The Chapter of Tears and Switches (3)
It was a sunny morning in the early winter. Chilly, but comfortable if the queen put a sweater over the top of her dress. Georgiana hated being cooped up within the castle on such a splendid day, so she had the servant send a note to her best friend, Cecily, asking if she would want to go on a walk.
An hour later, her servant returned, informing Georgiana that Cecily would like to meet her in front of the bakery.
Cecily was an exemplary friend to Georgiana. She suggested going to the bakery because she knew that since her pregnancy she had grown a particular liking to blueberry scones and chilled tea, things in which before she was with child, she wasn't so fond of.
Georgiana met Cecily in front of the bakery where the stout baker, Caspar, had seemed to be expecting them. "Ah, what a pleasure it is to have two of the prettiest ladies happen about my modest bakery".
"Oh, Caspar! You know I couldn't walk past your shop without coming in! Your treats are such a delight. The scent nearly grabs me by the hand and pulls me in here!" Queen Georgiana complimented.
The baker blushed, led them to a powder blue table with a pair of quaint chairs and poured them iced water. They barely glanced at the menu, quickly giving their orders and then Caspar made his way to the counter to get working.
Cecily was a designer of clothing, houses, and basically anything that could possibly be designed. Her work was so beautiful that queens and kings from other towns often visited to have things created by her. She also had been helping compose some of Dean's baby clothes. But mostly she was Georgiana's best friend and confidant. If Georgiana had any secrets to spill, Cecily is whom she disclosed them to.
"So," Cecily began, "guess who I just got an order for a baby basket from?"
Georgiana laughed, "My mother? I tell you, that woman has at least ordered ten baby baskets! That isn't even including the baskets she has attempted to make herself!"
"Nope. Mr. Ivan Livindl".
Georgiana gasped. "Oh nonsense! You know my brother-in-law wouldn't dare send a baby basket to Sam and me. We rarely even speak! It must be for someone else".
"Well, to tell you my dearest thoughts, Georgie, the basket was dreadfully simple, white wood with a blue silk ribbon. It must be for you!"
The ladies laughed together again. It was no secret that King Samuel didn't get along with his brother, Ivan.
Right when the two women were about to dredge irretrievably into conversation, Caspar appeared with their food.
They thanked him, paid, and then left the bakery to eat as they strolled luxuriously outside.
They were just getting around to how Cecily's oldest son, Nathan, would be starting school the coming term when Georgiana felt a rush of water between her legs.
She looked at Cecily with wide eyes. Cecily, already having a child, knew exactly what had just happened.
"It's happening! Dean's coming!"
Cecily called for a cart to push Georgiana to Pepe and kissed her on the cheek as the fumbling boys buckled her in and were about to leave for the apothecary.
"You will be fine Georgiana! I can hardly wait to meet him!" Georgiana waved while a unique combination of fear and excitement coloring her face.
#
The men rushed so that Georgiana arrived at the apothecary's quickly. It was a tiny wooden house with two windows, a strong straw roof, and there was a large, overflowing herb garden that wrapped around the entire place.
The gentlemen were gingerly helping Georgiana onto the birthing table when Pepe descended the stairs, evidently startled at their sudden appearance.
He looked extremely tired and haggard. His measly pieces of hair were greasy, his clothes did not match and he had dark circles under his eyes, making it appear as though he hadn't slept in ages.
Luckily, the woman who had assisted Pepe the last time was there and she instantly took charge. First, she thanked the men for bringing Georgiana and asked them to alert Samuel and her mother of the coming baby, hurrying them out the door. Then, she retrieved a cool rag and placed it upon Georgiana's forehead and smoothed back her hair to comfort her.
The assistant, whose name was Dinah, had seen many births and knew that even the easiest ones were far from painless.
Pepe finally came out of his haze and began to help. He got all of his delivery tools in order and was giving Dinah directions. Even though Dinah knew what she needed to do he told her anyway to distract himself from his recent panic attack. Once everything was in order, they began to await the arrival of Dean.
#
After twelve and a half hours of pain and pushing, Georgiana heard a crying baby from the bottom of her bed.
