Hello everyone!! As usual, I've got a slew of author notes to start you off with. PLEASE READ THEM! They're important for you to know before you read.
NOTE #1: Josef's father was a real person, Friedrich Wilhelm. He was the Duke of the Duchy of Selesia, which was an actual realm in what today would be west Poland, but what was then part of the Germanic empire. This keeps in tune with my impressions of Josef being from Eastern Europe, or East Germany. Friedrich had a sister named Elisabeth Lukretia, who took over the Dukedom when Friedrich died in 1625. Here is where I smudge history a bit. First, I added the name Konstantin to Friedrich's, to make him Josef's father. And I turned Elisabeth from Friedrich's sister, to his daughter. I wanted Josef to have a sibling. And Friedrich's wife, Amalie, is entirely fictional, completely made up.
NOTE #2: As they are living in the German empire, I have posted my dialogue in the Prologue in German. It is modern German however, and the translations are not word for word exact, but are meaning exact. Now, I have no clue how to speak German. I received help from Netelejala who studied German for part of her History degree, and also from Charlie, who speaks German fluently, and graciously read over what Netelejala had written, to make sure everything is correct. So a HUGE thanks to both of them. I believe that after the Prologue I'll be writing most of the dialogue in English, but it was fun to do the Prologue in German.
NOTE #3: This story is AU (another universe). There is, unfortunately, not enough canon background on Josef yet, and so I created this take on what his life could have been like in order to fill that void. Josef is my favorite character. My greatest wish is that the show will continue a long time, and canon will fill in Josef's background, probably contradicting everything I write. If I can fit in new revelations into my plot I will, but if I can't, then I won't. But that's okay, as I said, my story takes place in a AU. However, I always try to remain true to the tone, mood, and characterizations of the canon Moonlight as possible. Hopefully I succeeded!
Disclaimer: Moonlight and all its characters are not my property, but belong to CBS. No profit is being made from this story. It is posted purely for the enjoyment of others to read.
Rating: This story is rated 'R' for violence, language, and sex.
Please forgive typos. Also, I couldn't help myself with the Prologue's title. lol.
Enjoy!
Prologue: It Was A Dark and Stormy Night
He hurried through the streets, trying to avoid the worst of the mud. It was dark and cold. He could see his breath on the air. Night had fallen long ago. The wind was blowing hard, with a few raindrops splattering against the earth. He wrapped his traveling cloak tighter around himself, trying to suppress his annoyance. After all, he really had no choice but to be out in this weather. When the Duke of the realm called for a doctor, you came, or else faced the consequences.
Doctor Vogel ground his teeth in annoyance. Hadn't he told the Duke that another child was inadvisable? Hadn't he said to the Duke that his young wife's body wouldn't be able to cope with another pregnancy? Having a son wasn't this important. But had the Duke listened to him? No. He apparently just couldn't keep himself away from his wife's body, even with all the women available to him. He could have had his pick, and then his wife would not be in this situation.
Poor Amalie. She was only seventeen. Vogel felt sorry for her. She had grown up in the area, the oldest of a large, noble family. She had had practically no childhood. It had been wasted away taking care of her siblings, as her parents squandered away the family's money. Finally, desperate for funds, her parents had arranged her marriage to a much older man. A much older, rich man. And powerful. Friedrich was the Duke, he ruled over the Duchy of Silesia with absolute control. His power almost made up for the fact that he was over forty, while Amalie had been barely thirteen upon their marriage.
Amalie's first child had followed not long afterwards. Vogelhad been with her throughout her pregnancy. He had been worried she wouldn't survive the first birth. So many didn't, and she was still so young. Her body wasn't ready. But against all odds, (and, Vogel liked to think, thanks to his own skills and administrations) she had lived to see her first child. A girl. They had named her Elisabeth…Elisabeth Lukretia Konstantin. The girl had been dark haired, and blue-eyed, taking after her father. Vogel had pronounced her healthy, and have given the Duke his warning about Amalie giving birth again. He could still remember exactly what he had said...
He stepped from the birth room, holding the baby wrapped in a cloth. Friedrich rose from the bench he had been sitting on, waiting anxiously for news. The Duke's face lit up upon seeing the bundle in Vogel's arms.
"Ein Junge?" /A boy?/ Friedrich moved forward excitedly.
"Nein, ein Mädchen." /No, a girl./ He handed the child over to her father. Friedrich's face seemed a little disappointed, but he smiled down at his child.
