Ultimate Decades Challenge - Day 32 - Year 1307 - Updated Nov. 17

It was an early day for Kimberly, as Emma still wasn't sleeping through the night yet. She managed to get her back to bed, but then it was up for the day to take care of the farm. It was the first day of winter and there were crops to plant. They had purchased some more hens and there were lots of eggs to collect, as well as two hatchable eggs.
https://i.ibb.co/NTp60Zm/11-05-23-9-04-47-PM.png
https://i.ibb.co/1KKPQq0/11-05-23-9-04-58-PM.png

Kimberly did the planting while Thomas spent some time with Emma.
https://i.ibb.co/VvCQvDY/11-05-23-9-07-27-PM.png
https://i.ibb.co/3h1Q8Ck/11-05-23-9-07-49-PM.png

She hit quite a few milestones, one of them being sitting up for the first time.
https://i.ibb.co/VLfp3z1/11-05-23-9-11-33-PM.png

Kimberly was feeling nauseous and wondered if she might be pregnant.
https://i.ibb.co/VJNHZxC/11-05-23-9-12-28-PM.png

There were ways of testing for pregnancy, and Kimberly tried one of them. She didn't seem to be pregnant. She must be sick with something.
https://i.ibb.co/y4mzRKF/11-05-23-9-13-41-PM.png

She heated some water and took a nice hot bath, which felt especially nice because of the cold weather, and got a quick nap while Emma napped and Thomas painted.
https://i.ibb.co/gmTQj2x/11-05-23-9-17-08-PM.png
https://i.ibb.co/w76z88D/11-05-23-9-15-08-PM.png

Then of course Emma needed a bath.
https://i.ibb.co/GCLnpBp/11-05-23-9-19-11-PM.png

The roosters were really taking their babysitting duties seriously.
https://i.ibb.co/LtxM3s8/11-05-23-9-20-34-PM.png
https://i.ibb.co/cJQdZgH/11-05-23-9-21-06-PM.png

It was a simple day of chores, but tomorrow they would take a trip into town. It was almost Thomas' 20th birthday, and Kimberly wanted to get him something nice to celebrate.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Elizabeth was in the kitchen getting some dinner ready. Camilla was playing with the wooden toys John had bought her. She really was a happy child, despite whatever tough beginnings she may have had. She loved to listen to John sing and getting cuddles from Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was happy that Sister Agnes had readily agreed to let her and John officially adopt Camilla. They had grown attached to her, and she to them. Elizabeth again left the conversation with Agnes wondering if that was the outcome Sister Agnes had planned on all along. Perhaps she had never even looked for another home for Camilla.

She was just bringing a plate to the table when she turned and saw Camilla. She gasped and dropped the plate she was holding.
https://i.ibb.co/7QxK8Bp/11-05-23-9-46-32-PM.png

John heard the crash and came to her side.

"What's happened?"

"Camilla..." Elizabeth whispered.
https://i.ibb.co/NCjXsq9/11-05-23-9-49-45-PM.png

The wooden toys were floating by her head as she played happily.
https://i.ibb.co/HBVFcxS/11-05-23-9-44-22-PM.png

Camilla noticed them watching her. The toys fell to the floor and Camilla tottered over to them.
https://i.ibb.co/2vLrBfv/11-05-23-9-51-38-PM.png

She looked up at Elizabeth and said for the first time, "Mama."
https://i.ibb.co/ZcJfVtp/11-05-23-9-51-57-PM.png

She reached for her. "Up. Up."
https://i.ibb.co/7Sh0T7f/11-05-23-9-52-23-PM.png

Elizabeth's fear left her then and she reached down to hold her. "Everything is okay," she whispered gently.

John picked up the dish from the floor. Camilla motioned for it, with grabbing fingers.

"Eat," she cooed.
https://i.ibb.co/RDNBQMv/11-05-23-9-53-00-PM.png

Elizabeth put her in her chair and John grabbed another plate of food.

While she ate, they whispered together.

"What was that?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know..." John answered. "But we must keep it quiet for now. We must protect her."

