How to Steal a Child

Like all the heroes that had come before them, she was born in a small town. It was some long-standing occurrence that any hero, more often than not, came from the outskirts of their kingdom. No one really knew why. Thus the hero came into her world. 7 pounds and some odd ounces, was her weight upon entering the lovely world of Gleanasburg.

A town that was just a two weeks journey from the capital, and considered to be a very peaceful place to settle. Many were drawn to it for its beautiful forest that provided a sustainable living, for many creatures and plants were to be found within it. However just minutes after exiting her exhausted mother and into the hands of the midwife, something strange began to happen.

A glowing mass of light appeared above her head. At first it was the size of a mere lightning bug, a small flicker of light. It rapidly grew in size within seconds. From lightning bug to small finch. Finch to hawk. Hawk to child. And when it was the length of the child, merely a foot or so, it stopped. Out of the light a sword slowly materialized. The light then seemed to seep into the sword, the blade now illuminated with a fain aura of light.

To those who are practiced with magic and the likes, would immediately see that this sword was imbued with holy magic. This statement was quite easy to say, because the sword was glowing. Very brightly. One would also assume that the hero's parents, being common folk, would not recognize what was happening. Nor would a midwife. But for some reason all adult party's present knew what was happening.

Perhaps it was the leaflet that had been spread around the continent, urging parents that were expecting a baby to be cautious, as their child might be the new hero. The mages of the capital had foreseen a new hero coming, but the magic was imprecise. They had no idea as to where the hero would be born, but they knew it was to be soon. Or perhaps it was some long forgotten secret in the back of their conscious. Whispers of what their child truly was.

These whispers came to the forefront of a certain mind, her father's. He had previously been walking over to embrace his newborn daughter, but flinched violently as the light appeared. Withdrawing his hands that had just been about to pick up the newborn, he took several hurried steps backwards gasping at the now suspended sword above his daughter's head.

I will let you in on a little secret dear reader. It was not astonishment that was on this man's face. It was disgust. Pure and simple. And it was most definitely directed at his child. Like he had just seen a demon spawn, his face was filled with hatred. His hands itched for something, something no farmer would ever wield. But as quickly as it had appeared, the anger faded. His face softened, and the appropriate astonishment took place instead.

The midwife who had all the while been clutching the poor baby was trembling. I'm sure anyone would be just as anxious with a sword above their head as well. But after few tense minutes of being frozen in place, staring up at the glowing sword, which was but 1 foot from her face, she slowly realized it wasn't moving.

"Mister Theodore, Miss Anna... I think your child is the next hero! "

The midwife turned towards the mother, who was exhausted, and still in a daze after giving birth. However the midwife's declaration quickly snapped her out of her haze. She quickly tried to sit up in the bed; her husband seeing this, rushed over to help her with shaking hands.

"Diana, what should we do? We are but common people who know nothing of raising a hero."

The mother pleaded weakly to the midwife, asking for help in this miraculous circumstance.

The midwife then spoke hesitantly, for she knew the reprecussions of of the words she was about to say.

"Anna, my dear friend, I know you do not want to hear this...but you are right. This baby won't become a proper hero without major interference. I'm sorry to say this, but this child as of this day, is no longer yours."

Theodore's head snapped up from his wife's face, his features contorted with confusion and fury.

" What the fuck are you talking about, what do you mean by that!?"

The midwife grasped the baby harder and quickly stepped back from the young couple. How could she explain to them, that this baby now belonged to kingdom. Being the new hero, their daughter's only purpose was to be of service to others. She would no longer exist freely. This child had been born to live only for it's country. And die for it. This child, was no longer theirs, it was the country's.

No parent wants their child ripped away from them, especially if they're the decent sort. Diana had only known the Crescent couple for six months, but she knew they were good people. And it hurt. Oh God, it hurt, to tell her dear friends that they couldn't raise their own child. To rip the newborn from their hands. It felt like she was committing a crime of the highest calliber and would be immediately struck dead, just for speaking those cruel words alone.

