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Logging started for Blitzed:#7thseaic on Saturday, 12 September 2020 19:54:04 British Summer Time
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** ChanServ sets mode(s) -o  Molly
** Morgan has joined #7thseaic
(Molly) (@Morgan) I'm losing hope
(Molly) (Claudia) It's been a long time for that much blood loss. But we've made it through worse odds.
(Molly) (@Morgan) _we_ have, aye
(Molly) * Claudia nods
(Molly) (Claudia) Don't give up, not until there's absolutely no chance
(Molly) * @Morgan nods
(Molly) (Claudia) **The silence that falls between them is the main reason he hears it, a faint jingling of a service bell in the exact pattern in which Molly knocks on doors
* Morgan swears viciously
(Molly) C: Time to go?
(Molly) **There's a flurry of activity as people appear from the kitchen door looking for him
* Morgan gets up
(Molly) **Ana yells** Morgan, you're wanted upstairs!
* Morgan runs towards the house
(Molly) **he's about half way to the back door of the kitchen when he hears Molly's voice in his mind
(Molly) *She sounds tired, almost embarrassed, but not weak "Liebes herz?"
(Morgan) "blossom, I'm on my way"
(Molly) "I am sorry. I thought I was strong enough and brave enough-" there's a pause, and he senses a massive wave of pain sweep through her, though he only feels a fraction of it in his own body, similar to a glancing blow  from a knee to the groin
(Morgan) "just hold on, I'll be there soon"
(Molly) "I am tired, and I am very scared… and... and I cannot endure this without you any longer"
* Morgan batters his way through the kitchen, running through the halls
(Molly) **fortunately for them, no-one gets in his way. The door to the nursery is open
* Morgan runs into the nursery
(Molly) **Marta is coming out of the bedroom as he arrives. Her expression is serious but there's no sign of panic on it
(Molly) M: Let her know you're here, but we need to talk.
* Morgan walks into the bedroom
(Morgan) I'm here blossom, Marta wants to talk to me... can you hold on?
(Molly) **The curtains are drawn, the room is lit by candles, the bed appears to have been stripped and layered, only pillows remaining. Molly nods, sat on the edge of the bed wearing a navy dressing gown. She's even paler, even her lips. Yet she smiles at him
(Molly) Of course, liebling
* Morgan nods, moving back out to Marta
* Molly motions for him to move across the room. She looks tense now
** You're now known as Marta
* Morgan goes to her
(Marta) *she speaks quietly* She insisted that you come. I wouldn't normally permit a man anywhere near this, but I need her to get the cast out as soon as possible now, it is getting critically urgent.
(Morgan) Tell me what you need of me
(Marta) I don't have the time or capacity for protecting your feelings or sensibilities, I am sorry. If you're here, you will be treated like a midwifery assistant, not a husband. I won't give you platitudes, the situation is way too dangerous now for that.
* Morgan nods
(Marta) If I give you an order,  any order, you do it, even if you don't agree with it or understand it. This is a battlefield, and I need my commands followed to the letter. Things can change very fast.
* Marta waits for either question or agreement
* Morgan nods again
(Marta) She is scared, and is now working against the pain, not with it as she needs to.
(Morgan) Alright
(Marta) The other issue is that a decision needs to be made about manual removal. If the lining has not passed in half an hour, Molly will have lost a great deal of blood.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I take it manual removal results in her not being able to carry children
(Marta) If I remove it, it will be very painful and invasive for Molly, and the risk of haemorrhage increases, but so does the chance I can save her, at the cost of lost ability to bear children. It isn't a certainty, but it is a big risk
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I understand
(Marta) Given your station and your duty to produce heirs, you need to ask yourself what Molly's quality of life will be like when you have to start producing acknowledged children by a mistress, and whether she can endure that. If you think that too much for her, then it might be kinder to let her go peacefully.