"I'm scared, John."
https://i.ibb.co/SrBFPxF/11-05-23-9-55-40-PM.png

"We will figure it out. She's just a child," he assured her.
https://i.ibb.co/LQ1nYrn/11-05-23-9-55-42-PM.png

Elizabeth and Kimberly have the same hair...I may change Elizabeth's hair soon. Maybe no one noticed? Lol.

I hope Kimberly is not badly ill :(
Aww, I love how you used the floating toys <3 Yes , better be quiet about it, magic in those days....
Noticed the hair now you mentioned , not before :D

With all the other stories to read I actually don't mind the one day updates. If course you must do what suits you best

Now I'm interested in what those other methods are for discovering pregnancy. ?

Thanks for reading :) Glad it wasn't that noticable then.

@SoulGal7 talked about this in her story.

"SoulGal7;c-18321587" wrote:

Pregnancy tests have been done throughout history, and were sometimes done in medieval times. "Many variations of tests using urine have been found throughout history. Indeed, in a number of medical recipes from the medieval period onwards, a needle placed in a woman’s urine was said to turn red or black if she was pregnant." Read more about the History of Pregnancy Tests HERE.

:)

Thanks for the info! So interesting.

Kimberly was feeling much better in the morning, but now Thomas had come down with something. She tried to get him to stay in bed, but he was hungry and he wanted to watch Emma try solid food for the first time.
https://i.ibb.co/PwFTBh1/11-06-23-2-02-00-PM.png

Kimberly had barely finished her morning work when there came a knock at the door.
https://i.ibb.co/d6tc7bR/11-06-23-8-21-13-PM.png

It was Richard and he looked very grave. They invited him inside.
https://i.ibb.co/4MMJXbg/11-06-23-8-23-10-PM.png

"Is it Anna?" Thomas asked.

"Anna is fine. And the baby. He came this morning. A boy. We've named him David." He smiled then, but it was brief.
https://i.ibb.co/cC9MRQr/11-06-23-8-31-15-PM.png

"That's wonderful!" said Kimberly.

"Yes," he answered, "but I'm afraid...I have bad news..."
https://i.ibb.co/FsnXrm3/11-06-23-8-24-16-PM.png

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Earlier...

It was a cold and rainy morning. Richard was training and Anna was tending to the horse, trying to get him to go back to the stable. Maren had wandered out, which was odd, since she was supposed to be inside with Anna's parents.

It was in that moment that Anna's water broke.
https://i.ibb.co/dtZHZpB/11-06-23-2-07-53-PM.png

It was quick and intense labor. She didn't even have time to get inside. The baby was coming!
https://i.ibb.co/zmNnzTk/11-06-23-2-08-37-PM.png

Richard was panicking and poor Maren didn't know what was happening.
https://i.ibb.co/TvR4B1X/11-06-23-2-08-47-PM.png

But Anna did it. Just like that, outside in the rain, a baby boy was born.
https://i.ibb.co/GRqjSCv/11-06-23-2-09-54-PM.png
https://i.ibb.co/3YTV87B/11-06-23-2-10-56-PM.png

They rushed inside with the baby and that's when they saw Caitlin weeping.

She told them through her tears that Edward hadn't been feeling well and that he thought the cold had returned. He laid down on the bed to rest.
https://i.ibb.co/X2Lh6vp/11-06-23-2-07-09-PM.png

Caitlin had been assuring him that they would send for another physician when suddenly he stood up...and then collapsed onto the floor.
https://i.ibb.co/1LTGzPr/11-06-23-2-13-45-PM.png

It had been so sudden and Caitlin hadn't been able to do anything. Edward was gone.
https://i.ibb.co/d6MXHtX/11-06-23-2-13-59-PM.png

The birth of her grandson was a bittersweet thing to her now without Edward there to meet him.
https://i.ibb.co/fYK31HM/11-06-23-2-18-15-PM.png

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After Richard finished telling them what had happened, Thomas was in shock.
https://i.ibb.co/JcDB02f/11-06-23-8-30-45-PM.png

His father had recovered. Why had the cold returned?

Just then, Thomas started coughing and Kimberly looked at him, more worried now than ever.

