The Great Doors of the Wizard Tower opened dramatically as Septimus Heap ran in, breathing heavily. He looked around at the old familiar place. The air of Magyk filled the air as usual and many Wizards bustled about, bewilderedly unaware of Septimus's of nostalgia hit him as he now once again saw his old home. The floor as usual greeted him saying, Welcome Septimus Heap. A smile almost etched itself onto Septimus's face but he knew there was not enough time for him to remiss of days gone by. Hurriedly, he ran to the Spiral Staircase.
"Up, emergency mode!" He said. The staircase soon zipped up and up the 21 floors of the Wizard Tower. As he went higher and higher, Septimus looked out the windows watching the sun's light radiate far in the distance as the snow fell gently onto the streets below. It was beautiful that day, but it only made Septimus frown. If only Jenna was by his side.
Septimus sighed as the staircase finally came to a stop at the top floor: the ExtraOrdinary Wizard's room. Septimus stepped off the staircase and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" A voice rang from inside.
"Tod, it's me." Septimus answered.
Without a moment's hesitation, Tod sprung the door open and looked at her old mentor. She wrapped him in a tight embrace.
"How is Jenna?" She asked, anxiously, letting go of him.
Septimus looked away. "Not good," he said. He quickly entered the room. "I need her now. Is she ok?"
Tod smiled fondly, shutting the door behind her. "She's resting again, now."
Septimus returned the smile and walked further inside. He found a small crib by Tod's desk, wherein lied a small baby, swaddled in clothes. She lay on her back as she should, her chest gently rising up and down with each breath she took. Her skin was pure, her features innocent. Septimus's face beamed as he saw her there. Truly, she was possibly the most beautiful person in the Wizard Tower.
"Hey, sweetie," Septimus said. He bent down and softly wrinkled his fingers through her hair. As he did, memories flashed through his mind.
Wind howled loudly in the air; the trees waved their branches almost like a dance. Septimus heard thunder in the air but did not stop him from running down Wizard Way and straight for the Castle. It was time; the Queen was in labor.
Septimus ignored all the shops and stores that whizzed by him. All he heard was his heavy breathing, all he felt was the pounding of his heart and all he saw was the Palace getting closer and closer. Thunder roared again in the sky as Septimus finally reached the Palace garden. He did not slow down and instead continued to run into the Palace. As always, the entrance room was beautiful and glittering. On normal days, it would've taken Septimus's breath away, but today he needed all the breath he had.
Septimus ran up the stairs. He suddenly stopped, as he heard a woman screaming in pain.
"Jenna," he gasped.
Septimus picked up the pace, hurrying to Jenna's room, where he knew she would be. He finally reached it and shoved them open. The sight shocked him.
The room was big but on that day was filled with people. Nurses and maids surrounded Jenna, who lay sprawled across a chair. Jenna was covered in sweat and her skirt was pushed up, her legs open. Jenna yelped in pain as the baby came ever closer out. Moving around towels, the nurses stayed close, helping Jenna. "It's almost here, your Majesty. It's just a little more!"
Septimus ran over, pushing through the crowd of nurses. They moved apart, allowing the ex-ExtraOrdinary Wizard to get to the Queen. Jenna saw him and extended her hand to Septimus.
"Sep," she gasped. Septimus grabbed her hand as she let out a scream of pain.
Septimus pressed her hand. "You're nearly there! I'm here, Jen. I'm here for you."
Jenna looked at him in pain. "Don't leave me."
Septimus took a sharp breath. "I won't."
Jenna looked at him and let out a scream. The baby was coming.
The midwives stayed close, encouraging her. "Keep pushing, dear. She's almost here!"
Jenna did as she was told, letting out even more screams of pain. She gripped Septimus's hand harder, unclenching and tight. Septimus looked down, noticing how their rings glinted in the light. He held her hand tightly.
And suddenly, Jenna felt a sense of relief as the baby was finally out. The room was soon filled with another set of yells, that of a crying newborn. One of the midwives brought the baby into Jenna's arms. Jenna gaped at the small baby and it's beautiful face. Septimus too gleamed with pride. "She's beautiful," he gasped.
"It's a girl," one of the midwives said. She smiled at Septimus and Jenna. "You two should be very proud."
Jenna looked down at her, realizing what exactly she was holding. But soon she was blown away by the baby's eyes. Tears rolled down Jenna's cheeks.
"I've never seen anything more amazing," she said to Septimus.
Septimus too looked down at the crying baby, gently placing his hand over her soft head. "She's ours." He smiled at Jenna, who continued to hold the baby in her hands.
Soon the baby was transferred to the midwives' hands, with Septimus staying close by. When asked why, he merely said he had a history with midwives, and did not wanting anything happening to his child.
Jenna on the other hand was taken care of by her aids, who told her to rest. Soon the Queen was in her chamber, having showered, and lying on her bed. The air was breezy that night and the sky tranquil over the events of the day. Sarah and Silas had met Jenna early, congratulating her. Beetle too had left a small gift, still unwrapped. It seemed the whole Castle had heard of what happened-as expected.
Jenna's attention was soon caught astray by a small rustling on her bed. She looked up and found a rat staring back at her.
"Hello, your Maj," Stanley told her.
Jenna smiled, happy to see an old friend. "Hello, Stanley. How are you?"
Stanley very wearily sat down on Jenna's stomach. "I'm good, your Maj. Although I cannot speak the same for Dawnie."
Jenna looked at him curiously. "Oh? And why is that?"
