Okay, new story! I've been wanting to start posting this for a while. This story takes place in a medieval Oz. The combination of medieval lessons in college and watching a lot of documentaries, TV shows, and movies about that era inspired this story. Hope you all enjoy it!
The Vinkus: April Year 1142
Queen Amalie Lavinia Tigulaar of the Vinkus watched with a smile as a light, spring breeze blew past her face and made her wavy, light brown hair dance as she looked out her window. She picked up the sound of horses and soon, her eyes confirmed what her ears told her and caught the image of two prancing horses in the distance. A light sigh escaped her lips, for her husband had returned home.
"Your Majesty."
She turned towards the familiar voice. "Melena," she said softly, approaching her lady's maid. "You should be resting."
"Yes, my queen, but I have come to inform you that the king has returned," the young woman said with a slight curtsy.
The Vinkun queen smiled. "Yes, I saw. As did your husband."
The lady's maid smiled, then gasped softly as her hand flew to her bulging abdomen. "Oh!"
The queen approached her young attendant and gently took her arm. "I will go greet my husband. You will go back to your chambers and lie down."
"Yes, my queen," Melena said, allowing the queen to help her back to her room.
After making sure Melena was in bed, the queen hurried down to the courtyard, just as her husband was riding in. She smiled and lifted her skirts as she descended the steps.
"My king," she smiled as her husband dismounted his horse and approached her.
"My beautiful queen," the king, Raal, smiled as he softly kissing his wife. "How I've missed you."
"And I you," the queen smiled, resting her head against her husband's chest. A moment later, she gently pulled away and looked at her husband's accompanier. "Lord Frexspar."
"Your Majesty," a young man, advisor to the king, bowed, handing his horse's reins to the stable boy. A stray strand of his shoulder-length black hair had escaped from his low ponytail and he brushed it out of his face.
"Your wife is resting in her chambers. She is expecting you."
The man nodded. "With your leave, Your Majesties."
The king nodded and watched as the advisor hurried into the castle. "And how is the fair maiden?" the king asked, walking with his wife back into the castle.
"Very well. She is due any day now."
The king nodded. "And how are you?"
"Well enough."
Frexspar hurried up the castle stairs to his wife's private room. He knocked on the door and heard a soft "Enter" before he pushed the door open.
Melena was sitting by the window, humming softly to herself as she tangled her fingers in her long, wavy auburn locks. She turned and smiled at the sight of her husband. "Frexspar!"
The young man smiled and, closing the door behind him, approached and gently embraced his wife. "Oh, Melena. How I've missed you," he said, softly running his fingers through his wife's long, wavy, dark brown hair.
"I've missed you, too," the young woman said, sighing peacefully.
"The queen said you were resting."
"I was, but…" Melena trailed off, glancing down at her stomach.
Frexspar smiled as he knelt down, leveling his face to his wife's stomach, and placed a gentle kiss against her pregnancy bump. The baby responded with a soft kick and he laughed softly. "I see you have been keeping Mother company."
Another kick.
"Frexspar, I beg you, please stop egging him on," Melena said with a soft chuckle.
"Him?" Frexspar questioned as he rose to his full height.
Melena nodded as she placed a hand against her abdomen. "Yes. Him. I'm positive."
Frexspar laughed. "Does he have a name?"
Melena smiled. "I do not know yet."
A knock at the door interrupted the two. "Pardon me, my lord, but your presence is requested in the throne room," a male voice said from the other side.
"I must go," Frexspar said, softly kissing his wife.
Melena nodded and watched her husband go, closing the door behind him. Sighing, she slowly lowered herself onto the bed. "Enter," she called when someone knocked on her door a few moments later.
The door opened and a maid appeared. "My Lady Melena," she said with a curtsy. "Her Majesty has requested that you receive these extra pillows and blankets."
Melena smiled. She really didn't like all the fuss around her, but knew she couldn't refuse the queen's generous offer. "Thank you. You can put them on the –" She stopped short, her hand flying to her abdomen.
"My lady?" the maid asked, concerned. "Are you alright?"
"I…" Melena closed her eyes, feeling a warm liquid sliding down her legs. She knew exactly what was going on. "I'm fine."
"My lady, are you…?"
Melena nodded, rubbing her stomach. "Yes. But please, there's no need to –" She was cut off by a sharp pain and slid off the bed.
"My lady!" the maid gasped, running to Melena's side.
Melena opened her mouth to protest, but all that came out was a groan. She tried to push herself up, but to no avail. The maid helped her to her feet and helped her sit down on her bed.
