Prelude - Pre-final take

She could feel the tracks of sweat weaving down her chest to form a rivulet between her breasts, but since pain sliced through her uterus during her scream, she didn’t pause to wipe the sweat away. Don’t push now! screamed her brain, but her body fought off the thought successfully. Another accelerating stitch reverberating through her womb stopped the push. Damnit, Klystra, you call yourself a midwife? When your head says don’t push now, DON’T PUSH!

The thought somehow morphed itself into yet another scream and just as her voice gave out at the end, the front door slammed open letting the driving rain in. Through blurred vision, recognition was acknowledged. A gruff yet high-pitched voice rang out, “Where be the dry wood?”

She pointed with a curt nod of her head. Even with her eyes clenched tight against the pain, she could sense him/er rummaging around, building a fire and setting a kettle above the sprouting flames.

“You should’ve have shown up.”

“Ye be quiet, woman. Ye need me and I be here. That’s that.”

“Yea? And why are you a guy? Don’t you think I need a woman right now? She gasped out the accusatory query.

“Fine. That be what ye want? That be what ye get.”

Grimacing against the pain, Klystra opened one eye to watch the transformation. Though she had witnessed this countless times, it still fascinated her that Tak, only within her presence, could shift his/er form back and aforth. Tak’s form blurred around the edges and within seconds, a more female form took shape.

A more lyrical voice came out of Tak’s body now. “More t’ ye liking, Kly?”

“Yes, thank you. Did anyone see you leave the forest?”

A shake of the head relaxed Klystra enough for her to focus on breathing. “Tak, *huff huff* worried about y… *huff huff* ou. You know, *huff huff huff* I’ll have to leave soon *huff huff* after the baby is…”

“Hush Kly. Me fate’d been decided long ‘ere I met ye. Ye jes’ cons-trate on makin’ me chil’ come inna our realm easy, s’okay?”

Four years and she still hadn’t been able to convince Tak that his/er fate wasn’t sealed.Maybe once s/he sees the baby, s/he’ll change his/er min – the interrupted thought took secondary place to the immediacy of the child clamering to be out of her cave. With the storm outside drumming a soothing rhythm, a single wail punctuated the air full of groans and sweat and blood and breathing.

“Ye be right, Kly. S’a girl.” S/he held the baby near the fire so the flames could light up the babe’s face for Klystra to see. “And wise ol’ eyes she’s got.”

“Your eyes, Tak… your eyes.” Klystra held her arms out for the baby and as the baby smelled the nearby milk, she let out a yelp. “One thing’s for sure, the baby is demanding. Must take after me in that respect.” A nod of confirmation was all Klystra got as both she and the baby fell into exhausted sleep.

* * * * * * *

A couple of hours later, Klystra woke to her baby murmuring for more food. She pulled the baby next to her chest whispering, “Hmm, what would be a good name for you, my special one of three? How about Tristan?”

A grunt from the corner signaled approval. “You like that, Tak?” Another grunt greeted her. Klystra blinked a few times before looking into that corner. Among the shadows, she could make out a small, petite, boyish figure. “Don’t you want a closer look at your daughter, Tak?” A violent shake of the head confirmed her fears.

“Tak, my love. You can’t think…”

“’Nough! S’nough that I be here. If ye think me daughter’s gonna go t’rough da same’s me, ye’d better think twice!”

“Tak, you can leave with us.” She looked over at the corner hoping the flickering light would catch the tears in her eyes. Tak slowly slid out of the shadows and stood by her, clutching her hand.

“No, Kly. There be nowhere in this here realm where she couldn’t find me, nor mine. Won’t be long now… she knows where me be. And…” Tak’s gruff high-pitched voice broke, “She’ll be comin’ ‘fter –“ Tak jabbed his/er thumb in the air, pointing at the baby.

Suddenly, both of them froze. Their brows furrowed as they strained to hear beyond the staccato of the rain. Klystra got up quietly, wincing as she tried to stand.

“Kly. Lie back down.”

“No, Tak. They’re here. And I’ll have to leave now.”

A stifled gasp or sob stopped her from going too far. Klystra turned around and for the first time in over three years, she saw Tak return to the lost sad little elf she had first glimpsed at the edge of the forest, watching her weed her garden. As her hand reached out, Tak’s figure straightened and stiffened so her hand drew back to her side. With resignation, she quickly got her clothes and herbs together.

Tak walked her to the door, then handed her a bundle. “That there’s food. Elven food. Should last a week or so.” Standing on tiptoe, Tak peered into Klystra’s folded arms. “Tristan. This here’s fer ye. ‘Member me” Tak shoved a small object into the wraps enveloping Tristan and quickly turned away.

“Be off. Safe journeys. Don’ ferget t’ use th’ swilgum.”

Klystra paused before leaving. A violent urge shuddered through her as she fought it off, knowing that snatching Tak right now would just make it that much easier for her to find them. “Tak…”

“Me knows, Kly. Me knows.” A sigh followed. “Me too, s’okay?”

The acknowledgement was the sound of the door closing.