Best of Wives and Best of Women || A Letter to Elaine
My dearest Elaine,Â
Should you be reading this, one of two things has happened, the first possibility being that you awake before my return. If this is the case, do not fret, my love. I shall soon be by your side again. The servants shall surely tell you if I do not, so there is no point trying to keep it from you, my clever Queen. I have gone to hunt the Dullahan, for the beast has chosen you as its next victim. Fear not, you know of my temper and stubbornness better than most, and I swear to you I will die before I let this fiend lay a single hand on you. It is my deepest wish that you and our beautiful children sleep soundly through the night and waken tomorrow to find this entire ordeal nothing more than an unpleasant dream.Â
Should this not be the case, then the second thing has happened, meaning I have failed my mission and am unable to return to you. I pray you have faith in me, my love, and know that I would give my last breath to fight against anything or anyone that would seek to harm you. I know I swore to never leave your side, so for this you have my sincerest apologies. I can only hope that one day you will find it in that magnificent heart of yours to forgive me and that you know I would never willingly chose to leave you, nor our beautiful children. Forgive me, my Queen, for failing you. I implore of you to remember me fondly. I suppose I should ask you to go on without me, to find love once again and remarry, but I was never selfless enough to deserve you. Still, it is my wish that in my absence you lead a long and happy life. Love our children, care for Gorre, guide my people for they are now and forever yours. I could not dream of a better Queen for them, nor a better mother.Â
Know that you have been the light and love of my life, and I will continue to love you long past the end of time itself. You made me a better man, and it is my honour to die so that you might live, for you have always been more worthy than I could ever be. You are so strong, my love, so incredibly strong and kind and true. You will accomplish everything that you set your mind to and more. Oh the stories you will have to tell me when we meet again. And we will meet again, I am certain of it. I have never been a man of faith, nor have I ever deemed myself worthy of divine compensation. But for you I would claw my way out of hell itself, tear down the gates of Avalon to be by your side. I miss you already, my love. Now it is only a matter of time. Until then, my love, farewell.Â
Yours always,Â
Maleagant
The Dullahan had been riding through Camelot for many moons, and every night it would call out a name in the darkness and the next morning that person would no longer be a part of this world. Maleagant never believed he would find himself rooting for the knights of Camelot, but on this occasion he was eager for the members of the Round Table to rid the kingdom of the creature. Still, he wasnât particularly invested in the knightâs hunt of the Dullahan. That is, until that evening.
Maleagant did not recognize the squire pounding at his door, and he was about to order his servants to send the lad away when he spoke. âIt said Elaine.â At the mention of his wife Maleagant raised his hand, motioning for the boy to come in. âWho did?â he asked, frowning at the squireâs panicked gaze. âThe Dullahan, sire. It was riding through the forest, it called out Queen Elaineâs name. She will die by his hands tonight.â Maleagantâs eyes went wide, rage and fear mixing in his gaze. âShe will do no such thing.â He motioned for his guards. âSummon more men, we ride tonight.â Hesitance crept into his menâs eyes. Only a madman would try to hunt down the Dullahan, and they all knew it, but with one sharp gaze from the King of Gorre they scurried off to arm themselves. Maleagant stormed upstairs, armour on and sword in hand as walked into his chambers with the intention of informing his wife of his intentions. Instead, he found her sprawled out in bed, hogging the covers like she always did with Rhys and Rowena curled up besides her. They all looked so peaceful, and it occurred to him that should he not return, this is how he wanted to remember them. He walked over to the bed and pressed a kiss to his wifeâs forehead, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Rowenaâs ear and pulling up the covers around Rhys. He set down a note on the counter in case Elaine awoke before his return. Then, without a sound, he left.