Dinah never left her side, squeezing her hand and muttering her assurances throughout her entire delivery. Georgiana would be forever thankful to this woman, for she had been so gentle and caring during the most important time of her life.
"No! No, no, no, no, no! It cannot be. Queen, you must wait," Pepe squealed.
Georgiana was so sleepy she hardly knew what he was saying. She barely managed to ask, "What?"
Pepe wrapped the baby completely in a small blanket and was holding him tightly. All that Georgiana could see of her baby boy was his tiny little toes peeking out of the blanket. Fury boiled every surface of her skin. She had waited much too long to have anything delay her from meeting Dean.
Pepe whispered something to Dinah and she started crying.
"As your queen, I order you to tell me what is going on!" Georgiana yelled as loudly as she could manage. Really, it was hardly louder than a regular speaking voice, but still, Pepe looked frightened.
Dinah was grinding up herbs and boiling water as the apothecary scurried into the bad news.
"Queen Georgiana, your baby isn't well. It is a very rare condition that is extremely contagious and can be fatal. I can allow you to hold him, but only for a moment. We must rush into surgery immediately. If you are in contact with him too long, you could feasibly become infected as well. I might be able to save him, but we cannot risk losing you. You are the queen. Imagine the town without a noble queen as yourself. And Samuel. My dear, you must think of Samuel".
Georgiana spoke through clenched teeth as Dinah applied the herbs to her forehead and under her eyes.
"Well, at least let me sit in the room as you do the surgery. It is my first child! You cannot expect me to leave him when I have only just met him!"
Pepe was green and starting to sway, which admittedly didn't help Georgiana's uncertainty.
"Ma'am, perhaps we do save him, but lose you. He will be without a mother".
Silent tears ran down her cheeks and she shut her eyes. The herbs were working and she knew, as much as she loathed it, that Pepe was right. And regrettably, she started to drift into a deep sleep so Dinah could mend her birthing injuries.
Georgiana barely got out her last words as she floated out of consciousness.
"Sam. I at least need Sam".
Pepe nodded. "Very well, I will send for him to come in. Dinah, allow him and only him in while you are working. Explain the misfortune that has been placed upon them and under no circumstances should anyone bother me. This baby's life depends on it". And then he disappeared, bundle in arms.
#
Of course by that time, the entire town had heard of Georgiana's going into labor. Bets were in motion on the amount of hair the baby would be born with, how much it would weigh, and who it would resemble most closely. An especially high gamble was placed on whether Dean would acquire the King's rounded nose, or the Queen's pointed one.
Georgiana's mother and Cecily were at the castle completing the birth party. The castle's dining hall was covered in daises and baby's breath. Wooden tables were brought out that would seat three hundred people each. A feast was being prepared of chicken, dumplings and a vanilla iced cream. The plates were all a robin's egg blue and the cups had blue ribbon tied around them. In the center of every two chairs that faced each other was a different, beautiful basket designed by Cecily. They were filled with cloths to wipe hands and tiny glass containers that released sparkling bubbles when opened.
Dean's pet guardian, whom had been named, Bia, would be present at the party wearing a giant aqua bow around her neck.
The parade would start at the very edge of the town that bordered the sea. Then it would go on through the woods, over a small creaky bridge that would be covered in flowers and insects that shone like fire, and into town, straight to the castle.
After the parade, every person in the town was to enter the ballroom for a formal dinner and dance. It was to be the most wonderful night anyone could possibly imagine.
#
Fourteen hours had passed since Georgiana felt the rush of water between her legs in the village. Dinah had mended her wounds, cleaned her body and changed the blankets and pillows on the bed so she would be comfortable while sleeping.
King Samuel sat by Georgiana's bedside ever since Dinah had let him in and told him of the bad news. He reacted like a caring father, husband and king would. He cried. For Dean's precious life, his wife's stress and hurt, the town of Pulcherbridge possibly losing a baby who could have grown into a great king, and than lastly for himself.
Then, he stopped crying and just sat over Georgiana watching her sleep, rubbing her cheeks and hair. He knew he must be brave for her.
When he heard a light rap on the door, he knew that it was Pepe. Recently, Dinah had left Samuel with hot tea, bedding, and some warm bread and told him that she would not return until morning. If he heard anyone before then, he was to expect that it was Pepe.
