Tatiana al'Pillan, Amyrlin
A Day of New Beginnings

Tatiana waddled through the halls of the Tower of Way. Her stomach bulged out in front, making one wonder why the tiny Amyrlin didn’t topple over from the weight.

She spied a bench just down the isle, pine branches twined around it for Yule decoration. Smiling and calling a greeting to those she passed, she made her way determinedly toward the bench.

“Mother, aren’t you supposed to be resting?” came an exasperated voice from behind her.

Grinning, Tanya shot a look over her shoulder. It was Rash, just as she’d thought. “Hm…I’m not sure. Quince did tell me something when he left me in our room. But I really think that the babies are causing me to lose my memory.”

Rash snorted, disbelieving. “You were addled before you got yourself pregnant. Why else would you have married Quince? Besides, if something happened to you or the kids and the M’Hael knew I’d seen you and not made you go back to bed, he’d separate my handsome head from my shoulders. And then what would those buxom serving wenches do down at the tavern?”

Tanya shook her head, giggling. Her long black braid swung back and forth. “I’m fine,” she insisted.

Finally making it to the bench, she plopped down heavily, puffing. “I’m going to sit here for a bit, then continue on. I’m just peachy, so shoo. Go on.” She made a shooing motion with her hands as she tried to wave him away.

Rash shook his head. “You’re going back to bed, Mother.”

Tanya frowned fiercely. “I don’t want to go to bed. I’m not sleepy.” She sniffled. “I want my husband!” Her violet eyes filled with tears.

“Now, Tanya…calm down.” He patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. “If you go sit down in the cafeteria or the library or a sitting room I won’t make you go to bed. I just don’t want any harm to come to you.”

Tanya wiped away her tears with the back of one small hand and sighed. “It’s my body. I think I’d know if I were taxing myself. They’re my babes, in my stomach. When you start carrying babes in your stomach, then we’ll talk, Mr. Rashadin Lorian! And furthermore,” she began, warming to the subject and warming to the heady rush of anger in her veins, “I don’t see…ohhh…” She moaned, her eyes widening. “They’ve never done that before.”

“What? What happened? What’s the matter?”

Tanya shook her head. “They must be jumping around in there. Surprised me, is all.” She conveniently left off the fact that she’d felt small pains of that nature since the early morning and that it had surprised her so much because it had been more intense than the others. She bit her lip, hoping that her husband hadn’t felt that one. The others had been too slight to be felt through the bond, but that one would have been felt had he been paying attention.

Rash raised a questioning eyebrow but didn’t ask her any further questions. “Come along, Mother. I’ll drop you off in one of the sitting rooms. We’ll find some of your Aes Sedai friends for you to talk to.”

“I want to stay here.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No. You’re coming with me.” He reached down and tugged her to her feet, making sure to be as careful as possible. When he’d pulled her to her feet, he nudged her down the hallway.

“But…Rash! I don’t want to go!” she shouted.

“Too bad,” he told her.

“I am the Amyrlin Seat, release me this instant!” she demanded.

He ignored her, obviously not impressed with her title or her imperious tone of voice.

“Rash, please…ohhh…” She stopped and laid her hand flat against her tummy. She felt a nudge against her back and frowned. “Stop it.”

“Move along, Mother.”

Tanya began to walk again, her hand still against her stomach. She looked over her shoulder at the young man who walked behind her. “Rash, can I see your hand, please?”

Rash raised an eyebrow, but held out his hand.

“Thank you.” She latched onto his hand and held tight, increasing her grip whenever she felt the need.

They made it to one of the sitting rooms without event and she willingly went into one of the comfortable chairs. She patted Rash’s arm and smiled. “You’re very sweet.”

If anything, he looked affronted by what she’d said, not pleased.

“Tanya!”

She heard her husband’s bellow from where she sat and felt him get closer and closer through the bond. He must have been running.

“Tanya, my love, what’s the matter? Why are you in pain?” He skidded to a halt next to her chair and looked her up and down.

“It’s nothing, love. A wee bit of indigestion.”

“Don’t lie to me, Tanya. I can feel your pain.”

“I’m not lying.”

Quince blinked a couple times, looked at her strangely, then blinked again. “You’re in labor.”

“I’m not!”

“You are. And it must have started early today. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m not in labor!”

“Don’t argue with me. Get up. Come on.” When she didn’t get up quick enough to suit him, he scooped her up into his arms and strode through the Tower hallways. “Rashadin, follow me!” he barked.

“Put me down, I’m not in labor! I’m not going to have the babies. I’m not ready yet!”

Her husband chuckled as he dumped her on their bed. “I don’t think the baby cares if you’re ready or not. He’s coming out weather you want him to or not.”

“I’m not ready yet! I refuse to have these babies! Go away!” She picked up the nearest thing, a paperweight, and chucked it at her husband. “Go away, go away!”