Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  “Sister Lucy, I do not think this child wishes to wait,” Alisha said in pain as she started to sweat. Paul held her hand tighter and looked into her eyes. He felt terrified as thoughts ran through his head about how bad this could all go.

  “GO!” Sister Lucy shouted at Taqi. Quickly he placed the water bottle on the floor next to Paul, looked at Alisha hesitantly as she nodded to him. He stood up and ran for the door just as Theodoric entered clutching his chest, out of breath. “Theo…she is in labour. Go with Taqi.”

  Theodoric tried to catch his breath as he studied the image before him of Alisha upon her back, her legs up, Sister Lucy behind her, Paul at Alisha’s side and Tenno stood looking down at them. Theodoric pointed at Taqi as he sped off down the track. He waved his finger still out of breath and turned to follow him.

  “Tenno, please look the other way,” Alisha asked as she started to pull her dress up over her knees. Quickly she placed her hand between her groin and felt through her wet undergarments. She shot a look of surprise at Paul. “’Tis the baby’s head already. I can feel it,” she said excitedly and started to shake.

  Tenno turned his back towards them and moved to look out of the window.

  “I have seen babies born before. I can assist if required,” Tenno stated.

  Sister Lucy leaned forwards, stretched her hand out and felt Alisha.

  “Yep…that is one baby in a hurry,” she commented as Paul looked at Alisha.

  “I shall make things more comfortable for you, for I do not see you getting back to the ship before your baby arrives,” Tenno said and started to look around the small chapel picking up several cushions and a large purple cloth from the altar. He helped reposition Alisha so she was comfortable resting upon Paul with Sister Lucy moving so she could assess Alisha properly.

  “Sister Lucy…how many babies have you delivered before?” Alisha asked as she started to pant.

  “Oh hundreds, child, so relax. Do you feel you want to push?” she replied.

  “Oh yes,” Alisha said nodding her head frantically.

  Sister Lucy leaned lower and parted Alisha’s legs wider and quickly ripped her under garments aside tearing them off and throwing them against the altar. Paul saw the red stains of blood and a shudder ran through his body.

  “Can’t be having that in the way now can we. Now when you feel you want to push, then let nature take its course and push,” Sister Lucy explained and took a deep breath. “Tenno…I need that small knife of yours.” Alisha shifted on her backside and pulled out the three bladed dagger from her waist band and raised it up. “You can keep that out of the way for starters. I need a knife, not a dagger,” Sister Lucy commented as she motioned Tenno to come nearer. Tenno stepped closer and withdrew a small fighting knife from his chest armour. It shone a brilliant polished silver. He flipped the knife and caught it mid blade and handed it towards Sister Lucy.

  “The blade is clean and sterile,” he remarked as she took the handle of the knife. Shaking herself with tension, she looked at her reflection on the blade.

  “Lord have mercy. Is that how rough I look,” she joked. She clicked her fingers at Paul to pass over the purple cloth. Wearily he picked it up off the bench and handed it to her.

  Alisha let out an involuntary yell of pain as a contraction started to take over. She squeezed Paul’s hand very tightly and gritted her teeth in pain. Paul had to fight to control the sense of fear rising within him. As the contraction began to ease, Alisha opened her eyes and looked at Paul intently, the pain visible. She looked terrified, he thought.

  “All will be okay. I know this,” he said softly and leaned up so he could see between her legs. He was just able to see the crown of the baby’s head but it was all wet and dark and reminded him of drawings of brains Niccolas had shown him. The baby has no skull he worried until Sister Lucy gently brushed some of the dark area aside, it being wet hair.

  “Aaaaaarrrrrrggggh!” Alisha screamed aloud, her face gnarled and twisted with pain again. She started to pant as she tried to control her breathing.

  Sister Lucy knelt down nearer to check on the position of the baby’s head. She looked up at Paul and then Tenno, her face one of serious concern and concentration.

  “My dear girl. You look as though you are opening fast. Big enough already for the head…but…but I think he is facing the wrong way and his shoulders are blocking his exit,” She explained as softly as she could. Immediately Alisha started to cry and tears ran down her cheeks as she looked at Paul, terrified, but she tried to control her crying stopping and starting erratically. Paul felt his heart stop and then run again even faster inside his chest. He gulped, his throat dry. “We have no poultices, pain relief potions nor remedies, my child…I am afraid all we have is prayer.”

