The Spider's Web of an Unknown Future

Chapter 1

The Year: 1505

The Country: Kingdom of Oceania, England

The Place: The royal palace of King Maxamillion and his wife, Queen Julia Valiant.

King Maxamillion and Queen Julia of the Kingdom of Oceania lived a quiet, peaceful life. They already had two young children: a five year old daughter: Princess Elizabeth Anne Valiant and a four year old son: Prince Nikolas Donovan Valiant. But now the Queen found herself unknowingly expecting a new addition into the Valiant household.

She had thought herself done with the childbearing. As the queen and a woman in today's society, that was the main function of her responsibilities: to give their husband an heir and legacy. It was extremely bias and racist, but she'd rather not get her headcut off for not respecting the world's terms.

The baby was a complete surprise either way. She had been fine, had no clue that she was carrying another child. There was no morning sickness, no nausea, she was a bit dizzy a couple times, but then again that sun was hot. But then it happened.

She was in the middle of court, at her husband's side, as she felt a pain in her stomach. She knelt over in surprise and slight pain. The king noticed this and bent over Julia as she promptly fainted in his arms.

She woke again in their bedroom, the royal doctor in the room. He was relatively surprised to find him there, as she had no memory of what happened. He just smiled down at her and explained what happened.

Her child had kicked. It was obviously a very strong child, even at that unborn age, four months to be exact. This was news to her and she didn't know if her body could take one more birth, but she carried it.

The news spread quickly, bets went all around, on what it was, a boy or a girl? But with the strong kick that made the queen faint, everyone but the select few put their money on it being another son. Girls didn't have that kind of strength, everyone believed. It was safe to say four months later that a lot of people went broke thanks to it.

Yes, the child was early; a month early and with the shortening of time, came trouble. The Queen had extreme difficulty this birth. Their new edition seemed just a little too impatient or a bit too eager to make their presence known.

The king paced the hallways outside the room where he could hear Julia's scream of anguish and pain clearly. How he wished to be in there, but in today's times, the male wasn't there when your wife was giving birth. She was far from alone in this, plenty of people were with her, the midwife, and some servants on hand, but he still wanted to be the ones coaxing Julia to push and be the one to scream at.

He could almost imagine himself saying: "Come on Julia. You can do it my Queen. It's almost over, and you're almost done. Our baby is almost here. Just keep pushing." But he didn't. He was out here, waiting.

Paige, the wet nurse and the other children's nanny was also in there. Inside she was trying to encourage her queen. "I see the baby's head. Just one more push, your Highness. There!" She said, as the wailing of a child could be heard.

A young servant girl took the baby and cleaned off the blood, wrapping it in a blanket. The baby still screamed, but stopped as she as placed in her mother's arms. She cooed to her child to calm down and held them to her breast.

Paige went to Julia's side. "Julia, is it another son?" She asked her and the queen just laughed weakly.

"Of course not." Julia replied, pulling back the blankets. "It's no prince, but a princess." She said happily.

"Congratulations your Majesty! You have a beautiful baby girl. The new Princess of Oceania has arrived!" The midwife reported outside. The king came in almost automatically.

"Julia, my dear did you hear that? A daughter! What should we name her?" The King asked his wife, too happy to see that she had been right. She couldn't handle another birth.

"Sir, my dear King Max…" Julia said, slowly fading.

"Julia?" No answer, as Julia's eyes fell closed, maybe for the last time. "Julia what's wrong?" He still received no answer, so he turned to Paige and the midwife. "What's wrong with my wife?" He demanded, temporarily forgetting about the child which screamed again as his tone rose.

"You're Highness? You're Highness! She's losing consciousness Sir." Paige said as she took the new baby girl from Julia again to another nurse nearby who tried calming her down with no success. Even the child knew what was happening, the first one of all of them.

"Max?" Julia whispered, slightly opening her eyes.

"Julia…what is it?" The King went to her side again in a flash.

"Name her…name her Emily Clarice Valiant. Tell the children that I love them. Tell them... I love you…" Julia said barley audible as her eyes closed, her breathing became increasingly shallow.

Those words that her husband held so dearly to his heart were the last words he'd ever hear his wife speak again.

With tears in her eyes and thick emotion in her voice Paige quietly spoke up.

"Your Majesty? Would, would you like to hold your youngest daughter? Would you like to hold the Princess?" She asked him, now taking the still screaming child.

Without speaking, King Maxamillion took the newborn from the nanny's arms.

"Emily Clarice Valiant." The King said with a watery smile.

The baby looked up at her father, magically calm again, cooing instantly, seeing her daddy. She smiled at him and raised her little arms in excitement. Max put a finger to where one of them reached and already his youngest, strongest daughter had her hand wrapped around his finger.

"So much like your Mommy. Don't worry. I'll teach you all about her. She's right, and although she barely saw you, you are as bright as a lit chandelier. An absolute joy." The king told her as she closed her eyes and let sleep overcome her in her father's arms

Unbeknownst and unheard by the King too stuck in his study of his infant daughter, his eldest child Princess Elizabeth saw the last moments of her mother's life.

"You took Mommy away from our family. Away from Daddy, and away from me. And I will never let you forget it." The tear streaked face of the young girl vowed quietly to herself.