Dilemma

Birthed

Fiona perceived a familiar scent and quickly brought out a mask which she always carried and covered her face.The Emperor had gifted her the mask to protect against dust and harmful odours that could harm her unborn child.Back then she didn't know it would come in handy at a time like this.

She had always felt as though she was being watched in her chambers since the day her baby bump became visible.Her enemies always lurked around her and on this very day they decided to reveal themselves.

She watched the guards stationed around that area of the palace and the maid servants that had accompanied her for a walk slump to the floor then took a defensive stance as she awaited her attacker to reveal himself.

She was six months gone and was skeptical about her being able to fend off an attack with her huge baby bump.

That day Emperor Tyran was away from Urah,so far away that her telepathic link wouldn't reach him and she didn't bother contacting a knight for she knew before an attack like this would happen the victim's telepathic link would be blocked to prevent any call for help.

Fiona saw a knife flying straight for her stomach which she dodged and watched it dig into a wall behind her.

Before she managed to stabilize herself,a hand went for her neck in attempt to knock her off unconscious but she managed to block it in time with her forearm.

Fiona caught the hand and with her other hand,planted a fist in the assassin's face sending him flying in that direction with an outburst of air.

She dropped to one knee,panting from the attack, feeling weak from using her powers due to her pregnancy.

In a few seconds her attacker was upon her again,aiming for her head.

Fiona managed to dodge the blow but the sword ended up slitting through her sleeve and cutting her arm.She ignored the pain and landed a dangerous hit on the assassin's rib.

He wasn't expecting it.He groaned in pain and before he could recover she slid her leg over his, knocking him off his feet.

She caught his sword as he fell and pointed it at him.

"Who are...."

She didn't finish when she sensed another weapon aiming for her from behind.

The Empress turned in time to block it with the sword she held, raising her hand in the process and giving the assassin she held down a chance to escape.

That was when she noticed they weren't alone,she now sensed another demon in the area.

The one she held down was neither an elementarist nor a morph demon who could make weapons appear and manipulate them with telekinesis.

She couldn't beat two assassins not with her pregnancy.She had to make a run for it.

Fiona had never tried teleporting since her pregnancy.

For demons, pregnancy depleted their magic essence as it was used for the baby to maintain the pregnancy.The royal physicians had also advised against the negative effects of using her abilities on the child.But right now she was left with no other choice.She decided to try,to protect herself and her baby.

She closed her eyes focusing all her remaining magic energy,placed a hand on her stomach and tried teleporting and luckily when she opened her eyes,she found herself in her bedroom chamber.

Being certain no one would come to her chambers because of the barrier around it,she fainted.

**************

Carolene hurried to birth house kitchen with the box containing ingredients for the empress decoction.The box also contained freshly prepared mixtures which Carolene made every morning for the Empress,to aid safe delivery and prevent miscarriages.

She wondered why the Empress wanted something different today but the Empress had requested she hurried up it's preparation only this time it was more like a plea.She didn't have the time to decipher what was going on but she felt something was off and the Empress wasn't her usual self or was it just her imagination.

Carolene had asked for directions to the birth house kitchen from some workers and luckily when she arrived she found no worker in it,it would save her the stress of explaining herself.

She placed the box on a table at the center of the kitchen,flipped it open and began selecting the herbs she needs according to Fiona's instructions.

When she was done,she counted the ingredients and closed the box.Two ingredients were missing.

Carolene stood on her toes and stretched for the rows of cupboard above her which surrounded all four corners of the kitchen,searching them one after the other and slamming them when she couldn't find it.

After searching all the cupboards she sighed and buried her hand in her hair in frustration, trying to think of how she would get it.Carolene decided to ask one of the physicians.

She quickly replaced the ingredients in a corner of the box and locked it with a key which she threw in her apron then she turned to leave for the door when her eyes met that of an older woman.

She was about her height,her grey hair was tied into a bun,her skin pale and sunburned.She had a tag plastered on the blue dress she wore which had midwife written boldly on it.

The woman stared back,her eyes traveling from hers down to her feet to settle back on her face.When the woman made no move to approach her or utter a word, Carolene spoke first,

"Good day mam,am so sorry you met me here this way.Pls am in need of_"

"You shouldn't be here"the woman cut in,with a look of agitation on her face.

Carolene bit her lip.Of cos she knew she shouldn't be in a birthhouse kitchen but this was urgent and what she needed the least now was an interrogation.