"Ich bin Ihnen Verbundend Doktor. Amalie…?" /My gratitude, Doctor. Amalie…?/ Friedrich looked into Vogel's face anxiously, concern for his wife clearly shown in his strong features.
"Gott war gnädig, sie ist am leben. Sie soll sich glücklich schätzen und nicht Ihr Glück heraus fordern. Ich hoffe das ich mich klar gemacht habe. Amalia würde eine weitere Geburt nicht überleben. Unter keinen Umständen darf sie ein weiteres Kind gebähren." /She breaths still, but only through fate's grace. She is a very lucky woman. It would be best not to test her luck again. Do you understand? Amalie must not have another child, or she will, in all likelihood, die./
Friedrich nodded, waving his hand dismissingly at Vogel, smiling down into his daughter's face. Vogel sighed. He had done what he could. He packed up his knives and left.
Now here he was, four years later, again hurrying to the aid of that poor girl. He didn't have much hope. The pageboy's face had been wide-eyed, with a combination of fear and excitement in his expression. From that, Vogel knew the birthing was not going smoothly. He had been woken fifteen minutes ago, by the boy pounding on his door, calling for a doctor. Now he hurried along as best he could. The boy had run back to the castle ahead of him, to inform the household that Vogel was coming.
Rounding the corner of the church in the square, the Duke's castle finally came into view. It was the largest, most fortified building in the area. The castle sat on the peak of a hill, boarded on one side by a wide river, and surrounded by a solid wall of thick sandstone, designed to withstand enemy bombardments. A large stone watchtower was the main feature of the castle. It soared above the battlements, giving anyone looking out through its windows a view that stretched for miles.
The Duke was extremely powerful—the most powerful man in the area, and ruler over the Duchy. Vogel hurried up the main street of the town. He could barely make out a dim candlelight shinning from one of the upstairs castle windows.
As he hastened up the road to the castle, he forgot to watch his footing and tripped over a loose cobblestone. Unable to recover his balance, he fell into the mud that lined the street, catching himself on his knees and hands.
"Verflixt noch mal," /Damn/ he muttered under his breath. He stood up, wiping his hands on his cloak, and checked to make sure he had not lost any of his knives in the fall. They were all still there, tucked safely away in their worn leather wrap. He continued his quick pace to the castle.
His knocking on the door was answered by a maidservant. She curtsied to him, and quickly let him inside. He entered the great hall. It was more lavish on the inside than its rough appearance on the outside. Draperies and old tapestries hung on the walls, and at the far end was a huge fireplace, a brilliant fire roaring away in it. Over the mantelpiece was a portrait of the Duke.
Keeping her eyes downcast to show respect, the servant-girl helped him from his traveling cloak. "Ich werde diese fuer Sie trocknen" /I will dry this for you./
"Danke. Wo ist der Patient?" /Good. Where is the patient?/
"Herr Doktor, wenn Sie mir bitte folgen würden." /This way, Doctor. I will take you to her./ The maidservant curtsied again. She led him through the main hall and upstairs, to the same room used from before. Vogel was overcome with the strongest feeling of déjà vu. There was the Duke Konstantin, sitting anxiously on the bench in the hallway, the candlelight low and flickering as last time. Everything was the same, except this time a little girl was clutching at the Duke's legs, her eyes wide and scared as her father absentmindedly patted her on the head. And it was quiet. There were no screams, no cries of a mother giving birth from the bedroom.
Doctor Vogel hurried over to the Duke, "Seit wann ist der Raum still?" /How long has it been quiet in there?/
The Duke's eyes were filled with worry, " Ungefähr seit den letzten zehn Minuten" /About ten minutes./
Vogel's heart sank. He knew he was too late. Still, he entered the room to see if he could do anything.
The stench of blood hit his senses first. The room reeked of it. Vogel looked at the bed, trying not to gag. A maidservant was huddled near the foot, trying to mop up blood that had soaked through the sheets and onto the floor, staining the wood a dark red. Amalie lay in the bed. She was ashen and still. Her golden-blonde hair streamed out around her face, making her appear angelic, as though she were wearing a halo. She was dead. Vogel looked around for the baby. He didn't see it.
"Wo ist das Kind?" /Where is the child?/
The maidservant looked confused, then pointed to Amalie.
"Was?! Du hast das Kind nicht entbunden? Dummes Mädchen, geh zur Seite!" /What?! You did not get the child out? Move aside stupid girl!/ Vogel hastened to Amalie's side, and lifted her dress. Her abdomen was large, swollen, and discolored. The child was still inside her. But Vogel knew there was a chance he could save it.
