Merik again looked back at the strand of hair in his hand. “Your son, the one you’ll name Davian, will grow to be a great warrior and a great man, just like his grandfather. I see the hand of your son helping to bring about world-wide change.”
Yadin and Libeth looked at each other, smiling at their good fortune. Merik excused himself from their presence, saying that it’d be best if they were alone. He joked that his welcome might be at risk if he stayed any longer. He slipped out the throne room doorway, as the King and Queen held each other with arms of joy and sorrow.
Tomorrow, at a burial ceremony of honor, the death of a great man would be mourned. But, for these few moments, the two of them were content with the newfound knowledge of their son Davian, still yet to be born.
As the King and Queen stood holding one another, Caroline looked on. The child was used to such open displays of affection between the two.
Yadin kissed his wife’s cheek and took her hand. “You must be starved by now, my Dove. If we wait much longer, we’ll be having supper instead of lunch.”
Libeth smiled. Unexpectedly, her cheerful countenance was broken by a sudden frown. With hands clasped over her protruding abdomen, she cried, “Ouch!”
“Are you all right, my Lady?” Caroline asked in her innocent, angelic voice.
“The baby just kicked,” Libeth responded. “My son must be getting his exercise… Oh!”
Yadin took Libeth in his arms. “Dove, are you feeling well? Your face is pale.”
Before Libeth could answer, she stifled yet another burst of pain. She rubbed her hands over her swollen belly as though suffering a horrible stomachache. She bent forward slightly as another shot of pain went through her.
“Divine Creator, the pain!” Libeth fell to her knees. “Yadin, something is terribly wrong! The child must be coming early. I didn’t think it would be so unbearable.”
Panic filled Yadin completely. What should he do? He knew nothing of delivering a baby. She needed help now, but who could he…
Caroline broke the panic with words of clearheaded thinking. “My Lord, what about Sir Ladien? Didn’t he mention that he was a healer?”
Yadin looked at the handmaiden in wide-eyed wonder. How could he have missed such an obvious answer? “Bless you, Child! Make haste! Perhaps you can catch him before he leaves the castle. I’ll take Libeth to the bedchamber. Bring Merik there! Go Child, quickly!”
Yadin draped his wife’s arm across his shoulder and wrapped his own around her waist. “Libeth, we must get you into bed. Can you make it, Dove – with my help?”
Libeth nodded with a grimace. With Yadin’s help, she made her way into the bedchamber. The walk seemed like a long journey with her pain-wracked body slowing every step.
By the time the two seated themselves on the bed, they heard the sound of running footsteps headed in their direction. Yadin instructed Libeth to lie down then applied a cool, damp cloth to her head. Her moans intensified. She continued holding her swollen stomach as though to keep it from bursting.
Caroline entered the bedchamber with Merik hard on her heels. The child’s face was filled with fright as she stopped at the foot of the large canopy bed. The healer wore a confused expression, as though he couldn’t understand the reason for his presence.
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