Snippet #2202529

Despite the news brought by the pixie, Rapunzel was focused on Sereya. She remembered her own pregnancy, those years ago, and saw the waves of pain beginning to hit the young Queen. It was not wise to doubt when a pregnant woman announced that she was going into labor.

Rapunzel had a sense of disorganization as she looked about her. There was all this bustling and chaos in Effledus, what with the party and the Darahurne breach. She could not help but feel that the Queen was being overlooked. She decided to take charge. King Lufgaw may be at hand, but this was not his domain.

“Sereya, you don’t need your husband--you need a midwife,” Rapunzel told her. She wrapped her arm around the Queen to give her support. “Airna, dear, why don’t you come with us and support her other side?” She beckoned to her daughter. She also called out to some servant women who were carrying plates of food past.

“The Queen needs help! Show me to her birthing chamber!”

With this pronouncement, they were now flocked with attendants. Even if they had to half-carry Sereya, Rapunzel was determined to get her to a private and comfortable chamber. “Come along, Sereya. Walking will help. And try to slow your breathing...”

---

Liryamm, in the meantime, caught a familiar scent in his nose. It was briny, aquatic, pleasing like underwater flowers. It was also reminiscent of his mother’s sea cave... a place he would approach with caution.

Lir drew nearer to the scent, drifting away from the group. He could see beyond the hall into a walkway where Fey folk and enchanted animal folk ambled. These were the guests going to the dining hall, for the celebration.

The whiff of the ocean came from a figure that glinted in the magic fire-lit torches. Her skin was layered with fine iridescent scales. Her back was retreating, weaving among the others, and yet it appeared that she was walking... on two legs.

Liryamm was intrigued. Perhaps this Mer-smelling creature was like him, and had through some circumstances lost her fin. He passed a look back at his company. Nanji seemed to be unoccupied.

“You go to the party?” Lir asked him in halting Dafarzian.