"Dewron." Merrish called from the kitchen window. "Honey it's time for lunch."
Hearing the loving yet tired voice of his wife Dewron calls back, "Coming." as he stands up from the ground floor of what appears to be a poorly made tower, and heads to the house.
This tower isn't a normal tower, it doesn't have slots in the sides to shoot arrows from or a pot full of oil to signal the city, and country side of danger. This is a Mages' tower with a Library on one floor that wouldn't fit in most castles. A study that would make most scholars green with envy, and an work shop that would put most blacksmiths, and enchanters to shame. Then there is the highest floor in the tower that is warded against any magical influence and is where a mage casts all of their strongest spells, enchantments, and summoning rituals.
Pausing at the door to the house and looking back at the tower Dewron has a slight but satisfied look on his face. Then pushing the door open and tearing his eyes off the tower he enters the back door straight into the kitchen to see his beautiful pregnant wife just setting a couple plates with a hunk of bread, a chunk of cheese, a piece of salted pork and half an apple on the table.
Just after Merrish sets the lunch plates down she wipes her hands on the apron draped over her belly and looks up to see Dewron standing in the open door staring at her with a look of pure joy on his face. "What?" she says with red cheeks and a big smile.
"Nothing of importance to anyone but me." he responded.
With all the effort she can muster she scowls at him saying, "Now how would you know what's important to me or not?" she teases him playfully. Then with a slight pouty tone Merrish continues, walking over to Dewron, "Besides if it's important to you it's important to me." then gave him a quick kiss.
"Well let's just say having you in my arms and knowing what's coming in just a few days, I couldn't be any happier." said Dewron.
Looking up into his eyes, hearing what he said and seeing pure sincerity on his face, she starts to smile even bigger as a feeling of happiness floods her heart so strong that she starts to tear up. Pulling away wiping her eyes with the corner of her apron she swats his chest and says, "Do you have to do that every day? You know I hate crying and that because of being pregnant I can't stop myself when you say things like that." she complained.
"And if I have anything to say about it, those are the only times that you will ever shed a tear." Dewron responded.
After hearing that she gave him another kiss then says, "Come on let's eat. You know how Clairon likes to eat your food if you aren't quick enough to the table." Turning back around Merrish sees that one of the plates on the table is empty and from the corner of her eye she catches a blurred creature leaving the kitchen with all the speed they had. "CLAIRON!!!" she yells, "I swear turn your back for two seconds and could devour a royal feast before you turned back around."
She waddles over to the table and grabs the plate and as she starts getting her husband another serving he takes her hand and says, "You sit down, I'll get it." then takes the plate and ushers her back to the table. While he's serving a new plate for himself he says, "I finished securing the roof about an hour ago, now I just need to get the warding and alter finished. Shouldn't be done about noon day after tomorrow."
Merrish looks up in surprise, "Really," she responds. Tears forming in her eyes again, "I was so worried you wouldn't finish in time." She watched Dewron come over to the table and sit down with his food. "I can help with the sigils and talismans for the alter."
"Honey, I love you, but I can do it." said Dewron.
Merrish looked down and said in a quieter tone, "I know that but I haven't been able to help for the last 3 and a half months and I want to take some weight of your shoulders."
Realizing that she just wants to be a part of the process he said. "Ok. I'll set the alter up in the study with clamps so you can put the sigils on it and attach the talismans while I finish the warding upstairs. Then I'll take it up and finish building the alter in place."
Making her even more happy and excited about being able to help they finish the rest of lunch in peaceful conversation before going back to work on their tasks.
Two days later in the alter room of their Mages tower about a 15 min walk outside of town Dewron is drawing a sigil on the floor around the bed of a woman in labor with another woman placing healing crystals around her on the bed while chanting a spell to hasten the labor process.
Merrish had gone into labor the night before and she still hadn't given birth. Dewron had immediately called for the Mages birthing expert from across town and had been rushing to finish the alter room since she arrived to take care of Merrish.