Stanley sighed. "It seems she may have run off with again. For whom, I know not." He looked glumly down at Jenna. Then he spoke softly again. "She's carrying our ratlet Queen Jenna."
Jenna perked up on hearing this. "You and Dawnie are having a baby?"
Stanley cracked a small smile. "Yes we are. It's our first one." Stanley sighed deeply as he realized he might never see his unborn child.
Jenna on the other hand quickly realized that Stanley had not even heard the news.
"Stanley," the Queen spoke. "Do you know why I am lying here?"
Stanley cocked his head as he looked at Jenna in a new light. "A good night's rest?" He offered.
Jenna squinted her eyes. "It's 3 in the afternoon, Stanley."
Stanley sat resolute on his answer. "Well rats are different from humans, your Maj."
"Stanley, where have you been the past year?" Jenna asked.
"Your Maj, with all due respect, I truly do not see the connection between you and Dawnie, and quite frankly-"
"My first child was born today, Stanley." Jenna told him face front. Her eyes beamed with pride as she said these words for the first time.
Stanley looked back at her shocked. "How come I was never told of this?"
"Quite frankly," Jenna responded. "I think you've just been too long Stanley." Jenna looked at the little rat with a smile.
The little rat looked back at Jenna with the same amusement. "What is the babe's name, your Majesty?"
"Mattie," Jenna whispered, taking great care with the name, her voice reflecting the love she had for her newborn daughter.
Stanley nodded his head, satisfied with the name. "I don't know what I would name my little ratlet. But I know for sure I would've taken good care of them." He let out another sigh as it dawned on him that he may never see his children again.
Jenna recognized this sadness; she saw it on Sarah's face nearly everyday. Jenna placed her fingers over Stanley's head, allowing him to relax. "Hey. I don't know why Dawnie left you. But I know she's gotta come back." Jenna looked into Stanley's eyes now. "And when she does, you'll make a great father."
Stanley smiled at her. "Thanks, your Maj," he told her.
Suddenly, the door to Jenna's room opened. Septimus walked in where he found Jenna and Stanley. In his arms was Mattie wrapped in clothes. He walked over to them and sat next to Jenna. He showed her the baby, whom Jenna picked up into her arms. Even Stanley now leaned over.
"She's a gem," Stanley said.
"I know," Jenna whispered back, completely transfixed by her child.
Septimus looked at Stanley and Jenna now, and now even little Mattie. He smiled, looking at the world outside their window. The world Mattie would grow in and learn about. The world Mattie would love.
Septimus would remember this moment.
It was indeed a moment that Septimus remembered as he picked up Mattie into his arms at the Wizard Tower with Tod.
"Where are you going?" Asked Tod.
Septimus turned around and looked īn her eye. "We're going to see her mum."
With that Septimus walked out of the door, starting his long trek to the Infirmary.
The snow fell quietly as Septimus and Mattie went over to Jenna. They walked through streets and crossed bridges and eventually made it into the Infirmary where everyone waited.
"Sep?" Sarah said, surprised at her son's return. Silas smiled, having known Septīmus would return.
"Hello, ma." Septimus said, planting a kiss on her cheek. Septimus sat by Jenna's side.
"Jen," he called to her, rustling his hand through her hair. "I'm here, Jen."
Jenna looked up at him. Her face was deathly pale and her pupils so dilated they could hardly be seen. She had bags under eyes and was clearly in need of sleep.
"Hello, Sep," she said, hardly able to talk. She looked down at Mattie and gave her daughter a weak smile. Her eyes were green, she noticed. "Hey, sweetie," she said, reaching out to her soft cheek.
Mattie smiled at seeing her mother, not yet able to talk, much less understand what was going on.
"She's lovely isn't she," Septimus said.
Jenna looked at her child, unresponsive. Soon tears brimmed in her eyes.
"I'll never see her grow up," Jenna whispered. Septimus looked at Jenna, seeing a tear slide down her face. "I'll never see her play with her friends and have children of her own."
"Jen," Septimus said, holding her hand. "You're going to be fine, I promise."
Jenna looked up at him. "I'm going to die, Sep." She whimpered, understanding her ultimate fate.
Septimus looked back at her. "I know." He said sadly. He looked down at Mattie, seeing her soft hair. He took a good look at Mattie before he spoke to Jenna again.
"You may not see her future," he said to her. "But she will never forget your past, Jenna. She will never forget you. The Queen. Her mother."
Tears fell down Jenna's eyes again. "You promise?" She said, nearly crying now.
"I do," Septimus said.
Jenna reached out again for Septimus's hand and she held him tightly. Her hand was cold now, but that did not bother Septimus. Jenna's breathing slowed down. She looked over and out of the corner of her eye saw two rats and a little ratlet watching. Some light returned to Jenna's eyes. Perhaps all had not gone wrong for Stanley.
And as Jenna's breathing became more shallow, and her strength weakened, she took one final look at her daughter. She was beautiful, her brown hair almost up to her neck now. Her cheeks were puffed up like newly born babies would have them. Mattie watched her mother, not realizing this would be the last time they would ever see each other again.
And with that, Jenna finally died.
Her hand fell from Septimus's hold as he let go of her.
The room feel silent as everyone realized what happened. Sarah began to cry on Silas' shoulder.
But no tears formed in Septimus' eyes. He was given a year for this day and he had been prepared. Instead, Septimus looked down at Mattie, her soft angelic face not unsettled by what she had seen.
It was then that Septimus knew the Castle still had hope. With Mattie, there could one day be yet another Queen. Jenna's efforts were not in vain.
And so, that day, nothing burned greater than the Fyre of Love.