A Broken Fate

Maglor came barging in next, with Guppy in tow. He hadn't spoken to the doctor before, but had no problems locating him.

He'd been among humans long enough; he knew about doctors.

"This is not normal for an elf woman," he blankly stated, leaning against the wall beside her bed, out of Guppy's way, but well within everybody's earshot. "Elf and Vala together, it seems, make for a remarkably human experience."

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The distinctive curly hair and the sign helps admittedly.

He crouches next to Nerdanel, taking mental note of Maglor's comment.

"How are you feeling Nerdanel? How close are the contractions?" he asks, keeping his voice calm despite the fact he's only done this once before, albeit in a lift, and assisted once.

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She swallows, opening her eyes to look at Guppy.

"I'm not sure. Close. I can count to seventy-five before the next one comes, but not long ago I was able to count to one hundred."

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"Okay." he takes off his watch and hands it to Gorlim.

"I need one of you to time the difference in contractions for me in minutes." he turns back to Nerdanel.

"May I examine you to see how dilated you are?"

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She just nods.

"I am thirsty, Guppy," she says through clenched teeth.

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Guppy looks up at the others. "Can one of you please get her a glass of water?"

He moves around to her side, grabbing a couple of pillows. "Okay Nerdanel I need you to move onto your back with your legs open for me please. Have your waters broken yet?"

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Maglor moved away from where he was, quietly, like a man used to unruly bars where pool games could escalate into fights any moment.

He went to the bathroom and fetched a glass of water, then went to Nerdanel, bent down, and gave her the glass, keeping his hand close so he could take it away without anything spilling if the next contraction gripped her wile she was still drinking.

He was willing to stay by her, but not necessarily to look at her female bits much; he gladly left that to Guppy.

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She shifts on the bed, doing as instructed, and carefully sipped the water, thankful for the wetting of mouth and throat.

"Early this morning," she says after letting her son have the glass back. "Maglor stripped the sheetsm then I laid several towels down before we remade the bed. That was before things became terribly painful and distracting. Now I don't think I even have the strength to stand."

Laying on her back in a bed was not the position she is acustomed to and only did it toward the end of the labour with the twins.

When things went wrong and complicated.

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namo

Námo, standing close to Gorlim, frowns, but that is all he does.

He can't do much, and it makes him feel even more off as an Elf.

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He senses her discomfort.

"You can move in a minute, I just need to see how dilated you are and this is the easiest position for me to do that."

He has a look , being very gentle not to cause her any more pain than she is already in.

"Okay, you're seven centimetres dilated, so you're not ready to push yet. But I think it will be soon. You can move to a more comfortable position now if you want."

He glances up at Námo. "If Nerdanel would like it, giving her a back massage may help to ease the pain." Turning back to Nerdanel. "I'm sorry, I don't think I can offer you any other pain relief. It would be too dangerous as it's meant for humans and we can't risk an adverse reaction."

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She moves onto her side, resting the bulk of her belly on another pillow, and pants with her pains. The Elf winces and mumbles, "Another is beginning now."

And she begins to count despite Gorlim having the timepiece -- it gives her something to focus on.

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namo

Námo just staaaaaares at Guppy.

"No, I do not think I would be comfortable laying my hands on her," he says quickly.

Let's forget he had to lay his hands -- and more -- upon her to get to this position in the first place.

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gorlim.livejournal.com

Gorlim watches the watch as instructed and stands by calmly. He helped his wife give birth to three children, two of them premature by at least a month. He knew how this worked.

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Maglor gave the Lord Mandos a very dark stare, not quite realising he'd have to refrain from dying in his world ever, now.

"She needs this; Gorlim, will you, or shall I?" he said.

Ad gave Mandos another stare, that clearly said 'wuss of a Vala'.

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Guppy shakes his head a little, but doesn't taunt Námo. The poor guy looks like he wants to fall through the floor with embarrassment as it is.

"One of you please would be helpful. What would you be more comfortable with Nerdanel?" he asks, feeling that she really ought to have the last say on this one.

"Maybe you could find a hot water bottle Námo." he says more gently than he is inclined to.

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gorlim.livejournal.com

"I will."

Gorlim scoots onto the bed next to Nerdanel and begins rubbing her back.

"Better, Nana?"

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Nerdanel's eyes flutter shut and a soft moan of relief passes her lips.

"Oh, ionen, thank you. Cáno? Cáno, there is a hotwater bottle in the bath. I don't think Mandos is inclined to--"

She groans and pants with another contraction.

"Guppy, I counted to fifty this time. And they hurt more. A lot more."

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Maglor went and got the hot water bottle; the Lord Mandos was definitely useless in this situation.

It wasn't usual for a Vala, of course. Hopefully, he wouldn't faint before this was over. They certainly didn't need a fainted Vala on top of all the alarmingly irregular things.

He returned to his mother's side and gave her the hot water bottle, his face trained for millennia not to show his opinion of those present.

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"Okay, Gorlim you keep doing that."

He shoots a glance at Námo, making sure he's all right.

"How does this compare with your other births Nerdanel?"

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namo

The Elf is leaning against the far wall, watching the scene in front of him. There is little showing on his face, a little whiter in pallor, but otherwise, outwardly, there was no sign of his being disturbed.

Inwardly, he was terrified of all that was happening.

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