Chapter 12

The next morning, Trouble had the horse's saddled bright and early. Aquila had just barely untangled her hair and rolled out of bed when he handed her a plate of food. “Eat. We must be on our way soon.”
Aquila obediently ate and then tied her hair up. “I am ready.”
Trouble picked up the saddlebags and escorted her out of the door and down the stairs. At the livery, Trouble nodded to the proprietor who returned the gesture as he lifted up the coins Trouble had left the night before.
Aquila groaned as she settled back on the saddle. “How much further do we have to travel?”
“There's a town called Zharyd that is about a week's journey southeast. I know a man there who once offered me a job. It is as good a place as any, I figure,” Trouble informed her as he ducked to make it out of the livery stable's doors.
“A week? Oh my,” Aquila muttered.
Trouble looked back at her sympathetically. “How did you get from Braedoch to Lucia?”
“I had a horse for a couple of days. But she died. After that, I walked.”
“All the way?” Trouble seemed incredulous.
“Yes. All that way.”
“Why did you keep walking? Why did you not stop in a town sooner?”
Aquila shrugged. “I was scared, for the most part. I had been hidden away my whole life. I did not know what outsiders were like. Were they all like Duard? I am so small it would be so easy for them to take advantage of me. So I just kept walking. I killed my food and ventured into a town only once a week if I came upon them. Otherwise I skirted around them and avoided them like the plague.”
Trouble led her eastward out of town before turning south. The town was just on the outskirts of the forestlands and they moved onto prairie lands that unfolded in gently rolling hills. Trees were still sprinkled here and there with a bush or two. Flowers were scant for which Aquila was want for.
Trouble's horse charged through unexplored territory belly high in grass. Aquila anxiously scanned the area for snakes and other critters that might frighten the horses. It would just so happen that her horse would be the first and she would fall and kill herself.
Further the two traveled. At one point Trouble had admonished Aquila to stay close and to never wander anywhere without him. Aquila shrugged wondering what reason she would have to leave him.
Aquila lost track of how many days it had been as they passed through the prairie to desert to mountain range to flat lands, day and night, until they finally walked into the middle of a bustling town that boasted the name of Zharyd. Trouble pulled up in front of an old inn. “Here we are.”
Aquila looked up at the old building and smiled faintly. “Finally.”
Trouble assisted her down. “Go get a room and lie down while I put the horse's to stall. I will bring food so we can eat alone.”
Aquila was only too happy to oblige. Walking into the inn, she was quite impressed with the cleanliness and the elegance of the lobby. It was rather spacious and a large red rug covered the floor. Two elegant chairs with red plush cushions sat on either side of a sideboard that held a locked booksafe that was encrested with a falcon. Along the front wall was a long settle and around the room ornate handforged fleur de lys uplighters brightened the room. A painting of St. Peter and the Apostles hung directly in front of her next to a staircase going up.
Aquila stepped to the front desk and rang the bell as the sign instructed. A tall, thin, middle-aged man appeared from a back room. He looked her up and down. “Do you speak?”
Aquila blinked at him dumbfounded. Finally she found her voice. “Yes, I speak. I need a room for two.”
The man raised a suspicious brow and looked towards the door before nodding and lifting a ledger onto the counter. “Sign here.”
Aquila picked up the quill provided and signed her name. “Thank you.”
“You will be room twelve. Up the stairs and to your right.” The man carelessly dropped a key onto the desk and turned.
Aquila picked it up and left. She could care less of the poor service as long as she got a room.
The room was as elegantly furnished as the lobby. A plush red rug covered the floor except for two feet of hard floor in front of the magnificent fireplace against the far right wall that boasted an elegantly crafted mantel.
A large oak bed was against the wall directly across from the door with matching oak tables on either side. A long iron bound boarded Oak chest sat at the foot of the bed. Two large chairs with cushions that matched the rug sat side by side on the in the middle of the left wall. To the left of the chairs was a long mirror and to the right of the chairs was a Roman Oak cabinet with copper fittings.
Aquila sank on the bed and closed her eyes enjoying the thick quilts that covered the bed. Trouble knocked on the door twenty minutes later and Aquila quickly ran to open it. “I am so glad you are here. I am famished!”
“Well, I thought I was not going to find you. The man at the front desk was refusing to let me know which room you were in,” Trouble growled as he entered with a large tray piled with covered plates.
Aquila chuckled. “He was not very nice when I signed in, myself. How did you find which room I was in?”
“By a little persuasive talk,” Trouble grinned.
Aquila shook her head. “The poor man.”
“Poor man? What about me with this food just trying to find my wife?” Trouble asked incredulously, his lower lip coming out in a playful pout.
Aquila threw her arms around him. “I think he was in greater danger than you.”
“You are right at that. Roast beef?”
“Mm, sounds good to me. Let us eat!”
Trouble set the tray he was carrying on the bed and sat down on the one side, Aquila on the other. Trouble pulled the tops off of the plates to reveal two plates piled with roast beef, stewed carrots, beans, and mashed potatoes. There was also a third plate with steaming apple pie. Aquila's eyes grew big at the sight of the huge helpings.
“Eat what you want. What you do not eat will not be wasted,” Trouble wasted no time in saying.
Aquila giggled. “I am quite sure it will not be if my giant for a husband has anything to say about it.”
Aquila picked up her fork and knife and cut into the roast beef. Trouble watched her eat for a moment before following suit. “One happy giant, yes ma'am. I talked to my friend while I was out and the job is still open. I start first thing tomorrow.”
Aquila paused for a moment to ask, “What job is this?”
Trouble looked at her with a glint in his eye as he slowly chewed his bite of meat. When he finally swallowed it, he replied, “You are looking at the town's newest deputiy.”
“But—“
“Nah, I am just jesting. No, I am a blacksmith.” Trouble winked at her.
Aquila continued eating. Finally, she stopped. “What are we going to do about living arrangements?”
“There is a bedroom, a tub room, kitchen, and living quarters above the shop that has been given to us to use. Seeing as we have nothing but two saddlebags, I can take them over in the morning when I go to work and you can just sign out of the inn as you wake up.”
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Aquila only hate a third of the beef with most of the carrots and mashed potatoes. She managed a couple of bites of apple pie before pushing it all towards Trouble. Laying back, she closed her eyes.
“You are beautiful. Have I ever told you that?”
Aquila looked at him lovingly. “I cannot remember. I could always use to hear it again.”
Trouble picked up the tray and moved it to the table beside the bed. “Sleep well. You are home now.”
“I only hope we have a bed as good as this one,” Aquila mumbled just before she drifted off to sleep.