(Morgan) Marta, I have abandoned all of this once, and if thats what is required to live peacefully with her, I shall do it again with no second thought
* Marta nods slowly
(Marta) Alright. We can give her a little more time to do it herself, and the other midwife has been sent for. If it cannot be removed, either by Molly or by me, you need to be prepared for what will happen. She will stop feeling the pain, and become very tired, cold, and quiet, and she will slip away from us. For her it will be like falling asleep.
* Marta looks very solemn, and it is clear this is a big possibility
(Morgan) A small mercy, but if it must come I am gladdened she will feel no pain
* Marta nods
(Marta) It will be peaceful. You will stay throughout?
(Morgan) Through whatever time brings us
* Marta nods
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(Marta) I am going to need to examine her in a minute. I have tried to avoid it because it caused a lot of distress earlier, connected to a doctor's visit to Carleon?
* @Morgan nods
* Marta watches him briefly
(Marta) There is going to be a lot of blood, I won't be shielding you from that. If you are going to vomit or faint, excuse yourself. There isn't space for me to have to work around you like that.
(@Morgan) understood
(Marta) Alright. Wait here and take a minute to compose yourself whilst I do the examination.
* @Morgan nods
* Marta walks back to the bedroom, gently shutting the door, clearly expecting he will do what he's been asked
* @Morgan sheds his coat, putting it in a corner
(Marta) **Whilst he is waiting, he gets a flash of her memories. She lies on the expensive couch in the Doctor's office. He is brusque, and orders her to hold up her dress and petticoats by her chest. He seems annoyed by the slow, humiliated way she parts her knees as instructed. (MTF)
(Marta) He places a hand firmly on her lower belly, and two impatient fingers roughly inside her, a shocking intimacy she had not anticipated, pushing both hands towards each other. The pain is overwhelming, and everything goes black. From the bedroom in the nursery, he hears her sob. Marta talks to her, reassuring her*
* @Morgan waits, scowling at the wall
(Marta) **Marta calls him back in
* @Morgan enters the room quietly
* Marta looks at Morgan
(Marta) Do you have anyone you need to get word to, or anything the staff can get you?
* @Morgan shakes his head
* Marta is sat on the edge of the bed, looking solemn
(@Morgan) they can wait
** You're now known as Molly
(Molly) Marta: The good news is that things are favourable for me to attempt a removal, so in thirty minutes that is what we will do if nothing changes. I'll give you two a few minutes, shout if you need me
* @Morgan nods, moving to Molly
(Molly) *Marta goes out into the parlour
* Molly holds out her hand, smiling as warmly as she can
(Molly) I missed you
* @Morgan takes her hands, kissing them
(@Morgan) and I you blossom
(Molly) Take your boots off, liebes herz. Come and sit on the bed with me
* @Morgan does so, moving to the bed
(Molly) I am sorry I could not manage this alone
* @Morgan shakes his head
* Molly 's eyes fill with tears
(@Morgan) That is of no consequence blossom
* Molly watches him
(Molly) I am grateful you're here.
