Before the ladies sat down at the round table, Lady Aerwyna entered the room. A few strands of her blonde hair escaped her bun and brushed against her porcelain skin as she gave a curtsy.
“Yes, Lady Aerwyna.” Natalia addressed her.
“Your Majesty, a messenger had asked that I bring this to you,” Lady Aerwyna informed and handed Queen Natalia the sealed parchment paper.
Queen Natalia thanked her in return and she opened the seal and began to read the letter presented to her.
Once she read the letter, Queen Natalia turned her attention to Lady Aerwyna. ”I just received word from Lady Ann Cuthbert. It seems that your friend would like to know if I have room in my household for one of her three daughters. Have you warned Lady Ann that life at court is full of gratification, envy, scorn, and ridicule? If you have, then send the ladies to me, and I’ll choose one of them.”
A smile forms on Lady Aerwyna's face and she gave a curtsy. "Yes, Majesty. I have warned Lady Ann about life here at court. I will send a letter in return and inform the Lady Ann to send her daughters here to meet with you. Thank you, Majesty."
Queen Natalia gave a nod in agreement. "Thank you Lady Aerwyna, you are now free to write your letter if you so wish.
Lady Aerwyna gave a quick curtsy and dashed over to the nearby desk and began writing her letter to Lady Ann.
Queen Natalia gently rubbed her swollen pregnant belly, yawned and gave a little stretch. “Lady Caitlyn, would you be so kind and help me unlace my gown? It feels as if it grows tighter by the hour.
“Yes, Majesty, “ Lady Caitlyn replied and headed over to her.
Lady Caitlyn smiled slightly and entwined the lace of Queen Natalia’s gown in-between her fingers as she began to unlace Natalia’s dress.
Queen Natalia winced a little in discomfort and in a concerned tone she said, “If anything should happen…
“I’m sure you’ll be just fine Your Majesty. You’ll be holding your little one sooner than you think, and then you and His Majesty will be happier than you ever thought you could be,” Lady Caitlyn replied.
Queen Natalia locked her eyes on Caitlyn’s and said, “I’m sure I will be. Just promise me You’ll comfort him if something should happen to me. It would make me feel better if you did.”
Lady Caitlyn gave a little nod in agreement and began to head to the
“Majesty!” Lady Caitlyn cried out as she grabbed Queen Natalia’s arm to ensure that her queen didn’t fall to the floor.
Lady Aerwyna and Lady Delphine dropped their cards and rushed to Queen Natalia’s side when they noticed their queen had almost taken a fall.
“Don’t be alarmed, ladies. I think my time has come to do my duty,” Queen Natalia informed.
Queen Natalia turned her attention to Lady Delphine and said, “Lady Delphine, please promise me that you will stay with me now and not forsake me,”
“I do so promise,” Lady Delphine replied.
Queen Natalia smiled slightly, turned her attention to the other ladies who surrounded her and told them that everything would be fine and to fetch the midwife. Lady Caitlyn and Lady Aerwyna gave a curtsy and rushed out of the room to find the midwife and inform King Richard about his wife.
While the other two ladies went to search for the midwife and the king, Lady Delphine helped Queen Natalia out of her gown and got her into bed. She took turns between holding Queen
Momentarily, King Richard rushed the midwife and Nurse Vesta into his wife’s chambers with Lady Aerwyna and Caitlyn right behind them, to welcome his heir into the world. The moment the three of them entered the room, Vesta immediately began grabbing towels and hot water to prepare for the little one’s birth. Queen Natalia screamed in pain as she laid on the bed. Richard tied his wife’s Chestnut hair back with a silk smooth scarf, one of the first few gifts he’d given her at the beginning of their courtship. He couldn’t believe she’d kept it all of these years.
Midwife Margaret approached Natalia’s bedside and held her hand. “Are you ready to welcome your little one into the world?”
Queen Natalia smiled and said, “My dearest friend Margaret, I believe that I am. However, my mother always told me labor would go faster than this considering I’m a Faery.”
“All due respect, Majesty. I have helped many supernatural women deliver their babies. These things take time, but I can assure you that once you hold your little one it’ll all be worth it,” Margaret replied.
“You mean if I survive this?” Queen Natalia questioned between deep breaths.
“Milady, you will survive this. You mustn’t think such negative things. Believe me when I say that you will survive this, and it will all be a memory. One that you will never forget. Forgive me Majesty, but I need to look you over now to check your dilation and see if you’re ready to begin pushing,” Margaret reassured.
Queen Natalia smiled slightly and grabbed Richard’s hand and held it tightly while the midwife looked her over.