They rode through the night and the rain, cold water clinging to their bodies as their horses hooves sloshed on the wet ground. As they rode Malegant began to wonder if he had indeed gone mad, for over the sound of thundering hooves he could hear another rider approaching. His grips on the reins tightened, his knuckles turning white as the sound grew louder and louder. It seemed to be coming from deep within his own mind, but even the horses reared up in a panic at the approaching noise. Thatâs when he saw it. The Dullahan. In one swift motion he dismounted and by the time his feet hit the ground his sword was drawn. The creature carried its own head under one hand and an axe in the other. The horseâs eyes were red like burning coals and the creature reared up angrily as Maleagant approached. Behind him his men drew their weapons, though their step was hesitant. His was too, but then he thought of the creature charging with itâs bloody axe towards his wife and any trace of hesitance vanished in an instant. He chargedâŠ
The battle was long and arduous. Who is to say how long it lasted exactly. For the men it seem as if time slowed down and all their lived existed only in that stormy night. They were a small, mad bunch, and as the night went by their number dwindled. Those who did not fall fled until only two remained in the blood drenched forest, littered with the scattered corpses of loyal young men and one black horse. Maleagant had lost track of how many times he had plunged his sword into the Dullahanâs chest, but each time heâd pulled it out, dripping with a black fluid that reeked of dried blood and rotting corpses, the creature would simply charge once again, unharmed. He was beginning to think that truly this night would become an eternity, and the two of them would be trapped forever in this goulish dance. Then the Dullahan swung its axe, and when it collided with his sword the metal shattered, leaving him only with a broken shard attached to the gold hilt.Â
He barely had time to stare at the weapon in his hand in shock before the axe swung again. Cold metal sliced through his forearm. With a cry of agony he fell to his knees, clutching the stump that had once been his hand. Itâs astounding how fast blood can leave the body, not oozing or seeping but gushing from his limb, with which he had embraced his wife what felt like a lifetime ago. He crawled through the mud, picking up the shattered remains of his sword with his left hand just as the creature dove towards him.Â
Elaine, laughing, dancing with him in their living room. Little Rhys crying out in delight as he tossed him in the air and caught him. Rowena, laughing for the first time. A violet ribbon tied around his arm for good luck, then tucked away in his nightstand where it still remained. The first time he saw her face.
Love makes fools of us allâŠÂ Everything went black.Â
The rain didnât stop the day that Maleagant died. Thunder didnât sound as the Dullahanâs axe cut his head clean off. The moon continued to shine. Music did not sound. Everything continued on exactly as it was before. Except one thing. There, in the Dullahanâs chest, buried down to its golden hilt was Maleagantâs shattered sword. The creature fell to its knees and its head dropped to the ground with a sickening thud. It clawed at its chest, trying to remove the gold buried there to no avail. When it finally fell dead no one was there to see it. No one cheered its defeat, or wept over what it had cost. If one were to look up at the sky one could almost forget the massacre that littered the earth. Somewhere far away a dark haired woman slept soundly, her two children curled up besides her. They would grow up hearing stories of their father. Oh the stories heâd become. In the end thatâs all we can really hope for, isnât it? To be remembered fondly and to leave the world just a little brighter than we found it. And he was. He did.Â
Pinching lightly at her daughters cheeks when Mal stepped closer to her, Elaine sighed. âOf course, anything for our daughter.â Taking their daughter from him, she handed Rowena off to one of their nursemaids. âI think youâll be just fine.â Placing her hands on his shoulders, then moving his hand to around her waist, she kept her gaze on her husband. âCome now, itâs very simple I promise.âÂ
He reluctantly let go of his daughter, handing her her over to the nusemaid. As always, he found his wifeâs faith in him to be unfounded but he would not protest. So long as she saw the good in him and chose to remain by his side he would be hers. He let her place his hand around her waist and he pulled her close, smiling at her words. Everything seemed so simple with her. The servants resumed their song and they began to sway along to the tune. It wasnât a dance from a grand ball, with a magnificent gown and twirls and lifts. It was simple, comfortable and private. They held onto each other tightly and swayed lightly to the music. He wished the moment would last forever. This is how he wanted to be remembered, smiling and content, dancing with his wife.Â
Turning towards the door, Elaine smiled brightly. Setting Rowena down she watched as the little girl quickly crawled to her father. âOh come now, look at that face, how can you deny making our sweet daughter happy?â Following a few paces behind her, Elaine tucked a curl behind her ear. âDance with me? Please?â She questioned holding her hand out to her husband. âDance with the both of us?â
