The King of Luzminz paced the floor outside of the Birthing Room. Every so
often he would shoot an anxious look at the door. His oldest son, Phairen, was sitting
cross-legged on the floor with a serene, calm look. Which didn't help the king, it only
made him more nervous
Okay, I guess he was right! Marrying a gold princess as a first wife WAS a big
mistake. If she were silver she would be able to invoke some sort of healing to make it
easier. Her silver daughters helped with their own birth, Ryin thought to himself, such a
hard birth, that means this child will be a Golden child.
Ryin had three sons and three daughters already, so this child will be his fourth
child. Ryin remembered his Vision. He saw the next king of Luzminz, a grand King that
would bring great prosperity to Luzminz. Ryin was trembling with excitement to hold his
new son. This son would bring honor to their clan. Ryin paced even more with an
impatient mind, so many emotions coursing through him it was all he could to keep his
wings in his back cavity.
"Um…Your Majesty," a timid voice broke Ryin's concentration, mental ranting,
and obsessive pacing. He looked down; it was a small, baby-faced girl with cloud white
eyes and hair. She was a distant cousin, in the R'opton* clan. She was also the Midwife's
apprentice. "Her Majesty has finished the birth. Would you like to see…."
"Yes, yes. Let me see him. Now," Ryin cut her off. She just stood there with a
confused look. " Come on, girl. Hurry up! I want to see my son."
Now the poor girl looked almost fearful and in a voice barely louder than a
whisper, "Your Majesty, the child Her Majesty birthed was a girl. You have another
daughter.' She trembled so hard she almost didn't get the last sentence out.
"WHAT?!? How can this be?" Ryin roared. The little girl shook so hard, her eyes
welled, and she fell to her knees in tears.
"Ryin, stop yelling and get your royal fat head in here! Your wife needs you," the
healer, Salsina, called.
"Sals, just because you are Calli's sister does not mean you can talk to me like
that. But irregardless I will come," Ryin made his way to Callisioria's bedside. " Let me
hold our child."
Salsina held the babe out, and Ryin took it gingerly. He looked in to the child's
face. She was beautiful, radiant, and magnificent. Damn, she means another marriage
contract.
"Ryin, don't be so selfish," Callisioria said in a fragile voice.
Ryin looked up with a startled glance, but he didn't know what surprised him
more: his tall, proud, strong wife sounding weak and fragile, or that she had so blatantly
read his thoughts.
"Please Ryin, let me hold her. Salsina wouldn't let me hold her before," she
continued.
"Of course! I am sorry, I was thinking of a name for her," he said a little to
quickly. She was too tired to notice. As she lay there even after giving birth she was
beautiful as always. When they first met, when they married, always. Something nagged
him, so he went to talk to Salsina.
"Why?" he asked simply. He looked at Calli; she was smiling at the baby
oblivious to everything around her. She was oblivious to the apprentice trying to give her
some food as well.
"I don't, I am trying to figure it out myself," she replied, "I know all the female
births were easy, and they almost all immediately showed signs of Healing gift. Now all
your sons gave a hard birth, but why would this little lady give a hard time as well?"
Calli said something, but they didn't understand it. They quickly went back to her
bedside.
Her smile was so bright she radiated. "Alexandriana," she said with such certainty
they were both much taken aback. "Her name will be Alexandriana. It means 'light of
greatness and beauty' in the old language. It is also the name of the most powerful
Goddess. Alexandriana will be her name. Okay?"
"That is fine, darling," he said with a smile of his own. To Salsina, he whispered,
"We will worry about it later. All we can do is wait and watch."
"I wanted a son, Ryin, I really did. But looking at her I can't help but love her
with all I am," Calli looked at him waiting for a reply.
"I wanted a son, too, but we didn't get a son. Maybe we will try again later," he
replied, " Much later."
"Alright, I can do that. Ryin, I can tell she will be the most beautiful princess in
the history of every clan. I swear it," she said the Ryin, but she only looked at her baby.
Phairen came in. "Queen Mother, may I see my baby sister?" His voice was calm
and steady, but his eyes were begging.
"Yes, Phare. Come see your littlest sister," she said beckoning him to her bedside.
"Hold her, Phare," she set the babe in his arms. He looked down eyes wide.
"Mother, she is beautiful like a Goddess. Like Sutara*," he looked at Calli and at
the baby again, " Like you."
"Her name is Alexandriana," she said. Phare's eyes widened and she smiled.
"The Goddess Queen," he whispered.
"Phairen, I won't always be able to watch after her so you have to promise me
that you will watch after Alexandriana and protect her always. Okay?"
"I promise, Lady Mother. I will ALWAYS watch and protect her, I swear it," he
whispered fiercely. She hugged him and Alexandriana.
"Good, I know I can trust," she said softly. She kissed on the forehead and went
to sleep and Phairen sat on a chair, rocking Alexandriana to sleep.