He felt at her belly. The child's head was near the top. Vogel knew that was wrong, the head was supposed to be the other way. Well, it didn't matter now. All that mattered was saving the child.
Vogel drew out his leather wrapping. Unfolding it, he selected one of the knives. Then, placing his bare hand against Amalie's belly, he cut into the womb.
He set the knife aside, and pulled back the skin. Blood was smeared all over his hands. But through the body fat and womb lining he could see the child. There's its shoulder. He reached further in and pulled the child out. It was a boy. And he wasn't breathing. The baby's face had started to turn purple.
Vogel held him upside down and swatted his back. No response. He swatted again. Still nothing. But on his third swat he was rewarded with the sounds of coughing, and then the room was filled with the screams and wails of a crying infant.
Picking up his knife again, he cut the cord. Then he snatched a towel from the wide-eyed maidservant and cleaned the baby off a little, before handing the infant to the girl for her to finish. Tenderly, she wiped him down, and then tucked him into a clean cloth. The baby was still wailing. Vogel wiped off his knife on his shirt, and returned it to his leather pouch.
He took the newborn from the girl's arms, preparing to present it to the father.
The girl whispered, eyes to the floor, "Meine Herren. Gnädige Frau bat bevor sie starb, das sollte es ein Junge sein, das es Josef getauft warden sollte." /Doctor. Madam said before she died…if it's a boy, to name him Josef./
Vogel nodded, "Ich werde den Wunsch weiter geben. Raüme den Raum auf und bereite den Leichnam für die Beerdigung for." /I'll see to it. Clean up this room, and prepare the body for burial./ He left the birth and now death room.
Again déjà vu overwhelmed him as he stepped into the hallway. Friedrich rose anxiously from the bench, just as he had four years ago. The Duke moved forward.
"Ein Junge?" /A boy?/ Just as four years ago.
This time Vogel nodded, "Ja. Ein Junge." /Yes. A boy./
Friedrich clapped his hands with delight, and took the baby from Vogel's arms. He tickled the baby underneath his chin, causing him to gurgle. "Ein Erbe letztendlich!" /An heir at last!/ He looked back up at Vogel, "Und meine Frau? Meine Amalie…?" /And my wife? My Amalie…?/
Vogel shook his head, "Sie hat nicht bis die Geburt geleben. Sie hat ausgeblutet. Entschuldigung." /She did not live through the birth. She bled to death. I'm sorry./
Friedrich's looked at him, full of disbelief. "Tot? Nein…Nein…" /Dead? No…no…/
"Mein beileid, Mein Herr. Bevor Gnädige Frau starb, bat sie das Kind Josef zu taufen." /I'm sorry, your grace. Before she died, your wife named the child Josef./
"Josef…" Friedrich looked down at the baby, and then back at the Doctor, "Ein gutter Name, richtig?" /A good name, no?/
"Ein sehr gutter Name. Es tut mir Leid, dass ich nichts für Ihre Frau tün konnte." /A very good name. I am sorry. I could do nothing for your wife./
Friedrich wasn't listening to him, he was looking down at his child, "Er sieht aus wie sie. Seine Haare, seine Augen, sind gleich" /He looks like her. His hair, his eyes, they are the same./
"Seine Haarfarbe könnte sich mit Alter ändern." /His hair can change color with age./
"Das wird ihm nicht passieren. Er wird seines Leben blond sein, wie seine Mutter. Wie meine Amalia." /It will not happen with him. I know. He'll be fair all of his life. Like his mother. Like my Amalie./ Friedrich wiped away a tear.
Elisabeth was tugging on her father's pants, not liking being ignored for so long. "Vatie, Vatie, will auch sehen" /Dada! Dada! Wanna see!/
Friedrich smiled sadly down at her, "Alles für meine Tochter." /Anything for my daughter./ He kneeled carefully on the floor, and showed Elisabeth her new little brother. "Elisabeth, darf ich Dir deinen Bruder Josef vorstellen… Josef Gabriel Konstantin." /Elisabeth, meet your brother, Josef…Josef Gabriel Konstantin./
Vogel left quietly. He wasn't needed anymore. Downstairs in the manor's great hall, he took his now dry cloak from the servant-girl, and returned once more to the nasty weather outside. This time though, he had a warm bed to look forward to at the end of his journey, not a dead woman.
So it was that in the year of our Lord 1599, Josef Konstantin entered the world, born from a dead womb.
Finis
I beg for reviews--Please let me know if you liked it or not!