"I'm sorry," Richard said, "but I must return to Anna and the baby."
https://i.ibb.co/8NvSRrw/11-06-23-8-32-07-PM.png

After he left, Kimberly made Thomas lie down. He looked very pale, whether from shock or from sickness, or perhaps both, Kimberly wasn't sure.https://i.ibb.co/n1DSS22/11-06-23-8-34-15-PM.png

"I'm going to town to find a healer," she told him.

He shook his head. "What about Emma?"

"I'll bring her with me."

He didn't answer, but just rolled onto his side. Kimberly hoped everything would be okay.
https://i.ibb.co/WxrXcb4/11-06-23-8-34-34-PM.png

It turned out she wouldn't need to take Emma with her, because their neighbor, Rhami Watson, came over as Kimberly was about to leave. She briefly explained the situation to her.
https://i.ibb.co/3mWrQ33/11-06-23-8-36-35-PM.png

She agreed to stay and watch Emma while Kimberly went into town.
https://i.ibb.co/R4fSsXh/11-06-23-8-37-28-PM.png

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was such a cold and rainy day that there were not many people in Finchwick at all, not even Kim.
https://i.ibb.co/P5KrfDZ/11-06-23-8-39-57-PM.png

She went into the tavern instead and ran into John. He didn't yet know about the news.
https://i.ibb.co/HBdKnXf/11-06-23-8-41-49-PM.png

He would have to go home straight away and inform Elizabeth.
https://i.ibb.co/RYWPSd1/11-06-23-8-42-16-PM.png

Kimberly asked Sara if she knew of any healers in town.

"You're not likely to find one around here, especially on a day like this. I'm very sorry."
https://i.ibb.co/K0FhR1t/11-06-23-8-44-35-PM.png

Dejected, she returned home.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

All she could do for Thomas was make him a bowl of soup and have him rest.
https://i.ibb.co/vQpc9rc/11-06-23-8-48-05-PM.png

After she put Emma to bed, she thought of what to do for Thomas' birthday. She had planned to get him something in Finchwick, but so much had happened. She decided she would paint him something.
https://i.ibb.co/zJDjfYn/11-06-23-8-53-38-PM.png

It wasn't as good as his, but she thought he would like it.
https://i.ibb.co/Lt0Xqcc/11-06-23-8-54-04-PM.png

Kimberly went to bed and hoped that all would be well in the morning.
https://i.ibb.co/27cVXsb/11-06-23-8-56-03-PM.png

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:
When I did Edward's end of life roll, unfortunately he was only given 1 extra year to live. He died at 41 years old. It just happened to be on the same day that David was born.

Anna and David's rolls:
If Anna rolls a 1, she dies.
Anna: 7

If David rolls a 5, 10, 15, or 20 he dies.
David: 6

From what I've read there were physicians, healers, and apothecaries in medieval times when someone was sick. They had almshouses, which were like hospitals, but really if you were a peasant your best option was finding a local healer that would heal with herbs and things because physicians were expensive.

Since Richard is a knight, his family is more likely to be able to get a physician, were as Kimberly wouldn't have as many options.

Poor Edward!

I was not expecting Camilla to be magical! I'm sure that's why the Goth lady wants her. I hope Thomas recovers! Hopefully Kimberly can find someone to heal him. Perhaps the creature keeper knows someone? He seems to be close to the forest (at least, the animals in it) so perhaps he knows someone who knows about herbs and such.

I am glad David's birth went well.

I'm sure Thomas will love the painting Kimberly made!

Rooster babysitting - love it! Oh my! Poor Elizabeth must have had quite a shock seeing those blocks in the air. Yes, little Camilla is a magical child, no wonder Lady Goth wants her. Now...are they related somehow? I noticed that no last name was given to the King and Queen who mourned the loss of their child...so either the Queen or King are magical, and could be a possible relative of Lady Goth. Or, Lady Goth just hones in on children with "special abilities" and "collects" them all for further training. Interesting development, and magic certainly was known in medieval times. But to be known as a "witch" was not a good thing, and so no wonder Elizabeth is worried. (Reading the next chapter, Camilla could also be blessed with magical "healer" powers. I guess we'll find out...)