Margaret looked up at Queen Natalia from the foot of the bed and shook her head, “I’m sorry Milady. You haven’t begun to crown yet. Just continue to take deep breaths and I’ll check again soon.
Queen Natalia gave a nod in agreement and turned her attention to Lady Delphine, and
Lady Delphine gave a quick nod in agreement and gave the cloth she was holding to King Richard. She then grabbed the small white and gold box off of the nightstand and handed it to the Queen.
Queen Natalia opened the small box and pulled out her rosary beads and smiled slightly, and in a tired tone she said, “They belonged to my grandmother. They comfort me when I’m not well. Maybe they will comfort me now.”
“I believe that your grandmother is here with us. I believe she will help you through this and help you deliver your child. They say when someone is close to you when they pass, they stay with you to see that you’re safe,” Lady Delphine soothed.
“Lady Caitlyn, would you be so kind as to fetch Father Adonis?” Richard inquired.
Lady Caitlyn gave a curtsy. "Yes, Majesty. I'll fetch him now." She then left the room to find the priest.
Queen Natalia shrieked in pain and squeezed Richards hand.
“It’ll be alright Darling. Squeeze my hand as hard as you need to and breathe,” Richard soothed as he caressed
A few moments later, Lady Caitlyn returned with Father Adonis.
“Ah. Father, would you read some scriptures from your book and say a few prayers while Natalia’s labor lasts?” Richard asked.
“Of course, Majesty. I would be honored,” Adonis replied and said a prayer with everyone in the room before he grabbed his book and began reading the scriptures.
Six long hours rolled by as Queen Natalia moaned and screamed in pain.
Queen Natalia looked up at King Richard with tear-filled eyes and said, “I think something is wrong with the baby. If I don’t survive this, I want you to move on. Take a new wife and have an heir. I want you to be happy. But most of all, I want her to love you as I do.”
Tears slid down King Richards cheeks after he heard how worried his wife is, but he quickly wiped them away so as not to alarm her. The thought of possibly losing her on this very night scared him. Not only was he scared for the life of his wife, but also the life of his child as well. He couldn’t bear to watch his wife suffer so, but he was able to contain himself and remained calm for her. He didn’t want to worry or upset her any further. Instead of showing or telling her how scared he truly was, he soothed and comforted her as much as he possibly could.
Queen Natalia’s ladies in waiting were also worried about their best friend who they lived with and tended to throughout their earlier years. The ladies gathered by her bedside and said a few prayers with Father Adonis as they held their rosary beads tightly and tears streamed down their rosy cheeks. Hours and hours had passed by as they prayed and listened to Father Adonis read scriptures from his big leather book. The night turned to day, and the day turned into night, and before they knew it, twelve hours had passed by but Natalia hadn’t made any progress in her labor.
Worried for her best friend, Midwife Margaret took King Richard to the corner of the room and explained in a hushed tone, “Her Majesty is having a difficult time with the delivery. If she keeps this up through the night we could lose them both.”
Tears slid down King Richard’s cheeks as he recalled the memories of when he first started courting his Queen and when he first learned of her pregnancy. King Richard gave a deep sigh and tried to remain calm until he just couldn’t hold himself together any longer.
“I-I can’t take this, Margaret. I simply can’t just sit there and watch her go through so much pain, knowing there’s nothing I can do or say to make things better for her. I can’t watch her lay there and suffer until she and my child die. She told me that if something happens to her that she wants me to move on. How can I? Out of the hundreds of years of my life, I have loved no other the way I love her, and I never will. She is my one true love and my one true Queen,” King Richard cried.
Margaret hugged King Richard tightly. “There, there now, Majesty. You have done a great job of keeping yourself together and being there for Her Majesty. Keep soothing her and make her as comfortable as you possibly can. Just being there is enough comfort for her. You’re her rock, her King, her best friend, and lover. You love her. She knows that… she can feel it now more than ever. You’re doing all that you can. Stop beating yourself up about something you have no control over. What I have medically told you about your wife is a precaution.”
Margaret released King Richard from their embrace and continued. “ I do however have to inform you of the rest of the medical treatment in case it should come to that. But I’ll need you to remain calm for Her Majesty. If she see’s you upset, then that can cause more trauma to her and the baby. Do you think you can do that for me?”
King Richard wiped the tears from his eyes and gave a nod in agreement.
“Good. Now, this is important, Majesty. If Her Majesty is still in this condition by first daylight, I suggest we cut her belly open and remove the baby. She could die if we don’t… or worse, we could lose them both. I’m sorry, I wish I had better news, but we can only spare one of them if she struggles through her labor throughout the night,” Midwife Margaret explained.