(@Morgan) I would not want to be anywhere else
(Molly) It won't be pretty. I should imagine there was a little more blood when you chopped James' arm off, but not by much. *She smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes*
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) Then there will be blood, it is the way it will be
* Molly smiles, then it turns to a frown. He can see the fear there before she closes her eyes and the pain comes. It's different before, where she was breathing through it and riding it, now it encompasses her, her whole body tense. Her breathing is faster, sharper
* @Morgan raises a hand to her hair, stroking it
* Molly nods slightly, and her breathing becomes a little deeper, a little more mastered
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* Molly looks at him when the cramping has passed, and the vulnerability there is almost as hard to watch as the pain was
(Molly) Thank you
* @Morgan shakes his head, moving his hand to stroke her shoulders
(@Morgan) You need to work with the pain blossom
* Molly smiles a little
(Molly) But it bloody hurts
(@Morgan) I know it does... but fighting against it is stopping your body doing what it needs to
* Molly nods
(Molly) I will try
* @Morgan nods, stroking her back gently
(@Morgan) I know you will
(Molly) **The pain comes again, and compared to when he visited earlier they are much closer together. She changes position to kneel on the bed, resting her head on his shoulder. This time her breathing is a little better
* @Morgan moves his hand to hold her head, speaking quietly
(@Morgan) Thats it blossom, don't try to swim against it
* Molly nods a little, the pain passing
(Molly) It feels like drowning, there's just so much pain
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) if you try to swim against it, you will drown... if you swim with it, eventually you will reach the shore
* Molly smiles, though there's a sadness in it
(Molly) And here you are again, trying to save me from drowning once more
* @Morgan nods
* Molly rests her head again, and this time she is more focused, leaning into the pain rather than pulling away from it. Marta sticks her head around the door, just watching how Molly breathes and moves, then checks Morgan's expression
* @Morgan looks at Marta solemnly before putting his chin atop Molly's head
(@Morgan) There now blossom, thats it
* Molly 's tension drops further, making a low Mmm noise through the pain. It subsides as expected,  and she exhales slowly, moving back enough to look at him
(Molly) Better?
(Molly) **Marta comes in quietly, bringing with her fresh cloths
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(@Morgan) Well done blossom
* Molly looks embarrassed, looking down at the bed to his left, but tolerates the swapping over of the cloth. Though he doesn't see it, he can hear the scarily heavy weight of it as it hits the bottom of the pail. Marta washes her hands in the water bowl.
* @Morgan watches Marta
(Molly) **The water off her hands in the candlelight looks similar to Molly's hair. She looks a bit less tense
(Molly) **The pain comes again, and again she makes the same noise, and just uses his shoulder to rest against as she breathes through it.
* @Morgan rubs her shoulders again, murmuring to her
* Molly looks up at him
(Molly) *once it has passed
(Molly) *her voice is soft* Liebes herz?
(@Morgan) yes blossom
(Molly) Were you there, when Jana was born?
(@Morgan) No, I was outside staying out of the way
(Molly) **In the background, Marta takes the pail out into the parlour
(Molly) Did you wish you had been?
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) perhaps. It is not something I have thought much about
* Molly sighs a moment before putting her head to his shoulder, preparing herself for the pain that inevitably comes
* @Morgan resumes rubbing her back in circular motions
(Molly) **She gets through it easier this time, breathing with it, more relaxed. When it is done, she looks up at him
(Molly) If we get through this with everything in our favour, will you be there when I have to go through this sort of pain again?
(@Morgan) If that is what you wish blossom, of course
(Molly) I do not want to have to do this alone
(@Morgan) Then I shall be at your side
(Molly) Thank you **She manages the pain well this time, better than she has done so far, just taking his support as needed*
* @Morgan murmurs to her until the pain passes
(Molly) **Marta watches again silently, glancing at her watch whilst Molly has her eyes closed. She gives Morgan a brief reassuring smile
* Molly frowns a little
(Molly) If... *She looks sad, the implication clear* there are letter on the table I want you to ensure everyone gets
(@Morgan) As you wish blossom
(Molly) There are four or five for you
* Molly looks solemn
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) Alright
(Molly) I have to know you won't put yourself through all that again
(@Morgan) All what, blossom?
* Molly looks at him
(Molly) The guilt, the risks you took in Tawstock
* @Morgan nods slowly
(@Morgan) Varick will need me.
* Molly nods. The conversation is broken by more pain. It seems to last longer this time, but her control is better, truly working with it now
(Molly) **when it passes* He will. To lose three mothers within a matter of days will hit him very hard.
(@Morgan) That is not yet certain blossom. Besides, he asked me to look after him until he is grown earlier... and then asked for chocolate cake
* Molly laughs
(Molly) No matter what, make sure he always gets chocolate cake, okay?