"I shall go fetch Lord Frexspar," the maid said with a quick curtsy as she hurried out of the room.
The maid hurried down the steps and through the long corridors to the throne room. She paused for a moment to catch her breath before knocking on the doors.
"Enter!" she heard the king call.
The maid opened the door and slipped inside, approaching the monarchs and Frexspar before curtsying. "Pardon me, Your Majesties, Lord Frexspar."
"Yes?" the king asked, wondering the reason for the interruption.
"Lady Melena has gone into labor," the maid reported.
The queen gasped softly. Frex's eyes widened slightly. The king looked shocked.
"Is she alright?" the queen asked.
"She appears to be in pain, Your Majesty," the maid answered. "Something could be wrong."
"Go attend to your wife, Lord Frexspar," the king said, nodding his head to leave.
"I will accompany you," the queen said, leaving no room for argument.
Frexspar nodded and bowed to the king before hurrying out of the throne room, the queen closely behind him. They soon reached Melena's room and Frexspar practically threw the door open. He was greeted with the sight of Melena on her knees on the floor, sweat covering her forehead as she panted and groaned, her hand pressed tightly against her abdomen.
"Melena!" Frexspar gasped, hurrying to his wife's side.
"Frexspar," Melena groaned, then let out a cry of pain. "Something… something's wrong."
"Help her onto the bed," the queen instructed.
Frexspar helped his wife up and into the bed. It was then that he noticed the blood on her dress. "Sweet Oz…"
The queen instructed a passing servant to quickly summon the midwife. She turned back to her lady's maid, a look of worry on her face. She had a feeling what was going on, but didn't want to voice it, for fear that she would scare the young woman.
"Frexspar," Melena whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I'm right here, my sweet Melena," Frexspar whispered, kissing her forehead.
"The… the baby…"
"Will be fine," the royal advisor said in an attempt to calm his wife down.
Soon, the midwife appeared and immediately went to work examining Melena. Once she finished, she announced that the baby was breached.
"What?" Melena asked, trying to shift her position, but to no avail.
"The baby is not prepared for birth. If we cannot get it to turn within the next few contractions, the result… won't be ideal," the midwife said gently.
"What can be done?"
"All we can do is hope and wait. My deepest apologies, Lady Melena," the midwife said with a slight curtsy before leaving to report to Frexspar and the monarchs.
The queen had gone when the midwife started her examination, leaving Melena alone to her thoughts. She looked down at her rounded stomach and sighed. With great effort, she shifted to her left side, her back facing the door and sighed, too tired to stay awake, but in too much pain to sleep.
"Melena."
Melena recognized the voice and pushed herself up with great effort. "My queen."
"Stay down. Please," the queen said, approaching Melena and gently pushing her back down.
Melena moaned, but allowed the queen to help her.
"Would you like some water?"
"No, thank you, my queen."
"Are you in pain?"
"Not as of right now, my queen."
The two women fell into silence before Melena had a very painful contraction. She tried to avoid crying out in front of the monarch, but the pain was too much. The kind queen was very understanding and gracious to her lady's maid. She took a cloth and dipped it in a bowl of cold water that was left on the nightstand. She gently began to wipe Melena's forehead with it, causing the pregnant woman to sigh in comfort.
"Is this better?" the queen asked, smiling softly.
Melena smiled softly and nodded, rest coming to her a bit more easily.
The lady's maid was in labor for seven long hours. The baby had fortunately turned into the correct position, resulting in a slightly easier birth for Melena. Frexspar stayed awake all night, watching his wife as she slept in between her contractions. The midwife was called back and soon, it was time for Melena to push.
Frex waited outside the chamber, wanting to be inside to comfort his wife, but knew it wasn't his place to witness his wife giving birth. He paced outside, only able to listen to his wife's screams and the midwife's orders to push. Finally, he couldn't listen to her painful screams any longer and went to his office.
"The baby's coming!" he heard her say. "I see a nose… and a curl… one more push, Lady Melena!"
Melena groaned and with one final push, gave birth.
"Congratulations, Lady Melena! You are now the mother of a happy, perfect, lovely, little –" the midwife stopped short and gasped.
"What?" Melena asked breathlessly. "What is it? What's wrong?"
The midwife cut the umbilical cord and went to work cleaning the child. Maybe it was just a trick of the light. It was very dark outside, with the moon being the sole provider of light. There was no way in Oz that the baby…
"What is it?" Melena repeated, more hysterically this time.
