Solace

Chapter I

Two Weeks before the events of Dracula Untold

"My Lady, you need to start pushing!" the young handmaiden exclaimed. Princess Mirena, the wife of Prince Vlad was giving birth to their second child.

"That is very good, My Lady. One more push and the child will be here." the young handmaiden said to the princess. Mirena pushed with all the strength she had left. The final push echoed throughout the castle, which was followed by the soft crying of an infant.

The princess looked up and saw her handmaiden cleaning her new born baby. "What is it?" Mirena asked with shortened breath.

The handmaiden smiled down at the infant and then, at her princess and answered "It is a girl, My Lady." She handed Mirena her infant daughter. Mirena smiled down at her baby girl. Then, she started to laugh and cry.

"My very own little princess." Mirena said to herself, stroking her baby's cheek.

"Excuse me, My Lady. Would you like me to retrieve your husband?" asked the handmaiden sitting next to Mirena. She secretly was sniping a piece of Mirena's hair off.

"Oh…yes, please.' Mirena answered being snapped out of the trance that was her beautiful daughter.

"Is mother going to be alright?" the young Ingeras asked his father. Vlad looks down at his son and smiles.

"Your mother is just fine." Vlad said convincing not just his son but himself that nothing was wrong. In the back of Vlad's mind, he was worried for his beloved wife. One year ago, Mirena had given birth to a stillborn baby boy.

Mirena had been in a depression till she had found out she was pregnant again nine months ago. When she had told him that she was with child, Vlad had been happy for her. Mirena had returned to her normal self. The last few months, Vlad had seen a glimmer of happiest in Mirena he had never seen in her before.

Then, the last twenty-fours had become Vlad's personal hell. The screams of his wife were the worst screams Vlad had ever heard. When, Vlad could not take it anymore, a small cry was heard through the castle. Vlad smiled and thanked god quietly to himself. Still, no one had come in to inform him on how his wife and new child were doing. What if something happened to his child? Or worse what if something happened to his beloved Mirena?

"Father?" Ingeras, Vlad's son asked him.

"Yes, Ingeras." Vlad answered smiling down at his son.

"Do you think the baby is a boy or a girl?" he asked his father.

Vlad chuckled and said "As long as the baby is healthy, that is all that matters to me." Hiding his worry from his son. Just than one of Mirena's handmaidens knocked on the door.

Vlad looked at the handmaiden and asked "How is my wife?"

The handmaiden smiled and answered the prince "The princess is fine, my prince."

Vlad sighed in relief than asked "And the baby?"

She answered, again "A healthy beautiful baby girl, my prince."

"I have a sister." Ingeras said to his father in excitement.

"We have our very own little princess" Vlad told his son.

"May I go see my wife?" Vlad asked the handmaiden.

"Yes, you may, my prince." the handmaiden answered.

"Can I come?" asked Ingeras.

Vlad turned to his son and said "Why don't you try to get some sleep? You can meet your baby sister tomorrow, alright?"

"Alright?" Ingeras said and lied down in his bed. Vlad kissed his son on the forehead and wished him a goodnight.

"Stay with him until he falls asleep." Vlad told the handmaiden.

"As you wish, my prince." the handmaiden replied

"Mirena" Vlad called his beloved wife in their room. Mirena looked up from her baby girl to see Vlad standing in the doorway.

"Vlad." Mirena said softly smiling at her beloved husband. Vlad walked over to the bed and kissed his wife.

He looked at his wife and asked "How are you?" Mirena smiled and stroked her husband's cheek.

"I am perfectly fine. Would you like to hold your daughter?" Mirena asked

Vlad smiled at Mirena and then, looked at the bundle in her arms. "Of course." Vlad answered. Mirena handed the baby over to Vlad. She watched Vlad's face as he looked upon his daughter for the first time.

"What should we name her?" Vlad asked

Mirena smiled and answered "I was thinking…Elena, after your mother." Vlad smiled and kissed his wife, again.

"How about Elena Mirena?" Vlad asked his wife

Mirena looked at her husband and asked "My name? Why my name?"

Vlad looked at his daughter and explained "So, she can have a part of her grandmother and her mother with her always." Mirena looked at her daughter in Vlad arms.

"Elena Mirena. Elena Mirena. I like it." Mirena said smiling at her husband in approval.

Mirena's handmaiden had stayed in Ingeras like Prince Vlad had asked her. Ingeras had fallen to sleep a couple minute after his father left. The handmaiden checked to make sure the young boy was sleep. After, checking the handmaiden went over to the fire place and threw a piece of Mirena's hair that she had cut off earlier and a blood stained piece of silk into the fire. Then, the fire began to spark three times.

Deep in the woods near the castle. There is a small cabin. Inside lies an ancient powerful witch, named Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga watches her fire spark three times. She smiles wickedly and starts to laugh.

"So, she is finally here. The White Witch has been born into this world, again." She says laughing watching the fire continue to spark more and more.