********

The next morning Aquila signed out of the inn. Trouble had already left earlier that morning but she had chosen to sleep a little longer. Now she walked across the busy street under close scrutiny from numerous passersby.
Just before she made it to the shop, an older gentleman stopped her. Doffing his hat, he smiled. “Good morning, Madam.”
“Good morning, sir,” Aquila gave a small curtsy.
“Are you just passing through or are you and your husband planning on settling down here?” The man replaced his hat over his balding head.
“We are settling down here. My husband is the new blacksmith. I am Aquila—“
“Classye,” Trouble's deep voice interrupted. “I am her husband, S'angard Classye.”
Aquila frowned up at Trouble but the gentleman smiled. “It is a pleasure to meet you two. I am Doctor Reisel Witherfield.”
“Doctor, eh? I imagine we will be using your services in the not too distant future.” Trouble winked down at Aquila.
“How far along are we?” Dr. Witherfield asked.
“A good seven and a half months,” Aquila beamed.
The doctor's eyebrows shot up as he scratched his white goatee. “Seven and a half?”
“Yes sir. My mother—Trouble's mother, thinks it might be twins,” Aquila explained.
“Twins...hm. Likely, but then again...no. It is not possible. Yes, twins I would believe it to be,” the man shook his head, a twinkle in his eye. “Double the blessing, I say.”
Aquila frowned at Trouble questioningly. To Dr. Witherfield, she said, “Yes sir. I could not agree with you more.”
“Well, I shall let you two be on your merry way. I have some patients to see this morning. Good day,” the doctor tipped his hat again and walked off down the boardwalk.
The couple watched the man's retreating back before Trouble ushered Aquila into the barn like doors of the shop. “I am S'angard in public. It was the alias I used several years ago when I thought I might settle down.”
“I hope I can remember. I am still Aquila though, right?”
“Yes. I did not see any reason to change your name.”
Aquila looked around the blacksmith shop that looked much like the one in Kantuuk where they had taken her cuffs off. This one had a wall around three sides of the shop but was open on the left side from the street towards the livery so it was easy to get a horse in to properly shoe it.
Trouble ushered her to the back of the far wall and through a door that hid a staircase. Up the staircase Aquila trudged ahead of Trouble until she found herself on a small landing. Then Trouble lifted her. “Allow me to escort you over the threshold of our new home.”
Trouble opened the door and in they went. It was a small living room that they walked in on. There was what looked like a settle cut in half sitting against the wall to the right, it was so small but it would fit her and Trouble. An old but sturdy square oak table sat in the middle of the room. A small bookshelf sat against the opposite wall beside the entrance to a hallway.
Trouble set Aquila down and she ventured down the hall. The first door to the right was the kitchen. A small fireplace sat to the right with a caulderon hanging over cold ashes. Next to it was a an old chipped cupboard that provided minimal cabinet space. A small table with two old chairs, one missing a leg, sat in the middle of the room. On the far wall was a window that Aquila knew would be its saving glory.
Further down the hall was the tubroom without a tub and at the very end was a small bedroom. Aquila almost melted when she noticed the small bed. Trouble's feet would hang off the end and they could not both fit on it at the same time. A once gloriously fashioned chest now sat at the end of the bed, its lock broken, cracked and rotting wood now its frame. There was one backless chair beside the bed and a window that had been boarded over.
“It is not much to look at, I know, but...we might be able to fix it up after I start working or possibly find another place to live in,” Trouble assured her.
“How will we sleep?”
“That is not as difficult as it seems. I on the bottom, you on top. But I promise that the bed will be the first to be replaced.”
“I want a cradle for the babies, first, then a bed.”
“Consider it done.”

