Chapter 47 After Birth

Seeing that Asa had safely removed my baby safely, my head fell back into the pillow, sweat was pouring down my face, my breathing rugged from holding my breath for so long, from trying not to move. Helios brought over a wet towel and wiped the sweat off of my face. I was so glad that it was all finally over. I feel completely drained from the procedure. I just wanted to fall asleep and not wake up for the couple of weeks. My eyes began to droop as I started to nod off. I felt Helios wrap him arms around my shoulders, "don't go to sleep just yet my love, you still have to name the little one. Hearing this my eyes flew open. Asa stood up, coming over he very carefully placed the vial in my hand.

Helios helped me move my hand closer to my face, seeing that I was too weak to move on my own, just so I could get a closer look at my baby. "Is...is it a male or a female," I stammered. Asa pulled down something that looked like a tablet on a similar mechanical arm like the last one and he placed the screen over my hand that held the vial. He switched on a screen in front of me. "Well let's take a look into it's future shall we," Asa grinned excitedly. "You guys can see into the future," I asked curiously. Asa nodded, "We have the technology to speed up time and see what the child will look like when it is older. I was shocked, that technology like this even existed.

If this technology existed on Earth, scientists could exploit it and get rid of children that had genetic diseases or complications before they were even born. This technology could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Helios kissed my forehead bringing me out of my reverie, "are you ready for the reveal my love?" I nodded squeezing Helios's hand. Asa pressed a couple of buttons on the screen and it blurred for a moment before coming back into focus. There before me on the screen stood a little boy who looked to be about the age of five years old, running around and laughing, he stood tall and already looked so strong. The boy had white curly locks similar to Helios, it wasn't until the boy turned around that everyone in the room gasped.

The boy had my eyes, they were emerald green, with gold flecks. The future sun shone in his eyes lighting them up like liquid gold that had caught fire. The boy smiled and waved at me from the screen, shouting, "hey mom look at me! Can you see me?" His voice rang forth like liquid honey that can make any female swoon. His lips curled into a cocky devilish grin, "look mom I can fly," the boy cried out joyously. He had Helios's smile, and my cute little button nose. He was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I reached my hand out toward the screen, I knew exactly what I wanted to name him, "Ezra," I whispered under my breath. Both Helios and Asa stared at me, "is that what you decided to call him my love," Helios asked curiously.

"I want to name him Ezra," I whispered softly. "Ezra means 'helper' where I'm from. One day he will be the future king of Kosea. He will lead and guide the people helping them along the way. Whenever there is a crisis he will be there to help. When he finds a mate, he will be there to help her just like Helios is there to help me. Helios glanced down at the vial. "Ezra is a perfect name for a King. It is a strong name and one that will suit him well. You have given birth to a beautiful heir. The citizens will adore him," Helios said beaming with pride. He stroked my hair and placed a kiss on my lips. Asa took the vial from me and holding the vial up a beam of light appeared on his finger tip.

He engraved the name Ezra on the vial so that he would know who it was for the future. He then gently placed the vial on a red velvet pillow and sat Ezra on his desk out of the way. The sleepiness I felt a few moments ago returned to me with a vengeance. I yawned and turned my face into Helios's arm, "can I rest now? I don't feel so good." Knowing that this was a very long and painful process for her, he had to let her know they weren't quite done yet. He steeled his heart before coming over and stood between her legs speaking softly, "we are almost finished with the procedure, you just have to birth the placenta and I will apply a healing cream to your cervix and then you will be all done."

Wait we weren't finished yet?!! I tensed up again wondering if there was going to be more pain coming. Helios took my hand in his and kissed the back of my hand. "Don't worry my love, I will be right here." Asa sat down between my legs and grabbing the cream from earlier he applied one last application to my cervix. I gritted my teeth expecting the pain, twenty minutes later the contractions came again. I squeezed Helios's hand in a death grip, choking back my sobs. Asa stood up and placing his hands on my tummy began to push down on my pelvis toward my lower region. I cried out as soon as he touched my tummy. It hurt so much. After feeling her placenta detach inside her Asa commanded, "I want you to close your eyes and push as hard as you can on the count of three."

Asa waited for me to close my eyes before pointing to a bowl on the sterile table and pointing at Helios. Knowing what he wanted Helios grabbed the bowl and stood between his mates legs, Asa shouted, "one, two, three!" He gently but firmly pushed on her pelvis one last time as she clenched her muscles and pushed. The placenta along with the umbilical cord came out and fell into the bowl that Helios was holding. They were going to save the placenta for later. In their world females ate the placenta after birthing a child to give them energy as nourishment, it also replenishes their iron from losing so much blood after birthing the placenta. They weren't sure if humans performed this ritual on Earth so they didn't plan to tell her about it. They will probably mix it up in her drink or her meals to conceal it.

The Queen let out one final cry before succumbing to the pain. Her head rolled back sinking into the pillow, her entire body going limp. Asa took the bowl from Helios and sat it down on the table. He then grabbed the healing cream and entered the Queen one last time to rub the cream on her cervix, before he finally pulled the speculum out of her. The two males set to work, they removed her feet from the stirrups, and began giving the Queen a sponge bath, they washed her hair and the sweat and blood off her body. Asa grabbed a towel and patted her dry. Double checking to make sure she was clean Helios carried her upstairs to her original room and laid her down in the bed.

He grabbed a couple of blankets from the warmer and covered her up with the blankets that had been heated up to keep her warm. She let out a moan clutching her tummy in her sleep. Helios felt a pang of guilt wishing he could take away her pain. He stroked her hair waiting for Asa to finish up downstairs. Shortly after Asa joined him. Every fifteen minutes, around the clock, right on the dot, Asa would massage her pelvis to help ease the tension and pain in her abdomen. After doing this for three hours she eventually fell into a deep sleep, no longer moaning from pain. Asa sat down at his desk sighing with relief. The hardest part of his job was over. He didn't screw it up too terribly.

Helios sat down in a recliner across from his desk.

After a few moments Asa broke the silence first, "her extraction had to be one of the hardest procedures I have ever performed. I had to take extra precaution just incase her offspring shared more of her characteristics. But in the end, my worry was for not, the little one already showed immense strength and was even fighting back kicking up a fuss when I extracted him, the little rascal he'll turn out to be," Asa sighed grinning. "But I'll have to say, I wouldn't mind performing her next extraction when the time presents itself. It was shall we say entertaining to say the least," he blushed every muscle in his body tensed up at the thought of being able to see her treasure up close again. He shook his head, what was he thinking? He was her doctor, not her lover. He had to ditch these thoughts before they got him killed.

Helios frowned, "As one of my oldest and longest friends I would say congratulations you lucky bastard you just got to see and touch every orifice of a female and the high Queen at that, but as your rival in love and your King you should watch what you say, you shouldn't look so happy when you say things like that, do you understand?," Helios chastised, jealousy flourishing through his body. "Yes your Highness, I'm sorry for stepping out of place." He hung his head ashamed for angering the King. "Don't let it happen again." Asa nodded admiring how much his best friend had changed since he mated with his Queen. He was showing sides of him that he didn't even know existed.

For instance his protective side, he would never even dare look at a female from Kosea let alone be bothered to protect one. But now that he has found a mate, her safety and protection was all he could think about with the upmost priority. His mate had also brought out a gentle side to him. Every movement the King made around his Queen was precise and calculated so that he wouldn't accidentally harm her. And last there was the love that flashed in his eyes every time he would look at her. His eyes stared into her souls with a spell binding love that could never be broken. If the King stared to long he would end up in a trance staring into her big beautiful green eyes that captivated you the moment you looked into them. You could almost say he had grown up and matured when he mated with his Queen.

Helios interrupted his thoughts, "do you think she will be up to having visitors tomorrow? Her friends must be dying to see her." Asa glanced over at the Queens sleeping form, "We'll wait until morning to determine if she is feeling up to having visitors. She might need a day of rest before having any visitors, she's been through such a tough ordeal. We don't want to rush her recovery." Helios nodded in understanding. "I'm surprised the others haven't tried to break through the barrier yet to try to find out the heirs gender. We haven't had a Queen in so long everyone is bound to be ecstatic to find out she produced the next King, and a beautiful one at that. "He has her eyes," Helios whispered full of pride.

