Elizabeth let out another scream that stretched well beyond the garden and into the surrounding forest. Not even the stone walls of the cottage could contain her pain. Each time she screamed, the forest fell into an eerie silence as it surrendered to the dampened echo carried by the crisp dry midwinter air. The contractions had been seconds apart for such a long time that neither Elizabeth nor her husband realised that night had set in.

A fire burned in the bedchamber all day to stave off the bitter cold that would otherwise have seeped through the walls and tapestries. Even now, the winter gale whistled outside. Elizabeth imagined the torches around her flickering every time the wind picked up. Her husband's concerned demeanour would briefly appear darker as the shadows danced on his face, and then, as the light strengthened, she would see him attempt a comforting smile. The luxury of these diversions, however uncomfortable, was short-lived. The grinding pain set in again, followed by yet another screech.

"I cannot bear this any longer," Elizabeth moaned. Perspiration ran from her face, soaking the sheets even though Ulick had changed them before the last turn of the glass. A migraine had plagued her since the contractions began, and it felt as if maggots were burying themselves deeper and deeper into her brain. Her headache thundered and her face grew purple during the spasm, but relaxed into a poison ivy red during the brief moments between. "I love you Ulick. Please look after our baby when I'm gone."

"You're not going anywhere," Ulick replied tenderly, touching his hand to hers. "We've only just started our life together. I'm not letting you go yet. Everything will be fine." He felt useless. If only there had been a physician here, or anyone, who could save her and the child. Neither of them had expected the contractions to be so severe and so early, or else he would have summoned the physician and attendants well in advance. He had sent for a physician as Elizabeth's condition got worse, but even in the best of weather, he would arrive tomorrow evening at the earliest.

Another scream from Elizabeth helped him to bury his pain deep inside his head. He had never known a child born after seven moons. Could such a child really survive, and why cause so much grief to its mother? It should be smaller and just fall out, shouldn't it? Yet it held on stubbornly with a tight fist.

"Do you hear that?" Elizabeth asked as her groan receded, replaced by a haunting bellow. Her eyes opened wide.

"It is only a wolf up in the hills," Ulick replied as he picked up the distant howling carried over the storm. "Perhaps it is feeling your pain," he added attempting to distract his wife with a little humour.

"No, no. Not that. Don't you hear them out there?" Elizabeth looked fearfully at her husband. He stayed silent for a while, cocking his head towards the north-facing window then shook his head.

"I hear nothing."

"Then it is death coming to take me away. They say that only his guests hear him coming." Ulick furrowed his brow as Elizabeth grew paler at the imagined sounds.

"Now, don't be silly." Ulick tried to collect himself and project his most soothing voice, but the futility of it all made him feel like a helpless child. "Let me go and see. I'll just be by the window for a moment." He was glad for an excuse to make himself useful by doing something, anything. A man could patrol and defend his property and fight off an intruder or wild beast, but he could not save his wife or their baby without the knowledge of things that concerned women.

At first, Ulick saw nothing. Although relatively dim inside, his eyes needed a moment to adjust to the unnatural blackness outside. He stood beside the window against one of the tapestries depicting an ancient long-forgotten battle between faeries and trolls in the Twisted Forest. It had been a handfasting gift from his mother. Elizabeth had wondered once that the scene gave no indication of which side was winning. The uncomfortable uncertainty surrounding the outcome had troubled her for a long time, though she preferred to imagine the faeries winning.

A distant flash of lightning, filtered by the many layers of clouds, summarised the world outside. Ulick saw the silhouette of the mountainous horizon. Then another flash, very close this time, burned a vivid painting of the surrounding forest into his eyes. He thought he saw something, no, many things, somewhere in the shadows, but as he tried to look more carefully, he realised that he was still seeing the snapshot left from the lightning.

"There it is again! It sounds like a dozen horses galloping through hell--" Elizabeth interrupted herself with another scream.

Ulick spun around towards his wife but something in the forest caught the corner of his eye.

"Well, do you see anything?" Elizabeth asked in an exhausted whisper, preferring to have Ulick distracted instead of constantly breathing down her neck, but Ulick had already turned to the window for a second look.

"I think I see animals pacing around just behind the nearest row of trees. My God," Ulick exclaimed, momentarily preoccupied. "By their eyes it looks like there are hundreds of them. I've never seen so many creatures around here. What could they all be doing here? The woods are alive with them."

"They are the beasts of death," Elizabeth's eyes widened as strength failed her, "here for me and our child. Death will not let me pass tonight!" Her breathing quickened into short gasps at the new onslaught of contractions.

"They are just animals, my love. You will be fine," Ulick answered. "What can I do for you?"

"Come here Ulick." Elizabeth's voice was barely audible, but her tone certain. She continued when she felt her husband's hand on her forehead. "Together we have always been a force to deal with, and I love you for that. Even when I disavowed my pigheaded parents you stood beside me like a glowing knight, and I love you for that too."

Both of them wept now. Ulick's entire body shook as he leaned forward to kiss his wife. His eyes blurred, but Elizabeth interrupted him.

"No, don't be afraid for me. I may pass the veil tonight, but because of all the love I harboured in my soul from you, neither hell nor those beasts will touch me. I will make a place for you at my side for the day you too will come."

Elizabeth closed her eyes as the contractions washed over her body like a tidal wave. This time, all her energy was gone, and there was no scream. Ulick broke into a loud, unbridled howl. He did not heed the chorus of wolves accompanying him from beyond the darkness.