"It's a girl," the midwife said as she wrapped the crying baby in a blanket. "But…"
"What's wrong?" Melena asked, then saw the baby. "No…"
The midwife tried to hand the baby to Melena, but the woman turned away. "Lady Melena…"
"Take it away," she whispered harshly.
"Shall I go fetch Lord Frexspar?"
Melena didn't answer.
The midwife gently laid the swaddled baby on the desk and went to search for the king's advisor. She found him in his office, reading by a candle. "Lord Frexspar?"
Frexspar turned. "How is Melena?"
"You have a daughter."
Frexspar smiled and let out a relieved laugh. "A daughter?"
The midwife nodded. "But my lord, I believe there is something you should see."
Frexspar's smile immediately vanished. "What is it?"
The midwife motioned for him to follow her and she led him back to the chamber. She immediately went into the room and picked up the baby. "The baby…"
Frexspar stepped closer and gasped. The baby had small ringlets of black hair, a small nose, and soft lips. But unfortunately, Frexspar didn't notice any of that. All he noticed was that the baby had emerald green skin.
"What does this mean?" he demanded.
"Here is your daughter," the midwife said, trying to hand the bundle to him.
Frexspar immediately stepped back. "Get that thing away from me!"
"But, my lord…"
"Take that disgusting thing away!"
"What is going on in here?"
Frexspar turned and immediately bowed, seeing the king and queen. "Your Majesties."
The queen immediately went over to Melena and gently took her hand. "Are you alright? Where is the baby?"
"Here, Your Majesty," the midwife said softly, still holding the bundle.
"Don't look at it, my queen," Frexspar warned.
The queen slowly stood and approached the midwife. One look at the child and she gasped.
"It's cursed," Frexspar whispered in despair.
The king turned away in disgust. He didn't say anything, knowing how fragile Melena was at the moment, but everyone in the room was thinking the same thing.
Everyone but one person.
The queen looked at the baby in the midwife's arms. She was peacefully asleep, though she knew she would wake soon, wanting to be fed. "Give her to me," the queen said to the midwife.
"Amalie, do not touch it!" the king exclaimed, turning around to face his wife.
"Raal," the queen whispered. "She is just a baby."
"It's a monster!"
Melena sobbed quietly and the queen frowned at her husband.
"It's a sin," Frex said venomously, glaring at the nameless infant. "It's unnatural! It's hideous!"
"Give her to me," the queen repeated, holding out her arms for the baby.
The midwife hesitated, but gently handed the bundle over to the queen. Amalie looked down at the sleeping infant, who soon began to fuss, wanting to be fed.
"Melena," the queen whispered, knowing she wouldn't be able to comfort the child. "Your daughter is hungry."
"I don't want it," Melena whispered.
"Melena –"
"Please… just get rid of it."
"Your child –"
"That… that thing is not my child!"
The infant's fussing soon turned into wailing. The queen tried her best to comfort her, but knew she wouldn't be able to. The only thing that would calm the infant was breast milk.
"What should we do about this?" Frexspar asked, running his hand through his hair.
"I do not believe there is much we can do about this," the king said. "The Unnamed God's Good Book clearly states that all life is precious, especially the life of children."
"Is there anything physically wrong with the child?" the queen asked, turning to the midwife.
"No, Your Majesty. The child, though oddly colored, is perfectly healthy," the midwife replied with a slight curtsy.
"You have until tomorrow to decide what you will do with the child," the king said to Melena and Frexspar.
"What will happen after that?" the queen asked, looking at her husband.
"We will do what we must. If the nunnery will take her, she will go there. If not, she will become a ward of the orphanage."
Melena was silent, and Frex considered the idea before nodding.
"Then so be it," the king nodded.
The adults all exchanged looks. The newborn began to fuss again, still not getting the food her little body was craving. Melena looked at the bundle before slowly reaching out her arms. The queen smiled and gently handed over the bundle. As soon as Melena held her newborn, her feelings of hate seemed to slowly start to vanish. She gently ran her fingers over her soft cheek and a single tear slid down her cheek. The king and queen left the room. Frex glanced over at his wife once more before following the king and queen out.
After the midwife gave Melena a quick breastfeeding lesson, the baby was nursing peacefully. As she finished, the young woman burped her daughter and looked down at her as she fell back asleep. Other than her skin oddity, she seemed to be a normal newborn. True, she was different, but she supposed raising her wouldn't too much of a burden.
It was then that she realized she hadn't named her child yet. "Elphaba," she whispered. The baby briefly opened her eyes and Melena could have sworn the newborn smiled at her, even though she knew it was impossible. "Yes, I believe Elphaba is a very suitable name for you."