Chapter 11

"Now Mistress! Push! Push!" exclaimed the midwife as she knelt between Iris's legs.

Iris was in excruciating pain at this point and Alexandria feared that she would pass out if the baby did not come soon. The room was unbearably hot as so many women filled the room to witness the birth. The sultan had left hours ago as men were not allowed to stay. Hours? It felt as if it was a day ago. Maybe it was.

A scream came from Iris and Alexandria rushed forward to comfort her as best she could by embracing her from behind, holding her shoulders and head so she could be supported. But Iris was exhausted and fading. The midwife cursed and her fingers probed inside Iris, trying to feel for the babe.

"Is she not done yet?" asked Lala who impatiently paced.

"You will keep quiet!" said Alexandria gritting her teeth as she waited for the old midwife to finish her exam.

Kneeling back, the woman frowned. "The child is breech."

"What?" asked Alexandria. "What does that mean?"

"It means she must give birth with the child the opposite way. The head is not down."

Oh God. "Can this be done?"

The midwife looked at Alexandria. "I will not lie to you mistress. The woman and the child are most likely to perish."

Iris moaned but Alexandria knew it was from her physical pain and not from the words spoken. She was too far gone to be coherent at this point.

Then it came to her. Barking at a slave to take her place to support Iris, Alexandria jumped to her feet and ran. Her feet carried her as fast as they could outside of Iris's court, outside of the palace. The guards were so shocked that they did not have the chance to stop her as she charged out into the blistering heat.

With her robes flowing behind her, Alexandria ran until she was out of breath and still kept going. The new palace was now in sight. She was almost to the hill where Erik's tent was set looking over the area.

Running up the hill, she fell and almost tumbled down. But she caught herself and continued to climb. By the time she entered the tent, she was almost on her knees from exhaustion.

"Mistress!" exclaimed Manuel who came rushing forward.

"Where is he?" panted Alexandria. "I must see him!"

"Who? Erik? He is not here. He is overseeing one of the rooms being built."

Alexandria collapsed onto the ground. "I must see him!"

"I will get him! Stay here!"

"What the hell is going on?"

With great relief, Alexandria looked up to see Erik towering over her.

"Alexandria?"

"You must come now!" she cried. "The child is breech. The midwife says she may die! Please! You must know something of what to do!"

---

Erik knelt down to Alexandria who was barely making sense and sobbing. He had just returned to his tent to retrieve one of the plans he had left behind when he found her doubled over with exhaustion.

"Iris?" he asked with a terrible feeling beginning to spread within his gut.

When she nodded he yanked her to her feet. Grabbing her hand, Erik took her with him over to his horse. He climbed on and reached down to pull Alexandria up so that she sat in front of him. His arms around her, Erik fought to steady the stallion that was now beginning to rear on his hind legs.

"What are you dong?"

Erik turned his head and saw the captain of the guard rushing forward to stop him. Without hesitation, Erik urged René forward. The stallion broke into a gallop down the hill until he stumbled in the loose sand. The horse did not stop and slid through the sand until he hit the ground running.

Reaching the palace, Erik forced René to run right inside to the shock of servants and slaves. Jumping down, he captured Alexandria as she slid off. He raced to Iris's court and flung the doors open. The midwife shrieked and the women gasped as he came forward.

"No man is allowed here! Get out! GET OUT!" screamed the midwife.

Ignoring her, Erik immediately went over to Iris and pulled up her robe to reveal her belly. He firmly placed his hands upon her and began to apply pressure causing Iris to scream in agony.

"STOP!" shrieked the midwife. She looked at the slaves. "Go now! Get help! He is killing her!"

But Alexandria commanded them to stay. "Let him!"

Erik left one hand remaining on Iris's stomach while the other dipped in between her legs and reached inside her. He glared at Alexandria "Get over here now!"

She immediately came forward and he took his hand from Iris's stomach to grab Alexandria's wrist. "Here! Provide pressure here. Do not stop no matter what her reaction! I am forcing the child to turn."

Alexandria's hands shook but pressed firmly in place where he had positioned them. Erik took control once more and felt for the child within Iris. "Harder!" he growled at Alexandria.

Good…God. She could feel the child actually moving, squirming beneath her fingers. It seemed to suddenly change positions causing Iris to cry out once more.

"Almost there," said Erik through gritted teeth. He pushed his free hand on her stomach even harder.

And then it happened. Alexandria felt a very hard bump under her hand. It seemed to move downward. Erik changed the position of his hand on her stomach.

"Push now Iris," he commanded.

But she was too drained. Cursing, Erik glared at a slave. "In my apartment on my desk you will find a box of tools. Bring them to me now!" He looked at another slave. "And you will bring me boiling water!"

It felt like an eternity waiting but the two slaves finally rushed into the room with the items he requested. Erik dumped the contents from the box, causing tools to loudly fall on the floor and scatter everywhere. He grabbed what appeared to be something similar to tongs of some sort and threw them into the boiling water. Within moments he had drained the water and retrieved the instrument from the bowl.

