Rhydian's POV
***
Pain.
Not mine, but hers.
It filled the room, laced in every cry, every strained breath that left Luna's lips. It was in the way she clutched my hand, her fingers digging into my skin so tightly that I knew there would be bruises. And yet, I did not care.
Because nothing—absolutely nothing—had ever made me feel so helpless.
"Luna," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "I'm here. I'm right here."
She was trembling, her dark hair damp with sweat, her face twisted in agony as another contraction hit. I felt her body tense, heard the sharp intake of breath she took before she let out another broken sound that carved through me like a blade.
I had fought wars. I had faced enemies who wished for my death. But I had never felt fear like this—this raw, suffocating terror that gripped my chest and refused to let go.
"She needs to push," one of the midwives instructed.
Luna let out a choked sob, shaking her head. "I— I can't—"
"Yes, you can." I leaned in, pressing my forehead against hers. "You are the strongest person I know, Luna. You've fought battles no one else could survive. You can do this. You are doing this."
Her eyes met mine, shimmering with exhaustion, pain, and something else—something deeper. Trust.
She took a breath, and when the next contraction came, she pushed.
And gods, I thought my heart would shatter.
She screamed, her entire body wracked with pain, and all I could do was hold her, whispering words of love, of reassurance—though I wasn't sure if I was saying them for her or myself.
Another push.
And another.
I felt her strength waning, felt the way she sagged against me between each wave of agony. The midwives murmured soft encouragements, but my focus remained only on Luna—on the way her fingers trembled in mine, on the broken way she breathed my name.
I would have given anything to take her pain away. Anything.
"Almost there, Your Majesty," the midwife urged. "One more push."
Luna let out a strangled sob, her entire body trembling.
I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me. "Just one more, my love," I whispered. "One more, and our child will be here. You can do this."
She took another breath, then with a cry of sheer determination, she gave one final push.
And then—
Silence.
For a single, agonizing moment, there was nothing but the sound of Luna gasping for breath, her body collapsing against me, utterly spent.
And then—
A cry.
Small, thin, but undeniably strong.
Luna sobbed, her hands shaking as she reached out. My own vision blurred as I turned to the midwife, who held a tiny, wriggling form wrapped in soft linen.
"A daughter," she announced, voice reverent. "A beautiful, healthy daughter."
A daughter.
I felt my chest tighten, my breath caught somewhere between disbelief and overwhelming emotion. I barely registered the movement as the midwife gently placed the baby in Luna's arms.
And just like that, my world shifted.
She was so small.
Delicate fingers curled into tiny fists, her skin soft and warm. A tuft of dark hair crowned her head, and when her eyes fluttered open, I felt something inside me break.
She had Luna's eyes.
A shaky exhale left my lips as I reached out, my hands hovering uncertainly over the fragile life we had created. I had held swords, led armies, carried the weight of an entire kingdom—but this? This was different.
This was everything.
Luna let out a soft, exhausted laugh, her fingers tracing the baby's cheek. "She's perfect," she murmured, tears streaking down her face.
And gods help me, I had never seen her look more beautiful.
I swallowed, my throat tight as I finally let myself touch our daughter. The moment my fingers brushed her tiny hand, she shifted, and I froze—watching, waiting—until her fingers curled around mine in the gentlest grasp I had ever known.
A sound escaped me, something broken and full of wonder.
Luna smiled, tilting her head toward me. "Do you want to hold her?"
I wasn't sure I could speak. I only nodded, my hands trembling as I carefully took our daughter into my arms. She was impossibly light, impossibly precious, and when she let out a tiny sigh, pressing her face against my chest, I swore I felt my heart burst.
This was real.
She was real.
A fierce, protective instinct surged through me, so strong it nearly brought me to my knees.
I bent my head, pressing a reverent kiss to her forehead. "I will protect you," I whispered, my voice shaking. "No harm will ever come to you. Not as long as I live."
She stirred at my words, her tiny body shifting against me, and I knew—I knew that I would burn the world to the ground before I let anything happen to her.
A soft hand touched my cheek. I looked up to find Luna watching me, her expression filled with love so profound it stole my breath.
"You're already an amazing father," she murmured.
I exhaled, pressing my forehead against hers. "And you," I whispered, "are the strongest, most incredible woman I have ever known."
She smiled, tired but radiant. "We did it."
I kissed her, slow and deep, pouring everything I felt into that single moment. "We did."
For a while, we simply sat there—Luna in my arms, our daughter between us, the world quiet around us.
And for the first time in my life, I realized—I had everything I had ever wanted.