( 10th century — kingdom of norway )

Esther set a hand on her stomach, nearing the end of her pregnancy. Finn and Elijah walked beside her, the two boys silent as they took in the scenery. They had decided to go for a walk since it was one of the few times Mikael was home.

"Has Mama written?" Elijah asked, his hand clasped tightly with his mother's.

Esther's heart warmed at the term. "I don't believe so, my love. You remember she can't write when your—"

"When Mikael is here, yes," Elijah huffed, bouncing up onto his tippy-toes and 'falling' forward. Esther laughed softly at his scrunched face.

"Mikael will be gone soon, I'm sure. He never sticks around for long," Finn said, tapping his fingers along the hilt of his sword. Esther had taken up training for the boys when Mikael was gone. Alix helps whenever she comes as well—the boys absolutely love it.

Esther hummed, laughing. "Hopefully he will be gone for—" she paused in her step as a sharp pain erupted from her abdomen and crotch area. "Oh, dear."

"Is it happening?" Finn asked worriedly, setting a hand on his mother's back to support her as her face scrunched in pain.

"I am not... oh! Yes, yes!" Esther winced, "I must return home. Elijah, fetch the—"

"On it!" Elijah yelled, already sprinting to the village that was about a few hundred feet to the north of them.

Finn quickly helped his mother back to their cottage. Mikael looked up upon their entry. "Your walk finished?" He asked, not truly interested.

"The baby is coming," Finn said quickly, helping his mother to her bed. Mikael follows immediately.

"Why was I not informed—"

"It has just happened!" Finn shouted. Esther yanked him out of the way of Mikael's raised hand before the man could strike him.

"I am about to birth a child, do not hit one in my presence," Esther snapped, and Mikael tensed at the feeling of her magic crackling in the air. Esther had noticed that when she was on the brink of going into labor her magic was a lot more hostile even with the cuff.

"Get on the bed, woman," Mikael demanded, wanting to regain control of the situation. Finn looked ready to snap back, but Esther just pushed his head down.

"My lady," the midwife said as she rushed in. She helped Esther out of her garments, after shooing the two boys out of the room. Elijah knew to stay with one of the women in the village. She dressed her in a white gown and then helped the woman lay on the bed.

She breathes in and out, sweat already building on her forehead.

Finn comes back in with a bucket filled with cool water and a cloth. He dabs at her forehead to cool her down. Esther squeezed his arm gently. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Esther breathes heavily, sweat dripping from her temples. She knew this labor was going to be more painful than the last, but she would push through it. She had to push through it. She always would for her children.

"I see the head, madam!" The midwife says. Esther swallows roughly and nods. "A few more pushes—One." Esther does, the muscles in her neck straining, "Two." Esther screams and suddenly, a baby's sharp cry pierces the air.

Esther slumps back against the bed, breathing heavily. Finn wipes the sweat from her forehead, the cool cloth helping her immensely.

"It is a boy, madam," the woman says, handing the baby off to Finn after she had cleaned him. The boy smiled at the little boy even as he cried. He showed his mother.

"Hello there, Niklaus," Esther murmured, moving to take her son. He was so beautiful— "Ah!" Esther's eyes squeezed shut as another contraction ran through her.

Finn looked at the midwife in horror, confused about what was happening.

"Need not worry, boy," the woman said, "it's another."

"Another?!" Finn exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Esther coughs a little, setting a gentle hand on his arm. "I am sorry I did not—" she clenched her jaw, "tell you. I only found out a couple of days ago."

Finn nodded in understanding, his eyes still wide. He moved around the bed and put the baby in the cradle. Then he quickly went back to his mother's side, wiping away the sweat.

Esther cries out.

"What is the meaning of this?" Mikael demands as he comes in, looking toward the midwife, "the baby is already out." He's angry, but he's also a little concerned. Esther wishes he would just leave.

"There's another baby—"

"THERE'S TWO, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!" Esther yells, startling Finn and the baby. Niklaus cries harder causing Mikael to become even more infuriated.

