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Rion: A Fictional Narrative

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“It’s a girl,” said Rion. “I know it. Only girls can make that much noise. I wonder if there will be two girls!”

Rion grinned and danced around the hallway. From the beginning, Rion had been clear he wanted a new baby sister. He never articulated why, but Percival knew it was because he missed Dee so much. Rion wanted another chance to be a big brother.

“Let’s go back to my room...” said Gwaine.

“No!” Percival and Rion chorused.

Gwaine’s eyes widened. “Right. We’ll… stand here.”

Together, Percival and Rion paced up and down the hall, both with their hands clapped behind their backs. The baby had stopped wailing, but she let out a cry now and again. However, Fleur was silent. Assuming that portended awful things, Percival debated knocking …show more content…

“Sit next to me. You’ll hold the babies next.”

Rio scrambled onto the bed. “Are you all right, Mum?”

“Exhausted, but fine, I promise.”

“I was worried about you.” Rion rested his head on her shoulder.

The midwives stepped out of the room and closed the door, Percival assumed to give him and his now-expanded family time to bond. But now it was up to him to carefully hand over his precious girls to Rion, and he was terrified or hurting or dropping them. He took slow, careful steps to the other side of the bed. Once he reached Rion’s side, Percival sighed with relief.

“All right,” said Percival, “lean back against the pillows and put your hands in your lap. I’ll put the babies in our arms.”

Rion did not seem the least bit fearful, and did exactly as asked. Once the warm infants were situated in his arms, tears ran down his cheeks, too.

“What are their names?” asked Rion, smiling down at his tiny new siblings. “You’d picked out only one girl name, but now we have two?”

That was true. Fleur had suggested they name a daughter Deena, as a way to honor Dee, Rion’s deceased sister, and Percival thought that was an ideal name. But he had no ideas for another …show more content…

Deena and Ida must have finished nursing, because Fleur lay back with her eyes closed. The babies were swaddled in their cradle, quiet for the moment. However, Percival realized while one cradle was fine for the girls while they were so tiny, he would need a second one soon.

“Father?” Rion tugged Percival’s sleeve. “I’m tired. May I go to bed?”

“Of course. Goodnight, son.”

Rion peered into his sisters’ cradle, smiled, then shuffled off to bed, drawing the privacy curtain behind him. Although the babies would cry during the night, Rion could sleep through a near riot, so Percival was not worried about the boy getting enough rest.

There was a bit of commotion for a while. Cook brought in a pitcher of ale and mugs, as well as a heaping bowl of liver smothered in onions. The midwives woke Fleur and insisted she drink and eat at least a few mouthfuls. Fleur grimaced at the odiferous food, but ate and drank.

While she fortified herself, the midwives bombarded Percival with instructions about the twins’ care. Once they finished their lengthy speeches, they told him about Fleur’s needs. By the end of the speeches, Percival was certain his ineptitude would kill his entire

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