chapter twenty-eight, when we fall.
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Alana had been in labors for hours and hours, just like Baelon and Rhaella, Aegon wasn't allowed in, but he stood waiting outside the birthing chambers.

Alana laid in the birthing bed, her brown hair sprawled over the pillows, Lysara wiping off the sweat off her forehead. Alana had gotten used to Aegon not being there for her in such a state, but she desperately wanted him in the room with her, as when she had Baelon and Rhaella the midwives denied it and said it wasn't a place for a man to see.

Alana was at the end of her patience, the pain she was enduring was making her more short-tempered, the midwives touching her body trying to help her, which only made her irritation grow more.

Alana kept glancing at the large wooden door praying to the old gods and the new that he would just come in, ignoring the midwives protests to just be there for her, he was the prince after all and they were just midwives.

Even if it was this was her third child she was giving birth too, she had forgotten how bad the pain was, how it felt like someone was cutting her insides repeatedly. The room felt small, especially with the lack of fresh air, and the smell of her own blood.

Alana closed her eyes, as Lysara continued to wipe her sweaty forehead. Alana clenched her teeth as yet another contraction made its way through her body, she desperately wanted Aegon to comfort her, hold her hand, say reassuring things in her ear, but she knew the midwives wouldn't allow it nor would the Queen as Alicent deemed it unnecessary to see such horrors childbirth brings even if it was natural.

"My lady you need to push.." A midwife says between her legs, the older woman's voice soft but firm.

Alana nodded weakly, feeling her body tense up. She took a deep breath, gritting her teeth as she prepared to push again.

Alana opened her eyes, and pushing again, her whole body shaking due to it. Her fists clenched the sheets, so hard that her knuckles turned white.

The midwife continued to speak reassuring words to Alana but it went into her ear and out the other, the midwifes voice beginning to become annoying to Alana.

"I can't." Alana shook her head, her voice faint and shaky, she closed her eyes again as her body felt utterly exhausted.

"You have to my lady, a few more minutes of pain for a lifetime of happiness with your child." The midwife spoke, "Push my lady." The midwife spoke again, the thought of pushing again wanted to make Alana cry and curl into a ball, but for her and her child's sake she needed too.

Alana nodded, letting out a cry of pain as she pushed, the sound of wet squelching as her babe moved more downwards filled the room along with the midwife's words and Alana's groans of pain, tears streaming down her face.

"I can see the head my lady." The midwife spoke, her hands between Alana's thighs.

The midwife's words gave Alana a final burst of energy, Alana pushed once more and the pressure between her legs went away, she opened her eyes, her face filled with relief and exhaustion.

"It's a girl..my lady." The midwife spoke, but there was no cry from the babe.

"W-why is she not crying." Alana voice spoke out her voice hoarse and exhausted, she propped herself on her elbows, panic filling her features.

Alana's heavy breathing filled the air, worries that she gave birth to a stillborn daughter corrupted her mind. The midwife acted fast and held her on her stomach in her hand, patting her back firmly.

Suddenly a cry echoed in the room, Alana closing her eyes in relief, it was the most beautiful sound Alana ever heard in that moment.

Alana was desperate to hold her daughter but the midwife's took her a little bit away to clean her,  make sure nothing else is wrong, and to cut her umbilical cord.

"Push once more my lady, the afterbirth." The midwife spoke again, from between her legs.

Alana was impatient to see her daughter, she wanted to hold her, to comfort her from her crying. But with a huff of exhaustion she pushed again with little of her strength she had left, the afterbirth was quick and slipping out of her body, the midwife taking it away.

She laid back on the pillows, her body filled with exhaustion, and her eyes half lidded, but her mind was on her daughter that was still being cared for across the room, her cries filling the room.

Finally what felt like an eternity a midwife brought her over to Alana, she was covered in a blanket, her cries still filling the room. "She is healthy my lady."

Alana held her daughter to her chest her cries slowly coming into small whimpers as she felt her mother's presence, she was smaller than Baelon and Rhaella had been but they all shared some facial features. She had silver hair like Aegon's but brown eyes like Alana's.

Happy tears ran down Alana's face. Her exhaustion was now filled with happiness. Alana was so caught up in her daughter that she didn't hear the door creak open, but she did when someone kissed her head, Aegon.

"She's beautiful, our Elaena?" Aegon spoke, sitting on the edge of the bed, saying the name they both agreed on earlier.

"our Elaena.." Alana nodded, as Aegon ran his finger over Elaena's cheek, Elaena making noises as if she knew who her father was.

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An hour had passed, the birthing room was cleaner now with all the midwives had left, but all Alana wanted was to be in her own bed but alas they were still in the birthing chambers.

Alana watched as Aegon held Elaena in her blanket, she was asleep, standing by the bed. Rhaella and Baelon were also in the room, both cuddling Alana as she laid in the uncomfortable birthing bed.

