Chapter 7: Difficult Decision
1556 Words
Mendai
I was about to turn in for the night as my stuff had been packed and my horse fed, I would be heading up the trail to Elivra, it would take a day and a half to reach there if I didn't stop, almost two if I stopped to rest. I was going to leave in a week but I got word that my job there starts early so I will be leaving earlier than expected, I had already resigned and although the men hated to see me go, I had to, I couldn't bear to see the Queen and that snake together. He was cheating on her and I would end him if I stayed, Luc is Marion's guard so he wouldn't know but the new guard knew and told me what he saw, I told him to keep his mouth shut, something like that could get him killed and he never spoke on it again. Luc linked me to come over to his place, it was an emergency, I did not hesitate because if he said it was an emergency, then it was.
I ran over there through the backdoor heading through the trees so I didn't alert any unnecessary attention, Luc's cottage was almost at the edge of the forest. I saw Jacob burying his stillborn, his wife lost the baby and he was sitting there talking to it and I nodded feeling sorry for him, no one deserved that but luckily, his wife survived. I didn't know what to expect when I pushed Luc's door and saw Marion there in labor, I was shocked and Luc closed the door behind me locking it, his sister Daphne looked at me getting her midwife utensils, and Luc picked Marion up, taking her to his bedroom. Nola shook her hand in front of me saying, "Come on, Mendai, she needs our support," and I walked with her standing outside the bedroom. Luc came out to me and the women stayed in the room, I heard Marion scream in pain, I asked Luc, "Did you notify her husband and why is she so far out from the Palace?"
Luc explained what happened and I was furious, I yelled, "I knew that i***t was with his lover, but I couldn't understand why he was still going to him when his wife was near her due date. No wonder she went into labor so early," when Luc said, "Maybe, it's not the King's baby because they are not marked, she would have felt him cheating." I smiled saying, "Of course..," and froze, it dawned on me that this could be my child and Luc was grinning like an i***t. I started to panic walking up and down, Luc said, "Relax, is this not a good thing if it is true?" I turned to him saying, "No, she is Queen, they will use this to take her crown, our affair will be exposed, they will execute me and dethrone her. That elder has been gunning for her crown, he will not let this slide when he can use it to his advantage."
Luc said, "Let's hope it's the King's baby then and live to see another day because they would execute me along with Nola for helping cover it up," and I knew he was right, so we waited. I heard the screams in the room and I was nervous until we heard the baby cry and the screaming stop, there was silence but we waited, they were not saying anything and my heart skipped a beat. Nola came out a half hour later and closed the door saying, "It's a boy," and we smiled, then she looked at me and said, "It's yours, Mendai," it didn't register at first then I asked, "How do you know?" She said, "Go see," I opened the door to see Marion breastfeeding our little one with tears in her eyes. Daphne had cleaned them up well when Marion said, "I am so Sorry, Mendai," I leaned over kissing her forehead breathing her in, and looked at my son seeing the elf ears.
I knew this wasn't good but I took my son in my arms as he closed his eyes taking his little perfect hand and squeezing my finger, I tore up. I was happy but then I looked at her and said, "We will be killed for this," and she said, "I know, take him with you, Mendai," I looked at her and asked, "How will you explain this?" Luc said, "We need to swap out a dead baby or magic or something," I remembered Jacob linking Luc and he ran out. I sat next to Marion as she rested her head on my chest and we cried for a while until Luc got back and said, "You owe me, I paid him and placed a memory of him burying his son, so, hopefully, it holds," Marion said, "I will reinforce tomorrow," and they left us alone.
******
Marion
My heart skipped a beat when I saw Mendai walk in, I had loved him for so long and I couldn't believe how badly I had screwed up everything between us. This baby was coming soon as Luc took me to his bed and I was being prepared to give birth, Daphne is a natural, and Nola always stayed by my side. Luc and Mendai were outside but I had to focus when I heard Daphne say, "Push, Your Majesty," a few minutes later, I listened to my baby cry. I was crying and Nola cleaned him up quickly, I saw her and Daphne's look when she helped clean me up. I relaxed as I was handed my baby and I froze but smiled in total joy, it was Mendai's son, his cute ears and his father's eyes, he even had his father's mark. I knew then who Mendai was, he was royalty and therefore, I could have married him, I screwed up big time.
Mendai was allowed to come into the room and our baby breastfed, he was so adorable and I knew the decision I had to make to save both their lives. Mendai was leaving, I heard it from Nola, and one day when I was in total control, I would come for my son, Mendai was so happy when he held him and I saw that I was making the right choice. I spent a few hours together when I heard a link from my husband asking where I was because he was ready to send people to look for me and I told him I needed to talk to him and where to find me. Mendai knew it was time to go so he took our son, Dai, kissed me one last time saying I love you to each other, and fled. Luc put the dead baby in my arms and then it hit me, I won't see my son for a long time and I started crying.
Willix turned up with two guards and a midwife when he saw that our son had died, he cried and screamed in agony, I couldn't hold back my tears so I cried with him as he held the dead baby in his arms. Later that week, we put our dead baby to rest and the Kingdom mourned, I went to my room not wanting to see anyone, and saw a note magically appear. It was Mendai, he had settled in and promised to keep me posted as our son grew up, I then burned the note so no one knew the truth. Those there that night were sworn to secrecy even though Jacob's spell was reinforced. I vowed to change laws and find out where my so-called husband was the night I lost my son, and although I know the truth, I need to get my Kingdom back from under the thumb of a very poisonous Elder.
*****
Willix
I lost my son and I was angry, the night I fell asleep at my lover's house was the night I should have been there to help my Queen, the stress of not knowing where I was forced her to deliver early. My father feels something is not adding up because the protection spell he had on her should have made sure that the baby was alive no matter what. He just doesn't believe the baby should have been stillborn, I knew it was his first grandchild and it hurt him but I promised him, "Once Marion is good to go, we will try again," he told me, "Leave and make sure she gets an heir." He also said it was time she passed the power over to me and I agreed but I have to wait. He told me, "Do it now that she is vulnerable, stricken with grief." I headed to her quarters but she was not there and I headed down to the lab where she was busy working. She looked at me, dead in the eyes, and said, "No one is allowed in here, what do you want, dear husband?" I knew then that she was hurting and acting brave for her people so I let her be and we would talk later; in her vulnerable state, she would be pregnant again in no time.
- Writer
