Mommy Raghnailt

I have a toothache again
So since I need something to distract me have a quickie pic of Rags ^-^
and to go with it a little scene I wrote the other day...

It takes place right after Raghnailt gave birth to Ophelia, her parents left her with her brothers in the hospital while they went to get some clothes and supplies for her and the baby...

Raghnailt rested, somewhere between sleep and wake. She was exhausted and sore. Her long black hair was spread out around her, it clung to the pillow like a dark halo. Her head was turned to the side, her eyes fixed on the tiny body resting next to her. She had her hand up at her side, five tiny fingers wrapped tightly around just one of hers.
Just outside the door the boys worked up the nerve to go in.
Mannix pursued his lips and indicated with his head that his older brother should go in first. Finnian's eyes went wide. He took a deep breath, exhaled, then walked in.
He wasn't sure exactly what he was so afraid of. It was just his baby sister and now... his niece. It was easy to be supportive while she was pregnant, it had been like she was sick and he could handle that, but now there was the baby and there was no ignoring that.
Raghnailt didn't look up at him, until he was level with her head. She did look sick, or at least tired and worn. her skin was even paler than usual and sweat hung on her skin like a fine mist. She had dark bags under her eyes, but she smiled at the sight of her eldest brother.
He moved to pull a stray strand of her hair back as he often did, but paused as his eyes finally fell on the baby.
She was sleeping, a bundle of new pink skin. She had her mother's dark hair and long black eyelashes. Her tiny hand was clutching Raghnailt's finger. He was struck by her fingernails, tiny, perfectly formed, he had never seen anything so delicate. He wanted to protect her from the world.
He crouched down to Raghnailt's eye level.
"What's her name?" he whispered
"Ophelia"
"Like from Hamlet?"
Raghnailt nodded.
"She's beautiful"
Raghnailt closed her eyes drifting off. Finnian pulled a chair up to the side of the bed and sat next to them. He stroked Raghnailt's hair while she rested, his eyes focused on Ophelia just watching her breath.
Outside, Mannix paced. Occasionally he paused to look into the room. That traitor, Finnian was paying attention to the baby. Didn't he care about Raghnailt at all? That baby had hurt her. He could still hear her screaming echoing in his mind. He paused to look in again.
Finnian looked up at him, he waved, indicating for him to come in. Mannix shook his head, no. Finnian glared disapprovingly at his brother, before turning back to Raghnailt and Ophelia.
Mannix bounced on his heels for a moment before going in. Someone had to protect Raghnailt from that leech. He marched in, waking Raghnailt up.
Finnian glared at him for disturbing her, but Raghnailt smiled at her brother.
"Are you ok?" Mannix demanded
Raghnailt nodded and sighed, "I'm fine, I'm just... very tired"
Mannix looked at his sister. Finnian watched his eyes and it was quickly apparent that the middle child was avoiding looking at the baby.
"Mannix, say hi to your niece" Finnian ordered
Mannix tried to look away but his eyes moved quicker than his mind and he caught sight of Ophelia. He wasn't sure what he had expected but she wasn't it. She was just tiny and fragile.
"Hi- hi..." his voice caught
"Her name is Ophelia" Raghnailt whispered
"Hi Ophelia..."
Ophelia opened her eyes, she blinked, and looked straight at him. Mannix smiled. Ophelia yawned and went back to sleep.
Raghnailt caught her yawn and started to drift off again. Finnian stoked her hair again, while Mannix sat down on the other side of the bed and played with his phone. After about half an hour there was a little noise as Ophelia started to cry.
A nurse walked in just as Raghnailt opened her eyes.
Raghnailt looked afraid, "what does she want?"
"She's probably just hungry, do you want to try feeding her?"
Raghnailt swallowed nervously and nodded.
"Excuse me," the nurse pushed in towards the bed as Finnian quickly grabbed the chair and scooted backwards to give her room.
"Father?" she asked looked at him disapprovingly
"No! no" Finnian shook his head. She looked over at Mannix. He paused for a second before processing what was happening and jumping up.
"No!"
"Older brothers," Finnian explained, "we're her brothers!"
The nurse's demeanor seemed to relax a bit. She helped Raghnailt pick Ophelia up before raising the top of the bed. She helped pull off one side of Raghnailt's dressing gown exposing her breast. Both boys instinctively looked away.
"Just make sure you hold the back of her head... got her?" she helped Raghnailt get her in place.
Raghnailt's heart was beating so fast she was worried it wouldn't work but as Ophelia latched on a peace washed over her.
The nurse stayed a minute to make sure Raghnailt had the hang of it before turning to leave.
"You call or press the help button if you need me"
Raghnailt nodded, and she left.
The boys were still looking away. Finnian was staring at the floor, while Mannix had become engrossed in his phone.
Finnian heard a tiny noise. He looked up and saw a tear roll down Raghnailt's cheek. She looked terrified.
"Raghnailt?" he whispered
"I can't even feed her without help..."
He finally let himself look down. Ophelia was latched on to her breast, her tiny hand clutching a strand of Raghnailt's hair. Ophelia broke off and closed her eyes looking content. Finnian took in the whole scene. The sun was coming in through the window, it's soft glow lit Raghnailt and Ophelia. He was suddenly struck by how adult his baby sister looked, now a mother, too young but trying her best.

"I'm proud of you" he whispered to her.