*********

As soon as Trouble had returned to work, Aquila began cleaning up the place. She found a broom and dustpan and had the place swept from end to end and all of the cobwebs removed in less than an hour. Some soap, a bucket, sponge, and water from the well out back and she was on her hands and knees scrubbing the floors.
Trouble's employer, a Rothale Skelumu, appeared for a minute before disappearing. He returned carrying up a large tub with Trouble's assistance.
Aquila beamed at the men. “Oh, how wonderful! Thank you so much, Sir Skelumu, you do not know how much this means to me.”
The man's gray-streaked blonde mustache turned upwards as his blue eyes sparkled. “Aw, 'tis nothing, my lady. It was all I could do for putting you up in a place like this.”
When the men had left, Aquila scrubbed it with the sudsy water and sighed. She would not feel quite so inhumane now.
That afternoon Madam Skelumu appeared at her door. “Good afternoon to you, my lady. Sir Skelumu thought you would need some provisions to last until you could got your first paycheck.”
In she brought an armload of canned and dry goods. Then she pulled something out of the pocket of her apron that hung on her robust figure and set it on the table.
Aquila picked up the wooden object and shook it. Squealing with delight as it rattled, she threw her arms around the woman's shoulders. “Oh, thank you! The babies shall love it.”
The woman looked surprised but smiled pleasantly afterwards. “That they will, my lady.”
Aquila wished she would have stayed and had some of the tea that she had brought, but the woman shook her head, mumbling something about a turkey in the oven. Aquila rummaged through the different cans and items Madam Skelumu had brought.
Pickles, sprouts, beans, olives, a bag of potatoes, peas, flour, salt, sugar, pepper, yeast, tea, and dried meat. It was not much and Aquila doubted that it would get her through the next day, but she placed them inside the cupboard and put a pot of water over the stove. Company or not, she would have her some tea.
That evening Trouble came in to dried meat, sprouts, and peas. Aquila watched his expression expecting to find disappointment there. Instead he smiled. “You are so creative. I am afraid that the last bit of what money I had I spent last night. Sir Skelumu was gracious enough to allow me a bit in advance but I knew it was not going to much like we had been used to. But you will never cease to amaze me in how you can make a good meal out of so little.”
Aquila sighed with relief. That night as they laid in bed, Aquila thought through the next days' meals. The provisions would only last through tomorrow if even for the whole day. Something else would need to be done for the next few days until Trouble got paid.
She was really hungry for some rabbit stew. Hunt. That is what she would have to do. She would go hunting and hopefully bring back some rabbit. Aquila closed her eyes in peace that night.