"Two?" He demands, "you never said anything about two!"

"I didn't tell you," Esther snarls, her teeth gritted. She closes her eyes, a yell falling from her lips.

Abruptly, it stops and silence envelops the room.

Until two crying babies break the silence.

Esther breathes heavily as Finn wipes and cools her forehead and neck. He backs off once he finishes and then goes to the Niklaus to console him.

The midwife stands, holding the cleaned baby in her arms. "It is a girl," she says, looking at Esther with a smile.

The witch stares in thinly veiled horror and pain, but it's masked. It's gone as quickly as it comes.

Mikael had gone quiet, the anger gone as soon as the baby girl was born. He had another daughter. Freya, reborn. She had sent this little girl to him. He took the little girl from the midwife causing Esther to tense.

The baby went quiet, her eyes opening to reveal bright, light blue irises staring back at him.

"She's beautiful," he murmurs, so low that neither woman hears him. He's lost in his own world as the baby reaches for him, the little girl's fingers gliding over his chin, up his cheek, and finally, resting on his nose as he moves his face a little closer.

The baby drops her hand, tears brimming her eyes, but she does not cry. Mikael tilts his head a little.

"Mikael, give her here," Esther says breathlessly, holding her hand out. She's exhausted, but she's determined to hold her newborns. To keep them away from Mikael. To keep her baby girl away from him. Mikael doesn't seem to hear her though, continuing to look at the baby girl in his arms. "Mikael."

He looks up, coming out of his trance, and gingerly hands Esther her child. The baby suddenly starts wailing loudly, fussing in her mother's arms. Just like Freya had done. It startles the people in the cottage and Mikael quickly takes the baby again. The baby silences.

Esther frowns at Mikael, aware of why her baby goes quiet in his arms. Freya had told her about how uncomfortable she had felt when near him, how the voices in her head would always whisper.

"Finn, bring me Niklaus," she says, beckoning her eldest son with a hand. He nods and scoops up the little boy, giving him to their mother. The boy, unlike his sister, doesn't make a sound, instead drifting off into sleep. Esther smiles at the precious boy, tears welling up in them.

She had another little boy and another girl. She pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"Hello, Athena," Mikael murmurs, not paying attention to anyone other than the baby in his arms. Finn watches them silently, tensed. "Hello, sweet girl." The little girl makes a sound and reaches for him again. Esther taps her finger against Niklaus, worried. Though, the baby does nothing and Esther breathes a little easier. She is no stranger to her children casting spells at this age.

"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you... nobody is going to touch you, my little warrior. Nobody."

Finn's jaw clenches. He vows to protect Athena, even if it costs him his breath. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Esther gently rocks Athena as she hums a lullaby. Mikael is fast asleep inside, having refused to leave Athena's side since she was born. She would let him do it as long as he never laid a finger on her.

Athena holds on tightly to her mother's finger, silent unlike how she was when she was born.

She sat down beside a tree, brushing her fingers over her daughter's cheek. First-born witches of our bloodline possess devastating power. She hums once more, quietly casting the spell.

She knew Athena was not a first-born of the generation. That was Freya. It would always be Freya. But the power that coursed through Athena's veins felt similar if not more powerful than the magic that coursed through Freya's. It had caused her to get little sleep—even more so than with two newborns.

Esther's breath hitched as the wave of Athena's power knocked her. For a moment, she felt as if she couldn't breathe, the amount so sheer she had no idea what to do... but then Esther felt her lungs expand as she inhaled deeply.

"Oh, I am sorry..." Esther whispered, tapping Athena's chin, "I have doomed you just as I have doomed your sister." Tears brimmed Esther's eyes.

She could not lose another child. Not when she knew they were still alive but so far out of her reach. She could not bear it.

Dahlia would come for Athena.

Esther wanted no part of it.

AN: for those who have read SECLOUTH and saw this part, now I think you guys understand why Esther acted the way she did :(( HOPE YOU ENJOYED

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