2 - The Birth of the Princess - Draft

The birth of the Queen’s baby was the most talked about, anticipated and prophecized birth in several generations. Every seer in the land had made predictions about every aspect of their birth, life and eventual rule but they were only guessing now. Insana had blocked time from being known for a hundred year period. He couldn’t have the darkness anticipate their moves.

Henrietta was the only person on Wahid who wasn’t nervous about the birth. For she was the only person who knew what the future held and who she would soon be holding in her arms. She knew that harder days were coming but the light would soon take over the darkness and peace would reign. Since she was the only human to receive visions at this time, she was the most powerful and knowledgeable woman on Wahid. You might say even more powerful than the Queen herself.

There was much activity on the first day of the Christmas season. A blizzard was headed for the palace so workers were busily making preparations. Windows were secured, food prepared, candles made accessible, firewood brought in, blankets laid out, etc.

Even the Queen was busier than usual. Although everyone was well prepared, knowledgeable and working feverishly, Narcissus had to put her nose into every unimportant detail imaginable. While one staff member worked hurriedly to find shelter for a group of homeless families, Narcissus decided to hold a debate with them about the color choice for the quilts that were laid out. She would later brag about all of the work that she had to do to prepare for the blizzard because her staff was too incompetent to do anything right.

The Royal Physician visited Narcissus to check on the health of her and the baby before the blizzard. Dr. Monroe had been there for the stillbirth of her previous child and was extremely protective of this pregnancy. Narcissus had demoted him and humiliated him in the press after her stillbirth. He had barely mentally recovered when she became pregnant again. He has been living off of a steady diet of anxiety medication and sleeping pills since then. He has to take five pills every time he sees the Queen just to stop his hands from shaking.

Dr. Monroe examined Narcissus and fetus carefully before slowly and cautiously speaking directly to the Queen. “Your Majesty, I am happy to report that the baby sounds perfectly healthy and perfectly, well, perfect,” he began with a chuckle. The more serious part was harder to get out. He spoke with a stop and a stammer as he tried as delicately as he could to explain the situation at hand without angering the temperamental Queen.

“I, erm, understand that, erm, the baby isn’t due for many more nights but, erm. Well, you see, it is my expert opinion which is backed up by the literature on this subject that the baby will probably, most likely be, erm, early. Now, this might be nothing but out of an abundance of caution for not only the baby’s health but Your Majesty’s as well, I would highly recommend that we take you to the Royal Wing of the hospital for the duration of the blizzard. So that Your Majesty can be attended to at all times, of course.”

Poor, old Dr. Monroe. He flashed his biggest smile at Narcissus with his hat in his hands, looking like a lamb for the slaughter. He had to keep that smile a long time too. Narcissus always thought well and long in situations like this where she didn’t like what was being said. She chose her words very carefully before speaking, “Thank you, dear, dear, Dr. Monroe. I understand your concern but I’m perfectly fine. I think that I’d know my own body better than you.”

She laughed at that last line. She understood human nature very well and could understand everything about a person in less than a minute. She knew that poor, old Dr. Monroe was very self conscious about his medical knowledge ever since he was one upped by a young doctor several years back. He would surely demure to her because of that last line.

Dr. Monroe was too worried about the child to demure though. He stood up to Narcissus and insisted that she stay in the hospital. This act just added to her anger. She wasn’t about to back down now. Narcissus wove more and more of her web as they debated, until her web had engulfed the poor doctor.

“Your Majesty, I must insist. Your child’s life could be in danger. I’m sure that Your Majesty doesn’t want anything to happen to them,” Dr. Monroe pleaded. He had hoped to appeal to a mother’s love for their child but Narcissus had love for no one, not even herself.

“Dear, OLD Dr. Monroe, I understand your concerns but a mother knows best what is best for their child,” Narcissus continued to gush.

“But, Your Majesty, I am the Royal Physician. I know what is best for the health of both you and your baby. I implore you to go to the hospital.”

“Are you claiming that you know better than a mother?” she laughed.

“No, Your Majesty, but in this situation, I think that I know best,” Dr. Monroe said in exasperation. Just after the words left his mouth, his brain caught up with them. He forgot himself and his place just long enough to dread the Queen’s next words. Panic had set in.

“So,” Narcissus began with a long, dramatic pause to give time for everyone within earshot to quiet down and listen carefully to her next words. “You, a lowly doctor, a doctor who is older than the profession itself, a doctor who should be extremely grateful to have any job at all, yet alone one as the Royal Physician, you know better than your queen. YOU Know better than the Queen.”

Narcissus looked all in attendance in the eyes before setting her gaze back on the doctor who had sunk to mumbling compliments to Narcissus in desperation. “You all heard him. He defied the rule of the land and insulted the Monarchy.” Narcissus paused again to look at all of those in attendance so that they would obediently mutter their affirmations of what she said.

“For the crimes committed and witnessed by all in attendance, I sentence thee to LIFE in prison,” Narcissus declared before the guards swept the poor doctor off to the dungeons.

Narcissus noticed Henrietta genuinely smiling at her verdict and punishment. She foolishly thought that she had the girl as a supporter. Henrietta was smiling because she knew the fate of the doctor, Narcissus and her child. She eagerly awaited the future.