If any of her genes were to get passed down he would always want it to be her eye color. "We already know the boy will have magic abilities when he matures, seeing that he was able to fly in the little snippet of his future we witnessed," Asa stated. "That was what I was most worried about. If her heir wasn't able to produce magic he would not be allowed to assume the throne as next in line. We would have had to wait until she produced an heir with magic abilities. Only those with magic abilities could assume the throne in order to protect this city." "Well I guess your magic overpowered her human genes this time around," Asa grinned with a smug look on his face leaning back in his chair behind his desk.

Helios sat a sugar cube on the desk and flicked it at Asa hitting him square in the forehead. "You are really starting to annoy," he chuckled. "Ow your highness I meant it as a compliment this time I swear." The two of them stared at each other for a moment before busting out with laughter. It has been far too long since they shared a moment together like this. The very last time was when Helios was just before his mother had died and his father followed shortly after, he had just finished up his prince in training, and had assumed the throne from his father. This was the last time Helios smiled at least until she came along. This little female had melted the King's ice cold heart and had him wrapped around her little finger. "She really is something else," Asa whispered to himself.

The Queen frowned in her sleep doubling over clutching her stomach. Her tummy must be hurting again. Asa stood up and went to her side, slipping his hands under the blankets so that she would stay warm, he gently massaged her pelvis muscles. After about forty five minutes of massaging she had settled back down, her tensed up position relaxing. As the night went on Asa only had to massage her once more, before she finally slept peacefully through the night. Every guard on duty was on high alert during the Queens Extraction. The next couple of days were critical in protecting the Queen and her offspring. Her scent had reached it peak and rogue males would be able to smell her and her child, many miles away. They had to wait for her scent to return to normal before they could even think of relaxing.

This left everyone on edge as they stood guard. For two hours they could hear the Queen's tortured cries coming from inside. It took every ounce of their strength to not bust the door open and rescue her from her misery. But the guards who felt the full affects of her painful cries was her entire private guard standing just outside the extraction room in the hall guarding entrance to the door. They clutched their lightning rods with white knuckles, almost snapping them in half. "Can't he be a little more gentler with her," Silas hissed quietly. His father stepped up beside him wrapping his arm around his shoulders, "he is being as gentle as he can, the King is in there with her, if something is amiss or seems to painful for her, he will stop Asa. Birthing for females is a very uncomfortable and painful process. You will understand when your older and you find a mate.

"You also must never show fear or worry in front of her. If she sees that you are afraid or worried it will only heighten her fears. You must always show bravery in front of her. You would do well to remember that," His father warned. "Yes father, I understand," he hung his head obediently. Another hour went by, and the Queen's painful cries subsided. Was it over? Did they finally extract the heir? Will she finally be able to rest? Everyone held their breaths, thirty minutes went by and they heard one final cry before their Queen's heart rate dropped and she fell into a deep sleep. All the guards on duty that night cheered and clapped each other on the backs in celebration. Their Queen had finally given birth to the heir of Kosea! Her private guards sighed in relief, her cries of pain had finally ended.

Morning came but his Queen remained asleep until almost noon. Giving birth must have taken a toll on her energy, that and she missed most of her meals yesterday and her breakfast. He summoned Eleanor to the infirmary, within minutes she had arrived hoping she could get a sneak peak at the Queen. But to her dismay the King stood in the doorway blocking her view, "I need you at the ready for when she wakes up, she has missed most of her meals yesterday and today, she is bound to be famished when she awakens. Asa is going to let you use the temporary kitchen here in the infirmary. My Queen has lost a lot of blood, we have her placenta in a cooler ready for you," he handed her a mini cooler sealed. "Please mix it into her food and try to blend it well. We don't know how she will react if she finds out."