The woman's eyes scanned the kitchen and rested back on her.

"Where are the kitchen attendants"she asked still not moving from where she stood.

"I don't know,I got here,found no one,I_"

"Leave!"the woman barked,now storming towards her as if wanting to throw her out.she wouldn't even let her speak but carolene didn't care.She would prepare the decoction even if it meant tying this woman up or fighting her way through it.

She placed a stiff bony hand on her but Carolene pulled away.She growled in anger and reached for her again.

"Mam the Empress needs this"Carolene said trying her best to sound persuasive.

The woman stopped, pulled her hand away and eyed her not uttering a word.

"I swear her majesty is here to visit someone and needs this decoction Urgently". Carolene raised the side of her gown slightly."You see mam am but a maid servant from the imperial palace,of cos we don't wear tags but you can see my dress.Please you must help me,I cannot go back to her majesty without this".

"And why would I believe you.You came here to steal and dare use her majesty's name_"

"I swear on my life I did not."

Carolene watched her.She looked thoughtful but it didn't look like she believed anything she said.What a stubborn woman.she decided to resort to threatening her hoping it would work.

"Please we can talk about this later, right now she needs this.I don't know if you know this but she is with child,the imperial prince and if anything happens to him the emperor would never forgive you or your household.You know how he is and I know your name,even your face.I swear I'll tell on you if you don't help me out".

"Think,why would a thief be needing an evening Primrose and Setedua.I have all the ingredients I need for the decoction except these.Please help me out,where do I get these"Carolene said clasping her hand together.

The woman's face relaxed a bit and she responded

"Those are herbs for inducing labor.Usually the physicians administer the drugs themselves but we do have the raw materials".

"How do I get them?"

"I'll get them for you.Stay here and get preparing it,those two are the last items you need to add".

Carolene heaved a relieving sigh as she watched the woman leave through the door.She wondered why the Empress needed a labour inducing drug when her due date to deliver was in three weeks time. The child would be a premature one and what more at a place like this,she wasn't sure they had enough skilled healers to handle complications.She had enough questions that she dared not ask.

So far,the only thing she knew about the Empress unborn child was just her due date to deliver.Her and the Empress shared a lot of information together but Fiona had always hated her bringing up the topic so she had stopped asking.

Carolene carefully washed and boiled the ingredients she had while she waited impatiently for the midwife to get the remaining items.When the midwife appeared in the doorway,she quickly ran over to collect the items and the woman left immediately.

She finished boiling the ingredients and squeezed out the liquid from them into an empty bottle she got from the box she carried.She replaced the lid and hurried out of the kitchen both running and walking halfway to the room Fiona was waiting.

Carolene flung the door open to find a debilitated Empress sitting on the floor,both panting and gasping for air.She threw the box aside and raced over to her with the decoction.

When Fiona saw her, she forced a weak smile which Carolene knew was faked.She reached out a quavering hand and collected the bottle from Carolene, drank it and smiled again.

The Empress always wore a bright smile since Carolene knew her but this one was different it wasn't her usual smile,this one had no life in it.It frightened her.

"Your majesty u don't look so good"her voice trembled

The Empress now looked serious.She took Carolene's hand in both hands and looking deep into her eyes, gave her a message for the guards outside.Carolene nodded and walked towards the door and as she reached for the door knob Fiona added,

"Call me_ a physician,get him here as fast as you can"

Carolene took one last glance at the empress, reluctant to leave the room.She didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone in this condition but she had to deliver the message.

She quickly ran out of the room and returned some minutes later to find Fiona in labour.The Empress screamed as blood flowed freely from her, staining her purple robe and tainting the floor below her.

The contractions had started,her baby was coming.

Carolene knelt in front of her and covered her mouth with her hand in shock,obfuscated and unsure of what to do.The physician she called had been right behind her as she raced back to the room.She wondered why he wasn't here yet.

"Someone help!" She yelled out.

"Someone!"

Carolene abruptly stood up to call for help that she almost stumbled over the table behind her then the physician entered the room with a midwife.

The physician wore a brown work coat over green pants.He was young and his pale thin face wore a frown that it looked as though he would bite off a patient's head any moment.

He quickly knelt before her,raised her dress a bit,struck his hand under and observed.

"Please,cut me open and save my child" came Fiona's weak voice.