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) in the midst of my father wanting to scold him, I managed to secure chocolate cake
(Molly) **The first tear hits his shirt almost before he's even seen it be shed
(Molly) He will be strong and fine, and a wonderful Freiarr for Koln
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) aye, he will
* Molly rides out the next pain, and with it the tears flow faster. What Molly doesn't notice is Marta watching, nodding to herself
* @Morgan hums softly to her, stroking her hair
(Molly) *She is still crying once the pain has passed* You should find him a mother, if it comes to it.
(@Morgan) I'm not womanly enough?
(Molly) *Marta motions to Morgan a moment, head tilting towards the parlour. Molly laughs
(Molly) I would not have had 8 wonderful weeks of marriage with you if you were
* @Morgan smiles, kissing her crown
(@Morgan) I'll be back in a moment blossom
* Molly nods, smiling
** You're now known as Marta
* @Morgan stands, walking into the parlour
* Marta watches him
(Marta) This is going much better. This emotional bit is good. Very soon she will want to push, just like with birthing,  and then Theus willing, the lining will be out
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) what do you need of me?
(Marta) Exactly what you are doing. Encourage her, tell her whatever you need to just to keep her happy. But be aware that the moment the lining is out, we need to move fast. Molly knows what to do. You need to just sit next to her and support her. It is vital that she does not talk or move, and stays very calm
(@Morgan) And then you wish me to...
(Marta) That first minute after the expulsion is the most dangerous point of the whole procedure. If she haemorrages, just hold her and let her know how loved she is, because it could be very quick...
* Marta watches his expression
* @Morgan bows his head, closing his eyes briefly before nodding
* Marta puts a hand on his arm
(Marta) I know this is hard, but you are doing a wonderful job
(@Morgan) I will do whatever is required to bring her comfort
(Marta) I will do my best to stem any haemorrhage, but there is no guarantees.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) I understand
(Marta) On the other hand, we may be lucky, and she may not bleed at all. If she does not bleed in that first minute, her chances of being fine are 75%
* @Morgan nods
* Marta nods
(Marta) Questions?
* @Morgan shakes his head, taking a deep breath
* Marta heads back in, waiting until Morgan is back to provide comfort before replacing the linens again, the unmistakable sharp, metallic tang of blood in the air. Molly still looks teary
** You're now known as Molly
(@Morgan) Sorry blossom, I needed telling off for giving Varick chocolate cake before his evening meal
* Molly looks as if she wants to talk, but instead she just breaks down and sobs against his chest. It isn't the first time he has seen her cry,  but it is by far the worst
* @Morgan strokes her hair, quietly reassuring her
(Molly) When... when... *She can't complete her sentence, and between the uncontrollable crying and the pain that sweeps through her, she is incoherent
(Molly) **Marta watches on,  completely unflustered by the tears
* @Morgan takes her hand, squeezing it
(@Morgan) its alright blossom, take your time
(Molly) **She breathes through the pain as he coached her to. Again the pain seems longer, stronger. She's still crying when it stops
(Molly) When... you... fall... in... love... again..., don't... forget... me..., okay...?
(@Morgan) That isn't going to happen blossom, and I could never _ever_ forget you
* @Morgan strokes her hair
* Molly  smiles a little
(Molly) You will. It is in your nature to love
(@Morgan) I have Varick, there's plenty of love there... 
* Molly nods a little. There's a hint of what the fake Kurt Cristoban once labelled her "Eisen Determination" there
(Molly) There's so much I wish you to know, and so little time
(@Morgan) sssshhhhh, I know all I need to blossom
(Molly) Do you?
(@Morgan) You love me... I love you. That is all I need
(@Morgan) And Varick loves the three of us... you, me... cake
(Molly) **She nods as the pain comes, and she gets through it Well, that determination helping. She fidgets more this time, and the noise she makes is more serious, more raw.
