Empress Fiona rode in her carriage very early in the morning, with a wide grin on her face, listening to the sound of the early morning wind and birds chirping, her mind picturing how the newborn of Queen Olivia her childhood friend would look like.
Olivia was Queen of Edor,the second kingdom of Delvin the realm of Demons and closet to Urah,the capital city.The Empress and Olivia had attended the same royal academy as children and had been close ever since but for ten years now Olivia had been avoiding her.
She only sent letters which Fiona returned refusing to see her and giving excuses why she couldn't and finally the day had arrived a day she would see both her friend and her newborn.
Last night she had received a letter that Olivia would give birth in a birth house in Urah,the location she was now headed to,had handed the letter over to the knights who drove her carriage and had set off very early in the morning.
She couldn't hide her excitement that it made her heart thud faster, making her smile sheepishly but still when she meets Olivia she would scold her for having avoided her for such a long time.
Fiona's was pretty and looked young,much too young for her age with an oval face and huge brown eyes which matched the color of the curly hair that fell gracefully down her shoulder concealing a quarter of her face.
She wore a v-neck shaped purple gown designed with golden embroidery which exposed a small part of her breast.It was casual just how she wanted it as she didn't want to draw attention to herself at the birthhouse.She didn't even bring her crown.
She looked over at a small mobile bed next to her where her spirit guard,a small guidian spirit always sat.
Everygrown demon in Delvin owned one.It was a lifetime companion whose existence would be erased If it's Master dies.
On this perfect morning it had overslept,no it always did and she had felt no need to wake it up to accompany her.If not it would have made her ride less boring than it was with no one to talk with so she was left with nothing but her thoughts.
She had always loved it's company but today she didn't care,soon she would see Olivia and they had a lot to talk about.
Fiona moved closer to the window of the carriage,swung the curtain open and let her face get sun kissed.She sighted the maid servants on horse back on that side and smiled to no one in particular but they returned the smile.
Today she rode with fifteen knights and four maid servants on order of the Emperor,her husband who never had time for her.He had ordered not less than this number of knights to go with her anytime she left the imperial palace despite the barrier he had erected around her.
She pulled the curtain over and placed a hand on her protruded stomach,she could feel the baby kicking,he always kicked always moved in her stomach,an action which made her feel uncomfortable but at the same time brought her great pleasure.
Fiona was carrying the imperial prince a thought that always brought her great pride anytime it crossed her mind.Soon like Queen Olivia she would become a mother and the thought of their delivery dates being so close pleased her the more.
She was so immersed in her own thoughts that she didn't realize her carriage had stopped till it's door flew open.
A knight stood in front of her bowing and awaiting her next action or order.When she made a move to come down he stepped aside,took a halt and everyone lowered their heads.
Fiona alighted from the carriage and starred at the building in front of her.
It was three stories tall and old with faded green paint.The building had cracks all over as if it could collapse any minute.
"Are we here?"she asked turning to the knight beside her.
"Yes we are your majesty"he responded lowering his head the more.
Fiona frowned.
Of all places and birthhouse in Urah why had Olivia chosen here unless perhaps she was on her way to a better place and labour had caught her by surprise.
She shook her head and hesitantly took a step forward when something pierced through her nape.It made her dizzy for a while that she staggered slightly trying to maintain her balance.
A maid gently took her arm offering her assistance.
"Your majesty if I may_"
"Am fine"Fiona said withdrawing her hand immediately,but she wasn't.She had just been pierced by a poisoned needle.Her hair covered the area so no one had noticed.
She spun around, craning her neck,to look for her attacker and when she saw no one she pulled out the needle in a way not to make the others notice.
She had been expecting an attack sooner or later before she delivered as this wasn't the first time.
When she was six months gone,she was attacked while taking a walk in her quaters.
Someone out there for her head,but the people loved her or was it her child's.
From the time she concieved of him she always knew he was unusual and she felt the Emperor knew something he wasn't telling her.
After the attack he had erected a barrier around her and how an assassin had somehow managed to breech the anti-magic barrier the Emperor had erected which aside from it's peculiar function of repelling magic and spells was also impenetrable to external force.
So far in Delvin only the Emperor had been able to erect such a barrier and only someone on the same magic level with the Emperor could breech it.If there was any.Now she had just discovered there was.
The Emperor was rumored to be the strongest in Delvin whose magic energy was second to none in the Realm but after all it was just a mere hear say.
Her attacker was probably on the same level with the Emperor or even stronger.
Carolene watched the Empress turn from side to side looking over the roof of the surrounding buildings as though looking for someone.She immediately ran to her side.
"Your majesty are you alright"she queried,a concerned look on her face.
Carolene was her personal maid servant and attendant,the closet to her.She was a few years younger than the Empress,a short brunette attractive maiden,her brown hair was short and styled in a bob.
Those huge hazle brown eyes starred at the Empress for a while awaiting a response which never came.
When Fiona didn't respond, Carolene gently placed hand on her shoulder.
"Are you looking for someone?"
The empress threw her a broad smile and shook her head.
She ordered some of her knights to come in after she had climbed up the stairs and wait at the reception area.
She didn't want to draw attention,not at a place like this,where she had just been attacked.
Although she wasn't sure her attacker would come for her again but she thought it best to keep to her plan of maintaining a low profile
It made her wonder if her coming here was all just a set up or a trick but that didn't look like what Olivia would do and the handwriting was no doubt Queen Olivia's.
Whatever she had been poisoned with was potent.It was draining her strength fast and blurring her eyesight.
This birthhouse might as well turn out to be where she would deliver her own son.
She quickly went in with her maid servants, relieved no one recognized her.Though a few commoners never took their eyes off her,they made no move to pay their respects to her.
Fiona ascended the stairs but stopped halfway panting, sweating all over and gasping for air.
"Your majesty pls..."the maids pleaded gesturing to take her arm.
This time Fiona let them and they led her up the stairs into the room they had reserved for her.Fiona looked around the room when they entered.It had no content except a table in front of a farthingale chair which stood in front of a fire place,just the way she had requested.
Originally she was to wait her for Olivia to deliver but now she would be needing a ward.
She sank into the chair trying to catch her breath then she discharged other maidservants,listed some ingredients for a decoction and asked carolene to prepare it.
Fiona watched carolene leave with her medicine box,praying deep within her that she found the ingredients for the decoction quickly,she didn't know how long she could hold on.
She always carried her decoction and ingredients along with her when ever she left the imperial palace but this one was different.
Since it wasn't her due date yet she had never drank it before.
Empress fiona brought out her handkerchief from a small red bag she always carried and coughed into it.She withdrew it from her face and saw it was stained crimson red with blood.As she felt her airway clog she coughed out more blood, placing a hand on her chest as she did.
She felt herself jumping in and out of conciousness but she struggled to stay conscious.It wasn't over yet not untill she delivers her child.
The Empress coughed till she slipped off the chair and fell to the dry marble floor.She managed to sit upright but had lost the strength to carry her own weight. she couldn't climb back up the chair and now sat trying to keep hope alive and struggling to keep her eyes open, frightened that if she shut it,that might be the last time she would see the land of the living
Her mind was now fixated on delivering her own child that she now ignored the main reason she had come to the birthhouse.The poison might claim her life but she swore to protect her child and give birth to him at all cost for that reason she tasked herself with staying alive at least till she saw her own child and her beloved Emperor but deep within her she was unsure if she would last the next hour
***********************
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 workcoat 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,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 concious.
"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.