Cursed By The Gods Book 1 and 2

Chapter 42

“I must say that I support Angus’s decision, Your Highness,” Lord Fergus said. “Everyone enjoys peace but a nation needs to grow, we won’t wait for the enemies to attack first so why not be the first to attack? Find a rich nation, plunder it and expand our regions with both riches and land.”

“I have nothing against it at this point,” Octavius replied. “But at this point I am worried about my brother, it’s been months since he left, the corns are grown and ready for harvest yet no sign of Angus.”

The court had come together to talk about Angus’s plan and what its significance to the nation. Almost all the nobles voiced their support, even Garius had supported it and encouraged Octavius to have faith and trust that Angus was well, and all was going well until a maid rushed in to announce that Emilia had started experiencing the pains of labor. Octavius immediately ordered that the midwife should be called while Ilena and some of the maids helped Emilia into the delivery room.

Even though he itched to be beside his wife to hold her hands and whisper words of encouragement to her, Octavius knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t leave his court to be with his wife, it was an action that would raise many brows so he waited, he waited until the midwife arrived with her young assistants.

Anticipation and happiness rested on Octavius’s chest and on the chests of all the nobles who waited with their arms crossed. It was almost as if no one wanted to miss the moment when the cry of baby would be heard, they wanted to witness firsthand the birth of child of their king.

After a while Octavius sent for fruits, meat, stew, bread and wine for everyone in the throne room since noon fell on them and there was still no word from the midwife. Fear began to rise in his heart, he began to fear the worst; the possible death of either his wife or his child, he loved them and he didn’t want either of them to go but if he had to choose he would choose his wife over a child he barely knew for she was all he wanted and if the gods willed it they would have other children.

The shadows of evening was gradually approaching and by this time even Lady Amelia expressed her worry for the queen. As a woman with children of her own she worried Emilia was taking too long and suggested that they called a priest to perform rituals of purification for her.

Emilia was sweating heavily, her breath was coming out in loud puffs. Pain racked her body especially her groin and pelvic region. She had sensed the night before that the child would seek to come out today, for nights she would lay awake rubbing her swollen belly while the child played about and kicked in her belly. She had spoken to the child even though she knew it couldn’t hear her just yet and just as she fell asleep the first pain of contraction had hit her.

As she lay on the delivery table now she whispered words of prayers to the Willa, goddess of purity and fertility, she prayed for the safe delivery of her child, prayed that her life would be exchanged for the child’s if anything went wrong. A child without a mother was better than a queen without a child.

She felt the old midwife pat her hand gently and soothingly. Her eyes filled with fresh tears, all she wanted was for her child to come into the world, be in her arms and make her happy. Ilena sat by her head and mopped at her face with a rag, she held her shoulders while she pushed and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“My lady, be strong,” she encouraged time and again. “A few more minutes and your child will be in your hands and you will forget the pain and the tears like Queen Delia.”

Emilia could only hold on to her hand with one hand while the other was bunched up beside her. The midwife encouraged her to push again and she did, still no result.

The old midwife began to worry, Emilia was bleeding and was getting weak. She feared the queen would lose her life or that the child might suffocate. They had all lost track of the time, the room was hot but the windows were shut because Emilia could not stand the light so they worked hard tirelessly to bring a positive outcome out of the queen’s labor.

From the corner of the room, rinsing bloodied cloths and wringing out the water was Termla, goddess of justice disguised as a young assistant to the midwife under the name of Fella. Her heart broke for the queen whose skin gleamed with sweat all over, the struggle Helena was putting her truth brought pain to her heart for it wasn’t an easy feat for a human to birth a god. She admired Emilia’s determination to birth the child, she had done the same for her son. She had lied when she told Helena she killed her son, she had kept her child amidst the hate, planted him in the womb of another woman so he would be born in the human world. But unlike Helena, she had given her child to a kind woman whom she witnessed go time and again to Willa’s temple to offer sacrifices to beg for a child, the woman’s desperation for a child and her promise to treat any child of hers with love had moved Termla so she had visited the woman in her home and offered to give her her own son if she promised to tell him about his godship when he got older. When the woman had gone into labor a year ago she was there to make the birthing easy for her.

Helena’s cruelty never ceased to amaze her. As she watched the queen struggle she knew she had to intervene, so when the midwife called for more towels she came forward. As she handed the towel over she touched Emilia’s leg and let powers flow from her to the queen’s blood stream, she felt the powers of the child in her reach out to her and marveled at the intensity. Humanity and all of the rebellious heavenly powers in the realm were in danger from the child’s powers and to think there were two of them.

Almost as soon as she removed her hands Emilia emitted one last piercing scream and the child came out.

Shock waves rippled throughout the room at the sight of the child with smooth, dark skin and beautiful purple eyes that were opened and seeing even though she was just born.

“Get out!” the old midwife shouted to all the maids in the room.

Ilena gasped

Emilia started to reach out to take her child into her arms when she paused and stared at the small squirming body in the midwife’s hand. Her heart stopped for a full minute before she burst into bitter tears.