Clarenthia
Establishing Nation
- Joined
- May 4, 2010
- Messages
- 1,148
- Capital
- Alaghan
- Nick
- Jurzidentia
– 1 –
Prologue
Prologue
“When you’re ready,” Lewis called “though don’t wait too long, lest you hurt yourself.”
Diana looked over to him, he held a proud smile on his face. Lewis was just passed the prime of life, adding some salt to his hair. He had always tried to be more youthful around the children, but even that was starting to become a struggle for the man. It didn’t take long for Diana to understand his warning, already her arm began to hurt holding the string of the bow back. She turned her attention to the target ahead of her. She closed her eye, adjusted slightly, and let loose.
The arrow ripped through the air and hit the target, not dead in the center, but closer than Diana had ever hit before. She lowered the bow and a smile came across her face as she looked to Lewis for approval.
“You did well, my Lady,” he congratulated “soon you’ll be able to join your father on the hunting grounds. Though, those targets don’t stay still.”
“I know how hunting works, Lewis,” Diana called back as he approached the target “I am not a child.”
“Of course, my Lady,” Lewis responded “I didn’t mean it in such a way.”
Diana put her foot on the target and grabbed the arrow, with one strong tug the arrow came loose. She twirled it before putting it into her quiver that was tied to her waist. She looked back to Lewis, but she noticed a nurse was running down the stairs into the yard. Lewis noticed that Diana was looking past him, so he turned around to see the nurse as well.
“Sandra,” he called to her with a smile that quickly disappeared after he got a better look of her face.
“My lady,” she spurted out in between catching her breath “You must come quickly. The Queen has gone into labor, you must come!”
Diana’s eyes widened. She immediately undid the bucket on her quiver, letting it fall to the ground just after she threw the bow – much to Lewis’ annoyance. She raced to the nurse – who was not looking forward to making another run back to the Castle’s medical wing. Diana wasted no time, running through the castle’s halls – sending a strong, annoying echo throughout the building. When she arrived at the medical wing, she was met with a wall of staff who had amassed themselves around the entrance. There was so much going on that it took time for people to even notice that she had arrived.
“Away! Away!” Sandra called out with all her voice “Diana has arrived! Back, back!”
It was as though Moses parted the sea once again as people dashed to get out of the way of Diana. When the people around her quieted, the screams of her mother became the only thing she could hear. A doctor immediately moved to block Diana’s entrance to the medical wing.
“I must see my mother!” Diana called out.
“My lady,” the doctor replied calmly, but with a strong authority “You must wait out here with the others. There is no need to be worried, but there are complications. The Queen is of an age that makes pregnancy harder. We must be careful now and you must let us do our work. I promise that we will let you see her as soon as she is safe and ready.”
Diana stared at the doctor. She was not used to being treated in such a way by anyone but their father. For that reason, beside the assurances of the doctor, she became instantly worried. The doctor did not need to say another word to her and she quietly stepped back out of the room. The doctor smiled at her and padded her hair before turning around and closing the door to the room.
“Young Diana,” Lewis said, placing his hand on her shoulder “We have gotten word that your Father will be making the trip from Providence with haste.”
Diana did not reply.
“I’ve seen many births in my life, little princess,” Lewis replied, knowing the nickname always irked the shorter-than-average princess “The best thing we can do in situations like these is step back and let the doctors work. Have faith, and be sure to pray – for your Queen mother, your father, and the baby.”
Minutes turned to hours as the group waited. Many of the staff had moved away to continue their duties, but Lewis and Diana remained steadfast and refused to leave the waiting room to the medical wing. Lewis protested several times for them to take a stroll through the gardens, since the waiting would do them no good. Still, Diana persisted and, at times, just flat out ignored the advice of her Guardian. Finally, after three hours, the door to the medical wing opened. Diana immediately rose to her feet.
“Out with it!” she commanded the doctor.
“My lady,” he said, somber “As you may know, a woman of your mother’s age faces many complications during childbirth.”
The doctor’s expression already told Diana what was happening. Her eyes began to fill with tears as she began shaking her head at the doctor. The doctor continued explaining the situation, but only once sentence actually made its way to Diana’s head.
“I am sorry, Princess Diana, but there was nothing we could do but make her comfortable.”
Diana slumped – almost fell – back into the chair she was sitting in. Lewis immediately came to her side, placing his arm around her, but she showed no emotion – no response. The doctor stood, silent, grasping his hands and allowing the Princess the time she needed. Diana had no idea how long the silence had lasted, but it was Lewis to break it.
“What of the child?” he asked.
“A healthy baby boy,” the doctor answered.
“May I see him?” Diana muttered.
“But of course,” the doctor answered, opening his arms and showing her the way to the medical wing.
The wing was quiet as the nurses began cleaning the area, refusing to make eye contact with the Princess as she walked through. She had back the tears and carried herself high as she walked. Some believed her act, but Lewis could see her pain.
“In here,” the doctor said, opening a door to a nursery.
There, in the crib, was a baby boy. He was quiet, asleep, wrapped in purple blankets revealing only his head. He had a few dark hairs already, a contrast to Diana’s blonde hair. She stared at the child, the son of King Joseph IV.
“He’s quiet,” the doctor said “but perfectly healthy. He reminds me of the day you were born.”
“I was in my mother’s arms when I was born,” she answered.
“Yes,” Lewis answered “But I’ve known you your whole life. I stood at this very crib looking down at you. The boy has you, and that’s a blessing in its own right.”
“The birth of a Rosenthal is always a blessing,” the doctor added.
Last edited: