B K Suitter [Suitter - The Ageless Giant

Year of the Ageless Giant 2300 A.A. (After Asar)

M y Lord, they are inside the walls and running unchecked throughout the castle we must leave now, begged Captain Shanks. A womans cry from the next room brought an anguished look to the kings face.

How can I leave now, Captain? The queen gives birth to my child as we speak. As the king turned to go back into the birthing room, Shanks reached out and took hold of his arm. You forget yourself! the king roared, wrenching his arm free from the other mans grasp. Never lay hands on me again or I will have your head!

My King, Dishoni are running the halls! Captain Shanks yelled back. I am your shield and I will not sit by and watch you cut down! The castle has been compromised. We have to get you down to the escape tunnels!

And what of your queen? Would you see her killed as well as my child, the heir to the throne?

The queen cannot be moved, or she will die. I will stay here and protect her while Yamen fights in the lower halls, but you must go with Daphaxian down to the tunnels. The captains voice lost all momentum and faded to a whisper. If you dont go now, we may all die.

So be it, the king sneered, and he turned and walked briskly into the birthing room where the queen was laboring with his unborn child.

Bar the door, Captain Shanks instructed Sergeant Daphaxian. Let no one in. We will hold here for as long as we can. If the gods are good, death will come quickly for us all. Daphaxian gave Shanks a wink and slammed the door in his face.

Uriah, the woman whispered to the king as he took hold of her hand.

We are safe, he smiled to give her comfort, but she could read his face and the story it told was not true.

You must push, Aliha, and breathe, the soothing voice came from the foot of the bed where a healer stood ready to receive the child from her womb. He was middle-aged with a strong jaw and brown eyes. He had a full head of hair that was dark brown and streaked with grey and it fell straight, just below his shoulders. He was not tall, but neither was he a short man.

The queen cried out in pain as she pushed, clenching the kings hand as sweat ran down her forehead and into her soft pillows, mixing with the tears from her eyes. Aliha was beautiful even in this condition. Her eyes a soft blue, her blonde hair matted against a heart-shaped face covered in sweat. She grunted, cried out in pain, and pushed again. This would be her first child, and possibly her last.

I can see the childs head. One more strong push and it shall see the light of day! Gideon was an herb healer and usually assisted the queens personal attendants, but when the castle was infiltrated, most of the servants were taken to the underground tunnels and led to safety.

At first the king would not allow Alihas nurse maids to leave while the queen was in such a state, but Aliha insisted they be spared if Gideon promised to stay and deliver her child.

The queen pushed once more, a soft gasp escaping her lips, and the child was born. A sudden cry filled the chamber as the healer cradled the infant and gently cut the soft cord that was attached to its mother.

A son, the king whispered. I, we have a son. All will be well, and Uriah let go of her hand. Aliha watched the king gently take the babe from Gideons arms and leave the room with Daphaxian following close behind.

Where are you going, Uriah?! Aliha cried out, but she knew already the answer. He would take her son out through the escape tunnel where he would be safe, while she stayed behind with an unknown fate.

A wave of pain racked her insides and she cried out.

Aliha, Gideon said as she arched her back.

Gideon! What is happening?! Aliha screamed through clenched teeth. It feels like, it feels like!

It is, Aliha! You are! Gideon stammered as he rushed to the foot of the bed. Twins, you will have twins! Now push, you must push, now!

Sounds of battle began to play their way up through the castle and they both knew they had very little time. The queen pushed, this time in urgency. She could hear steel clashing together and cries of men dying below.

They will be here soon, Aliha! Push! PUSH! Gideon roared. Then he turned and rushed to the door, swinging it shut and throwing down the locking bar.

Aliha pushed with all her might, screaming, her lifes blood pouring from her womb. The baby girl was slick as she emerged into the healers hands and he cut her loose from her mother. He quickly put the baby into Alihas arms where she gladly received it with tears of joy streaming down her face.

Lost was Aliha in her babys small face and delicate cry that she took no notice of Gideon as he produced a silver chain and amulet from beneath his soft wool tunic. She stared at the childs tiny delicate features and nothing else seemed to matter. Aliha couldnt hear the sounds of battle outside her door and didnt notice that Gideon was holding the long silver chain and amulet above her. She didnt even care when the room began to spin, and the walls fell away into darkness.

Aliha held her baby girl with joy and didnt mind that she was no longer in her own bed in her elaborate castle chamber, but instead, lying on a soft bed of earth and pine needles. Tall trees replaced the granite walls of Castle Lamourne and a forest stretched out all around her, but Aliha took no notice.

Gideon was there next to her and was exhausted from the use of the magic. He felt older, drained of all but a spark of energy. He clutched the silver chain in a trembling hand and held it over the dead woman. He stared at the crystal in the center of the amulet, wanting to call forth the magic to bring Aliha back to life, but knowing he could not do so. The amulet could do many amazing things, but resurrection was not one of them. It was not uncommon for a woman to die while birthing a child, especially when delivering twins, but Gideon could have saved her if he had had more time.

Suddenly, the infant took in a large gulp of air and Gideon realized the child had died as well, but then was able to come back somehow and fill its tiny lungs with life. The baby coughed a series of short sharp bursts and started to cry. Gideon held her close, standing and walking with the newborn child, trying gently to hush her with the slow rocking of his arms.

It took Gideon much patience to get the baby to calm, and after the child finally fell asleep, Gideon placed her back in the arms of her dead mother and allowed the baby to stay there while he dug a grave that would not be shallow.