The twins must go their separate ways to stop both the Paladonic Knights and Jessica.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Chapter 25
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Murphey's Law
Eldon paced the hallway, his girlfriend and new wife watching him. They'd changed out of the wedding clothes and into more comfortable apparel while Shelly was carted off to this deliver room. His twin sister was screaming in agony. What were they doing to her? Couldn't someone relieve her pain? Why were their parents sitting there like this was normal? No one should ever have to suffer that much! Shelly was a strong woman and could handle a lot, but she sounded like she was dying in there.
And then she went silent.
That seemed even more ominous after the agonized screams. Was Shelly okay? Did something happen with the pregnancy? Why wouldn't anyone tell them what was going on?
"Sheldon," his mom addressed him, "for the last time, sit down. You're making everyone else nervous."
"How can you just sit there, mom?" he shot back as he continued to walk the corridor. "I've never heard her scream in that much pain before. Shouldn't Gaia, or the doctor, or someone do something to help her?"
"Women can take a lot of pain," Sheila said, her voice somehow calm. "Your sister is a strong woman, andโ" She cut off as the door opened, and the short little goblin doctor walked out.
The doctor had on what was once a white smock and apron but was now covered in various fluids that made Eldon sick, knowing where they must have come from.
As if to belie the words she'd just spoken, Sheila stood and rushed towards the goblin woman. "Is she okay? How did it go? Why won't you say anything?"
"Slave!" Lyden's voice cut her short. "Let the doctor speak."
For the first time in Eldon's memory, it looked like Sheila Lance was going to argue back with her master. But after a moment, she nodded with a glare and turned back to wait.
"The birthing went well enough, and the mother is resting," she said. She had to look up at everybody as she spoke. Eldon didn't know many goblins, but this one seemed short, even for one of her race. "You'll be able to go in and see her in a moment. She is currently feeding the child. It is a healthy baby."
Eldon didn't care two wits about the baby but was glad that his twin sister was okay.
"A baby...
what
?" Lyden asked. He'd gotten to his feet and stood behind his slave, holding her in his arms.
The doctor didn't get the chance to answer, though, as Areth zipped out of the room, grinning from ear-to-ear. No one had seen her enter the delivery room.
"Well, it definitely is part of your family," she said with a smile. For some reason, she glanced at Bridget. "It's both a boy and a girl."
"Twins?" Sheila and Lyden spoke at once.
Twins?!
Sheldon thought with a bit of shock. No wonder Shelly was in so much pain. Except, the way the doctor had spoken, it didn't sound like there was more than one baby. Could it be like Brock and Bridget? Two genders switching with one body?
"Nope!" Areth chuckled. The disgruntled doctor turned and walked back into the delivery room, ignoring the gleeful fairy as she muttered under her breath. "It's both, but not like her." this was said as she pointed at Bridget. "It's male and female at the same time. Really cute baby, and I should know what cute is! By the way, that metal lady in there is really cranky!"
Eldon assumed that she was referring to Sonia as the metal lady, and didn't blame her for being upset with the fairy. Areth took some getting used to and was definitely an acquired taste.
Eldon moved to enter the room, but of all people, Areth zipped up to block him. She even grew to a normal size when he tried to brush her away.
"Your sister is in no condition to accept visitors," the fairy intoned, sounding more like Sonia than herself. Something has been off about the golden pixie since her resurrection. She seemed more serious and less playful, though, by any other standards, she was still very annoying.
Eldon opened his mouth to argue with her and demand the little pipsqueak let him through to see his sister, but a slender hand on his arm calmed him down.
"Love," Mandy's voice said behind him, "let's give her some time to recover. Meanwhile, we have our own celebrating to do?"
He would have turned and argued with her as well, but the way she asked that as a question, and the way her sweet voice cut through his emotions to remind him how much she meant to him, calmed him down.
He turned to face his wifeโ
his wife!