Page 5 of The Princess and the Demon

The midwife pulls her skirts up around her knees to crawl into the bed behind her. Once settled, another contraction wracks her body, and her cries fill the room.

“Push!” The midwife instructs, placing a hand against the upper part of her stomach.

Ziterra bears down, gritting her teeth. I watch as her knuckles whiten when she pulls on the linen.

The contraction passes, and Ziterra slumps, attempting to sit down. The midwife supports her from behind, shaking her head.

“No, your grace, you must stay in this position. Let’s wait for another contraction.”

I move backwards to give them space, and Olam starts to pace next to the bed. Ziterra starts to moan, and her moans turn into cries as another contraction wracks her body.

Once it passes, I watch the midwife reach between her thighs. Her eyes widen and she looks at me. I turn my head to the handmaid next to me. “Go fetch the physicians.”

She dips and rushes from the room.

Olam pushes a hand through his hair, moving back next to the bed to whisper loving words of encouragement to Ziterra. I watch him push her sweat dampened hair from her face, leaning in to place kisses against her forehead.

She starts to moan again, the moans long and drawn out as another contraction starts. Crying out, she bears down into the squat, gritting her teeth as she pushes against the midwife’s hand.

“Good!” The midwife says, her voice encouraging.

At that moment Lord Finley and Lord Dawnell rush back into the room, both going to either side of the bed.

Pulling his robes up to crawl onto the bed, Lord Finley situates himself behind Ziterra, reaching a hand between her thighs.

His eyes widen as well, and he instructs Lord Dawnell to grab the forceps.

Ziterra cries out, whining in protest, but the midwife rushes to sooth her. “It’s ok your grace, the babe just needs some help, I promise everything will be ok.”

I watch as they move her to her back again, and two handmaids come in to help hold her legs up to her chest.

I turn then, walking to stand near the wall as they raise her gown.

Another cry permeates the room, and I can hear commotion as the two physician’s work to retrieve the child. Ziterra’s cries turn into a scream of pain, and then nothing.

Silence permeates the space before the loudest of cries wracks a sob from her.

“You did it.” Olam says, his voice thick with emotion.

I turn to watch the room bustle about. The maids rush around, grabbing linens and water before rushing to Ziterra’s side. The midwife wraps the babe before handing it to Lord Finley.

He looks down at the child, and a look of worry crosses his features. Lord Dawnell pulls the swaddling aside, a look of concern etching his features as well.

Olam glances to me, and then to the two physicians. Lord Finly hands the child to Olam, stepping back as Olam cradles the babe awkwardly.

“It’s a boy.” Lord Finley says softly.

Olam pulls back the swaddling, and the dim lighting of the room glints off the most golden head of hair I’d ever seen in my life.

Olam pales, his eyes widening, and Ziterra wails out a cry.

2

ELORA

Isit quietly in my father’s chamber, watching the flames of the fire behind his chair flicker, casting long shadows on the walls and ceiling.

Olam sits to my right, quietly watching the fire as well.

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