Cinderella

1. Coming And Going

Prattle was flowing in the Castle. Men and women dressed in lush, colourful clothes of silk and velvet chatted and laughed happily in the great hall, occasionally stopping the maids that hurried up and down, carrying clean linen and bowls of hot water, asking them, then letting them continue their work. Everyone was having a good time, but as the time passed, they seemed to lose their interest in the reason they were there, at the Gilmore castle. Finally, round midday they streamed into the dining hall where they had lunch.

The castle seemed to become suddenly quiet, abandoned. Only one man, a young, kind-faced gentleman remained int he hall, walking up and down, frowning. He was the only one, who hadn't taken part in the chatter of the others, and now refused to have lunch with them. Finally, as if coming to a decision, he halted, ran his fingers through his hair, then turned to the opposite direction and headed towards the Eartern wing. He was the head of this house, and his name was Hamgar, earl of Gilmore.

Meanwhile, in one of the opulently furnished rooms of the Eastern wing, a young woman was in labour. Her golden hair was matted with sweat, her face red and tired. She breathed heavily as spasms shook her slender body, and her moanes filled the room. She was surrounded by at least half a dozen midwives and a man who must have been the doctor.

„Hot water, please" he called now „I need some more hot water". He examined the woman, and the infant yet unborned, then he looked up and he whispered to one of the women standing beside her "it's still lieing the wrong way". His face suddenly seemed old and grey.

"But she's getting weaker with every minute" the midwife whispered back. The lady's moans were getting louder and more painful.

"I know. I'm trying to turn the infant, but I'm afraid if this goes on for another hour, she might not have the strenght to give..."

But then the door was banged open and the earl stormed in.

"How is my wife?" he asked urgently. What's happening? Why haven't the baby born yet? Nobody tells me anything!"

"My lord, I have to warn you to leave this room! Being the gentle lord you are, and the father of this baby, you're still not allowed in here, and I have to forbid you to stay. Please, my lord, would you leave the room?

"I'm staying here! I can't stand this tension anymore! I want to know what's going on!"

The doctor exchanged looks with the midwife, then said "My lord, I can assure you, everything is all right. It happens, that... that the first child comes a little slower, and this time might seem to be..."

He was interrupted by a long and loud shriek from the mother again. HE bowed his head, and as he spoke, his voice was quivering. "As I was telling you, this is..."

But the earl wasn't listening anymore. He leapt to the bed of his wife, sweeping the nurses aside, grabbed her hand, and murmured "I'm, here, Laditte, I'm here, darling"

The lady's eyes opened, and her white lips formed a weak smile.

"I love you, Laditte. You and our child. the doctor says this will finish soon, and you will recover in a few weeks' time. THen we will hold a great ball, invite everyone from the court... just bear this for some more time..." his voice died away. Laditte smiled again, this time even weaker, and a single teardrop slided down on the earl's face. He stood up and without turning his head, he said to the doctor he would wait outside.