King Richard sighed deeply and slowly exhaled. “Let’s not make any rash decisions. Pray it doesn’t come down to that and see what happens first.”
Margaret gave a nod in agreement and the two resumed their posts at Queen Natalia’s bedside before she gave another scream of agony. King Richard ran his hands through his dark brown hair, a concerned look in his eyes as he held his breath. If he could take away his wife’s pain, he would in a heartbeat.
A few moments later, King Richard’s feverish prayers were answered instantly, for that moment Queen Natalia let out an ear-piercing scream, and groaned through pitted teeth, “I think the baby is coming!”
Midwife Margaret quickly rushed to the foot of the Queen's bed and looked her over once more. Thankful and shocked the Gods had answered their prayers so quickly, her eyes grew wide and she smiled and looked up at her Queen.
“One hard push and your little one will be on its way into the world,” Margaret told Queen Natalia in excitement.
The Queen gave a nod, closed her eyes, and pushed as long and hard as she possibly could as she squeezed King Richards’ hand tightly.
The sound of thunder cracked outside of the castle, and the lightning returned the thunder’s call, while the rain poured heavily as their tiny princess was born. Midwife Margaret cut the cord and handed the baby to Nurse Vesta, who laid the tiny infant on the table. King Richard and Queen Natalia curiously watched Nurse Vesta as she cleaned their little bundle of joy. While Nurse Vesta gave the little one a sponge bath, Margaret cleaned Queen Natalia up. The baby gave a shiver and burst into tears as Nurse Vesta swaddled her snugly and handed her to Queen Natalia. The tiny Princess' head was adorned with auburn colored hair, and her little sapphire blue eyes looked at Natalia as if they were studying her face.
Nurse Vesta helped the Queen feed the little princess and got her changed and swaddled comfortably.
“There we go. Now maybe you all can get some well-needed rest,” Nurse Vesta smiled and left the room.
“Congratulations my dearest friend. Your little one sure is beautiful,” Midwife Margaret told Queen Natalia.
Midwife Margaret turned to King Richard and said, “My Lord, Her Majesty and the little one will be just fine. Just make sure Her Majesty gets some rest. I have to check on another lady who is due to be giving birth any day now. So I must be on my way.”
King Richard shook Midwife Margaret's hand. "Thank you for saving my wife and child. I will never forget what you have done for us."
"Don't thank me Majesty. Thank the Gods for answering our prayers and for helping Her Majesty deliver the sweet Princess safely," Margaret said and left the room.
Queen Natalia had the glow of joy as she looked over her tiny daughters’ facial features.
“Oh! Richard! She has your nose and eye shape!” Queen Natalia pointed out in awe.
King Richard beamed with joy, “You’re right Darling! She even has your eye and hair color! We did great, my love! We made a beautiful, healthy baby girl!”
The happy couple gazed proudly and lovingly upon their daughter as she lay asleep in Natalia’s arms. King Richard couldn’t be any happier than he was on this very day. He had everything he had ever wanted and was very grateful that the Gods had answered his prayers. His wife and daughter are healthy and living. He couldn’t ask for more. He was always happy just having Queen Natalia in his life, but now things were different. Now they are a family. He’d vowed on his very own immortal life that he would do all that he could to protect his family for they mean everything to him. They are his life and his world. He would do anything to keep them safe and sound.
The thunderous sky cleared up, and in its place was a clear night sky, full of twinkling stars. King Richard looked upon his heir with pride and love in his heart just as Queen Natalia did while she cradled her.
“What shall we name her?” King Richard asked his wife.
Queen Natalia softly stroked the little girl’s hair and her sapphire blue eyes met Richards. “I think we should call her Scarlett. I think that name suits her after her auburn hair. What do you think, my love?”
King Richard smiled and whispered as he caressed the tiny baby’s cheek, “I think Scarlett suits her well, and her middle name shall be Michelle, after my grandmother.”
“Welcome to the world Scarlett Michelle Debenshire,” Queen Natalia told her daughter and placed a kiss on her forehead.
The royal couple was so happy after trying to conceive a baby for four long years after their marriage. Scarlett’s birth brought joy, hope, and happiness throughout the realm.
As the Queen sat holding her tiny bundle of joy, she and her husband, King Richard beamed brightly as they looked down at their daughter. King Richard made sure Queen Natalia was comfortable, then tucked little Scarlett into her cradle near the window and curled up next to his wife, quickly drifting off to sleep.