******

Aquila did not bother to inform Trouble of her plans. An hour after he left, she was dressed and out of the door with Trouble's bow and quiver in one hand and his knife in the other. He had packed a lunch and took it downstairs so he would not be coming in until that evening and would never know she had left until she presented him with a bowl of hot savory rabbit stew.
A few hours later and several failed attempts at killing her a rabbit was leaving her frustrated. Every time she had come upon one she had made some mistake and the rabbit had gotten away unharmed. The first mistake was taking Trouble's bow. It was almost as tall as she was and was difficult to hold still while pulling the string back.
Her second mistake was leaning forward too much and snapping a twig underfoot. Her third mistake was poor stance, causing the string to hit the inside of her forearm sending the arrow off in an odd direction. She was reminded just how long it had been since she had been hunting.
Finally she came upon her sixth rabbit. It was a big one and she grinned. Suddenly pain shot through her middle and she doubled over moaning. The rabbit scampered away.
It was a good minute before the pain completely subsided and Aquila was able to recover. She continued on until she finally spotted another rabbit. Setting an arrow on the line, she carefully aimed and slowly pulled the string back. Boing! Success flooded her senses. She had not stepped on a twig or straightened her left arm.
The rabbit lay only a few feet away from her now, flat on its belly lifeless. She had hit it right on the back of the neck rendering a quick and painless death. She stopped and skinned it right there. There was a stream not too far back and she took the meat back and rinsed it thoroughly from the cool water.
After packing it carefully in brown paper and tucking it away in her robe, she rinsed the arrow in the river and replaced it in the quiver. Only a few minutes later she spotted her next victim and delivered another accurate blow to the back of the neck.
After skinning it and rinsing it in the river, she looked up at the sky. The sun was already going down and it would be almost dark before she got back. She would have to hurry if she wanted to get home before Trouble did.
She was breathless when she walked into the apartment above the blacksmith shop to find Trouble sitting at the table, his face in his hands. “Oh, you are home a little early.”
Trouble stood so fast his chair went crashing to the floor. His wide eyes took in the bow and knife in a quick glance and then he lost it. “Where have you been? Do you not care that I have been here worried sick about you?”
He was angry now and Aquila worried her lower lip. “I thought you would be working.”
“I was. I came upstairs this afternoon to see how you were faring and you were gone. I waited here all afternoon expecting the worst. And here you are with my bow. What have you been doing?”
“The provisions Madam Skelumu brought were not enough to cover us the week. I thought you might enjoy some rabbit stew so I went hunting. I did not think you would notice my absence or I would have told you so. I am sorry,” Aquila explained, dropping her eyes to the floor.
“Rabbit stew? You went hunting? With my bow? That thing is way too big for you!” Trouble almost roared. “Aquila, we are in Stymphalid territory. People go hunting every day and are never heard from again. You are never to leave this apartment without my permission, do you understand me?”
Aquila mutely shook her head and dropped the weapons onto the small table. She looked up and opened her mouth to apologize but Trouble's angry eyes silenced her. He was standing tall and straight, his muscles tense, his jaw working slowly.
Instead she slipped over to the stove and pulled out the paper packaging. Working quickly and efficiently, she had the meat and vegetables cooked and stewing in broth before she ventured to look back over her shoulder. Trouble was gone.
Dropping down at the table, she burst into tears. An hour later she wiped her eyes and got up to stir the stew. Pain shot through her middle and she was forced to fall back into the chair. What if something was wrong and that was why she was having these pains? She could be losing the babies or worse. Possibly her life could be in jeopardy and Trouble was not here to get her to the doctor.
The pain ceased once more and Aquila took a deep breath and stood. Dipping two bowl fulls out, she placed them on the table with silverware and sat down to wait.
Hours passed and Trouble never showed. Finally she dumped his bowl back into the pot and ate hers cold and miserable. What she had so been looking forward to tasted bland to her dull senses. This time the tears flowed silently.
She pushed the stew onto the back of the stove to keep it warm and retreated to their bedroom. She was ready for bed only minutes later. Curling up into bed, she listened for Trouble to come in. Her eyes slowly drifted closed, exhaustion overcoming her will to wait for his return.