Congratulations to Anna and Richard on the birth of baby David. That must have been scary, giving birth in the woods. Glad they both survived. And, oh gosh! Poor Edward has died from his illness. And now Thomas is coughing, too. No....no...no...Thomas has to get better. Yes, find a healer. Okay, I did laugh when I saw that Rahmi Watson was going to babysit Emma while Kimberly searched for a healer. Yes, Rahmi, babysitter extraordinaire! lol And while searching for a healer, Kimberly runs into John, and she has to tell him about Edward. So sad. And Kimberly is getting quite good at painting, too. A nice gift for Thomas' up-coming birthday. Thomas - you better get better - you're the heir!

It was a sad breakfast the next morning. Thomas was able to get out of bed, but they were both still very upset about Edward, especially Thomas.

Kimberly wanted to cheer him up; it was his birthday after all. She decided to give him the painting she had done for him.
https://i.imgur.com/dEs2uN3.png

The painting did lift his spirits a little. He loved it.
https://i.imgur.com/kQwsNS3.png
https://i.imgur.com/WnAesPO.png
https://i.imgur.com/ldlejN1.png

He still wasn't well though, and so he went upstairs to lie down.
https://i.imgur.com/I6c2EJ9.png

Richard came over again to let them know that they would gather at the church tomorrow to bury Edward and remember his life.
https://i.imgur.com/YcurM7E.png

Kimberly asked him if he would be able to send for a physician for Thomas.
https://i.imgur.com/gtbTIWw.png

"He's sick?" Richard asked. "Of course. Have him rest. I'll send someone over soon."

"Thank you, Richard."

Richard left and Kimberly was coming up to check on Thomas. He felt very faint.
https://i.imgur.com/uuZSYOW.png

"Kimberly..." he muttered. "I don't...I don't feel well..."
https://i.imgur.com/PbpxjZK.png

She ran up the stairs, but she was too late. "Thomas!!"
https://i.imgur.com/GV4pSDH.png
https://i.imgur.com/Opucnex.png

There was not even time to plead for his life... the grim reaper came and took him.
https://i.imgur.com/P3lZCgr.png

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kimberly grabbed Emma and ran all the way to the Sherwood farm. She was sobbing and didn't know what to do. Caitlin met her inside and Kimberly told her what happened.
https://i.imgur.com/q7Mzf5X.png

She just kept sobbing, "Thomas...Thomas..."
https://i.imgur.com/NOLxK1g.png

Caitlin too began to sob. First her husband, and now her son...what was she to do?
https://i.imgur.com/hFj63LZ.png

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kimberly and Emma stayed at the Sherwood farm that night. After they had all gone to bed, Anna lie awake in bed, turning over with grief and worry. Without really knowing why, she got up and went to check on David. Hadn't it been awhile since he'd cried?
https://i.imgur.com/uAyKZ2p.png

Something wasn't right...
https://i.imgur.com/8MZitar.png

"Richard! Richard come quick!" she called.

Richard ran in and grabbed David.
https://i.imgur.com/647BcnH.png

He wasn't breathing. Richard quickly began to breath into his mouth and began to rub the baby's chest.

Anna was beside herself. And then...a small cry. And then David was screaming and air was filling his lungs. It was the most beautiful cry in the world.
https://i.imgur.com/Ca6T41K.png

Anna took him from Richard and began to shoosh him, her pounding heart beginning to slow.
https://i.imgur.com/qykrhfX.png

What a close call.
https://i.imgur.com/S43rIkZ.png

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:
This was a terrible update....I'm so sorry.

Thomas unfortunately rolled an 11 upon aging up to Young Adult. If he gets any of these numbers he dies: 2, 6, 11, 13, 14. :'(

I tried pleading with the grim reaper, but as soon as he came up the stairs he just did the reaping and she wasn't even able to plead for him. :'(

So what was with the close call for David?

When I was rolling for him, I accidentally rolled TWO dice (rolled at the same time)...one was a 17 and the other was a 12.
Any of these numbers and he dies: 12, 16, 18

So I decided to go with the 17, but I made it close call since I had already rolled the 12. But goodness gracious I definitely did not need another death. :s

So yes, the heir has died...and now it's up to Emma to find a husband who will inherit the farm now. Hopefully the next updates will be happier ones...