Two of a Kind
Two of a KInd
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interlude is moderately AU involving Fem!Cousland/Cailan Theirin and the events
happening before and after the attack on Highever Castle as well as Ostagar. The
timeline does jump around a good deal in this tale. So bear with me.
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years prior to Ostagar
A tortured scream came from the lips of the writhing female
as she bore down with the contraction wracking her small body. She felt as if
it would tear her in two while she labored to bring her child into the world.
She gripped the bedclothes tightly, exhaling sharply, breathing as her mother
told her to. She pushed for all she was worth, screaming through the blinding
pain as the baby’s head emerged. One more push expelled the babe from her body.
She moaned in relief as the infant was placed on her belly. Thick blood coated
its tiny body along with a filmy white sheen.
“It’s a boy,” someone exclaimed happily as the newborn let
out a thin cry, drawing its first breaths.
Kainen touched her son gently with shaky hands before
letting out a startled wail. Promptly the wet nurse scooped up the infant as
the midwife examined Kainen once more. “You are not done yet, my lady. Your son
has a twin.” It only seemed fair that Kainen would produce twins since she
herself had a twin brother, Kaeden.
Kainen was exhausted. She dug her fingernails deeper and
deeper into the bedclothes, piercing the fabric of the feather mattress. She
rolled her head from side to side, moaning loudly. The contractions assailed
her mercilessly, driving her to push for all she was worth.
mused, two beautiful little babies sired
by the man she loved but would truly never have.
Another scream, another push, Kainen gathered the last of
her strength. She bore down, working her way through one more mighty contraction,
she felt the child’s head breach her body. One
more push, she told herself and this child would be born.
“It’s another boy,” the midwife cooed as she cut the cord
and swaddled the crying child in a soft blanket. “Twin boys…you have been truly
blessed.”
Yes, Kainen knew she had blessed…truly blessed…to have
everything she did; a loving family, a grand castle as a home and the love of a
larger than life man who happened to be King. The only thing that would have
made it better was if she had been his Queen.
As soon as her womb was cleared of babes and afterbirth, Old
Nan helped Kainen to sit up, settling the twins in Kainen’s arms, nestling them
near her breasts. The nanny turned cook instructed her once young charge how to
nurse her young and soon Kainen had a twin latched to both breasts, nursing
greedily.
Eyes glittered with pride as she noticed his golden head
entering the room. Kainen beamed, “Cailan, come meet the twins.”
The young King sat down beside her on the edge of the bed,
“They are beautiful, my sweet. I have decided on names. We shall call our sons
Ciaran and Carrigan.” Cailan leaned down, placing a soft kiss on each of the
infant’s heads before gazing wondrously into Kainen’s eyes. “Never has there
lived a luckier man than I.”
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