Chapter 431 - Marceline Avery Ⅱ (2/2)
The minutes and seconds seemed to grow longer, and not a single healer had yet to appear. Let out a groan with tears of pain in her eyes, Marceline whimpers, ”Je veux ma maman!”
Evan winced in sympathy and understanding at his wife wanting her mother to be here right now. However, his father-in-law and mother-in-law were away on business and were not set to return until next week. And his own parents were not due to arrive from England until two weeks from now. They were all alone really.
Thankfully, before he is forced to think of a distraction for Marceline's pain, the cries of outside voices are heard. The midwife, a rather cantankerous looking older witch with a mole on her chin points one finger at Marceline. In a rapid-fire of French, the midwife says, ”Fille, turn on your back, and spread your legs. I need to see how far you are gone.”
Marceline is in too much pain to care, but Evan flushes bright red at seeing the midwife peering under his wife's skirts and into her private groin area. The Midwife frowns as she pulls the skirts back, but her expression is grave. Not wanting to frighten the young couple even more she barks, ”Where are your uncle and aunt?”
Replying in accented French, Evan says, ”My uncle and aunt went to visit a friend in Italy and just left a few hours ago.”
The mid-wife lets out a string of curses under her breath, before saying, ”Your house elves have sent for the healers have they not?”
”Yes, they should be here soon as well,” Evan hastily replied stumbling over his French.
”Good,” the midwife said as a loud pop caused them both to glance at the source as Marceline let out another pained moan.
”The healers are here,” a male house elf announced, before popping away.
Briskly looking back at her patient, the midwife begins to pull out vials from her bag. ”You go and stand outside!” She snapped at Evan.
”But I wish to stay,” Evan lamely protested.
”You will faint at the sight of blood,” the midwife knowingly sneered. ”Your kind tend to have rather weak stomachs around such sights.”
Evan glances at Marceline, who shakes her head and protests in her native tongue, ”No, I want him to stay. I am afraid.”
”Nonsense girl,” the midwife barked. ”A husband holds no place in the birthing chambers.”
Before Evan or Marceline can protest, the midwife grabs Evan by the collar and with impossible strength drags him away. The healers rush past them and pay no attention to him as the midwife tosses him onto the carpeted ground. ”Good stay there,” the midwife barked with a visible trace of worry in her eyes, before slamming the door shut behind her.
A loud cry jolts Evan out of his reverie as he glances at the time, it was a quarter until midnight. What was wrong?! Rising to feet, he hastily moves forward to only see the doors slam open in front of him.
A fierce stench of blood suddenly fills the air as Evan scrambles forward to only see the bedsheets be painted glistening red. His wife, Marceline is deathly pale, her lips are almost purple, and a wet sheen of sweat is on seen on her forehead as even her hair is plastered back. She weakly smiles at him and croaks, ”Evan,” with a trembling hand reaching out for him.
However, before Evan can move towards his side the midwife shoves a soft bundle into his arms. Before he can even glance down nor much less speak, the midwife says, ”You should call her family and yours,” before he is shoved out the doors by the midwife.
The slams loudly shut before his very eyes as the last thing Evan sees is the figure of Marceline smiling weakly at him as she mouths the name, ”Barnabas.” It was the name they had finally agreed to name their son as Marceline had always liked the name ever since she was a child. And he'd seen no reason for further disagreeing with his wife.