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Chapter 7 - chapter 7

While the tournament for the upcoming birth of Baelon was ongoing.

In the castle Viserys rushed to the birth room and found his wife lying on the bed, her face contorted in pain.

The room was filled with the sounds of screams, the scent of sweat and blood, and the frantic movements of the midwives and healers who were assisting Aemma. 

Maester Munkun was also present, his brow furrowed with concentration as he monitored the progress of the labor. Suddenly, his expression turned grim.

"Your Grace, I fear there are complications," he said. "The baby is in distress, and we must act quickly."

"Then help her!" Viserys ordered.

"We've given her many remedies, without risking the child," Maester Munkun replied, his voice strained. "Your queen is a strong woman, but I fear it may not be enough."

Viserys hearing this, went to the bed and leaned over to his wife and started whispering words of comfort and love in her ear and stroking her hair.

"Aemma, it's okay, my love," he said. "You're doing great. I'm here with you."

Aemma turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with tears and pain.

"Viserys," she gasped. "I can't do this. It hurts too much."

Viserys felt a pang of fear and sadness in his chest. But this had to be done as this birth determined the fate of the Seven Kingdoms.

After a few minutes, Aemma's cries subsided into whimpers, while the maester gently took Viserys by the arm and led him to a corner of the room, away from the frantic activity surrounding the birth.

The Maester's face was etched with concern, and Viserys knew that something was wrong.

"Your Grace, if I may have a word with you," Maester Munkun said gravely, his voice barely above a whisper.

Viserys seeing this spoke and said: "What is it, Maester? Is something wrong with the baby?"

"Your Grace, when someone becomes a father, he sometimes must make an impossible decision." Maester Munkun said gravely.

"Well, speak it." Viserys said impatiently as he stole glances as his wife.

Maester Munkun then spoke" One must sacrifice someone and save the other."

He then continued "We must consider the possibility of performing a Caesarean section which will cut the wound and break the infant free."

Viserys felt his heart drop at Maester Munkun's words. He knew what the Maester was suggesting - that they may have to choose between saving his wife or saving the baby.

A sense of panic and desperation washed over him as he looked at Aemma, who was still writhing in pain on the bed. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her, but he also couldn't bear the thought of losing their child, the heir to the Iron Throne.

He took a deep breath and tried to steady himself, knowing that he had to make a decision.

"Do what you must," he said, his voice shaking.

The Maester quickly gathered his tools and instructed the healers on what to do. Viserys watched in horror as they went to Aemma and started the incision and began the delicate process of delivering the baby.

While Aemma started to shout in fear which changed into cries out in pain, that only grew louder and more agonized.

Finally, after what felt like hours to Viserys, a baby's cry resounded in the room.

Viserys breathed a sigh of relief, but as he turned to look at Aemma, he saw her lying lifeless on the bed.

The Maester's voice sounded beside him "Congratulations, Your Grace, it's a healthy boy."

"It's a boy?" Viserys asked.

"A new heir your grace." The Maester said, while swaying the baby as his cries resounded in the room.

Seeing this Viserys sighed a sigh of relief, not knowing of the tragedy that will befall him.