Impaler

Labor

Everything almost felt a blur; the female servants were scattering and trying to get themselves dressed. Luckily, Angelina got inside just in time, so no one noticed she was gone all night. Ioana immediately went to get the midwives. Ioana ordered Angelina to get the ladies-in-waiting and go to Lady Minah when she was done dressing. Angelina and the ladies-in-waiting were done dressing and immediately went to Minah's quarters. The closer they got there, the women heard Minah's screaming echoes. Although Angelina didn't like Minah due to her cruelty, she was about to give birth.

Angelina believed that she was fortunate to be born at a time when epidurals were invented to soothe pain, but women in the past weren't so lucky.

Many women had a higher chance of dying. 

Angelina hoped that nothing would go wrong during labor. Upon arrival, the women immediately went inside Minah's room, where they saw their mistress lying on the bed, screaming in pain. Her face was pinkish-red; her long black hair was sprawled on the pillow. The noblewoman noticed the women. "IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU ALL ARRIVED! YOU WISH ME TO PERISH DO YOU NOT!" No one said a thing; the women wouldn't have dared to. They also knew that Minah was in agony and couldn't entirely blame her. "WHERE ARE IOANA AND THE MIDWIVES!?"

"Lady Ioana immediately went to get the midwives and to get all that is needed for the birth, my Lady," said one of the midwives. 

Everyone watched as Minah cried and screamed; she even yelled at the ladies-in-waiting. Angelina was behind them women, but Sorina stood beside her. Not only could Angelina take Minah's verbal abuse, but also her screaming. The young woman just wanted her to stop, but that was when she remembered a show she had watched a couple of years back: Call the Midwife. The show showed how women during the 1950s and 1960s handled childbirth at home before slowly getting medicine and technology to make birth easier. Angelina didn't know anything about the medical field or childbirth in general, but she was willing to put what she had learned from a television show to the test. Angelina walked forward toward Minah, who noticed her. "Lady Minah, I know that you are in pain, but laying in the bed won't calm your contractions. I know some techniques to help at least make the pain bearable, even for a moment." The ladies-in-waiting looked at her with shock. They feared their mistress's wrath and dared not to say anything. Minah was breathing heavily as she glared at Angelia, now standing by the bed. Angelina motioned out her hands. "Please, trust me, even if it's just this once. All I want is for you and your unborn child to be okay." Tension was felt throughout the air, but Mina grabbed Angelina's hand to everyone's surprise. Angelina was also surprised but motioned the noblewoman to stand. As Minah stood, her contractions got stronger. "I want you to take deep breaths." She showed Minah, and the noblewoman did the same. 

Sorina couldn't help but feel awe and relief seeing Angelina trying to help Minah. Minah had tried to make it difficult for Angelina. Yet, her friend didn't take it to heart; she was strong. Sorina and the ladies-in-waiting watched as Angelina instructed Minah to walk back and forth while holding her arm and waist. Minah, on the other hand, was still in pain and just wanted it to disappear. At first, the noblewoman thought it was pointless, but the more she practiced the breathing and walking exercises, the more her mind was elsewhere, and the pain wasn't as apparent. 

Then, Minah sat back down on her bed, but Angelina sat behind her and began to massage her back. No one said a word, but Minah felt the massage was comforting. Moments later, Ioana and the other midwives appeared with pans of hot water, cloths, and bowls of herbs. "My lady, we arrived! All of you, please wait outside!"

The ladies-in-waiting left, and Angelina was about to go and follow, but Minah grabbed her hand. "No, you will stay."

Ioana and Angelina looked at one another. However, the older woman didn't want to argue and motioned her to stay by Minah's side. Angelina wasn't prepared for what was to come. Minah was put into a position where she had to sit at the corner of her bed, where two midwives held both her legs. Ioana knelt before Minah, preparing for the newborn. Angelina sat behind Minah, where her head and back touched her chest, and held both hands.

Minah was instructed to push, and she did so; her screams echoed throughout the room. It was a sound that made Angelina shiver. Minah kept pushing, but nothing; she was sweat-filled, and parts of her skin turned pinkish. It felt like the labor had been happening for hours, which was a possibility. Ioana couldn't help but feel worried about the situation. "Lady Minah, you must keep pushing!"

"I can't you foolish old woman! The child doesn't want to come out!"

The labor would continue for a while, but if Minah couldn't push the child out, it would create problems. Angelina stepped in as she gently squeezed the noblewoman's hands. "Lady Minah, please listen! I know you're in pain, and you are tired! I know you want everything to be over! However, you have to give it your all! If you can handle the pain, then you can give life to your baby! You are strong and a soldier! Now give it you're all and push!"

Minah was breathing heavily and was tired from all the pushing, but if she didn't push, then she and her unborn child could die. If she was going to die, she didn't want to do so without seeing her child. The noblewoman sat more upright and kept pushing. Angelina encouraged her as she gently squeezed her mistress's hands. "I see it! I see the head! Go on, Lady Minah!" yelled Ioana.

Minah took deep breaths until she pushed again; she felt the baby slowly being born. Then, with one final push, the infant was pushed out.

A soft yet loud cry echoed in the room; the infant was born.

"C-Congragulations, Lady Minah! You have a son!"