Something is wrong
1120 Words
*Will*
“What ?” I shake my head, feeling like she is speaking a foreign language. “What do you mean, not my baby ?”
“I… it wasn’t you..”. She makes a pained sound and the doctor hurries to the bed.
He looks at my mother, shaking his head. “She is bleeding too much, we need to do something”.
“Do what you need”. My mother says, placing a hand on my arm. Her other arm is still cradling the baby. “Come on Will… Let's give them space, there is nothing we can do”.
I shake my head. “I need to know what she meant”.
“Does she look like she can answer any questions now ?” My mom asks, making a motion towards the bed, where Pearl lays ashen and unresponsive.
Realising she is right, I follow her out into the hallway. “Mom… do you have any idea what she meant”.
“I know what she meant”. My mom looks at me sadly. “I knew the moment I saw the baby”.
“What do you mean… what is it with the baby ?” I look at the wrapped bundle.
She sighs. “You need to be prepared Will, something was wrong with the baby, something very bad, that is why he came now and why he … couldn't live”.
“Okay”. I swallow. “Show me”.
She unfolds part of the blanket, and I have to admit that my gasp and the churning of my stomach is not very king-like. The head is way too big, and kinda crooked and the arms and legs look all shriveled up.
“Ignore it… look at his skin colour”. My mother say.
“Oh…”. Now I notice. The baby is very dark, almost alabast in colour. Darker than Pearl. I look at my own pale skinned hand.
My mother makes a soft sound. “Mixing brown with pink doesn’t give black. You are not the father. Also the baby is to big… she would have been pregnant already when you arrived there”
“But … I… we..”. My head is spinning. “She told me I was the father… She lied to me ?”
“I am guessing the right father was someone she could not marry”. My mom wraps the baby back up. “Or someone who did not want to be found out… you just happened to show up, being the perfect skabe goat”.
I feel the tears prickle in my eyes and I swallow hard several times. “This is so unfair mom… it’s unfair”.
“I know sweetie… but if it helps this is clearly the best for him. He would most likely have died fast after birth, and probably suffered”. Her smile is clearly a try to comfort me.
“Not to sound… bad, believe me I am happy he didn’t have to suffer”. I swallow again. “And I am kinda sad he … died… but..”.
She looks at me, a knowing glint in her eyes. “But what Will ?”
“I hurt Bella for no reason”. A sob escapes me. “I broke her heart and lost her, for something that was not my responsibility”.
“I know sweetie”. Her free hand squeezes my shoulder. “Come let's take this poor little soul to the priest… none of it is his fault”.
I fall in beside her, as she walks down the hallway. “So what do we do ?”
“Firstly we handle this… then we see if your wife survives”. She glances at me. “If she does I think we need a serious talk with her”.
Nodding, I follow her. Right now I am more grateful than usual to have my mother. Without her I had been completely lost.
*Finn*
“That little sneaky ..”. I know my voice is rather loud, but I am angry.
My darling wife just looks me in the eyes. “Breathe darling, we do not want to risk a heart burst”.
“It’s just… Damn it not only hurt Will, but also Bella… and her family because it made her leave… and all for what ? She wanted a throne for her bastard ?”
“Finn…”. She says sternly. “I know you hurt for Will, but he is actually acting more mature than you about this. I think she is a victim too… I have a feeling she was either forced to do this… are wanted badly to escape… Maybe both”.
I close my eyes for a moment. “Sorry, you are right… It just breaks my heart seeing him back to crying about the whole Bella thing. So, is she going to be okay ? Pearl I mean”.
“It was close and she will be weak for a while… but the doctor thinks she will pull through”. She says with a small smile.
“Good”. I nod. “So… the baby was really a monster ?”
She gives me a pointed look. “If you ask the priest… he is an old fart..”.
I can’t help but laugh. “Did you just call the grand priest an old fart ?”
“Well that is what he is”. She says. “The poor thing was deformed, it doesn’t make him a monster”.
“Again… you are right”. I come over to slide my arms around her. “Both about the priest and the baby… what did I do to deserve such a smart wife ?”
She grins at me. “Well… pirate !?”
“Pirate King, Thank you very much”. I kiss her softly. “What are we gonna do about Will ?”
“Maybe let him decide when we have had a chance to talk to Pearl ?” She says, smiling at me.
I nod. “Okay, but I am not forcing him to stay married to a woman who tricked him into it”.
“Neither am I”. She leans into me. “But we will help the poor girl no matter what”.
I sigh, my wife is both smart and compassionate. “I promise you that”.
- Writer
