CHAPTER 4: BIRTH
The woman stirred.
The king stiffened.
A moment of suspense.
The midwife and the maids did not dare to breathe. Their heads were hung low.
A glint passed by his eyes.
The woman shuddered.
"Please send the maids out with only the midwife remaining." He said.
"Please Your Majesty!! Spare my life. I promise to keep my mouth shut." The midwife's legs gave way and she bowed and cried for mercy.
"Fine I promise. You can proceed with the birth now."
"Yes your Majesty. Long Live Your Majesty."
The woman on the bed sucked in a cold breath.
She looked towards the king with a scrutinizing look and a flash of doubt passed by her eyes.
"My lord. I am fine. You need not concern yourself with this. I will bring your child to you first."
"Please rest."
The king was in deep thought for a while as his gaze locked on to his wife in labor.
"Fine."
He went away.
A few minutes passed by.
The king's footsteps became distant.
There were no guards around. All had left.
The queen sprang up from her bed and threw away the bulging cushions, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"Where is Hanna?"
"Still in labor Milady."
"How long will it take?"
"A few minutes more."
"The baby girl-bring her to me."
"Yes."
From inside a closet the midwife brought out a basket supposedly full of fruits.
Underneath them however there was a little just-born girl with a shining necklace round her neck.
"Try to become one with it dear and you will feel me."
The queen said as a drop fell from her eyes on the little one's cheek.
"Take her away and bring back Hanna's child."
"Give her to Hanna and...…"
"No….Never mind. Just give it to her. "
"It shall be done Your Highness."
The midwife proceeded to give the basket to a knight hiding outside.
"Wait!"
"Anything else milady?"
"Tell Sister Rian to be careful."
The queen longingly looked at the basket. Her eyes were glued to it.
"I…..I want to hold her. Just once….Please"
The midwife looked on with a pained expression.
"Milady please. You cannot touch her or else the king would find her."
The queen said nothing.
"Get out." she threw those words at the knight and proceeded to the bed and laid there with a pained expression.