Heart of Darkness

“Listen to your body. Only push when you feel like pushing and when not, take a break to breathe.” The midwife instructed.

Roxana was told not to watch another woman deliver until she had her own child first. Now she understood why. This was frightening and it seemed to never end. She became anxious and tried to hide it to provide support to Angelica. She was beside her the whole time. Angelica’s face was flushed and damp with sweat.

“Good. I see the head now. Push again when you feel like it.”

Angelica took a breath and then when she felt the pain she groaned and pushed.

Oh, God. Roxana’s face was turning pale. When would this end?

“Well done. The head is out.” The midwife cheered.

Only the head?

Angelica fell back on her pillow taking a few breaths. “Good, rest and breathe. When you feel the pain again, push.”

Lord Rayven who was already pale was blue instead. Still, he never let go of his wife’s hand.

The midwife was doing something and then with one more groan from Angelica, the baby’s cry echoed in the room.

Roxana’s felt like the room swayed for a moment before she watched the midwife put the child in its mother’s arms.

“Congratulations.” The midwife smiled.

Angelica’s eyes teared as she took her child into her arms. Her face lit up while her tears fell as she watched it with adoration. Lord Rayven leaned closer to take a look as well while the midwife continued her work. Roxana wasn’t sure what she was doing down there but she was also focused on the child. It was small, had a bit of strange color, and was covered wet from body fluids.

“So beautiful.” Angelica cried.

Oh, why was this woman making her cry? Roxana felt tears burn in her eyes as well.

Lord Rayven kissed his wife’s forehead and then she asked him if he wanted to hold the child. He looked a bit worried. The midwife interrupted. “Let me get him clean and wrap him a bit so you can hold him easier.”

They all watched curious, waiting for the moment the father would hold his child. His son. They had all seen that he was a boy but no one mentioned it. They were just happy to have him.

Lord Rayven became more anxious as the midwife placed his child in his arms. He looked at him stiff for a moment, but slowly his eyes changed and even he had to fight back the tears.

Oh, Lord. Roxana couldn’t hold back anymore. Men crying always made her cry. She and Angelica looked at Rayven and then at each other with a smile through the tears. But it wasn’t enough. Then the uncle came and made them all cry again. She wasn’t sure why at the beginning but clearly almost no one had seen the young Lord cry until now. Even his sister hadn’t seen him cry for a long time. She said he rarely cried, even as a child. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

Roxana was a mess from this emotional journey she had today. She felt very exhausted, yet she was happy to have been part of it. Angelica’s servants, the man, and woman who seemed to be a couple also joined them. It was a celebration without food and liquor.

After everything calmed down with the crying and thinking of a few names, the couple was left alone with their child. Roxana went outside to sit in the garden and get some fresh air. It had been a long day and now it was dark outside. The servants were preparing for a great dinner to quench the hunger she didn’t begin to feel. It was strange because she was always hungry.

Now she was only worried. She kept wondering why Alexander didn’t return yet. Was he alright? Did he get hurt? She didn’t want to put her worries on the couple who just conceived so she sat outside alone, staring at the gate. After a while the young Lord Davis joined her, sitting on another bench nearby., He stared ahead as well, quietly for a while.

“He will be alright.” He said at last.

Was it that obvious? She remained quiet. Clearly, the young Lord knew about Alexander’s identity as well and they were all fine with it.

Angelica was fine after giving birth to a half-demon child so now Roxana knew that was possible. What else?

She looked up at the sky and watched how the moon hid behind a faint cloud. She prayed quietly for God’s guidance. God must know her heart as father Anthony said.

Suddenly something came to mind. She remembered what the fortune-teller told her. That she would marry a very old man. The treasure in the castle and why she needed tasty there. The man who would give her riches.

Roxana froze in her seat. So remembered Alexander’s age. A thousand. He was the old man? And she would marry him? Her future was sealed.

She looked up at the sky again. God, is that your answer? That is a bit direct. She shook her head. Why was she putting this on the Lord?

She stood up and began to pace back and forth. Lord Davis ignored her and sat relaxed. Roxana continued to pace. A thousand years? She wasn’t even born when he existed. Her grandmother’s grandmother wasn’t born. Then, how did he become king? When did he lose his parents? Will he never age? Will she die before him?

“How long have you paced?”

She stopped and turned to where the voice came from.

“Alexander.”

He was alright. He was in new clean clothes and looked unharmed. Roxana wasn’t sure what had gotten into her but she crossed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him. He stiffened but then hugged her back with a chuckle.

“What took you so long? I was worried.”

“This might be the only time I can be happy about you being worried.” He admitted.