Rowena crawled over to him and he bent down to pick her up with a smile. Frankly Rowena seemed delighted regardless of whether he danced or not, but he figured it would be wiser not to bring that point up to his wife. He held her giggling in his arms. âI suppose thereâs no choice in the matter,â he said with a laugh. âAnything to make our daughter smile.â Though she was already smiling his meaning was clear: he would do anything for his family. It didnât even frighten him. âThough I must warn you Iâm a terrible dancer.â
Elaine smiled softly as she danced around the sitting room of her estate, a bright and cheery tune was being played from the corner by a few of her servants. Her daughter smiled and giggled happily in her grip, enjoying the music that filled the room. âMy beautiful baby girl, do you like the music?â She questioned, spinning quickly around the room, causing a bright laugh to spill from her daughters lips. Spinning just in time, Elaine paused seeing a figure in the doorway. âOh RowenaâŠâ She sighed. âIf only your father would join us in a dance.âÂ
Maleagant stood silently in the doorway, not daring to make a sound for fear of disrupting the scene unfolding before his eyes. His wife was dancing in their room, the sunlight coming in through the window as the sound of his daughterâs laughter filled their chambers. Dust hung in the air, but to his usually satirical and pessimistic eyes it seemed more like fairy dust, suspended in time as Elaine spun around. At her words he smiled, crossing his arms. âAh, but my dearest daughter knows that while there are few things I wouldnât do to make her mother happy, dancing is one of them.â They hadnât even danced at their wedding. Frankly heâd never learned, what with his mother being dead and his father neglecting him. Besides, as he was growing up heâd been too preoccupied leaning to fight and rule. Dancing had never seemed important to him. Until now.Â
Looking up at Mal when he finally came into view, Elaine smiled softly. Or at least she tried to. Her eyes conveyed what she wanted, but her body still ached to much. âTiredâŠâ She murmured finally. Getting a good look at her husband, she felt her heart twist in her chest. He looked exhausted. Worry lines etched into his forehead and under his hands. No doubt that they were her fault. Her lips parted a few times before she could manage another word. âWaterâŠplease..â Elaine turned her attention to the servants, nodding greatfully when one brought a cup to her lips. Taking careful sips, she thanked them before looking back to her husband. âThe children? Where are they?â
Her voice was weak and she looked so pale and frail lying there looking up at him. âI know my love, I know. You were so strong.â For a moment there even the physician wasnât sure if it was possible for her to survive, but she had fought her way through and surprised everyone. Everyone but him. He hadnât doubted her for a moment. Heâd seen too much of her strength for that, loved her too fiercely for that. She simply couldnât die. It was as inconceivable as the rain falling upwards, or the mountains to sway in the breeze. It just couldnât happen, and as frightened as heâd been thereâd been a part of him too foolish to believe that she was ever in any real danger. It just couldnât be. Heâd held her, helped her, prayed for her, but heâd never once given serious consideration to the thought that she might not make it. How could he? The servants brought her water and he stepped back only momentarily so she could drink, returning to her side the moment the cup was taken from her hands. âTheyâre with their nurse. Iâll send for them immediately. Theyâll be so happy to see their mother.âÂ
Her body felt heavy. She struggled to get a full breath past her lips and she was so tired. Though it sounded panicked, the deep tremor of her husbands voice put her at ease. He was by her side now and that was all that mattered to her in that moment. Elaine wanted to be home, she wanted to be with her children safe and in the comfort of their home. Elaine had never wondered what death was like, but she couldnât deny that this was it. Her hearing muted, and what ever she did manage to hear sounded like a song. Parting her eyes, which had started to glaze over, giving the greenish hue a sort of milky color, Elaine saw everything surronded by a warm glow. Maleagant sat before her looking like an angel sent from the heavens to guide her home. âMalâŠâ She sighed, her hand weakly trying to reach for his jaw but falling at his chest. He was real. This was all real and it was happening. âI want to go home..â Elaine let her eyes slip shut again, her head resting against her husbands shoulders. The journey home was quick like he had promised. And soon Elaine felt something familiar under her when she was placed in her bed.Â
Her soiled dress was quickly removed by servants and a cool cloth was placed on her forehead by the physician when he finally arrived. The physician did all he could, patching up her wound making sure she wouldnât loose any more blood before leaving the estate. Saying only that it was up to Elaine now, that she had to fight and that they pray to the gods she would be okay. She wasnât sure how long she had been asleep. Hours or days, she couldnât be certain, all she knew when her eyes finally opened, was that her body was spent and all she wanted was her family. âM-MalâŠâ she cleared her throat, dry as it was. âMaleagant.â
