CHAPTER 3
1280 Words
The louder commotion outside the king’s wing made the queen suspicious and anxious. Her hands run over her swollen belly and all she could think of various ways to protect her unborn child. Her breaths were hitched when the footsteps echoed loudly. The queen took the knife from the wooden carved fruit basket and hid it under her cashmere dress. She was alert and observant when someone entered the camp.
The queen was about to attack him but soon she realised that the figure is familiar, her eyes widened and the grip on the knife which was tightened gets little loose, she put her hands down and expected the chief commander to represent his explanation.
“Your majesty! Pardon me for interrupting you at this hour but we need your presence in the hall.” the commander kept his head low in front of his queen.
“Alarous! What is that expression on your face? I could see that something terrible has happened. Did something happen to the king?” the queen read his face and assumed the terror approaching.
“Your highness, please, I request your presence in the hall. The king has demanded for your presence.” he stuttered and left the camp.
The queen was shocked but kept her spirits hopeful. She walked out to the hall, made of the cloth. Her eyes landed on the love of his life, lying in pain on the ground. Her hope shattered as soon her eyes spotted the gash wound on the king’s abdomen.
She rushed to me and lifted him into her arms.
“Omar! Omar! How did you get wounded? Who did this to you?” she took her hands at his and looked into his eyes.
“Alaine! It doesn’t matter who did this to me, do you remember what I told you earlier this morning?” the king stammered between his words.
“Shhh! Don’t talk! This will get worse only.” the queen was in tears, she looked at Alarous and asked him, “please send someone for help.” she made a request.
“Your majesty, you don’t have healers, and I can't bring any soldiers here. The king has refused help before.” Alarous explained to the queen.
She looked in disbelief at her king, “why?” she couldn’t believe the great wolf king had left his hope.
“Alaine! Listen to me, go and give our child a great life. I couldn’t take care of the promise I made you but I have arranged this for you, so you could escape.” the king was in pain.
“No! I will never leave your side! This isn’t possible for me to leave you alone and run away showing my back to our enemies. Never!” the queen said.
“Don’t be stubborn. I have left with no time. Please, do what will bring a change for us.” the king said his last words and his soul left his body with the last breath he took, lying on the lap of his beloved queen.
The king didn’t live long enough to see his child coming to this world. The queen was left in tears and heartbreak. She is strong enough to lead a war but weak when it comes to her family. Now she lost her gem and her will to fight.
“Omar!!!!!” the tears escaped like pouring rain.
Alarous stood at the feet of the king, with his head bowed to him in his due respect.
“Your majesty, should we inform the army?/” Alrous was taking the permission but suddenly, the queen screamed and held the sand in her fist tightly.
“Your majesty, are you in trouble?” Ala rous approached in concern.
“My baby is coming! I am in labour!” the queen yelped in pain.
“And King..??” Alarous was confused and perplexed.
“Ahhh…. No!! Don’t tell anyone about this, just inform the army that the king is going to be a father and assisting the queen.” Aliane was in her sane mind.
Alarous startled but couldn’t do against the queen’s order. He rushed to spread the news among the soldiers. The soldiers were happy and cheering for the king which made Alarous’s heart break into fine pieces.
The queen was holding her screaming while biting her lower lip. The labour made her feel like her bones were breaking at once. She couldn’t do much but crawl slowly and get to a place where she could give birth and bring the child into the world. Her nails were dug in her palms and made it bleed. She was hafting while controlling the screams as much as she could but as the labour pain got intensified, she screamed at the top of her lungs. The sweat beads were rolling down from her forehead and her messy hair stuck on her sides with sweat.
“Ahhhh….” her screams were getting louder and louder.
Sadly, there was no single woman who could help and ease her pain. The queen had assisted in deliveries when she was young. She remembered the procedure but when it comes to her, now she finally understood what it takes to bring a life out of her.
Alrous can’t help waiting outside the camp of the queen, and hearing her scream for help. He closed his eyes and inhaled the air into his lungs, rushed into the camp to help the queen.
“Your majesty! Maybe I can help you, I can't see you struggling like this.”
“Bring me hot water, rags and a scissor!” She didn’t refuse the helping hand.
Alarous rushed immediately to collect everything his queen had asked from him. He didn’t waste any time and brought everything to the queen in no time.
She waved her hands and Alarous turned his back. The queen spread her legs and put the skirt out. The water has broken and in no time, the baby will come to this world. The queen put the rags around the southern opening of her body and started pushing. The contractions were causing immense pain but she was trying to be strong for her child.
The southern opening got widened and blood flowed out from it, the sticky material was hanging when the queen was pushing the child. Sooner, she felt the bay moving and in another push, the little bundle of joy came out in this world.
The camp was filled with the soft cries of the little prince. The queen sighed heavily and the sweat was dripping from her body like she was drenched in water.
“Alarous! Inform everyone that little prince has arrived!” the queen commanded and Alarous went to inform the soldiers.
She took the scissors and cut the cord, detaching herself and the baby. In the warm water, she cleaned the baby and wrapped him in the cloak having a wolf emblem printed on it.
“Little one! I might not be the best mother for you but you will understand my reason for doing this. One day, you will come back and take you pride from them who snatched it from your father.” Alaine held her baby in her arm, fed him milk from her breast and made him sleep.
Meanwhile, there was something else going in her mind, when a determined look presented itself on her face.
- Writer