That night as the royal family slept, the moonlight shone brightly through the castle windows and onto the little baby girl who was sleeping soundly in her cradle. She stirred slightly and gave a little cough, while the moon illuminated her face and her fuzzy auburn hair. Princess Scarlett burst into tears which woke King Richard and Queen Natalia. Scarlett had untangled herself from her blanket and laid wiggling around in her cradle.
“There, there,” Queen Natalia cooed at her as he gently swaddled her blanket around her and held her close.
Queen Natalia sat in a chair near the roaring fireplace, where she unlaced the top of her chemise and slid the material down her shoulders. She then slid her hand under little Scarlett’s head and gently brought her head up to her breasts and began trying to feed her. After a few failed attempts to get the Princess to eat, Queen Natalia changed her and cleaned her up but the tiny Princess continued to cry.
A few moments into Scarlett’s never-ending crying session, King Richard approached his wife to see what the commotion was all about.
“Something is wrong. She won’t eat! She won’t even try to latch on,” Queen Natalia cried out.
Worried about his daughter, King Richard rushed down the long dark stone halls lit only by candlelight and upstairs into the enchantment room to find the Royal Healers. When he entered the room, a big metal cauldron sat in the middle of the floor. Shelves were perched on every wall filled with herbs and medicines and a huge table rested under a window with a very thick leather book on top of it.
“Majesty,” Mylene the royal enchantress called out and gave a curtsy.
“You may rise,” King Richard told her.
“
“I’ll do all I can to help, Majesty,” Mylene replied.
“Then follow me. There’s no time to waste!” King Richard exclaimed.
“Shhh, little one. Everything will be alright my darling,” The Queen soothed.
King Richard
“You’re right my love,” Queen Natalia said and laid the baby on her bed.
What should have been a joyful time for the tiny princess and her parents turned into one of despair. For six long months, all the best healers tried to find a cure. None succeeded, for the princess’s rare blood disease couldn’t be cured. In fear for their daughter’s life, the royal couple summoned for Merlin the Wizard.
Queen Natalia quickly informed her husband of how Merlin the wizard cured her from the bite of a Lycan when she was just a child. Her mother, Queen Azura had summoned for Merlin, and he was able to remove the Lycan curse from her.
In fear for their daughter’s life, the royal couple agreed and sent a raven with a letter, asking for Merlin’s help, who cured Queen Natalia so very long ago.
The raven flew far and wide in search of the Kingdom of Carmarthen. In a land far away, much farther than the eye can see, are acres full of
Many moons had passed since Natalia had last laid eyes on the wizard, and when he appeared, he wasn’t at all what the Royal couple had expected. He was much older since Queen Natalia had last seen him. He wore a long flowing tunic and his disheveled hair hung down to his waist. A long scraggly beard matched his graying colored hair. He was an elderly man, but his watery blue eyes seemed to hold a wisdom in them, and his rosy cheeks told the couple there was a warmth to his soul.
With his staff in hand, he began to speak in his old English accent, “You summoned for me, Majesties?”
“Yes. Queen Natalia has informed me about how you helped cure her of a fatal Lycan bite when she was a child. Now, your help is needed once more. Our daughter is very sick with a rare blood disease and our Royal healers can’t find a cure. Do you think you can help our daughter?” King Richard asked.
“Hmm. Yes, I do remember the Queen. She was near death when her parents finally agreed to allow me to help her. May I have a look at the little one?” Merlin asked.
King Richard and his Queen gave a nod in agreement, and Queen Natalia gently laid the tiny princess onto the table.
Merlin leaned his staff against a nearby wall and took a look at the little girl who gasped for each breath of air.
“I can help her, but I have something to ask in return,” Merlin replied.
Queen Natalia glanced worriedly at King Richard with tear-filled eyes, and he agreed to hear out the wizard.
“We’ll do anything to help our daughter. Just name your price,” Queen Natalia said desperately.
“She will be betrothed to one of my descendants and they will marry when she comes of age. That is my only price,” Merlin informed.
“Now, just wait a second! I think I need to speak to my wife alone. All due respect Sir, but I don’t feel comfortable with just handing my daughter’s health and future over to some wizard whom I’ve never met before this day!” King Richard scoffed.
Merlin smiled slightly, “Majesty, I completely understand your concern, but you also have to understand my circumstance. Her Majesty was also supposed to be betrothed to one of my descendants. Her mother, Queen Azura, and her father,
“What does that deal have to do with our child exactly?” King Richard asked.
