Epilogue

Two Years Later

My scream of pain cut through the night air. Another scream joined mine, the cry of my baby, which I had been laboring for hours to deliver.

I glanced down at the hands of the midwife, seeing my perfect little red baby squirming in her hands, covered in while and bloody goo. It was a girl, and she was beautiful.

Tears blinded me, strong emotions of protectiveness and overwhelming love stealing my breath away. "My daughter...is she healthy?" My voice trembled.

"She is beautiful and healthy, my lady," the midwife said as she cut the cord and rubbed the baby with a blanket, bringing forth a loud and high pitched cry from the baby.

The midwife chuckled. "I always feel horrible for these poor wee ones when they are born. Torn away from the warmth and safety of their mother's womb to be thrust into a cold and dangerous world. Poor dears." She finished cleaning the babe and brought her to me, lying her on my breast.

The child's face was wrinkled, her eyes tightly closed. Having her little cheek pressed to my skin seemed to calm her, and her cries ceased, her blue eyes blinking up at me.

"Hello, beautiful girl," I whispered, stroking the baby's cheek with my fingertip. She made a gurgling sound and curled her tiny fingers around mine. I kissed her soft little head, and murmured, "I've wanted you since I knew what babies were. I've been waiting for you."

I had wanted a daughter ever since the day my mother told me how babies were conceived. When I gave birth to Toki, I was slightly disappointed that he was a boy, but that feeling was gone before I even really got a chance to consider it. And now I was holding my daughter, who I'd longed for since I was a young girl. She was a beautiful gift.

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Once everything was cleaned up and I had rested for a while, Asvald came into the longhouse, three year old Toki holding tightly to his hand.

"Quiet now, Toki," Asvald was murmuring to our son as they entered. Toki's eyes were wide, fixed on the little bundle in my arms. I raised my eyes to Asvald, who smiled warmly at me.

"Come here, Toki," I said and he came to my side, staring into the red face of his sister.

"'Tis a baby, Mama," he whispered in awe.

I smiled. "Aye, it is." I looked up at Asvald again. "It's your sister."

Asvald grinned and came to me, leaning over to press his lips to mine. When he pulled away, he whispered, "Thank you for this sweet little girl. I couldn't be any happier, my love."

More tears filled my eyes, tears of absolute joy. Asvald gently lifted our daughter into his arms, gazing tenderly down into her face. "What will you name her, Eachna?"

I didn't answer right away. A part of me wanted to give her an Irish name, while I wanted to honor her father's heritage as well. "I want to name her Britta," I said finally, choosing a Norse name.

Asvald looked at me and smiled, placing Britta in my arms once again. They had felt empty without her there. "A perfect name for her," Asvald said and kissed my forehead, then Britta's.

Toki climbed up on the bed beside me and reached out to poke Britta's face. I caught his hand to stop him. "No, Toki. You may not touch her face," I said firmly, then lifted one of Britta's hands, bringing it to Toki's. I helped him stick out his first finger, and Britta wrapped it in her strong grip.

Toki's eyes widened and he looked up at me. "Red baby strong, Mama."

I laughed softly and ruffled his blond hair. "I know, she is strong."

Britta opened her eyes and stared at Toki. Toki stared back. I held my breath. This was the first time Britta was seeing her brother.

Toki looked away from his little sister and up at me. "The red baby beautiful." Before I could stop him, he leaned down and placed a wet kiss on Britta's red little forehead.

I glanced at Asvald, who looked like he was trying exceedingly hard not to cry.

In the moment, everything became perfect. I felt like I would never feel the pain of my past ever again and I would never regret being brought here to be Asvald's wife.

Family. It is a word that defies distance; it even defies time. It has the power to heal and the power to destroy, to bring happiness and sorrow. It is what everyone wants to be surrounded by while lying on their deathbeds. My children each have asked what gave me the will to survive and the courage to love, and I took their hands and looked into their eyes. "'Twas you, my loves."