* @Morgan pushes her hair out of her face, rubbing her back once more
(Molly) **Marta briefly moves from her unobtrusive position out into the parlour, then he hears the parlour door open, and a conversation he could listen to if he focuses
* @Morgan tries
(Molly) M: has Hilda arrived? Ana: Not yet M: Okay, send someone to wait at the stables. As soon as she's here, she comes straight up, no messing around.
* Molly just rests against his shoulder listening to his heartbeat
(Molly) My favourite sound in the world
* @Morgan nods
* Molly 's pain comes again,  the gap closing. She breathes through it, but again it is different, a slight bearing down
* @Morgan hums to her again, waiting for the pain to pass
(Molly) **It does
(Molly) Thank you, you are so good to me
* @Morgan shakes his head
(Molly) **Marta comes back in. There's nothing on her face that shows the hurried instructions
(@Morgan) There is no thanks needed blossom, I would not be anywhere else
* Molly nods, the pain comes again, and again it's different to how it was. Marta watches, mouthing to Morgan "Soon"
* @Morgan nods
* Molly smiles at him at the end of the pain, watching him
(@Morgan) I love you, my blossom
(Molly) I love you liebling, as always.
* @Morgan strokes her hair, down her shoulders, looking at her, taking in all her features
(Molly) **Molly watches him likewise. Shes clearly just as smitten as she was on their wedding day, which seems like much more than 8 weeks ago. Marta starts busying herself with cloths, sitting on the end of the bed. She crosses herself before speaking
(Molly) Marta: Okay Molly, time to push now
* Molly takes a deep breath, resting her head against Morgan's chest, making his heartbeat her focus
* @Morgan takes her hand, holding her close, murmuring support
(Molly) **When the pain comes, Molly pushes hard, as she'd been told. This is by far the purest agony she has ever felt, sucked into the depths of the pain. The noise she makes is loud, animalistic, and full of absolute rage at the sheer unfairness of the situation. She squeezes his hand, hard.
(Molly) Marta: Good, again.
* Molly takes another deep breath, drawing on every ounce of strength she has, all her desire to survive this. She presses a kiss over Morgan's heart, and she pushes with all her might
* @Morgan holds on to her, silently praying for a happy solution
(Molly) Marta: *She briefly glances at Morgan, speaking quietly to avoid disturbing Molly's efforts* Get ready for her to move
* @Morgan nods briefly, preparing himself
(Molly) *Marta, highly focused, is the one that moves first, a swapping of hands even as Molly's pushing ends. "Move!"
* Molly does so, turning so she's sat beside Morgan, resting on the pillows. The room is tight, the air stifling, and the bed where Molly was before is covered in blood. Beside him, Molly breathes slowly, lightly
(Molly) Marta: Molly, no talking, no moving
* @Morgan stays still so as not to move Molly in any way
(Molly) *Marta takes out a pocket watch. It's old, the glass cracked. She taps it, then listens to it. She glances at Morgan a moment, barely moving herself
* @Morgan gazes at Molly's face silently
(Molly) **this feels like the longest minute to ever have existed in the history of Theah. Molly watches him right back, breathing slowly. He notices the faintest hint of pink returning to her pale lips. She smiles slightly
(Molly) **Marta alternates between watching them and watching the watch face. The seconds drag, one by one, each an eternity of tense waiting
* @Morgan simply watches Molly
(Molly) *Marta puts down the watch after what feels like a decade. Her voice is very quiet
(Molly) Alright, I need to look
* Molly parts her knees, legs trembling. Marta moves across the bed a little.
* Molly doesn't look at the midwife, keeping her eyes locked to Morgans
* @Morgan does the same, whispering his love for her
(Molly) Marta *She breathes a sigh of relief* We aren't fully out of the woods just yet, but there's no bleeding, which is very promising
* Molly closes her eyes, exhaling in a long breath, before opening them and smiling
(Molly) *Marta moves back, gently covering Molly's thighs with her gown
(Molly) You did an excellent job, Molly
* @Morgan whispers
(@Morgan) well done blossom
(Molly) Marta: Molly, you need to not move around too much, but you can talk if you don't exert yourself. Morgan, try to make her do what she is told please
(Molly) **Marta stands up
* @Morgan nods
(Molly) In five minutes, we check again. If there's no bleeding, there is a 90% chance Molly will be back to full health with a day of rest. In half an hour, if there has been no pain or bleeding, everything will be 100% okay.
