Holding My Last Breath

Chapter Eight- New Kind of World

Briseis shut her eyes tightly as another contraction racked her body. She had been in labor for going on sixteen hours. At first, it scared her. She knew if it took to lonhe che child would be lost. But the midwife smiled and brushed her hair back.

"You progress at a slow pace, but it is fine. I would be concerned if the pains went from strong to weak." And they didn't. Everytime it seemed another ounce of pain piled upon the waves. Within, the baby readied itself for entry, but didn't seem in a rush to get out.

She spent most of the time between contractions going through every piece of advice she was given. Most of it was pure myth, others she knew from being around her younger cousins. She focused on memories from the last year. Troy, Achilles, Phtia, her child. These things traced a distinct pattern of change for her and it took her mind off the growing pains.

The wave passed and she inhaled a deep, cleansing breath. Her hands laid on her belly, feeling her child. In short while, everything in her life would change again. For the first time, she wasn't afraid of it. Coming to Phtia was uncertain and scary, but everything worked out for the best. The birth of their child was miraculous and she readied herself for the challenge of raising a child.

"Achilles was seen passing the sign posts a short while ago," Penelope said, entering the room. She rung out a cloth and wiped Briseis' forehead with the cold water. She could smell the traces of lavender oil for the purpose of soothing her. The queen smiled down at her. "He'll be home soon."

Achilles was further ahead than the messenger and Odysseus. His horse ran at top speed, carefully rounding the steep cliffside road in front of the palace. His eyes focused as the sun finished dipping below the sea. There was light from within and he could see a few servants bustling about on the second floor.

His heart pounded in his ears. The negotiations finished two days prior and they decided to return early. Odysseus knew Achilles wanted to get back as soon as he could. They were met on the road by one of the royal messengers. Without saying anything, he knew Briseis was in labor.

He rode into the courtyard, one of the servants taking the reigns as he jumped off and bolted inside.

Briseis screamed unintentionally from the pain. It seems all the child needed was to know Achilles was near to want to enter the world. Her contractions were closer and much more powerful. Her body shook from the pain, but she forced herself to focus. Everytime another shot from her center, she inhaled and held on.

"Its time, my lady," the midwife said, pushing the very loose birthing gown up over her belly. She shook her head and started to cry.

"Not yet. Please, not until he returns!," she begged to the Gods. The door to the room opened and there was her husband, wide eyed and worried. He quickly came to the side opposite Penelope, kissing Briseis softly on the lips.

"Sorry I'm late."

"You're here now," she said through her teeth. She squeezed her eyes shut and she gripped his hand tightly. "That's all that matters." She nodded to the mid-wife who propped her legs open and massaged at her lower belly. The pain grew so intense, she felt she would split in two. Achilles held her up as she began to push. His skin was cool against her sweat and it gave her some comfort.

"On three; one, two, three." Briseis took a deep breath and pushed down as hard as she could. Another scream escaped her lips as her bones and muscles started to shift for the child's entry. They repeated the process a few times. Each time, she felt her body shifting painfully.

Finally, the child within made started to make its way out. She cried out as the head passed between her pelvic bones, pushing them aside without much difficulty. Achilles chedched between watching her and seeing his child enter the world. He couldn't stand seeing her hurt like this, but it was natural of birthing a child.

Briseis felt as the head crowned, holding Achilles hand so tightly, later she found she actually left bruises. "One more push my lady!" She took another deep breath and pressed with her heart and soul. She cried with relief as the baby slipped from her body and out into the world.

A piercing cry echoed in the room. The child was unhappy with the comotion of birth, wriggling against the towel the mid-wife used to wipe away the mucus of the womb. She wrapped the child in a large blue blanket that bore the symbol of Phtia, the same one Achilles had been wrapped in when he was born.

Briseis cradled the baby gently in her arms, tears streaking down her face. This was their baby, their child, they created this tiny being and now it was in the free air with them. She kissed the crying form lightly on the forehead. It soothed the cries instantly, the baby slowly opening its sea green eyes to look at her and Achilles.

He sat stunned. His wife just displayed more strength and resilance than any man on a battlefield ever could. He watched as the tiny form slid from her body, screaming and crying from upset. Tears came briefly to his eyes, slipping away and melting in complete awe of the tiny child before him.

"Its a boy," the mid-wife said, starting to clean up around her. Briseis felt the tiny fingers of her son wrap around her index finger. She laughed lightly and looked at Achilles.

"We have a son," she said, breaking down into tears. He kissed her and held them both. His fingers traced the down of the baby's head lightly.

"He's perfect," Achilles whispered, letting Briseis rest her head against him. The child mewed lightly. She shifted the sleve of her dress down, exposing a swollen breast. The baby latched on and began to feed hungrily. She stroked his body lightly, tracing the length with her fingers.

Achilles watched over them with a loving and caring gaze. His son looked around briefly, getting his bearings in his new world. His eyes rested on his parents then fluttered shut as he continued to feed.

The room was silent, only the movement of the mid-wife and the servants changed. Achilles sat with his wife and son, a new world for all three of them.

Penelope gladly accepted Odysseus' embrace. She sighed audibly and buried her head in his shoulder. He massaged her back lightly. She had given birth to their four children and helped with his two nieces and nephew's as well. Penelope was quite the midwife.

"Everything go normally?"

"Yes, even the ritual screaming." He laughed lightly at this. "She's given him a healthy son, so I know he'll be happy."

"A boy? Wonderful. Now we'll have two of him to deal with," he joked, getting a short poke from his wife. They walked down towards their room, both tired from their separate journeys.

The baby fell sound asleep after he got his fill. Achilles cradled him gently in his arms, rocking back and forth slowly on the bed. Briseis lay propped against pillows, watching her two boys together with a smile. She was beyond tired, but wanted to watch them for a bit longer.

"You know, we still have to name him," he said softly. He sat back next to her, the baby shifting a little in his arms.

"I thought you had a name for him," she replied, laying against his arm. The muscles beneath his skin were warm and strong, cradling her head sweetly.

"Do you want to name him Hector?" She looked down and shook her head. "Then we must find him another name. What becomes of our boy with sea color for eyes?" They sat in silence for a second. Briseis thought and her eyes widened with the answer.

"You still want to name him after someone we've lost?"

"We don't have to, but yes." He looked down into her tired features, waiting for the name.

"Then his name is Patroclus," she whispered, touching his little hands. Naturally, his fists came open and wrapped over her finger, holding as tightly as he could. She smiled down at him and looked back to Achilles.

He sat staring at her for a moment, awestruck at the choice of name. "His eyes, they remind me of your cousins. His hair is as about the same color too," she said, touching the small flat of hair on his head. "I think that the name suits him."

Achilles looked back to his son. He remembered back to when he first saw his cousin as a baby. He was wide-eyed and happy, looking at everything and anything. Even as a small boy, Achilles was fearsome to many people, his personality taking shape. But Patroclus was one of the first people that didn't care about that. He loved when Achilles played with him or was just around him.

When he was a small child and came to live with him in Phtia, he still loved being around Achilles. He was in his twenties at this point, spilling blood mercilessly in many battles. His cousin held a real joy for him. When he came back from wars, he would be waiting, ready to play or just sit in silence next to him. They were brothers by Patroclus' love and caring.

"Well, Patroclus," Achilles said to the sleeping child. "Welcome home."