By the night of the blizzard, Narcissus had sent her last staff member home. The only person she wanted with her was Henrietta. Narcissus believed heavily in omens, superstitions and witchcraft. She was nervous about there being a spell on her and looked at Henrietta as not only loyal but a practitioner of black magic. Narcissus thought that all women like Henrietta were well versed in black magic.

Narcissus went into labor a few hours after the last person had left. Henrietta never left her petrified side, comforting her as she tried to get help. Narcissus was furious and scared as she heard person after person tell Henrietta that there was no way to get to the palace quickly. Henrietta just kept soothing her Queen. She had learned that her stillbirth occurred due to preeclampsia. Her blood pressure needed to stay down. Stress only worsened it.

Narcissus couldn’t control this situation and it stressed her out. She was having a panic attack but Henrietta managed to quiet it. In this weakened and grateful state, Narcissus began looking at Henrietta, not as her subordinate to be ordered but as friend helping her through a tough time.

“Henrietta, I know that the witches put a curse on me. It is their jealousy that is doing this to me. You are a practitioner of the dark arts. Lift this curse for me, dear friend.”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I have seen the future. There is no curse on you. You will survive this. You will do fine. Just relax,” Henrietta said soothingly.

“Thank you, my dear friend. Bless you.”

“Those wretched witches took my first child from me,” Narcissus growled.

“I know everything, Your Majesty. Just remain calm. Everything is fine. Your baby will be your greatest achievement.”

The pair spent a restless night like this. They talked between contractions. Henrietta continued to soothe her Queen as she told Henrietta secret after secret. The horrors that Henrietta listened to would curdle the blood of any being with a heart. Henrietta had heard most of it before. For the parts that were new to her, she stiffened her spine. Umm’s visions had warned her of the dark days ahead but also showed her the bright future that was possible. She would do anything to provide her daughter, Juanita with that future. For that is the love of a mother.

For all of the talk of the slaughter of millions, Henrietta only lost her composure once.

“I can’t wait for this thing to be out of me. We poor women have to bear the pain of childbirth and then be stuck raising these brats. If it were possible, this thing would’ve been aborted long ago. It has ruined my girlish figure and the ball season. I’ll probably have to cut out balls all together now and act the part of the doting mother. I curse this wretched child. Ugh!”

Henrietta didn’t know why that one sentence, “I curse this wretched child,” out of all of the horrible sentences this woman said that night flipped a switch inside of her that she knew nothing about. Her whole body rose as she filled with an anger and rage that she didn’t know could exist. Every muscle tightened. Her fists clenched. Henrietta thought herself the calmest woman ever. Yet at that very moment, she knew that she was going to kill the Queen unless fate had other plans. Thankfully for everyone involved, a baby intervened.

Narcissus screamed in pain. Another contraction had snapped Henrietta back to reality. A baby needed help.

Henrietta checked her watch. The contractions were getting closer together, too close. She checked the position of the baby. It was breech. She had been in constant phone contact with Dr. Monroe throughout the night but now she needed him here. It was time to bust the doctor out of prison.

Henrietta phoned the tower prison and demanded to speak to the warden. Even though her status made her just about the lowest ranking person in the kingdom, she spoke with the authority of the Queen. Once the warden realized that the life of the Queen was in jeopardy and thus his own, he immediately released the doctor who was given a personal escort to the Queen’s chambers.

Since the tower prison was a part of the palace, Dr. Monroe was quickly by Henrietta’s side to reposition and deliver the baby.

Dr. Monroe and Henrietta worked feverishly for over an hour to reposition the baby before they could allow Narcissus to begin pushing. The three were near exhaustion when the baby gave out its first cry of life. The child’s struggle had just begun though. She was premature and an incubator was fashioned out of whatever could be found within the palace.

By the time outsiders were finally able to reach the palace that afternoon, they found the two women lying, exhausted in the Queen’s bedchamber and a beaming doctor holding the smiling, healthy princess. The press captured this moment in the most famous photograph in the history of Jahim. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and none were more true than this. Narcissus had no choice but to release Dr. Monroe from prison, give him the Medal of Valor, the highest honor in all the land and a glorious retirement with a large pension. He had saved the Monarchy after all.

The press that were in attendance desired to know everything, especially their new princess’s name to publish in the evening editions. The Queen was flush with the praise of those in attendance. She looked at Henrietta who was cradling the infant. With a smile on her face she declared, “Henrietta, the Royal Nanny never left my side and was there as I heroically gave birth to our beautiful princess. I shall give her the great honor of naming this precious gift.”

Narcissus couldn’t care less about the child or its name. She knew that a bad name would bring ridicule so she passed this on to Henrietta while making herself look extremely generous and grateful.

Henrietta looked shocked at first but spoke swiftly and decidedly, “I shall name her Darcy de Narcissus. Darcy, meaning dark for her raven black hair equaled in beauty only by her mother, our radiant Queen Narcissus. De Narcissus so that she will never forget that she comes from our great and powerful Queen. May she grow in the image of her mother. Long may she reign!”