********

When Aquila woke up the next morning, she found Trouble's bow hanging on nails above the door. The pot was empty and clean and a note was on the table. “Ate breakfast. At work. —T”
Aquila quickly ate a bite and dressed. She pulled a blanket around her shoulders and then went downstairs to find Trouble.
The object of her search was bent working over a horse's shoe. He barely looked up, grunting his recognition of her presence around the nails he had in his teeth.
Aquila looked around the shop and was glad to see they were alone. “Where did you—did you sleep last night?”
He nodded.
“I thought I would have woken when you came in.”
Trouble did not respond. Taking one of the nails from his teeth, he positioned it in the horse's foot. Aquila jumped at each swing of the hammer.
“Did you make you lunch or shall I bring some down for you?”
“I brought some.”
Aquila shifted uncomfortably. He was still sore at her and she wanted to cry all over again.
“Madam Skelumu said that she had some cloth that she would not be using. Said you could use it to make baby clothes. They live in the brown brick house at the end of the street. Said she would expect you sometime before lunch.”
Aquila nodded and turned. Forlorn and dejected, Aquila sauntered out the door and down the street. Forgetting that she did not even know how to make baby clothes, she was distracted with Trouble. She had made one life threatening mistake and he acted as if she had been unfaithful to him in some way.
Aquila found herself knocking at the described door before she knew it. Madam Skelumu appeared and gave a curt smile. “This way.”
Aquila mutely followed the woman down a dark hallway to a back room. The room smelled musty and Aquila nearly gagged from the dust that hung in the air. The robust woman stopped all of a sudden and stooped to pick up a sack. Turning around she thrust it into Aquila's arms. “Thank you,” Aquila managed to choke out.
Madam Skelumu nodded. “I have much to do this morning.”
Aquila quickly turned and almost ran out of the house. Madam Skelumu was certainly not a friendly type of woman. She was only just outside of the woman's fence when the ever familiar pain shot through her middle. She thought during these moments that she should visit the doctor but they passed within a minute or so and she always managed to talk herself out of it.
As at other times, the pain ceased. Walking as fast as she could, Aquila breathed in the fresh air as she tried to keep her blanket wrapped snuggly around her shoulders. Slipping around through the back, she avoided Trouble and went straight upstairs and dropped the bag in the living room.
Aquila ran for her room and thrust herself on the bed and sobbed once more. The noon meal passed but she ate nothing. It was almost time for the evening meal before she got up and ventured out of her room.
Her tears were dry and she had supper almost finished when two strong arms encircled her large stomach. She wanted to cry again as he bent down and tenderly kissed her neck. “I am so sorry. I will never do such a thing again, I promise. I did not know you would be so upset over it.”
“I know, and I am sorry I took so long in forgiving you. You know I did not get an ounce of sleep last night due to my stubborn pride? It was not easy for you, I am sure,” Trouble apologized as he gently danced her around the kitchen.
Aquila placed one hand over his and with the other she ran through his hair. “All is forgiven, my love. Let us leave it in the past and enjoy tonight.”
“Amen.”
It was almost an hour before Trouble hesitantly let her go to move to the table. “What is for dinner?”
“Fried rabbit, mashed potatoes, and turnips,” Aquila responded as she quickly set the table with two steaming plates.
“Mm.”

******

Aquila frowned as she looked at the material, her scissors, needle, and thread. How was she supposed to do this? She had never sewed an inch in her life much less cut the fabric out for one.
She sat there all day trying to figure it out but with no success. It was this way that Trouble found her that evening. Lost in her thoughts, she jumped when he tapped her on the shoulder.
“I am sorry, Dear, I did not mean to scare you. What are you working on?” Trouble asked.
“I was trying to figure out how to make baby clothes. Oh, no! I forgot dinner.” Aquila's shoulders slumped as she looked down at the untouched material.
Trouble chuckled. “I forgot about that when Madam Skelumu offered the material.”
Aquila was not amused. “My baby will go around naked because I am a terrible excuse for a mother!”
“Babies. Oh, which reminds me. Doctor Witherfield stopped in today and said that he would be by tomorrow to visit with you. He wants to get to know you a little bit and do a small exam in preparation for their arrival next month or so.”
“Do doctor's sew?” Aquila questioned as her brow knit in a frown.
Trouble almost died laughing. “They sew up cuts and wounds but not clothes!”
“Do not laugh at me. I am just trying to figure out how this is going to work.” Aquila stood and stomped on his foot. “I do not find this funny.”
Trouble seemed untouched by her attack but sobered. A twinkle still in his eye, he planted a kiss on the top of her head. “I am sure we will find something for them to wear. For now, I am hungry.”

