It was close to midnight when Edvin finally came out of the cabin. Almost everyone in the camp looked at him expectantly, waiting for news on their ranger.

"He'll be fine." He announced. He then moved towards Hal, Abby, Jesper, Willy and Will to give them more information that he didn't want to share with the whole village.

"I managed to save his leg. It was really bad since it hadn't been treated in several days. It's extremely likely he'll walk with a limp the rest of his life." He said saddly. He expected Abby to be upset, but she threw her arms around him in a bear hug.

"Thank you." She said.

"Of coarse, I'd do anything thing for you all. You're family." He said.

"What about his back?" Willy asked.

"The wounds will scar, but not to badly. He got lucky." He said. Edvin glanced around the camp as if looking for someone, and he stopped once he caught sight of Aarah. "Excuse me." Edvin slipped out of the group that was now chatting amongst themselves and made his way over to the young Arridan, that was standing off to the side from everyone else.

"You're Aarah?" He asked. She nodded stiffly. "Before MJ slipped unconscious, he explained your situation to me." He gestured to her lower stomach, where only the slightest bump could be seen.

"I don't know how far along I was. All I know is I could feel the baby moving. Then two nights ago, he just stopped." She stiffled a sob as she explained what happened to her baby.

"Would you mind if I take a look? I have an instrument back in the cabin that can confirm it for you." He said. She hesitantly nodded, rubbing her hand across her belly. Edvin led her towards the cabin and they stepped inside. MJ was still unconscious, but Lynn sat up in her bed and glanced at them curiously.

"Would you like me to leave?" She asked the healer. Edvin shook his head.

"No. I might need your help. Aarah, this is Lynn." Edvin introduced them. Aarah slightly flinched at the mention of the name, since she knew it from nights of Jackson scream it as he beat her. Although she did like how she could now put a face to the name. Lynn seemed nice, so she didn't blame her for any pain Jackson had caused her under her name.

Aarah sat down on a cot while Edvin fetched the instrument he promised could confirm her baby's death. She was scared, and Lynn could sense it, so she limped over to the girl and held her hand tightly.

"What is that?" Aarah asked wairly as Edvin returned with some wood shaped strangely. It was flat on the bottom with a hole and shaped into a cup at the top.

"This is a stethoscope. It'll allow me to search and hear your baby's heart beat." He explained. He had her lay down on the cot and lift up her shirt slightly so he could hear properly. He pressed the flat side to her exposed skin, Edvin was silent for a few moments, then he moved the stethoscope to a new spot, on the oppostie side.

"Can you hear anything?" Lynn asked quietly. Edvin held up his index finger to quiet her before grinning widely.

"There it is! Your baby is alive, Aarah." Edvin smiled. Aarah sat up, letting her shirt fall back in place as she stared at the instrument in wonder.

"Really?" She asked hopefully. Edvin nodded. She hugged him tightly releasing all of her pent up emotions of the past few days. "Thank you so much." She said with tears streaming down her face.

"Well it better to know your baby is alive now then when you finally give birth."He said. She nodded and stood up. "There is one thing though, Aarah. Do you want the whole camp to know you're pregnant with our worsts enemies child?" She paused and shook her head.

"No. I don't want my baby to be rejected." She contemplated.

"It's probably for the best." Lynn said.

"MJ already knew. So I'll tell him once he wakes. But other then that, let's keep this quiet." She said. The three of them all agreed to keep it a secret and Edvin and Aarah helped Lynn back to her bed.

"Why don't you stay here, Aarah. Get some rest." Edvin said. She gratefully collapsed onto the cot and fell asleep within a matter of a minute.

***

Emmy burst through the door to the cabin and ran to Lynn's cot, perching herself on the edge as she looked over at Aarah in amazement.

"Cut it out, Emmy. You'll scare her away." Lynn teased. Aarah opened her eyes and glanced curiously at Emmy. Emmy smiled and moved over so she was on Aarah's cot instead.

"You're Emmy, right?" Aarah asked sitting up. Emmy nodded excitedly.