With tears budding in her eyes, Diana the midwife declared to the new parents that on this day she was unfortunately not just a bringer of life. Today, for the first time in her life while preforming her midwife duties, she took a life away. Leaving behind a sobbing mother and now broken father, she took the child. For being a midwife was but a side job she did occasionally. Her true occupation was that of a apprentice mage. And orders had given just mere months ago that if anyone spotted the potential new hero, they were to be brought in. Effective immediately. Disobedience would not be tolerated as many lives were at stake. The only solace she could offer to them was uttered as she left their small cottage.

" I assure you, your child will make it to the capital and become a hero you'll be proud of. Please don't worry, it's for the best."

Theodore and Anna knew by now that it was best not to chase after Diana. Knew that they would probably never see their child again. Never touch, comfort, or kiss their daughter. The child would grow, and they would never know who it would look like more. Would she have her mother's beautiful raven black hair, or her father's dirty blond hair instead. Brown eyes or hazel. Dimples or none. Would she tilt her head like her father does while thinking really hard about something. This bright future of raising their first child, snatched away by one cruel fact. Their child was a hero.

Diana after fleeing quickly from Anna and Theodore's cottage, stopped suddenly in the middle of the road. She really couldn't go into town like this, with a glowing sword above a baby's head. How flustered was she really that she thought that would bode well with the locals. However this part-time midwife was in luck. The holy sword was never intended to be permanently fixed above the baby's head. All that needed to happen was one thing.

" Waaaahhhh..... Waaaaaaaahh!!"

The previously docile baby stirred from the depths of the part-time midwife's chest. It's mouth opened and it began to wail. Reaching it's grubby hands in the sky and feebly waving it's limbs, the baby seemed as if it was trying to reach the sword. As it struggled to escape the confines of the prison that the wrapped blanket around it's body was, Diana felt a sense of apprehension descend upon her. ' A hero needs their weapon ' was only the first thought that came to her mind. And ever so gently she grasped the handle of the floating sword. The second her hands touched the hilt, it fell swiftly down, no longer being held up by some unknown magic.

" Ah shit!"

Diana quickly and firmly took hold of the hilt, for the blade had almost fell, straight onto the baby. " This is such a great start," Diana muttered to herself, " who wouldn't trust me with the newborn hero". She rolled her eyes at her own self depreciation and slowly lowered the sword to the ground, leaning it against her leg. Shuffling her garments around whilst holding the baby, she undid the sash tied around her waist. Squatting down she balanced the child, who was still swaddled in the blanket, against one knee, and the sword against the other. Looping her sash around the sword in a makeshift scabbard, Diana quickly tied it to her waist.

Securing the baby in one hand, Diana stood up and quickly continued down the road and into town. Luckily for the both of them it was but a 10 minute walk to town. Quite fortunate for them. Another stroke of luck was that there was a trading caravan going straight to the capital, later that day. Diana being a quirky individual, was prepared for anything. Being a mage and midwife had taught her the valuable lesson a being prepared for anything, so of course she had a small satchel with her. Sown to the inseam of her shirt was a handy little pocket. This pocket contained a small satchel with her traveling papers and money. Enough money to safely sustain them both for the two week journey to the capital.

And thus the Hero's story begins, with her first journey at but a day old. Accompanied by not her parents, but stolen away from them by a midwife. For the betterment of everyone of course, is the reasoning behind this move. That is what the part-time midwife and mage believed. And that's what the parents were forced to believe as well. The baby was still just a baby however, and it's move *cough* kidnapping *cough* out if it's parents house was so abrupt that no one had time to properly name it.

Now that is truly unfortunate. No name. No family. Somewhere, a certain being is shaking their head in contempt. The child however, was unaware and frankly didn't care what was going on. As long as it was kept warm, safe and fed it was content. Unlike other newborns it didn't cry for it's mother or father. It didn't cry at being jostled around a lot, for as hard as Diana tried she still wasn't the best at holding babies. Right now, life was good. That however would change very quickly.