âOf course my love, weâre going home. Iâm here now. Youâll be alright, just hold on,â he begged her. She felt limp and frail in his arms as they rode towards the estate and he feared with every gallop that her heart might beat, praying with each of her ragged breaths that it would not be her last. When they finally arrived at the estate no physician or ladies maid could keep him from her side, and he helped the servants dress her and sat by her bedside while the physician tended to her wounds. His eyes never left her for a single moment, and he had the physician generously rewarded for his work, promising to double the payment if she recovered. Through it all he stayed by his wifeâs side, holding her hand, pressing a cold towel to her forehead and whispering words of encouragement even as she slept. By the time her eyes finally opened there were dark circles under his. Her voice was feeble and shaky, but to his ears there had never been a lovelier sound. He squeezed her hand, leaning over her. âIâm here Elaine. Iâm not going anywhere.â It would take a bloody army to steal him away from her side again. âHow do you feel? Do you need anything?â he asked, motioning for the servants to come to her side, ready to attend to her every need.Â
She couldnât really feel his hands on her and that thought bothered to no end. âT-The childrenâŠ.â Looking around for a moment as if to see if they were near by, Elaine shook her head. âThey are at home, I had goneâŠfor a walk in the woods.â Head resting against his shoulder, she fought to keep her eyes open so that she could at least try and explain what happened. âA creatureâŠthere is a creature in the woo-â A series of quick coughs cut her off, the violence of them caused some blood to trickle from the wound at her side. When the fit subsided for the moment, glassy eyes looked up at her husband. âI am so tired, Mal..â She murmured letting her eyes slip shut.Â
She looked around for a moment and his heart stopped in his chest, as his eyes followed her gaze in a desperate search, greeted only with a faceless mass that brought him nothing but desolation as he looked for their children in the crowd. Then she spoke, and he felt himself breathe once again. They were safe. Still, his troubles did not fade, and as her words sank in guilt flooded him. Some nameless beast had been the one to do this to her, but he was the one to blame. He should have been with her. He never should have left her side, he should have brought his family with him to Gorre for the coronation, kept them by his side where he could protect them. The metallic scent of blood filled the air as her gown was stained scarlet. âI know my love, I know,â he said desperately, trying to offer her whatever comfort he could. He nodded towards one of his guards. âWeâre not too far from the estate, have the physician meet us there.â He had to get her out of the streets. He turned his attention back to his wife only to find her eyes closed and panic unlike he had ever known filled him. âElaine, open your eyes! Elaine please! Stay with me, my queen. Youâre going to be alright, just stay with me.â He picked her up and carried her towards his horse. He had to get her home, and there the physician would make her better under threat of death. âDonât you leave me, donât you dare,â his voice shook. âOpen you eyes!âÂ
Elaine had been half walking, half stumbling down the streets for only the gods knew how long. Her body ached far more than it should have, and everything seemed to sit in a haze. A few people had stopped her to try and help her, but Elaine pushed them away. She wanted to be home. She wanted to see her children, her husband. But, he was back in Gorre. Elaine hadnât quite heard word yet of when he was to return. He promised it would be soon.Â
Her normally perfectly wild curls were thrown haphazardly around her head. Her normally fair skin was a ghostly white and smeared with mud. Her dress was torn and stained with blood. Whether the blood was hers or the creatures, she didnât know. At odd moments in her journey Elaine had wanted nothing more than to just lay down in the street and rest. She feared though if she did, she would never rise again. When a voice called out, more rather yelled, from behind her, Elaineâs heart skipped a beat. She knew that tone anywhere.Â
Turning slowly to face his horse, the Queen tried to smile, though it seemed far more broken and battered. âMalâŠâ She murmured, voice barely above a whisper. No longer able to ignore the shooting pain in her side or support her weight, Elaine dropped down to her knees before her King. âOh my husbandâŠhow Iâve m-missed you so..âÂ
Maleagant had never dismounted so fast in his life. The moment his wife turned around to face him he was off his horse and rushing to her side, panic flooding him at the sight of her. He sunk to the ground by her side, cradling her in his arms and looking down at her with wide, worried eyes. âElaine, my love, whatâs happened?â He ran his thumb over her cheek, running his gaze along her body in horror, taking in the sight of blood and searching for the source of it. He would kill whoever was responsible. Rage and fear warred within him as he held on to his wife. âWhere are you hurt? Who did this? Where the children with you?â He tore his eyes away from her only for a moment, calling one of his guards. âFetch a physician, now!â He looked back down at her, running his hands through her wild, filthy hair. She was going to be alright. She had to be alright.Â
