Chapter 10: New Life
"Push!"
"No, it is too soon!"
"You have to push girl or you are going to lose your child. You do not want to lose another one do you?" yelled Doctor Philip over Eudora's moans of pain.
Her water broke and she went into labour soon after King Philip's assassination. 'Shock' diagnosed the doctor as the reason she was one month early. Queen Olympia and Cleopatra escorted her back to the nearby mansion they were staying at and summoned for the doctor who travelled anywhere the Royal Family went.
"I want Alexander…. Where is he?" panted Eudora when one of her contractions subsided, someone wiped her forehead with a wet cloth as Cleopatra held her hand,
"He is with Hephaistion and the others at the arena. He is king now. Mother is sending pages to go look for him."
"You shouldn't be here. Go to your husband Cleopatra….." said Eudora to her sister-in-law,
"I am not leaving you at a time like this… Protocol be damned!" explained Cleopatra for her presence to an event normally they would not attend. Eudora's chuckle changed to a moan of pain when another contraction hid,
"No, it is too soon…. Too fast…."
"Hold still…" muttered the doctor who was looking between her legs and feeling her stomach frowning, he made a gesture to one of his helpers to hold her legs down as he felt the position of the baby. He observed Eudora who was turning white from the pain, gripping the cheats for leverage, he noticed there was no more pauses between contractions and she suffered greatly from it. He turned towards one of his helpers,
"Go fetch me some snow that we keep in the cellars, and bring me plenty." He ordered,
"What's wrong?" asked Cleopatra sensing something was wrong,
" The child has not yet turned and I fear it is too late to retrieve the child trough the stomach. Also there is too much blood, if I don't act quickly, I might lose both mother and child." He answered truthfully knowing Eudora was listening despite the pain, Cleopatra turned pale and looked at Eudora who was panting and sweating put looked very pale despite all that. She yelled at a soldier who was standing outside the door,
"Soldier, go look for Alexander. Tell him to hurry! Tell him his child is about to be born, tell him everything you know." Knowing the soldier had heard everything, she heard him confirm her command and run off. Soon after that the boy Philip sent away a little while ago came back with a jar full of snow and some cloths.
"Push Eudora Push!" she moved upright supported by Cleopatra and 2 assistants keeping her legs down, he pushed until she saw red in the face, groaning,
"And again!" she gasped for air and pushed again,
"No, I can't" she yelled after awhile and fell back down, panting for air, she began to look tired and out of breath,
"Where is Alexander? He should be here by now." She asked in a tiny voice, sounding delirious because of the pain. Suddenly she screamed out loud and everybody panicked, even the doctor,
"Something's wrong! What's happening?" Cleopatra yelled, the doctor began feeling and he turned white while his hands were full of blood,
"You have to push Eudora. And you have to push fast." Eudora nodded and began pushing but quickly stopped again,
"It hurts too much I can't take it."
"You have too or you are going to lose the child!" this seem to give her new strength and she pushed and pushed, ripping herself in the process, screaming in pain but suddenly the air filled with another type of screaming and she sighed, she looked trough half lidded eyes as the doctor checked her child and rubbing the blood off nodding and giving it to a nearby assistant who showed the child to Eudora and Cleopatra,
"What is it?" asked Cleopatra,
"It's a boy my lady."
"A boy! Alexander will be pleased! How will you name him?" she turned to Eudora who stared at the child,
"Uraeus Alcaeus." Whispered Eudora silently,
"Strength! Good choice!" stated Cleopatra, turning to look at her but Eudora saw white and had her eyes closed,
"Eudora? Eudora?" and she shaked her sister-in-law on the shoulder, when she got no response she panicked,
"Doctor, she fainted!" the doctor looked up troubled and then for the first time Cleopatra saw all the blood on the floor,
"She will be alright won't she?" when the doctor didn't answer she panicked,
'Won't she?"
"Pray that she will my lady, pray!" as he put removed the after birth and used some more ice to try and stop the bleeding. Cleopatra was escorted outside as the doctor worked on Eudora.
In the mean time, Alexander; now in clean clothes; and Hephaistion had made there way to the royal hall where they had put King Philip's body. When he entered they all bowed hailing him as king,
"Hail King Alexander! Hail!"
Alexander just nodded lightly sitting down and excepting a cup of wine which he swallowed in one gulp, soon people started offering him gifts as the new king but soon he asked them to stop thanking them but saying he needed time to morn which they all excepting.
