Chapter 2 The birth of Melissa

The day had started unlike any other when Melissa was born, not a single thing was out of place and even her father had agreed that the day had simply been too perfect, almost like the sweet smell of the earth after rain. That day had been a harvest and they had just gotten back to their various houses when a maiden rushed towards the group of men, eyes frantic and breaths heavy.

"You have to come with me. Your wife... she is in labour."

Lucian had barked out a laugh at this and jogged after the woman in pure excitement and joy. After how long they had waited the gods had finally blessed them with a child of their own. When they first got the news, they had both been overjoyed, nothing else could measure how they felt. Or so they had thought until now.

The baby arriving was far greater than the news of its existence. Mila had insisted and asked the seers not to ask for the child's gender. It was to be a surprise for them, one they both appreciated. Lucian got to the hut, a wide smile threatening to rip his face apart. He took a hold of Mila's hand, watching as her screams of pain got louder.

Months back before the present day, Mila had been unsure. She had expressed her fears after they had tried for so long to get a baby only to end up unsuccessful. He had been the only one there for her considering she had lost her family to the wars that broke out at random years in the past. It was only her and he had chosen to substitute for every other family member by being there for her. She hadn't known how to go about the worries until they visited the seer who told them how powerful their child would be and how much of a blessing she was going to be as well.

Just as another scream left her lips, Mila's eyes faded back and she passed out, leaving the maidens rushing around. Lucian felt a frown take over his face and he crawled closer to his wife. "What is going on? Why did she pass out?"

The maiden who had rushed to call him sighed, looking at him with pity. "We have no idea, sir. This is the first of its kind, she already passed out before we sent for you. Though we were worried, she woke up by herself, continuing to push the baby as if nothing had happened."

In an instant, Mila jolted up again, crushing Lucian's hands in hers before she let go with a final scream. The cry of the baby made the maidens relieved and they hurried to carry the baby off the bloodied sheets to clean up the blood.

"Congratulations, Lucian. You have a daughter." The older maiden greeted, patting her hand on his shoulder while he released the breath he didn't realise he was holding.

Mila looked exhausted and he couldn't find it in him to let go of her hand. Perhaps it was the fear that she was slipping away and he needed to hold her to keep her grounded and make sure she stayed awake. She smiled weakly at him and squeezed his hand with as much energy as she could muster. There was a look of pity in his eyes as he held her.

"You did it, Mila, we have a baby girl."

She shook her head in disagreement, smiling softly. "We did it."

He smiled, hugging her despite the stickiness of his body and pulling her close to him. The fear he had felt on that day was like no other and he couldn't describe just how glad he was that they were both okay.

Lucian stepped out of the house to give the women space to do the needful. He exhaled deeply, trying to make sense of the oddness of the situation. He was sure that fainting during childbirth was a bad omen and Mila had fainted twice. Yet they had a healthy baby in their arms. A beautiful girl they could call theirs.

He shook his head, deciding he was probably thinking too much into nothing. After all, what mattered most was that they were united with the one that mattered a lot to them.

"Sir... you can come back in." A young maiden said, peeking her head out of the door.

Lucian sighed and walked back in to see Mila holding the baby to her chest and cooing sweetly. She certainly looked better than she had some minutes ago, but there were still signs of her weakness. He smiled at the two and walked up to them.

He touched the cheeks of the baby, watching as she moved a little in her sleep. "What shall we name her?"

"I'm naming her after my mother, Melissa."

"Melissa Gordon... you chose right, Mila." He replied, looking at her and touching her face with adoration in his eyes. "How are you feeling now? What did the maidens say to you?"

Mila frowned, looking up at Lucian. "They didn't say anything to me. Was there something they should have mentioned to me?"

He backtracked, shaking his head with a laugh. "Don't look down, love. I didn't mean it that way. I was just wondering if they gave you the basics already."

"I already know them, silly." She replied, shoving at his side. "Our baby has refused to open her eyes though. The maidens expressed their worries about it, but she cried after she came out, right?"

This caused Lucian's face to fall again. He wondered why his case seemed to be one of rarity, one most of the maidens had never seen. It caused him pain and he couldn't tell Mila without making her worried. He knew that she was already having concerns of her own regarding the baby and whatever he said was going to make or break her morale. He looked at her face, seeing the look of desperation in her eyes. She needed answers.

"I'm sure if the maidens didn't see anything wrong, it means there's nothing wrong, love. You have to trust in yourself and the baby."

His words of assurance reached her ears and she smiled, cradling her baby further. There was something about the child that pulled them in like a magnet. Lucian felt it, even more when he carried her from Mila, her beauty scared him and he worried for the future. Her innocence too was something he suddenly wanted to protect with all his might. She was all he had along with Mila.

On a certain day, little Melissa opened her eyes to her dad. He had been cradling her in his arms just outside their house, telling her one of his many stories when he noticed them. She giggled as she did, peering up at him with silver coloured eyes. Lucian had gasped as he grabbed his nose in her little palm.

"Mila?" He called, keeping his eyes on her to make sure she didn't close them up again. They had to be the prettiest eyes he had seen. The silver had specks of blue in them that just made it seem even more ethereal. "Mila?!"

"Yes, yes, Lucian. Does she need a nappy change again?" She yelled back from inside the house, not bothering to come out.

"You need to get out here, Mila. She opened her eyes!"

Rushed footsteps sounded towards the entrance and Mila stood in front of them, breaths coming out in short pants."She did what?"

Looking down, she finally saw the open eyes and gasped in shock. She didn't realise she had reached out for her until she had her in her arms. Mila cried as she bounced little Melissa in her arms who still giggled toothlessly.