Rhaella and Baelon had both their heads on Alana's shoulders, Rhaella was fast asleep but when she met Elaena was she was very happy wanting to hold her immediately, but she quickly fell asleep in Alana's arms. Baelon was also being clingy, unlike his usual independent self, he was awake playing silently with his toy dragon, leaning against Alana.

The room was quiet, expect for the sounds of Rhaella and Baelon breathing, and Aegon speaking in soft mumbles to Elaena.

This birth had been the hardest one for Alana, her body was sore and exhausted, she didn't even want to see her own reflection, she probably had crazy hair and tired eyes.

"Can I hold her yet?" Baelon sat up, looking at Aegon holding Elaena.

Aegon looked at Baelon, he glanced at Alana as if seeking her approval, Alana nodded with a smile on her face. "Be gentle, you have to support her neck and head."

Baelon nodded putting his toy dragon somewhere, he held out his hands. Aegon knelt down on the bed, gently handing Elaena to him, making sure they were both comfortable.

Baelon had his eyes wide as he held Elaena, she stirred a bit but fell back asleep quickly. "She small."

"She is." Alana smiled, rubbing Baelon's silver waves of hair.

Baelon still had his eyes on Elaena, she let out a soft sigh, moving slightly in her sleep. Baelon's eyes widened further and a smile crept on his face. "She moved."

Aegon chuckled, his hand resting on Alana's thigh, a silent form of affection that Baelon wouldn't notice. "She's dreaming." Aegon said

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It was now evening, Lysara had put both Rhaella and Baelon in the nursery. Aegon and Alana were now in their chambers.

Helaena and Aemond had already said their congratulations, well mostly Helaena did the talking. Jaehaera and Jaehaerys, the twins said Elaena was cute but nothing else.

Aegon sat next to the bed in a chair, as Alana nursed Elaena. Elaena had her eyes closed, as she was getting fed, Alana had her gaze down at her. Alana was exhausted her body ached and her body needed sleep.

"You should sleep." Aegon spoke, looking at her with his own tired eyes. "Do you want me to take her after you feed her?"

Alana nodded, "That would be nice, thank you."

Aegon nodded, a tired smile on his face. Alana had just given birth a few hours prior and she still tried to be strong, Aegon couldn't help but admire her for determination even if times were tough.

Finally Elaena had stopped nursing, Alana detaching Elaena's mouth off her breast. Elaena opened her eyes looking at Alana before closing her eyes once again. Aegon gently took Elaena from Alana as she adjusted her nightgown to cover herself.

There was a sudden soft knock on the door, Ser Coren opening the door. "The Queen and the King's hand are here my lady, my prince."

Alana looked up at Ser Coren, she didn't want any more guests all she wanted was too sleep, in her warm bed, her family safe.

Aegon nodded, sitting back in his seat, Elaena going back to sleep in his arms, making small noises as she felt Aegon's presence.

Alicent walked into the room, walking immediately to Aegon and Elaena. "Oh she is beautiful.." Alicent smiled, pulling some of the blanket Elaena was wrapped in down a little to see her face.

"Congratulations, my lady, my prince. Another girl a joyous thing." The hand spoke, but Alana could sense he wasn't happy with yet another girl, but Alana and Aegon were happy for Elaena.

Only Alana seemed to notice his unhappy look on his face. "Thank you, my lord hand."

Time seemed to fly by and both Alicent and Otto left, now Alana was relaxed ready to sleep. She leaned back on the bed, closing her eyes before opening them back up looking at Aegon and Elaena, watching as he put her in her cradle.

She watched them with half-lidded eyes, the exhaustion taking control of her body. "I do not think your grandsire seems very fond of Elaena."

Aegon looked at Alana, rolling his eyes. "We already have Baelon, a son. We're fine. I am happy, you are happy, so he should be happy"

"You're right." Alana nodded, not wanting to start an argument about something stupid. "Come to bed, i'm exhausted."

Aegon nodded and smiled, blowing out some candles so that only the moonlight shined in the chambers. Alana still felt sore everywhere, but she pushed it away to be close to Aegon. He climbed into the large bed, laying down, both of their bodies filled with exhaustion. Aegon wrapped his arm around Alana's waist, pulling her back to his chest, his breath warming her neck. 

Alana relaxed her body, "Goodnight." Alana closed her eyes, but the both of them knew they wouldn't get much sleep especially with Elaena. "I love you.."

Aegon kissed her neck, his hand rubbing her almost flat stomach subconsciously, like he did for the past nine moons. "I love you too, more than anything."

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long chapter, sorry if i'm going too fast but this is how i planned my book to be.
anywaysss, school starts on tuesday next week, that means slow updates but i'll really try, ill be done with act two before tuesday..hopefully !