"So what's got you all happy?" Lynn asked. Suddenly Emmy's expression changed from happy to dull.

"I'm bored and Willy and Quint are arguing, so I wanted to come hang out with the girls."

"What about Bente?" Lynn suggested. Emmy let out a laugh and smiled.

"No, she hates me." She said. "But the three of us can be friends!" Aarah looked at her warily.

"Why does this Bente hate you?" She asked.

"Because she's in love with my boyfriend." Emmy said simply.

"What's a boyfriend?" Aarah asked. Lynn sat up farther and she and Emmy looked at each other in surprise.

"A boyfriend? Well, if you like a boy, and he likes you, then you can pair off, and get to know each other better. They don't have boyfriends in Arrida?" Emmy said.

"No. We girls were sold to our masters. We aren't allowed to associate with any other Lords." She said. 

"That's a sad life." Lynn mumbled.

"Oh, we need to get you a boyfriend!" Emmy beamed, looking at Aarah. "Maybe Boyd, or Dannie."

"That's probably not the greatest idea, Emmy." Lynn told her best friend. Emmy looked confused as Lynn glanced over at Aarah, who discreetly placed a hand over her belly.

"She can know, Lynn. Telling her can't have any harm when she'll find out sooner or later." Aarah told the brunette girl. Lynn nodded and placed a hand on Emmy's shoulder.

"Aarah's former master used her for pleasure mainly. She ended up pregnant." Lynn explained. Emmy turned to Aarah with a slight smile.

"You're going to have a baby?" Aarah nodded just as Emmy began to squeal in delight. She paused for a moment. "I mean, sorry you were victum to such an aweful thing, but there aren't a lot of babies in Hallasholm anymore. Everyone is scared to bring their children into such a horrible time with the siege and the burning of Hallasholm occuring."

"I understand. We have decided not to tell many people because I don't want me and my baby to get rejected. I know it is bound to happen, but I want some friends I know will stick with me even after the baby is born."

"You can count on us, Aarah. We'll be there for you." Lynn said softly. Emmy let out another small squeal.

"This is so exciting! I hope the baby will call me aunty Em." She said. Just then, MJ stirred in his cot and turned to face them.

"I believe we were taught about indoor voices when we were young, Emilia." He mumbled. She rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm a Skandian, MJ. I'm not sure I heard that lesson due to me using my outdoor voice." She teased.

"You're awake!" Lynn let out a sigh of relief as she limped her way over to his cot.

"And so are you. Last I saw you, you were still unconsious." He said as she sat down on the edge of his cot.

"I woke up an hour after the camp recieved news of your capture." She said. Suddenly, she smacked him across his arm. "You had me worried sick! I kept thinking you were dead!" She scolded her master.

"Thinking is a dangerous past time." He smirked. She glared at him before smacking his arm again.

"You Rangers are so stubborn!" She exclaimed.

"I thought you were a ranger as well?" Aarah questioned.

"Not me, I'm only an apprentice." She said coldly as MJ smirked. Lynn turned back to Aarah. "Aarah, don't you have some news to tell MJ?" Aarah's face lit up and she smiled.

"I was wrong, MJ. My baby is alive!" She said smiling. MJ returned the smile.

"I was hoping so. That's why I told uncle Edvin your situation. I wanted to be sure." He said. She let out a sigh.

"Thank you. For everying. For getting me out of Jackson's grasps." They hadn't noticed the door opened until Willy spoke up.

"You might not be out of his grasp yet. Arridans are approaching the camp. Hundreds of them." He said bitterly. Emmy stood and ran to Willy's side, taking his hand as she looked out the door, seeing the camp getting ready for war. "And Jackson's at the helm."

***

Sorry it's been a few days. Since it's the last few days of winter break, I have been outside mainly. Hiking, riding my horse, and shoot my compound bow off of my sisters playset... So I hope you liked this chapter. Not much except the baby is alive! Yay! With this being in a different time era then we are in now, She and the baby will most likely be rejected since she is not married, but given her situation, I have the feeling people will come around. Please comment and vote. What do you think with happen next? Love you!

~Avis