Eleanor nodded, it was common for females here to eat their placenta's after birth. They held a lot of nutritional value that can replenish your iron levels after consumption. The Queen should be able to regain her strength back in no time after she eats. She rushed off to the kitchen smiling, I wonder what she would like to eat today, she thought to herself. Too bad the King wouldn't let me see her. The poor dear, she was so young, yet she birthed the heir without any complications. I'll make sure to make extra sweets for her, to cheer her up after her ordeal. Females love sweets, especially after giving birth. Maybe I'll attempt to make those no bake cookies the Queen had mentioned to her earlier, they were her favorites. With that she busied herself with preparations, hurrying before her Highness awoke.

Just as Eleanor left his view Helios heard his Queen stirring under her blankets. He rushed over to her side just before she opened her eyes. "Good morning my love, how are you feeling? I blinked, looking around, wait why was I in the infirmary?Struggling, I tried to sit up in bed, I was half way sitting up when I felt a pinch in my abdomen, my face contorted in pain, falling backwards I fell into my pillows clutching my stomach. "My tummy hurts," I cried. Asa came running over, lifting the blankets, he placed his hands on my lower abdomen, and using his fingers he pressed firmly massaging deep into my pelvis. I clenched my teeth, trying to tough out the pain. After a feel minutes my pinched muscles relaxed, I sighed moaning in relief.

Without my blankets, I felt chilled to my bones. Why was I so cold? My teeth started chattering, goosebumps appearing all over my body. "There that should ease the tension a little. How do you feel now?" "I...I feel cc...cold," my teeth wouldn't stop rattling in my mouth. Asa grabbed my hand, "oh my, your skin is ice cold, here let me grab you some warmer blankets." He tossed off my old ones and brought me new ones from the warmer. He wrapped me up in the new blankets, an instant warmth spreading through my body. "Than...thank you. Ca...can I have so... some soup? I want broccoli and cheddar soup to warm me up." "Of course your Highness, you may have anything you want. Your wish is my command." Asa ran off to let Eleanor know, giving me and Helios some privacy.

Helios came over and sat beside me on the bed. He put his arm under my shoulders and tried his best to hold me close. "Are you feeling up to having visitors today? If not that's ok I can send them all away until you are feeling better. Your friends are dying to talk with you. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to hold them off. Eleanor tried sneaking in a moment ago, but I warded her off sending her to the kitchen..." Even though he was talking to me, I couldn't face his. Memories of last nights event came flooding back to me. My face flushed red including my ears. I stared up at the ceiling avoiding Helios's gaze. Helios's sentence trailed off noticing the awkward silence between us, "are you ok my love? Does anything else's hurt," he asked concern on his face.

"I'm ok," I whispered not saying anything else. I turned my face toward the opposite wall from his. I couldn't look at him. He became worried at her silence, something was off, she won't even look at me. He zeroed in on her thoughts, "I'm so embarrassed, I can't look at him. They saw everything on full display, I couldn't do anything. I felt helpless, I was so scared, it hurt so bad, i even bit Helios, will he be mad at me for biting him? I just want to crawl in a hole and die. Please tell me no one else heard me giving birth, my tummy still hurts from last night." Hearing her thoughts he now understood her silence. He took a hold of her chin and turned her face toward him, "my love, you were incredibly brave yesterday, I am so proud of you." My face turned an even darker shade of red.

Easy for him to say, he didn't have to go through torture and have two males staring at his private bits, and poking and prodding in paces that weren't meant to be touched. Helios fell silent, absentmindedly, he placed his hand on my tummy and carefully massaged it, in a gentle rhythmic circular manor. He brought my lips to his with his other hand that was still holding my chin, grazing my lips with his he spoke calmly, "There is nothing to be embarrassed about giving birth. It is a female's honor to protect the life force of our tribe. Without a female our tribe will perish. A female is the one who keeps the tribe alive giving birth to future generations. A male does not see the act of giving birth to be taken lightly. We hold it up with the highest regard."