  “Paul!” Alisha said alarmed.

  “Ali…keep yourself calm. This will all pass…I swear to you,” Paul replied trying to reassure her despite the overpowering sense of panic and terror he could feel welling up inside of him. He felt dizzy and sick but fought against it and held Alisha’s hand as she squeezed his tightly.

  “Alisha….pray to Saint Margaret…she is the patron saint of childbirth,” Sister Lucy said.

  “What? How will that help?” Alisha snapped and clenched Paul’s hand even tighter as another contraction started. She screwed her eyes up tighter as the pain shooting through her hips and lower back became overpowering. She let out a deep moan as the pain was too intense to even scream. She rolled her head backwards as she nearly fainted, Paul’s hand being almost crushed. He moved to sit up higher next to her just as Sister Lucy grabbed his left hand and placed it under Alisha’s left leg.

  “Tenno…here now!” she shouted and indicated that he sit the other side and hold onto Alisha’s right leg. Hesitantly Tenno moved into position as Paul knelt up, unclipped his own sword that was now getting in the way and restricting his movement.

  “My child. This baby is in rush but I fear he is stuck. I think I may have to turn him,” Sister Lucy explained calmly.

  With those words, Paul’s ears began to ring loudly inside. He could hear his own heart beating above all else. His vision began to blur as he tried to focus upon Alisha’s pained face. To either side of her he thought he could see whitish outlines of two people standing there. He blinked several times trying to focus his vision on what looked like two faint images of two people knelt down behind Alisha, but he shook his head in disbelief as Alisha yanked his hand hard and called his name. Suddenly the ringing in his ears stopped and he could hear her again. He felt very calm all of a sudden and he smiled at Alisha.

  “Ali…all will be fine,” he said softly as she looked at him, her face contorted in pain.

  “I need you two to push her legs back as far as you can whilst I try and reposition the baby,” Sister Lucy said as she moved closer to Alisha and placed her hands upon the part of the baby’s protruding head. “Lord I wish we had some rose oil!”

  “We have. Here….,” Paul answered and immediately opened the leather pouch on his belt. Sister Lucy looked at him puzzled. “Rick…I mean Theodoric…gave me this when first we met,” Paul explained as he fumbled in the pouch then pulled out the small wooden box Theodoric had given him in Rochefort. “It contains a vial of rosehip oil…for my scar,” Paul said as he handed it to her.

  “I do not suppose you have any vinegar or sugar in there too?” she asked as she took the small vial of oil, opened it and poured it over her hands and then onto Alisha all around where the baby’s head was showing. “Ali…look at me,” she said sternly. When Alisha tried to look at her, her breathing became laboured and shallow. “I am going to move the baby. As I do, I shall say some words and Paul and Tenno will rub this as I say them,” she explained and took out what looked like two red stones surmounted by silver rings and handed one to Paul and the other to Tenno. Both looked at them and then Sister Lucy bemused. “When I speak, start rubbing them against her thighs in circles and do not stop.”

  “And
this will help…how?” Tenno quizzed as he looked at the red stone.

  Sister Lucy shot him a look of disapproval, widened her eyes and indicated he just do it.

  “Alisha…they are sard stones…a powerful birthing stone. Do not ask me how it works but they do and they can remove much of the pain,” Sister Lucy explained as she positioned her fingers between the baby’s head and Alisha and gently eased her fingers partly inside Alisha. As she stretched her skin Alisha moaned deeply, her eyes rolled and she began to pass out. Paul and Tenno started to rub the sard stones in circles upon her thighs as Alisha rested her head back upon the stacked kneeling cushions. Paul looked at Sister Lucy as she started to talk.

  “Just as you, stone, by the order of God, shone on the first angel, so you, child, come forth a shining person, who dwells with God. Now Paul, give me your stone,” she demanded and clicked her fingers. Paul handed her the stone and she immediately held it just in front of the baby’s head whilst her other hand was still partly inserted next to it. “Open you roads and door, in that epiphany by which Christ appeared both human and God, and opened the gates of Hell. Just so, child, may you also come out of this door without dying, and without the death of your mother.”

