The Decision

"What do you think the woman meant?" Devrim asked after Aurora recounted her dream.

Aurora was feeling better now that she had shared her burden with the two men. She sat up and ate and drank from a tray Anna had brought. "I think she meant if we do not change the way things are going, Alaron will do something drastic. Something that will tear our world apart."

"He is still so young." Devrim shook his head in disbelief.

Zan agreed, "He is young. But in your vision, for that is what I believe it was, Alaron was older when he struck you down. We may yet have time to avoid this catastrophe."

"Or by knowing about it, we cause it. What if we try so hard to avoid this terrible prophesy that we in fact bring it about?" Devrim's brain was beginning to hurt.

"Then why warn us at all?" Aurora countered. "You read too many books, Devrim. I think the solution lies in the questions Alaron asked in my dream. We need to know who was born first and who their father is. Once we can answer those problems, I hope the rest will fall into place."

Zan nodded approvingly. For someone who just received news of the future destruction of her family, the Empress was handling herself quite well. "What do we do first?" He asked.

"I need to find out exactly what happened the day the twins were born. Perhaps someone who was present can provide insight." Aurora was already planning out the steps in her head. If she got the answers she needed, perhaps this all could be well and settled later today. She needed a night of uninterrupted sleep, after all.

"That will be difficult, Your Majesty." Zan looked sad. "The two midwives present and most of the other staff were sent away…or worse… shortly after the twins were born."

"Is no one left?" Aurora's voice was tinged with hopelessness.

"The head doctor who just treated you, he is all that remains of that group. He was not there when the twins were actually born, but perhaps he could provide some information."

"Bring him in," Aurora told him. Zan returned with the physician in tow.

"I have prepared some herbs for you," the doctor said. Aurora took her treatment graciously. "Chief Zan said there was something else you needed to speak with me about?"

"I need you to tell me about the events surrounding Price Alaron and Princess Mairwen's birth." Aurora said. The doctor looked uncomfortable. His gaze jumped to Devrim. Aurora understood. "I know this subject is taboo. But this is important. You can say anything here in this room." Aurora smiled. "Devrim knows he is not the father," she joked.

The doctor was unconvinced, "Cafer said I was never to speak of it. If I do, he said I would be removed from my post."

"Am I not more powerful than Cafer? At any rate, Cafer is not here and I do not intend to tell him that you have spoken. Please continue."

The doctor bowed, "Of course Your Majesty. I will never forget that day. I was helping Empress Zephyra as she was laboring. There were so many people coming in and out and everyone had their own idea of what should be done. Someone needed to take charge. I had cleared my throat to call everyone to attention when someone beat me to it. 'ENOUGH!' She yelled at us. There was a power behind her voice that silenced even me. I looked at the woman. I had not seen her enter…" The doctor's voice trailed off as he thought about it.

"What did she look like?" Devrim asked. He, like the others, had become engrossed in the doctor's tale.

The doctor scrunched his face in concentration. "She was dressed all in white. Her robes were fine, not like what midwives normally wear. She was a wisp of a figure, almost like she was not really there until she spoke. And her eyes…."

"What?" Zan asked, but he was pretty sure he knew the answer.

"The irises were colorless. They had all the colors and yet none at the same time. I do not know how else to describe them." Aurora gasped. He had just described the woman from her vision. Zan and Devrim both looked at her, knowing what she must be thinking. The doctor saw their exchange. "You have seen her?"

"Possibly," Aurora answered vaguely. "What happened next?"

"The lady ordered everyone except the two midwives out. I did not want to comply, but my body had a mind of its own. We waited outside for what seemed like forever. Then not one, but two baby cries filled the air. I rushed in past the strange woman to check on everyone's condition. Everyone seemed healthy. That is when the real chaos started. Empress Zephyra demanded to know who was born first. The midwives swore they did not know. Apparently the woman with the colorless eyes delivered both the twins without assistance. It seemed an impossible feat! When the woman was summoned, she was nowhere to be found. She had disappeared. The servant who had been sent to fetch her claimed the woman was …a Fate." The doctor made a circular motion in the air of respect.

"Do you believe the servant?" Zan asked. No one saw him make the same strange motion behind his back.

"I have no other explanation, Chief Zan. Then Zephyra cursed the Fates and went straight into a coma. You know the rest, Your Majesty."

"Thank you doctor." Aurora dismissed him.

"Glory to the Empress. Honor to the Fates." The doctor bowed deeply.

"I did not know the doctor was so religious," Devrim noted.

"I do not blame him after what he witnessed," Zan commented.

Aurora ignored them. Her mind was racing. "If the person who delivered Alaron and Mairwen is the same as the one in my vision, that means the woman on my vision was…" her voice trailed off. The girl's mouth drew into a tight line.

"What will you do, Your Majesty?" Zan asked. Devrim braced himself for the answer.

Aurora's face was determined. She looked out the window. "The only thing I can do. I am going to visit the Fates."