Knowing it was he at the door, he reluctantly woke Georgiana. She was groggy and her eyes were puffed. It crushed his heart to see her look so broken when she always looked lively, even in the early morning. But when she looked up at him she gave him a weak smile. She was trying to be strong, to have hope. And that made his heart burn. How he wished that he had his wife's courage.
He motioned to the door and Georgiana nodded. Samuel said, "Come in".
Pepe walked in the door with a terrible countenance. His head was drooped, his clothes stretched, his hair crazy. The message he had come to deliver was clear before he said it.
Georgiana began sobbing. Her worst fears had been confirmed. Samuel had silent tears running down his face, but kept a firm hand on Georgiana's and stared at Pepe, waiting for an official answer.
He announced, "I did everything that I could. He had a sickness that I have only seen twice in all my years. I am so sorry for your loss King Livindl. The women I knew that experienced this atrocity were not doomed more than once so don't lose hope. You can always try again."
His words meant very little to the mourning couple at that moment. And that was clear, so Pepe left them to comfort each other.
Samuel crawled onto the small bed with Georgiana and held her while she wept. They had never expected this to happen to them, they had done everything right. The queen hadn't drank strong alcohol or been outside in too harsh of weather.
She remembered the dream she had the night she found out the sex of her child and realized that it was not a dream, but a warning. She put her hands on her stomach, and felt a staggering amount of nothingness.
#
Several hours later, Georgiana and Samuel remained in the house, holding hands and trying to deal with their misery. Samuel daydreamed of the son he could have had, who enjoyed sports and was polite to his mother.
Georgiana just daydreamed of the couple seconds she had seen the baby's tiny toes, remembering every little detail of them.
When abruptly, they heard a crying baby.
They were brought out of their daydreams at once, and found each other's eyes. The things they were wondering were incredibly similar. How could they both be hearing a baby? Dean was gone. They wondered if they had gone mad but didn't say a word. The King and Queen were having strange, impossible hopes, and to say them out loud would be to spoil them.
They had all but dismissed it to their grieving imagination and had settled back into closing their eyes and trying to sleep through the hurt; but then they heard it again. As they listened closely they noticed the noise was coming from the back door.
"Sam, I can't get up. Will you go see what that is?"
He replied that of course he would.
Samuel got up and walked to the door. He slowly opened the heavy, wooden exit and when he saw what was sitting there his thoughts were confirmed. Yes, I have completely lost it, he supposed.
In a huge white basket, was a crying baby wrapped in a green, thick blanket. He blinked, pinched himself and then realized he was not crazy after all.
Samuel and Georgiana had received a stork baby.
Samuel's heart stopped as he stared at it. The baby had dewy brown eyes, pink cheeks and an endearing cry. He picked up the basket, brought it into the home and closed the door behind him.
Georgiana gaped, "Is that- is that a stork baby?"
Samuel swallowed and nodded. "It is. I don't know how we got one. People often wait months for a stork baby and here we are, just hours and we have one."
"I want to hold him, Sam," Georgiana murmured.
Samuel picked up the newborn gently, and handed him to Georgiana. She hugged him softly and felt the tug of his presence.
"I love him. Already, I love him. I don't care that he isn't Dean. He is ours; he was brought to us unusually fast. And when I am holding him I feel warm. I need him".
It had all happened so fast. The loss of Dean, the arrival of the stork baby, but Samuel understood and he nodded. This was their baby now.
The three of them fit on the bed together just right. They needed each other, all three of them.
When Samuel looked at the baby's face, he felt as though a million butterflies had taken flight all over in his tummy. The toothless smile had captured his heart.
"They don't have to know, Sam," she said. "That this isn't Dean. We could say that he is. Raise him as our fist born, the one which will someday become king. Then everything could go on normally, the parade, the ball. It's just; I don't think I have it in me to ever try for a baby again. I am too afraid. We already love him and he loves us. I can feel it. And he is here, now. The storks are smart Sam. This is happening for a reason."
Samuel had already been imagining this boy to be his son and it felt right.
"So, this is Dean then?" Samuel asked.
Georgian stroked the baby's head, cheeks and nose and said, "This is Dean."