  Paul’s eyes widened in alarm as he heard those last words as Sister Lucy handed the stone back to Paul and motioned he start rubbing again. As he started to rub the gemstone in circles upon her thigh, Alisha just moaned half unconscious as blood started to seep past the baby’s head. It spread out and started to cover Sister Lucy’s knees. She looked at Tenno concerned, took a deep breath and tried to insert her hand further inside Alisha and tried to turn the baby to face the correct angle.

  “Can you not turn it?” Tenno asked.

  Paul thought he was going to be sick. He looked at Alisha as she just lay silently her eyes shut. He grabbed her hand with his right hand and kissed it, tears welling in his eyes. He leaned towards her and kissed her face gently.

  “Ali…do not leave us I beg you!” he whispered to her. She moved her head slightly and opened her eyes briefly. She smiled and closed her eyes again.

  “Paul…pull her leg higher,” Sister Lucy ordered. Quickly Paul pulled her leg back just as Tenno did. Sister Lucy gently pushed the baby back slightly, managed to get her entire hand past its head and inside Alisha. She felt around for the cord and found it. She sensed it was partly around his neck. She could not hide the concern as she realised this. Quickly she pushed the baby’s shoulders and discovered its arm was up high and the reason he was stuck. “Alisha. Do not push when the next contraction comes. Ali! Do you hear me!” she asked loudly. Alisha just shook her head yes. Sister Lucy felt the contraction start as it pulsed against her hand. She held the baby in its position as she knew if it came down further the cord would start to strangle it. She struggled to reposition the baby’s arm but she could not move it.

  “Father…Father,” Alisha called out quietly and tried to lift her right hand up, waving at something. Paul looked up but could see nothing. But he felt very calm. This surprised him. He kissed her hand again as Tenno looked at Sister Lucy trying her hardest to manipulate the baby’s position. She let out a sigh and shook her head in frustration. She looked at Paul intently.

  “Paul. ’Tis the child’s arm. ’Tis up and over behind his head. I cannot move it…not without…,” she started to explain and paused.

  “I trust you…just do what you have to do. It will all be okay,” Paul answered.

  Tenno shot a look of confusion at him and Sister Lucy. She took a deep breath, wiped her forehead and looked at Tenno then Paul again before focusing upon Alisha.

  “Ali…Alisha dear. Listen to me girl. When you feel the next contraction, when I say push, push with all your strength. Do you hear and understand me…Ali?” she asked.

  “Ali?” Paul said softly next to her. ‘She will not die’ he said to himself feeling utterly helpless but also a sense of calm he had never felt before.

  Alisha let out a loud moan and opened her mouth wide, arched her head backwards as pain enveloped her whole body. As the contraction started to pulse through her, Sister Lucy pulled the little arm and forced it backwards. She felt it dislocate from the shoulder joint, and then she pushed it so the head could move down easier. Quickly she pushed the cord down, over his little shoulders and away from his neck. Gently she eased her hand back out and wiped it upon her dress. Her knees were soaked from the blood oozing out onto the floor.

  “Ali…if you want this baby to live, you have to push with all your might…and now,” Sister Lucy stated bluntly. Paul looked at her and nodded. Alisha shook her head no, gritted her teeth and a tear ran down her face. “She heard me…now push, damn it, girl,” Sister Lucy shouted.

  Alisha blinked several times, opened her eyes fully and looked at Paul, the pain registering in them. Paul nodded at her and smiled reassuringly and mouthed ‘you can do it’ silently. Alisha looked down towards Sister Lucy, who stared at her hard. Tenno bowed his head slightly and held her leg higher pushing it backwards to help widen the birth canal. Paul pulled her left leg back likewise. With utter defiance on her face, Alisha raised her head to look at Sister Lucy, her eyes ablaze with pain and determination. She started to pant forcibly through gritted teeth as another contraction started. Her eyes widened as the pain was unbearable, her jaw dropped in silent agony unable to even scream. Sister Lucy could see the baby’s head trying to push out but kept pulling back inside. Quickly she took Tenno’s knife, feigned a brave smile at Paul then Tenno, and then cut down into Alisha at the base of her opening. Instantly the skin parted and continued to tear a little as the baby’s head now free of the restricted skin, came down and out. Sister Lucy held the baby’s head in her hands as it faced upwards.

  “See, the little angel was facing the wrong way too…now Ali…you must push even harder this time.”