*********

The next morning, Aquila made the climb up the stairs of the general store to the Doctor's office. She was about to knock when it flew open. Stunned and taken aback, the doctor looked her up and down. “How—how did you get up here?”
“I climbed up the steps one at a time,” Aquila frowned. “How else would I have gotten up here?”
“I must say I would never have expected you to make that climb in your condition. I was just on my way over to your home. But since you are here, come in and sit down.” The doctor opened the door wider and stepped back.
Aquila obeyed and found a comfortable chair with a cushioned back to settle down in. “I find the exercise quite invigorating.”
“That is good. Exercise during your pregnancy is a good idea. Delivering a baby, or in your case, babies is not an easy job,” the doctor was sure to inform her.
Aquila nodded as she looked around the open room. Along the far wall was two beds only a few feet apart with a table holding a lamp in between. Curtains hung from hooks on the ceiling to the side that could be moved to close off the beds from public view.
To the right of the door, in front of Aquila, sat a long narrow oak table and positioned around it were chairs much like the one she sat in. To the left of the door was a big desk with a chair in it. A cabinet stood beside the desk that held countless vials of herbs and medicinal potions. Lamps hung every few feet around the room allowing for no shadows which helped spread a happy atmosphere on the occupants.
“You said you had about one and a half months left?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hm. With twins it is more likely that they will come sooner.”
“One month?”
“It is possible that you will hold out for another month but I want you to be prepared: they could come as soon as next week.”
Aquila blinked. Next week? That was way too early. They would not survive. The pains. Should she tell the doctor about the pains. “But—“
Doctor Witherfield reached over and laid a reassuring hand on hers. “I know. There is always the fear of underdevelopment with a baby being born so early but, since you have held out as long as you have, I do not believe we will have any major complications.”
Aquila sighed in relief, her hand going to her heart. “I do pray you are right. I could not bare to lose even one of them.”
Doctor Witherfield talked to her some more about her life in general before Aquila realized it was almost noon. “Oh, please excuse me. I must be sure my husband has lunch.”
“Absolutely,” Doctor Witherfield said as he rose. “I also have other appointments I need to tend to. It was very good to be able to get to know a little more about you.”
Aquila nodded and left. Just as she walked into the blacksmith shop she realized just how tired she was. When she found Trouble happily eating away at leftovers from the night before, she went upstairs and fell asleep.

**********

As Aquila entered into the next week she became fearful at every movement her babies made or every slight pain her body seemed to inflict on her. Pain shooting through her middle was a regular occurrence during the day. It happened most days about 3 times.
One day she even woke in the middle of the night gasping pain. That time it had alerted Trouble and he wanted to take her to the doctor but Aquila shook her head and convinced him that she was perfectly all right.
Still she carried on. One week turned into two and she was almost certain she would make it another month when she neared the end of the second week since her visit with the doctor.
Then one evening as she sat in a rocker Trouble had managed to fashion out of some old wood behind the shop the pain seized her. Expecting it to end like it normally did, she was quite alarmed when it did not.
She was doubled over which put her off balance and she was going headfirst onto the ground with no way to stop herself when Trouble appeared from the back room and grabbed her. “All right, we are going to the doctor right now!”
“It—normally—stops after—a minute,” Aquila gasped out.
Trouble lifted her into his arms and calmly but quickly took the stairs to ground level. The pain stopped all of a sudden just as he stepped outside of the shop and Aquila breathed deeply. “It stopped.”
“We are still going.”
“But it sto—“
“No. I am not going to listen to that talk. You were in serious pain and I do not want to take any chances.”
Just as Trouble started up the stairs to the doctor's office, pain seized her again but this time she cried out. “Trouble!”
Trouble was starting to panic this time and was almost running up the stairs despite his heavy load. “Doctor!” The door was locked and Trouble shifted Aquila to one arm and with his free one began banging on the door. “Doctor Witherfield!”