"Where is Eudora?" asked Alexander suddenly, " And My mother and Sister?"
"We don't know, sire, they were escorting out of the stadium, we assume they are back safe at the mansion." Alexander nodded excepting the general's answer,
Then they began asking him all sort of questions regarding his father's funeral and what should happen next. Soon his generals and companions started arguing over something trivial and Alexander sighed locking his eyes with Hephaistion who stood close by. Hephaistion gave him a sympathetic smile before looking back in front of him Then a guard came running stilling the room,
"King Alexander, King Alexander!"
"Calm down, soldier. Tell me, what has got you so excited you come barging in without an announcement."
"Your presence is required at the mansion my king, your Queen has gone in labour."
"What?" yelled Alexander, "But she is early, tell me everything you know."
"She went into labour soon after your father's assassination my king. She is in terrible pain and doctor Philip fears she and the child might not make it…." The soldier didn't even have the change to finish his sentence because Alexander already ran out of the building Hephaistion close at his heels. Soon everyone else followed.
Alexander and Hephaistion ran all the way there and stumbled into the mansion panting. Throwing the door open, he saw Cleopatra sitting on a chair crying and he crouched in front of her,
"My dear sister, what has happened." But she could not answer, he turned around as the doors opened to reveal Doctor Philip who bowed as he saw him,
"My King!"
"Tell me!"
"She is fine, they are both fine. The Queen is exhausted and lost a lot of blood but she will make it. You married a strong one Alexander, most woman could not have endured such pains without losing their minds."
Alexander nodded clearly proud and asked,
"What is it?"
"A Boy."
"A Boy…" whispered Alexander shocked and happy, "Can I…?" and he motioned to the room which was now empty, after a nod from the doctor he entered, first thing he saw was his wife on the bed, she looked pale and exhausted, sleeping despite the pain she clearly felt.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead. Suddenly the heard a tiny sound, he stood and made his way towards what was a boat shaped crib and looked inside.
Inside lay his son, he already had some blond curls on his head and Alexander smiled, he picked him up and studied his son as he rocked him. The boy opened his eyes and Alexander saw they were already green, just like his mothers, despite his young age. He wiggled his finger in front of his sons face and suddenly he felt tiny fingers grab his finger. Tears flooded his eyes and he had to swallow.
"My son."
"He's beautiful." Alexander turned around and saw Hephaistion staring at him with a smile, he had forgotten he was there. Alexander smiled back, stepping closer and showing his son to Hephaistion.
"He has no fear. Clearly your son!" and both man chuckled until a voice interrupted,
"Uraeus Alcaeus!" they both turned towards the voice and saw Eudora was watching them trough tired eyes,
"That's his name… It means…"
"Strength… I know…" he moved closer and sat beside her while Hephaistion helped her up propping some cushions behind her back. She grimaced in pain but before anyone could say anything, she said,
"I'm fine." Alexander handed her the baby, which she now held for the first time,
"He's so tiny…" she said after awhile, "He looks so much like you…" she added after awhile,
"Thank you…." said Alexander mock pouting,
"That not what I meant, I meant…"
"I know what you meant…" and he kissed her,
"Thank you for giving me a son. " and he kissed her again.
After awhile a knocking came on the door, and a voice,
"My King, the Queen mother wishes to see her grand child." Hephaistion stood up and opened the door, if the Queen was shocked to see him there she didn't show it. She kissed both Alexander and Eudora on the cheek congratulating them,
"May I?" and they handed her the baby,
"So like Alexander. But the eyes, he has his mother's eyes. Well done!" and she handed the baby back, but before Alexander could ask her how she was feeling after her husband murder, she was already gone. Alexander heard several people talking and looked trough the window to see his companions outside waiting,
"Go! Show them your son." Whispered Eudora getting tired again, Hephaistion helped her lay down and waited until she fell asleep before kissing her brow like Alexander. Alexander made his way outside holding his son.
"This is Uraeus Alcaeus, my son" he yelled at the top of his voice.
Everyone cheered and applauded yelling, when at the same time an eagle screeched out loud flying over his soldiers.
"Uraeus! Uraeus! Uraeus!"
Alexander couldn't feel more happy and proud then on that exact moment.
I do not know what Uraeus means I just liked the name but Alcaeus is an ancient greek name which means Strength.