“Your daughter must be married to one of my descendants in order for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Darkness is coming, and the Princess is the only one who can destroy it. If the prophecy fails again, darkness will fall upon this land. Princess Scarlett Debenshire must survive. She must fulfill her destiny and bring down the evil creatures who lurk in the forest of the surrounding kingdoms, along with an evil queen who she’ll later encounter. Unless the evil queen is stopped, the queen will control the lives of your
“Who’s this evil
“Majesty, forgive me, but I cannot foresee into the future. I can only tell you what the prophecy states. I am no fortune teller or seer,” Merlin explained.
Queen Natalia gave Merlin an apologetic smile and said, “Excuse us for a minute. I must have a word with my husband, the King. Clearly, we need to have a little talk.”
Merlin gave a nod, and Queen Natalia pulled King Richard to the far side of the room.
“What’s wrong with you?! Our daughter is going to die if we don’t agree to his terms. If the prophecy is true, and she dies, our kingdom will fall. Richard, please for the sake of our daughter’s health and future
King Richard sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair, “Alright. But if something goes wrong, it’ll be your fault!”
“Thank you, Darling! Thank you!” Queen Natalia said and hugged her husband tightly.
The Royal couple approached Merlin, who was waiting patiently as he watched little Scarlett, who silently lay on the table.
“We’ve made a decision. We’ve decided to allow you to cure our daughter. Not just because it would bring us joy to watch our daughter live and grow, but because the future of this realm and our people rely on her. If you really can cure her, please do what you need to do to save our daughter,” King Richard told the wizard.
“A wise decision you have made Majesties. One that you won’t regret. I’ll need a little space to perform the spell,” Merlin replied.
The royal couple backed away from the table and stood in the corner of the room, and Merlin turned his attention back to the baby who lay on the table. So frail the little princess lay, never moving or making a sound. The wizard reached inside of the pocket of his tunic and grabbed a vial of red liquid and a small pouch of glittering dust. He opens the small vial of liquid, and pours a few drops on his index finger. Next, he smears the liquid that is now on his finger across Princess Scarlett’s forehead in one swift motion.
“I call upon the blood of the Wood Elves. I need your help to save this poor innocent girl from death. Her destiny lies in our hands,” Merlin called out.
The wizard then opened the small pouch and grabbed a handful of the glittering dust and sprinkled it over Scarlett’s little body while he chanted in Elvish, “Tinime
“What did he say?”
“He said, Tiny Princess of the Vampire and Faery, let light center your life, body, and soul. The darkness does not have power over you. Follow the sound of my voice, and come back into the light. The light and blood of the Elf command you,” Queen Natalia explained.
When the spell was finished, Merlin reached down and laid his hands on Scarlett’s chest. Suddenly, a shaft of light radiated from his hands and moved into her body. The little Princess then let out a gasp and whimpered a little.
Queen Natalia quickly ran over to her daughter with King Richard on her heals, and held her tightly as she wept with joy. Tears streamed down King Richard’s cheeks as he stroked his daughter’s hair.
“She is very special. She not only has the gift of Fae, but also the gift of the Elves, and will need to be protected. There are creatures out there who will want her for her powers. If successful, doom will fall upon this realm,” Merlin informed.
“We will keep her safe, “King Richard and Queen Natalia said in sync.
The King and Queen watched their daughter who was now full of life, as she slept peacefully, and they were excited to see what this special girl would bring for the future.
“Very well then. I must get back to Carmarthen,” Merlin told the Royal Couple.
The King and Queen thanked the wizard once again as they looked down on their daughter with joy.
“You’re most welcome Majesties,” Merlin replied.
Merlin waved his staff in a circular motion in front of him, and suddenly a gray fog circled around him as he said, “If you need anything else Your Majesties, you know where to send a raven.”
“Indeed we do. Thank you again. From this day forward, you will always be known as a friend to the Kingdom of Stone Ridge,” King Richard told Merlin who disappeared into the fog.
King Richard asked as he looked up lovingly at his wife. “Darling, I think we should celebrate the birth of our daughter with a feast. What do you think my love?”
“I think a feast is exactly what this kingdom needs! It would finally bring the nobles at peace knowing
“A feast we shall have
“I shall let the cook and the servants know the feast will take place in two week’s time, and I’ll send the ravens out with the invitations,” King Richard told his wife.
Queen Natalia smiled in approval and King Richard placed a loving kiss on her cheek and left the room.
Credits
Sims
Merlin The Wizard
Check out these lovely
Natalia's Quarters - by me
Stone Ridge Castle created by Stereotheram91
For the Enchantment room in Stone Ridge, I used this build by Hatsy
Merlin's tower/castle by Lyysard
Throne room - by me