"Males are nothing here without their females. Females are held to the highest level even if they behave like Astrid. Every male with bend over backwards to try to please a female because this will ensure our tribe's survival. This is why males fawn over the females here tending to their every desire. If we don't spoil the females here then they will refuse to give birth and our numbers dwindle to dangers near extinction levels. It is also extremely rare to birth a female child, but it is an even more rare to be able to birth the heir and future King of our tribe. Every female will look down on you just for you standing next to me. You carried my seed and have birthed the heir. That alone is something to be proud of. Kosea will never forget the impossible feat you have achieved last night."

Listening to him explain the role of a female made a lot more sense this way. I guess I never thought of it that way. Even though I don't ask for anything the males here still spoil me and treat me better than a precious stone. They carry me around just so I don't have to walk anywhere and tire myself out. They help me bath, and tend to me when I am hurt or injured, And I never have to go hungry like I did on Earth. They give me all the good food whenever I am hungry. Males here were so different than the ones on earth. They treated females way better here. Males on Earth walk all over females like they own them, and they cat call and harass them on the street. They get treated like dirt and single mothers always had it the hardest. Males will get them pregnant and then up and leave in the middle of the night.

Here the females just dump their newborn and the males take care of all the children no questions asked while they wait on the females hand and foot like they were Gods. Even if the females were ugly they still got treated better here than back home. It was unbelievable what a male had to go through just to mate with a female while trying to keep the tribe alive. I finally looked into Helios's eyes, there was no hint of disgust in his eyes from watching me give birth. Most males on Earth would have vomited seeing a woman go through what I just went through. But he didn't look the least bit grossed out. All I saw was pure unwavering love and admiration shining in his eyes as he stroked my curls twirling his fingers through my hair. I was completely at a loss for words.

Why did he have to look like God as I laid here looking like a hot mess? I have not had a decent shower in over a month,only getting a sponge bath from Eleanor. And yet he seemed unphased by it all. Life was just not fair on Earth. But it was even more so for the males in Kosea. I was eternally grateful that Helios saved my life. The least I could do was repay him for saving me and giving me a lavish life, by providing him with an heir. I leaned forward trying to reach his lips. Understanding what is was I was after Helios chuckled placing his lips on mine. I guess a little bit of embarrassment was worth it seeing that I get to be mates with a God. The benefits of having a bunch of males waiting on you hand and foot were just an added bonus with a castle included.

Listening to her thoughts, he was bemused every time she would refer to him as a God. He didn't quite understand what she meant by this. But every time she thought of this word, her heart rate would spike as he drew near to her almost causing her heart to skip a beat when he touched her. I wonder if this God person she is thinking about is supposed to be a good thing? Her body reactions to this word seemed to make him think so. If she wanted him to be this God like person then he will do everything in his power to be so. He will become anything she wants him to be to make her happy and smile forever. I must strive to become this God like person she wants me to be, clenched his fist tight with determination.

Asa came back at that moment carrying a tray of food. He set up my bedside table pushing it over my lap and placing the tray down in front of me. My eyes lit up excited to eat the cheddar and broccoli soup. I haven't had this soup in so long, my tummy growled with anticipation. I loved to eat broccoli and cheddar soup whenever I was cold. It would warm me up inside on those long cold winter nights back home. Before I dug in Asa rearranged my blankets so that they draped over my shoulders to keep me warm. He set the head of the bed up so that I could lean against it without having to strain myself. "Are you feeling up to visitors today your Highness?" I nodded, "I want to see them, I can't wait to tell them it's a male!" "Do you want to finish your food first or should I let them in?"

"You can let them in, I wouldn't want them to kick the door in out of anticipation." I smiled at the thought of how everyone must be outside waiting trying not to bust the doors down. I mustn't keep them waiting any longer. Asa nodded in agreement before finally handing me my spoon and commanded, "eat up, you need your strength, make sure to eat all of it. Eleanor made this soup special with ingredients that will give you your strength back." He didn't need to tell me twice. I scooped up a huge spoonful and tossed it back into my mouth. Once my tastebuds had registered the taste my nose wrinkled as my face puckered all scrunched up. This was not broccoli and cheddar soup. This soup tasted absolutely horrid.