unable to control the shivering.

Lavender's song paints a soft smile on her cousin's worried face. How she misses her mother. It was the right thing to do letting Lavender give the child her first bath. Cambree can barely see them, but she overhears the sounds of splashed water and her cousin's mild voice while she waits for their return.

The symptoms of shock; however, have not run their course. She's lost color and is sweating, and can't seem to get close enough to her source of warmth while watching for Magda.

By the time their daughter is dressed in her gown and returned, she must admit to an inability to hold her. Sadness is thick in her throat while telling Cinnabar, close to his ear, burning with embarrassment at... everything.

[Cinnabar]

The midwife seems to be well past the point of resisting by now, well aware that as far as she is concerned all is lost. To be trapped in such a manner, caught violating what should be the most sacred trust of her profession, can only spell ruin for her. At the very least she will never again be trusted to welcome another child into the world, and her prospects look far darker than that. Roslin's gaze is hollow, haunted, and there's only a brief gaze for the infant's first bath before she must look away; her assistant Elizabeth follows, sniffling and weeping into a scrap of linen.

Cinnabar is as comforting as is possible, staying close by his wife while their child is carefully bathed, watching the process with mixed emotions. Relief that their child lives; remnants of anger and outrage at the midwife's actions; concern for Cambree, who is pale and chill even in the room's warmth. This last he acts upon first, remembering the tea that was brought up earlier - the wrong tea, and too late for its intended purpose, but it still might find use now. A cupful is poured carefully, before being held out for Cam to take; supported until he's sure her grip is firm around the earthenware cup, something for her to hold, something warming and soothing and familiar.

This done, he is able to accept his daughter from Lavender's arms with a smile and murmured thanks, somewhat awkwardly as if fearing he might get it wrong and do her some injury. Lav's done a good job, though, both in cleaning the child and soothing her with gentle song, and she stirs only slightly as she changes hands. Cinn holds her close - protective, tender, proud. Now that there's time to pause, to breathe, the intensity of recent events is sinking in and he looks to Cambree again.

"When you're done with that tea I'll help you into bed. It's been a busy morning."

[Dulcie]

Once word had passed amongst the Kaczmarek children the news of the birth of the young Calomel was quickly passed on to the rest of the farming community, which meant that in turn the Millers, along with their eldest sibling had heard of the news quickly enough. Of course Dulcie was the only one of the family who had met Cambree in person, and so a small basket of gifts from the Millers. It was of course a tradition in Myrken to celebrate births with gifts, and to be present to console on those sadly numerous times where the babies were still born.

Packed up with her little basket of things Dulcie would have made her way to the home of the Governor herself, though when she arrives something simply seems amiss. Maybe the birthing was still going on, her sister after all had labored for nearly an entire day before her nephew was born. Still, the fact that there was -no- news circulating amongst the crowd of well wishers had the barmaid wondering if perhaps this occassion meant that there would be mourning this evening rather than celebration.

[Wendy]

Rhaena faces Susan. Her scandalous clothing makes it difficult for the young farmer's daughter to pay attention,what with her body's readiness to split seams of her garb. Rhaena's odd, steel tone is a match to that of the pummeling rain. Her face and hands of scales is a remarkable testament to Myrken's growing population of... well, what Mistress Roslin was doing her best to prevent more of.

It is cold and Susan's clothing is not enough to prevent a chill. Wiping water from her face, she eyes her follower, backpedaled steps resume her retreat from Calomel Hall.

"I didn't mean to -" she begins, then looks behind her. No one there, she glances back at Rhaena. Susan's heartbeat is loud to her own ears. The governor... requests her?

Arms fold in defense of the chill and her visitor. She did not know what was happening, but the governor's request has clearly made her suspiscous - especially since the someone talking to her has similar markings to the newborn. If only her mind could find excuse enough to carry on with leaving. A minute while she searches for a truth that she can embellish...

[Wendy]

Cambree's pale hands fold to make a nest for the quivering clay cup. With thanks for that, she turns to put her back against the bed's foot and soaks her face in the rising steam. Her upset jaw continues to shake, making her choose to speak slowly so that she will not have to repeat herself.

"Lavender, too," she mentions, green eyes barely seeing anyone but her husband, her protector, her confidante. "She can help," Cambree's eyes close. The warmth rising from the cup feels good on her face. "With the baby." Is Cinn alright with that? Her brows raise up. Her eyes reopen, focusing on him, then the baby in his hold, ah, him again.

She can control the quake of her shoulders by tensing her body, but the shivering doesn't stop completely.

She wants to ask what will happen to Mistress Roslin. Wants to know what will be mentioned downstairs, and to the townsfolk. They have to talk, she and Cinnabar, her fallen gaze might say, but instead of telling him so, she sips from that graciously warm cup.

It. Is. A. Baby. she reminds herself. A tiny Calomel - the one they've waited for.

[Jirai]

Rhaena is impatient, though, and will not wait for the girl to invent excuses.

"I was being polite. Let us be done with the pretenses. You will come back with me. It will be easier on you if you simply agree. But either way, you will end up back there with me. Decide now."