(Molly) **Marta starts removing the bloodied sheets that she can without disturbing them
* Molly looks at Marta
(Molly) Can I see it?
(Molly) *Marta frowns* If you want to. It isn't nice though
* Molly smiles, her lips again fractionally rosier
(Molly) But I suspect it's interesting
(Molly) *Marta shrugs
(Molly) I'll put it aside for later
* Molly thanks her, watching as Marta bundles up what she can. The remaining sheet has a patch of blood around the same size and shape as the one on the sheet in Die Dauerhaftigkeit where they consummated their marriage
* Molly is so busy watching Morgan that she doesn't even notice the midwife leave
(Molly) I love you
(@Morgan) and I you blossom. Endlessly.
* Molly rests her head on his shoulder
(Molly) Talk to me about something whilst we wait?
(@Morgan) How about I tell you how Varick was showing me his archery skills... then made Edward have a go... then tried to get me to injure myself
* Molly smiles
(Molly) Is he any good?
(@Morgan) He's not bad, but he's had years to practice
* Molly smiles, trying not to laugh, just in case
(Molly) And Varick?
(@Morgan) surprisingly... better than me at any rate
* Molly nods
(Molly) I had thought I would try a beginners hand at teaching him ((She never told him that at HHs wedding she hit the bullseye with her third ever arrow, she downplayed it and didn't realise he'd seen))
* @Morgan raises an eyebrow
(@Morgan) beginner?
(Molly) I gave it a try after the wedding tournament. With tuition, I might be alright to show Varick a bit
(Molly) **he starts to hear quiet conversation in the hall
(@Morgan) You hit a bullseye blossom, thats skill right there
* Molly watches him
(Molly) How did you know?
(@Morgan) as I keep explaining to everyone here, one way or another, I know everything
* @Morgan looks serious for a moment before slowly winking
(Molly) Then you know that I utterly, irrevocably,  adore you with every single fibre of my being?
(@Morgan) I may have picked that up at some point
(Molly) Good. Its important.
* @Morgan nods
(Molly) **Marta hovers in the door way, clock watching, then looks at Morgan
(Molly) How is she doing?
(@Morgan) well, as far as I can tell
(Molly) **Marta nods. He can hear movement in the other room
(Molly) Marta: Good. And no pain? *Molly shakes her head* Absolutely none, thankfully!
(Molly) *Marta takes the bowl of bloody water out, and they can hear her rinse it in the bathroom next door
* Molly smiles at Morgan
(Molly) Do I look dreadful, liebes herz?
(@Morgan) Not at all blossom
(Molly) I have certainly felt better!
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) That does not surprise me in the slightest
(Molly) **Marta comes back in, and Morgan sees a slight amount of anxiety in her body language, which would be missed by the less perceptive
* @Morgan glances at her
(Molly) *Marta comes to gently sit near Molly
(Molly) Marta: I need to check again, it's been five minutes
* Molly nods, parting her knees again, though clearly finds it embarrassing
(Molly) **Marta nods: Excellent. We can relax a little now. Molly, you stay in bed. We will do another check, but we can be quietly confident now
* Molly smiles at Morgan warmly
(Molly) **Marta offers Morgan tea or coffee, and although there's still a vigilance to her, it is not as acute
* @Morgan returns the smile
(@Morgan) coffee, please
(Molly) **She gets him some, telling Molly she needs to wait for a bit longer. She then leaves them again
(Molly) How do you feel now, liebling?
(@Morgan) significantly better than any other point in the last hours
(@Morgan) and you?
* Molly smiles
(Molly) Grateful
** You are now disconnected