  Paul could feel his entire body being overwhelmed with emotions and he fought to stop himself falling apart yet strangely he felt calm and distanced almost at the same time. Tenno looked at him intently as they both held her legs, which were now shaking uncontrollably. Alisha raised her head again wearily, her eyes part closed.

  “Oh dear here comes another,” she whispered in pain. Bit her bottom lip, raised her own hands to grab her legs and pulled hard under her thighs as the contraction started again. She screwed up her face, panted through gritted teeth, then opened her mouth wide as she looked up to the ceiling in silence just taking in small short breaths, her eyes wide and glazed. Paul placed his arm under her neck to support her as she looked to him, She let out a shallow grunt, her eyes rolled upwards, her head falling backwards as she passed out.

  “He is out!” Sister Lucy said calmly and pulled the baby boy away from Alisha and quickly unwrapped the cord from around him. More blood oozed out from Alisha as she went limp but her legs still shaking uncontrollably. Paul gently lowered her head to rest upon the cushion. She was white and drained, her breathing very shallow. Paul looked at Sister Lucy, who shot him a look of alarm as she rubbed the baby’s back trying to get him to breathe. Paul sat up as Tenno looked on, alarm across his face as he watched Sister Lucy. She lifted the baby boy up by his feet and slapped his bottom, but still no reaction from his little body. Gently she placed the baby face down on his tummy and pushed down on his back, and tried to clear any fluid within his little mouth. Quickly she wrapped some string around the umbilical cord nearest to the baby, then another string several inches further along. Without hesitation, she took Tenno’s knife and cut through it. Paul looked at Alisha. She was out cold and not moving. Tenno lowered his head shaking it sadly as he lowered Alisha’s leg.

  Sister Lucy sat back upon her heels and looked upwards in desperation. Tears began to well in her eyes as she looked to Paul. Paul gulped, his throat dry, but he did not feel panic. His body overwhelmed by emotions he felt numb. He moved to kneel up, lowering Alisha’s other leg. As he did, he saw the little lifeless body just lying on its stomach. It was all pink, p
urple, white and covered in blood but perfect he thought, his little hand outstretched as if reaching towards him. The placenta then started to ooze out from Alisha along with more blood. Sister Lucy shook her head no… she did not know what else to do. Paul looked at Alisha, her breathing not even noticeable now, then back at his baby. Tenno just knelt with his head down. They did not even notice or hear the sound of a horse pulling up fast outside.

  Bang! The loud rapport rang out inside the chapel as the door flung open smacking against the side wall making Paul jump. Sister Lucy looked towards the door entrance as Tenno looked up slowly. Paul eventually turned his gaze to see the silhouette of a large person standing in the doorway, arms by their side and a large sword and bow across their back outlined by the blue sky behind. Quickly the figure walked towards them. Paul looked on as the figure approached surrounded by diffused light and dust particles. As the person drew near, Paul had to look upwards from his kneeling position on the floor. Tenno sat back on his backside as Sister Lucy just stared as tears welled in her eyes.

  The figure was a very tall woman. She stood perfectly still, her hands upon her hips as she looked down at them. Her hair was a brilliant white blonde, tied back in large plaited strands. Her skin was a pale white, her features well defined and strong. Her clothing was mainly brown brushed leather. She turned her gaze to look at Paul, his eyes tear filled and helpless. As he wiped his eyes, he focused upon her as she looked at him. Her eyes were a bright dazzling blue. Paul had seen these eyes before…in his dreams. They were unmistakable. He let out a gasp as he recognised her now from the dream he had just had. He went to move, but she raised her right hand no. Quickly she knelt down, her size dwarfing that of Sister Lucy. Very gently with her hands, she scooped the little baby up, grabbed the purple cloth from Sister Lucy and wrapped it around the little body. She then walked over to the open window behind the altar as they just watched her. They could not see exactly what she was doing but she held the body out flat within her right hand, then she appeared to kiss the baby over the mouth and blow gently. Sister Lucy stared on in total confusion as Tenno sat where he was. Paul pulled Alisha’s hand and kissed it as he tried to look at the tall woman holding his baby silhouetted in the frame of the window. For several minutes the woman just stood still holding the little body in her right hand and doing something to his face and mouth. Every one of Paul’s worst fears was coming true right before his very eyes but still he felt numb.