Then Alexandria watched in shock as Erik knelt between Iris's legs and inserted the tool. He pulled while at the same time applying pressure to her stomach once more with his other hand. Iris suddenly cried out and Alexandria gasped as the baby's head now crowned. Erik continued his efforts, slowly but firmly pulling with the tool around the head.

And then Alexandria saw the child's face! She came forward and Erik suddenly yanked her down. "Hold a cloth below the head Alexandria. The child will come out quickly and I will not be able to catch it in time."

Nodding, she unfolded a clean cloth and moved close to Erik. The child was actually beginning to whimper now and he gave one final pull. To her amazement, the child immediately slipped out and she caught him.

Him! It was a boy! And despite the stressful birth he appeared very strong as he began to wail on his own. Alexandria's vision blurred with tears in her eyes at such a miracle while Erik made quick work of cutting and tying off the cord.

He quickly checked on Iris who was now unconscious. "She will be fine," he said gruffly. "There is no excessive bleeding. We must wait for the afterbirth to make sure there are no tears or pieces that may still be inside."

Alexandria cradled the child to her. She barely heard the uproar of voices around her as she could not take her eyes off Erik. He had taken total control. She had no idea how he knew what to do but she had somehow known if anyone could save the child, it was him.

As they waited, his eyes met hers for a moment. She thought when she first met him that his dark eyes were cold and lifeless. But now she saw only warmth and relief in them. He turned his attention back to Iris as she delivered the afterbirth. Satisfied after checking the contents, he warily stood up.

"Show the child to me Alexandria!" boomed the sultan's voice echoing in the large room. He had now entered the bed chamber and all the women immediately fell to the floor.

Alexandria bowed her head and gave the crying child to him. The sultan looked steadily into the infant's eyes and to her amazement he stopped crying. Holding the child up high, the sultan raised his voice. "This is indeed my son, my continuing bloodline for the Ottoman's future!"

Those in the room responded with "Praise Allah" and remained on the floor. The sultan returned the child to Alexandria and walked over to Iris. Smoothing back her hair, he kissed her fully on the mouth even though she was still unconscious.

"What is the next sultan's name?" asked Yakub.

"Suleiman," replied the sultan.

"So be it!" exclaimed Yakub. "I will send out word to every land to announce the continuation of our empire!"

Suddenly the captain of the guard appeared next to the sultan. "My lord," he began, "It is forbidden for a man to be in the room while a woman gives birth. This man must be punished."

The midwife stepped forward. "He could have killed her! Your first wife almost died because of him!"

But the sultan looked at Alexandria who met his eyes and shook her head.

"Your second wife wants you to believe he is innocent!" shouted the midwife. "I have seen the jealousy among wives before my lord. Do not be fooled that she planned to murder your first wife and your son!"

The sultan's eyes became heated as he looked at the old woman. "I thank you for your loyalty midwife. But the time has come for you to be removed from your services to the wives of the future Ottoman rulers."

She shrieked in response but the guards came forward and removed her from the room. The captain frowned at Erik but said nothing.

"And as for you," said the sultan looking at Erik with what appeared to be a harsh gaze upon his face.

Erik lifted his chin, prepared to defend himself physically if necessary. But instead the sultan placed his hand firmly on Erik's shoulder. "Allah has now shown me your true purpose, my friend. May he continue to watch over you in the years to come. Because of what you have done, you may stay within my lands for however long you wish. You will always be my most honored guest above all others."

Erik was so shocked he did not know what to say. He looked at Alexandria who gave him a small smile. The sultan now clapped him on the back. "Come Erik! Let us celebrate the birth of my son!"

For the first time since he had known the sultan, Erik stepped back and actually bowed his head slightly. "Thank you… but I must return to my work."

"I fear that your work will always prevent enjoying moments such as this. The miracle of life that you helped save is now before you and yet work is only on your mind."

That was not entirely true for Erik was simply not used to such kindness. He had no idea how to react to such gratitude. True, the sultan was thankful when he saved Alexandria but that was somewhat different as he had to make a show of it before other guests. This time, the sultan was sincerely calling Erik a friend. It seemed to go against his very nature.

Even worse, Erik now realized that when the child had slipped into Alexandria's arms, he looked at her differently. He saw not only an intelligent woman but now… a beautiful woman who truly cared about life. There was no jealousy with the first wife and he strongly suspected that even if it had been Lala in the same position, Alexandria still would have reacted in the same way. She was truly beautiful on the inside. For some reason this shook him and he wanted to leave.

"Are you saying that I do not have your leave?" asked Erik finally.

The sultan laughed. "When have you ever asked?"

"This is true," Erik replied with a hint of laughter in his own voice but he did not smile. "I must return to my work."

"As you wish," murmured the sultan.

Erik took one more look at Alexandria who yet met his eyes again. He quickly looked away and walked out of Iris's court, passing by the captain who was watching him with narrowed eyes.