"Lucia will be the first to find out," Cleo said later that night as her head rested on Magnus's bare chest.
"What makes you think that?" Magnus asked as his thumb rubbed her bare shoulder.
"She's had a child, Magnus. She is aware of everything pregnancy brings. Besides, I have a feeling it is our son that brought her here."
"What makes you think that?"
"I don't know. I just have a feeling."
Magnus kissed her head. "I think that you are thinking too much," he said. "Get some rest."
Cleo closed her eyes but sleep did not come right away. "I want to see a midwife tomorrow. One who knew my mother."
Magnus responded with a soft grunt. Already falling asleep. "We will make that happen. Now sleep."
Cleo stood in a field of tall grass. She looked around but found that she was alone. Taking several steps forward, another person came into view. Whoever it was had dark black hair and was facing away from her. Thinking it was Magnus she began to run towards him. Though as she approached something inside of her told her it wasn't Magnus. Still, she continued to run.
The closer she got the more features came into view. Broad shoulders, tall, and dark hair. Whoever it was, she felt like she needed to know.
She came right up behind the man and placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and she was hit by the shock of blue eyes. But not just any blue eyes. Her blue eyes. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at this man. Her son. Or would be in several years. But how?
She placed a hand on his cheek and he smiled. "Mother," he whispered.
Just as he spoke the world began to turn bright and slowly disappeared.
Cleo opened her eyes to the sun pouring into the room. Magnus was not laying in bed, and listening to the room, he was not there either. Slowly sitting up in bed she looked around. Where did Magnus go?
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she swung her legs over the bed and stood up and found a note sitting on the nightstand.
The midwife will be by soon. I will return when she arrives. - Magnus
Stashing the note in the drawer, Cleo began to get ready for the day. She had started to wear less restrictive clothing, already finding it difficult to wear certain garments. Eventually, she would have to inform the seamstresses about her situation, and request new clothing be made. Until then, she would manage. Afterall, she did not need to tell the world just yet considering she was just over a month along.
She was braiding her hair down her back when Magnus and another midwife walked in. She did not recognize the woman, but she recognized her.
"Queen Cleoina," she said as she gave a deep bow. "It is an honor to see you, again. You have grown a great deal since last I saw you. My name is Lila, and I was one of your mother's midwives. It is my understanding that you wish to speak about your mother's pregnancies?"
Cleo gave a nod and moved towards the bed, Magnus sitting down in a chair in the corner of the room. "Yes," she responded. "While we were in Limeros, we were informed that I was with child."
"And you are worried that what happened to your mother will happen to you."
"Yes."
"If you don't mind, I would like to do an examination. Perhaps then I can provide you with more answers."
"Of course."
Cleo laid down on the bed and allowed Lila to do the same sort of routine the previous midwife went through. Pressing ever so gently on her stomach, and assessing other parts of her body. She came to the same conclusion: Cleo was pregnant.
Lila pulled another chair up to the side of the bed and looked at Cleo. "You wanted to know more about your mother, and the births of both you and Emilia. I wish I could give you all the answers you desire but I cannot. But I can tell you what I do know.
"Emilia's pregnancy was rather difficult for your mother. Especially because it was her first. Though complications run deep in your family line. While there are records of treatments and survival of your family, there is no known cause for these complications. There is nothing wrong with the child or the mother that could point to anything. At least nothing consistent."
"Is there anything that we could do to possibly prevent these complications?" Magnus asked from his spot in the corner. Cleo noticed how he had started to go pale and she remembered his mother's complications with children. Truly, they were destined to fail.
Lila sighed as she looked between the two monarchs. "This early in the pregnancy there is not much you can do aside from eating healthy, doing activities such as walking, and no alcohol. I would also consider employing a midwife and having her stay at the palace to keep an eye on you and the child. Especially once it starts to grow.
"Then considering any other future options will have to depend on how you are feeling, Queen Cleoina. Though if you are both plagued with worry, bed rest once your time draws near to deliver is the best option if not the right option."
Magnus looked at Cleo as Lila talked before giving a nod. "Thank you," he said. "I believe my wife and I would like to talk in private before we decide on anything. We will send word with our final decision."
Lila gave a nod and dipped into a courtsey. Before the she could leave, Cleo caught her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you," she said quietly.
With a smile Lila responded, "Of course."
Magnus showed her out before returning and occupying the chair Lila had just vacated. Taking her hand, he gave a deep sigh. "I don't know what we're going to do," he said quietly.
"We will take it one day at a time," Cleo responded, squeezing his hand. "We should employ Lila, and perhaps another midwife for the time being. We will be careful."
He gave a nod. "Perhaps it is best if we tell Lucia. That way she can help keep an eye on you when I am not able to." Cleo rolled her eyes before looking back at Magnus. "I'm serious, Cleo. With our family histories, I am not willing to take any risk. I don't care what the witch told us."
"And I'm not willing to take risks either, but I also don't feel like I need everyone worrying about me all of the time. I will be fine for now."
Even if there was no curse on Cleo and her family, Magnus still could not shake the dreams he had months ago. Of Cleo laying on the bed slowly bleeding out as their son cried for the comfort for his mother, and Magnus standing there helpless to it all. He would never be able to forget those nights, all of those dreams. Now that there was no curse, he was going to make sure none of those fantasies ever came to pass.
"We are going to tell Lucia so she is aware. I do not want to argue with you on this, Cleo."
Cleo was getting ready to argue, but it died in her mouth as soon as she saw the pain and fear on Magnus's face. Two emotions she rarely ever saw come from him. So she closed her mouth and gave a nod, and that was that.