When the sigil is finished Dewron goes to the head of the bed and places a circlet on the head of Merrish and an enchanted birthing blanket over her belly. "It's done." he said, "We can proceed with the birthing ritual." looking the other mage in the eyes.
She immediately cast three spells for the ritual. The first is to keep restless spirits away from the magical beacon about to happen. The second is to completely stabilize all space around the tower to strengthen the ritual. And the third is to awaken the alter that the bed is sitting on for the birthing ritual.
The mage looks in the eyes of Merrish and says, "It's time, you need to grab the talismans on either side of you." Merrish nodded in acknowledgement. "Now remember grab the one on your right then wait till the blanket starts to glow then grab the one on your left, ok?" cautioned the mage.
Merrish took a deep breath then responded, "Right . . . Glow . . . Left . . . Right?" she asked.
"Correct." replied the mage. Then Merrish grabbed the talisman on the right and watched the blanket on her belly, waiting for the blanket to glow.
Waiting in apprehension for the color of the blanket to glow either blue or pink if it's a boy or girl.
They could tell the blanket was starting to light up, but it hadn't gone blue or pink.
It was yellow.
Not knowing what it meant both Merrish and Dewron looked at the mage hoping for an answer, but all they saw was confusion. Realizing that both Merrish and Dewron were staring at her she said, "Ok now grab the one on your left." trying to convey confidence.
Merrish looked at Dewron and when he nodded at her she went to grab the other talisman.
With the warding that acted as atmospheric dampeners and sound proofing they didn't know that outside above the tower a dark thunder cloud had formed just big enough to cover the tower in shadow the wind was picking up and it was starting to rain.
Just as Merrish grabbed the second talisman her body went transparent and the blanket started to show small lightning sparks all over it.
Outside the tower lighting started to strike its peak from the cloud repetitively, and thunder was echoing across the countryside.
Inside the tower the mage reached her hands forward towards the blanket and just as she was going to touch it her fingers started to pass through the blanket and the transparent skin of Merrish reaching for the baby she was carrying. Merrish was just quietly watching no longer in pain after grabbing the second talisman.
With practiced hands the mage carefully grabbed the baby and lifted it out of Merrishs' belly lifting the blanket ambilocal cord and placenta with it. As soon as the baby was away from the bed the mage set the baby in a low sided bassinette with more sigils on it.
Knowing it was ok Merrish let go of both talismans at the same time losing her transparent look and sat up to watch the mage. Dewron had been watching in amazement the whole time and had his eyes glued to everything the mage did.
After setting the baby down in the bassinette the mage stepped around the foot of the it and started to chant another spell that was part of the birthing ritual.
Outside the tower the storm was getting worse and more and more lighting began to strike the towers peak.
The baby was laying on the blanket in the bassinette with the ambilocal cord and placenta still attached to it. As the mage continued to chant the blanket began to shine brighter and brighter until Merrish and Dewron couldn't look because of how bright it was.
Right when the mage said the last phrase of the birthing ritual there was a pink flash and then the light went back down to normal.
Outside the tower the lighting was striking the tower so much that it looked like they were connected by a continuous stream of electricity. Then with a bright pink flash everything vanished and went back to the way it was.
The mage picked up the baby in the blanket that was now pink and saying, "Congratulations on having a baby girl." handed her to Merrish then started checking Merrishs' belly to make sure everything was completely healed before letting her get out of the bed.
Finishing her exam the mage stood up saying, "Everything looks good."
"Was there a reason for the blanket to turn yellow?" Dewron asked.
The Mage said back, "In truth? I don't know. It's the first time I have ever seen that. Before today the only colors I have seen is pink, blue and black for living boy or girl and still born so other than maybe a strong elemental affinity I wouldn't worry too much." Then she bid them fare well and left.
After the mage left Dewron looked at Merrish and asked, "What do you want to name her?"
She thought for a minute then said, "How about Hacu?" looking at the baby girl.
"Hacu it is then." Dewron said with a smile and gave Merrish a kiss after he helped her out of bed with little Hacu.