The bewildered physician glanced over at the midwife,at Carolene then his gaze settled back on Fiona.

"Please_ save the imperial prince"she pleaded,beads of tears now rolling freely down her face

He stared at her for a while then reached into the pocket of his coat,brought out a scapel and started cutting the part of the clothing over her abdomen.

Carolene walked over to him, grabbed the sharp edge of the scapel and threw it aside.It cut her but she didn't care.

"Are you Insane!"she barked.

"You heard her,she wishes I save the child,she might not survive this"

"Am sorry I can't let you do that without the Emperor's consent?If you have a death wish do it somewhere else not with her majesty's life".

The physician considered this for a while then he turned to the midwife.

"There's no time to move her to a ward now,she has to deliver here"

"No,ward please I'll hold o_"she paused and let out a loud scream followed by several incessant moans.

The midwife quickly stuffed a clean piece of cloth in her mouth to reduce the intensity of her screams.The physician shook his head and instead ordered the nurse to prepare some injection shots.He turned to Fiona

"Your majesty please do as I say you will deliver here"

"No way"Carolene protested."Didn't you hear her she said she wants a ward.I won't let you make her deliver here"

The physician shot her a piercing glance,turned to the midwife and nodded.The midwife placed her index and ring finger to her head and placed a request via telepathy.In a few seconds two male workers entered with a stretcher.

The physician raised her garment again then put his hand inside her to check for the baby's head.When he felt what seemed like the head he motioned for Fiona to be placed on the stretcher.

The midwife along with the other two men pulled the stretcher to a nearby ward on the same floor while Carolene and the physician followed from behind.The physician asked her to wait outside and slammed the door on her face that it almost hit her had she not taken a step backwards

Carolene fought the urge to go in and hit him,had the door not closed against her she definitely would have.

Carolene had never seen someone so rude.

The door opened again and another physician went in while the two workers who pulled the stretcher left, chattering what Carolene couldn't hear as they walked down the hallway.

Fiona felt a needle pierce through her arm close to her shoulder.

"This will help increase the contractions"the physician that had just entered said.

He checked her pulse and whispered into the first physician's ear who shook his head.

He injected another drug Into her and rubbed on the area with his thumb.

"I don't know if she can make it"the physician told his superior who had just entered and was on the other side of Fiona's bed

"I don't know how she's still alive"he responded. He leaned closer to Fiona's ears and whispered

"Ok your majesty,you have to help us push"he said."I want you to push as hard as you can"

Fiona pushed and pushed, panting hard from it.She felt weakened so weak to push as she struggled to stay conscious.

"She's much too weak to push" the physician told his colleague who injected another dose of drug into her and put his arm underneath her.The baby's head wasn't out yet.

While the midwife prepared another dose of injection the junior physician busied himself with massaging her stomach.

"These doses are beyond the usual.Do we not send for the healers instead?the Emperor will never forgive us if anything happens to her"

"Not now,any healing will interfer with her delivery that you know".

"But she's poisoned and she's dying..."

The physician ignored him and turned to Fiona.

"Push harder!"

Fiona pushed till she felt a part of the baby leave her, striking her with a glimpse of hope.

She felt pain,more than she could phantom,more than she could bear she tried to yell our but her mouth was blocked by the piece of clothing the midwife had placed in it and only a few audible moans were heard.

The physician felt a head and turned to her.

"We have a head"he encouraged."You can do this!".

Fiona didn't know if she could push any longer since she had lost all physical strength.

The injection shots the physician gave her did no good in giving her the strength to push anymore.It was the poison.It had finally began damaging her meridians.

Now she wished they had listened to her earlier to cut her open and save her child.As much as she wanted to see her beloved husband one last time,her child was more important to her than her own life.

Fiona could hear voices in the background but couldn't make out what was being said.

Her eyes were opened yet she couldn't see

but thankfully her sense of hearing and feeling was still intact.

She could feel a part of the baby out of her and a part still in.

She had gone a long way and wasn't giving in so easily.

Empress Fiona felt her chi coursing through her.She still had residual magic energy remaining and could still control little of it to an extent.

She took a deep breath and summoned her last magic energy to make a final push.

Fiona sucked out air from her lungs and surrounding cells into her womb,held her breath and pushed the baby out with the air in her womb.

She felt the baby leave her.

Yes! She had won,she thought then she finally shut her eyes.