Maleagant rode through the streets of Camelot with a solemn expression, his mind burdened with thoughts of recent events, not the least of which was how ridiculous he looked with that crown on his head. His fatherâs death was hardly enough to shake him. The old man had been dead to him for a long time, but the implications of his passing still weighed on his mind. He was King of Gorre now. He always thought that when he took a throne it would be the one of Camelot, but as he rode through the kingdom he found himself in a position he never believed he would be. He was happy without it. He had a prosperous kingdom of his own, and he he had a loving wife and two beautiful children. Gods he had missed them. He didnât know it was possible to miss someone as much as he had missed his family.Â
As he approached his estate he looked around, taking in the sights of the city and wondering how much of it would be left once the Saxons took Camelot. So much had changed since heâd made the alliance with King Cerdic. He was a King in his own right now, with an army at his disposal and a people to care for. They were his responsibility, and he would not fail them the way Arthur had failed. More than that, he was a father now. It was his duty to make the world a better place for his children. Rhys and Rowena were more than his legacy, they were his life.Â
So much had changed since the first time he had ridden into Camelot, scorned by Guinevere in favour of the bastard king. He was a husband now, a king, a father⊠a brother. How is it than in so little time so much had change? He had been so alone and now⊠now he had so much to lose. He had sworn allegiance to the Saxons out of anger, but now he would respect that alliance out of love. When Camelot burned, as it was bround to with all of its enemies drawing nearer with every breath, he would continue to stand. Gorre would continue to stand. His family would continue to stand. Because he had always known loving more meant having more to lose. What he hadnât know is that it also meant having more to fight for. And if there was one thing he was good at in his wretched existence it was fighting.Â
King or not, it seemed some things would never change, and Maleagant was torn away from his thoughts by someone standing absently in front of his horse. At this rate heâd make it through the crowded streets faster on foot. âYou have the entire bloody street at your disposal, must you stand right there?â He wasnât a patient man to begin with, but on this occasion he was particularly eager to get home. âSome of us have families to get home to. Ideally at some point this damned year.âÂ
Malle looked up at Meleagant, distraught by the news. She had known that her father was old, but she hadnât known him to be ailing so desperately. Though she resented him greatly in that moment for never having told even Meleagant about her, she could not deny that he had been as good to her as his terribly straight morals could ever have allowed him to beâwhich was still better than how most men treated their bastards. âI didnât knowâŠâ She said wretchedly. âI would have liked to say goodbye, butâŠ. You see, heâs⊠well, heâs my father too.â
At first he thought the sadness in her eyes was out of pity and he frowned more in confusion than in concern. She was a servant and she clearly held no love for him so he couldnât fathom why she would be so moved by the news of the ailing king. Then she said it... heâs my father too. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened. Of course. Heâd known his father had a bastard, but heâd always assumed the child had been shipped off to grow up elsewhere or long forgotten by his family. He never would have suspected that he had spent his childhood playing with her by his side in the palace kitchens. His father had always been ashamed of him. His self righteousness and his âpurityâ always making it difficult for him to love a boy so foully corrupted by rage and resentment. Maleagant had never hated him for it, he knew the old fool simply wasnât capable of loving him. He loved the law too much. But in that moment he felt more anger towards his father than he ever had. How could he have kept this from him? His own family! âBloody hell.â He ran his hand over his face. âI had no idea, I swear to you.â
Branwen never expected a reaction like this from the man. She had people who ran away scared, stared at her like she was scrazy, or screamed and acussed her of being a witch when she shared her visions with someone, perhaps because the shock was so great it prevented them for taking something like a knife, but never in her life she had been threatened with a sword. She inmediatelly backed away and triped with the hem of her dress. âPlease, my lord!â, she gasped and looked at him with fear in her eyes. âIâm an apprentice to Lady Morgana. I have the gift of Sight and I saw your daughter. Sheâs ill, her health is not good, my lord and I⊠IâŠâ The words died in her mouth and even when she saw him pull the sword away, she did not dare to say a word.
