Calia gave a worried look past the woman's swollen belly to her exhausted face. She knew this baby would be born soon and prayed that he would not succumb to the same fate that took her last three deliveries.

"Push, my lady. Your baby is almost here," she pleaded.

"No! No! Please do not make me push anymore!" was the anxious reply. It was a response Calia had heard many times before, but she knew that there was no turning back now and the woman must birth her baby…and quickly.

"Yes. Just one more and he will be here, I promise!" and with an almighty scream from the woman, Calia expertly maneuvered the baby's head out, the rest of the body following with a slippery whoosh. Silently Calia prayed for the baby to cry. 'Please. I would do anything…just make this baby live!' But there was only silence. Calia took the baby to the other end of the small shack and used every magical spell she knew to bring the child to life, all while avoiding to arouse the suspicion of the new parents. With magic being banned in Camelot on pain of death, she needed to be especially careful of using her gifts where others might see. But there was no saving this baby. The curse had struck again.

The mother begged, "Why is he not crying, Calia? Tell me what is wrong!"

With tears prickling at her eyes, Calia gave the response she dreaded more than all others. "I am sorry, my lady. He is stillborn."

The sound of the mother's screams could be heard in Merlin's dreams, and he awoke with a start.