The situation started to become clear, like an image coming into focus and he lowered his sword until the tip rested safely against the ground, though his eyes were still narrowed. The only possible explanation was that she was speaking the truth, for how else would she know of his daughter? If that was the case... gods, Rowena! He sheathed his sword and offered the lady his hand to help her up. âMy daughter, what will happen to her? Can this vision of yours be averted?â he asked with a frown.Â
It was a beautiful sight that stood before her. Her husband and her daughter. She had a daughter. And a son, both healthy and in the world. The chambers had quickly been cleared out, the only people left was the new family. Tears filled her eyes seeing Maleagant cry. That alone caused her heart to swell even more. âBring her closer, please, I want to see her.â Shifting on the bed, so that he had room to sit as well, Elaine couldnât take the smile from her lips. âWe did this, my love this is our legacy. Rhys is your legacy.â Ever since she was a child, Elaine knew the importance of bearing sons. In order to keep the line alive and well. In that right, as a wife, sheâd done her job. Waiting for her husband to find a comfortable place to sit, she moved her gaze back to her son. âHe has your eyes, my love. Heâll grow to look like his father, I know it.âÂ
They looked like a pair of fools, the lot of them all crying, but Maleagant didnât give a damn. His wife moved over, motioning for him to sit besides her and he happily obliged. He moved with caution, carrying in his arms the most precious treasure he had ever been blessed with. âLook,â he whispered, leaning closer to his wife so she could look down at her daughter. He frowned slightly at her words, not having considered it quite like that. He was soon to become a king, and he knew it was his duty to his kingdom to produce an heir to carry on his name and his... legacy. What was his legacy? A lifetime of hatred, resentment and heartache until Elaine came into his life. Yes, his children would be his legacy. Not because they carried his name or his blood, but because for the first time in his life he had done something truly right. Something good. âThey both are ours,â he corrected her tenderly, for before her he had not been worth remembering and would have little use for a legacy. He kissed Elaineâs forehead, looking down at the babe in her arms and seeing not an heir but an angel. âNonsense. They both have your eyes. Gods I love those eyes.â He smiled at her before wrinkling his nose playfully at her comment. âI certainly hope not. If we have any luck heâll grow up to be handsome.â
Branwen was so happy that she had been able to control that vision, that without even thinking about it, she nodded with a smile to the unknown man and. He could have been a bandid, a Saxon or worse, but at that moment, she was overcome with joy of not seeing whatever it was that the gods had sent to her the moment she set her eyes on this man. The seer was going to open her mouth to reply when a sharp pain on her head made her drop to her knees and hold her head with both hands. She closed her eyes and gasped to open them again when the Sight invaded her senses with the vision she had just repressed. It showed the man in font of her inside a room, holding a babyâs hand in his. The babyâs breath was a wheezing and it had a small wet cloth on itâs head to keep the feever down. The man began to whisper a name that Branwen found herself mumbling as well âRowenaâ She stared at him âYour daughterâ Branwen gasped. âYour daughter is illâ.
The moment the woman spoke his daughterâs name he froze. His eyes went wide and the blood in his veins turned to ice as he stared at her in shock. Without thinking he drew his sword and pointed it at the woman in one swift motion, instinct taking over. âWho are you? How do you know that name?â Rowena had only just been born, and since then he had not spoken of the twins to anyone. Elaine was still resting and he didnât have anyone to tell, so there was no way a strange could know that name. His earlier suspicions tugged at the back of his mind and he lowered his sword only slightly. âWhat do you know of my daughter?âÂ
The invitation was not what Galahad had expected. Not that he truly knew what expect, since he still did not truly know what his relationship with Elaine was or what he wanted it to be. But he thought he should try and look on it as a good thing - even if there was not closeness, he certainly did not wish for there to be bad feeling and discord among them. Especially since there were going to be children. Children who would, inevitably, have to learn than he was their brother by blood. âAh, yes ⊠thank you, that would be - I would like that.â
He wasnât sure who was more surprised by the invitation, Galahad or himself. What was he thinking? He was making the whole situation entirely more uncomfortable than it already was, which was a significant accomplishment in it of itself. When the lad actually accepted his eyebrows shot up in surprise. âWell then... thatâs settled... I suppose.â He wrung his hands uncertain about what to say or do next. âI can send for you if youâd like once the twins are born? That is, if youâd like to meet them...â
