Who is Hunith?
A/N: One thing I noticed during the series was that although I saw dogs, I saw little to no cats. Could this be the reason why? Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any of its characters.
Chapter Two – "The Queen is Dead!"
Hunith stood looking out of the window, a small smile played on her lips as she thought about the night before. With a small sigh, she collected the queen's cloak. The queen had decided to visit the gardens for some fresh air and Hunith was to accompany her. The queen was stood waiting for her when she returned. With the ease of someone who had done it before, Hunith draped the cloak over the queen's shoulders and fastened it.
The queen stepped out of her chambers as Hunith donned her own cloak. Hunith kept a respectful distance and once again her mind wandered. Ever since the night before, she had felt calm. She had felt calm before, but never like this. It was like being in a bubble, she could see everything going on around her but she felt nothing. No emotion. She didn't even feel the longing she had always felt for Gaius when she was away from him! No, she lied. She had felt one emotion so strongly that she had almost been overcome. That had occurred earlier when she had accompanied the queen to see the completed nursery. The feeling she had had been one of jealousy. She was jealous because she would never be able to provide her son with the things in that room.
Hunith stopped and gasped (If the queen had heard her, she had chosen to ignore it). Son? Son? She didn't have a son! She wasn't even pregnant! Was she? The maid forced the thought from her mind and put it down to her being close to her Period. Hunith hurried to catch up.
As the queen reached the main staircase Hunith's bubble burst. Just as the queen was stepping onto the first step, a cat ran out. The queen let out a shriek as she stepped on the cat and lost her balance. Everyone within sight turned and stared in horror as she fell. She landed at the bottom of the stairs, still conscious and in obvious agony. Without thinking, Hunith ran after her mistress. No one noticed the black cat with piercing blue eyes disappear.
Hunith reached the queen first. She was angered by the way some people were just standing around, "You, send for the Court Physician! You, alert the king! You guards, yes you lot, help get the queen to her chambers now!" She had no authority. Anyone could have challenged her. Instead, they seemed grateful to be told what to do.
The queen grasped Hunith's hand, "Help me!" She pleaded as the guards lifted her.
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Hunith directed the guards to the queen's bed so they could lay her down. As they stepped back, she gave them another order, "Do not allow anybody in unless they are here to help." The guards nodded.
She turned to the queen and stripped her to her undergarments. The under garment were stained a dark red and the red was spreading. "Oh no, please no," Hunith whispered, "it's too soon." The queen's scream was the only answer. Hunith ran to the doors and grabbed a passing maid. The maid recoiled at the sight of the blood on her clothes.
" Find as many maids as possible and bring a constant supply of hot water and clean cloth to this room," the maid gasped at the urgency in Hunith's voice and ran off. As she turned back inside, Gaius joined her, "She's in premature labour Gaius!"
The queen let out another piercing scream as they reached her side. While Gaius examined her, Hunith sat next to the queen, holding her hand, stroking her hair and offering soothing words.
After what seemed a lifetime, Gaius signalled Hunith to join him, "The baby has not turned. I am going to have to deliver it backwards. This is bad enough in healthy women but the queen has lost a lot of blood and I also fear internal injuries." Tears pricked Hunith's eyes, "It is going to be hard and I shall need all the help I can get. Are you willing to help me?"
Hunith could not get the words to form in her mouth so she simply nodded. Gaius returned the nod. Together, they began the long, arduous task of helping the queen.
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Uther paced outside his wife's chambers. He was desperate to see her but he knew he would only get in the way. Her screams echoed through the castle. Each stabbed at his heart as sharp as any sword. The sun had set long ago and still nothing had changed. Servants had been and gone with offerings of food, water and something for the king to sit on. He had refused them all.
Every so often, a maid would leave the chambers to get something and every time they did, Uther would look at them desperate for some news. They simply shook their head.
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Hunith had never seen so much blood as she rushed around the chambers. Fetching stuff for Gaius, mopping the queen's brow, muttering soothing words, ordering the maids, it never stopped. She was exhausted, no, passed exhaustion but still she went on.
Gaius called her over, "She is now ready to give birth, get some clean blankets ready and pass me my utensils."
She took the blankets and stood near her mistress, "That's milady, we're nearly done now. Just a bit more pushing then it'll be all over..."
Hunith's voice was drowned out by the queen's screaming followed by the first cries of a babe. Everyone smiled as Gaius tied off the cord. He passed the child to Hunith who wrapped it in a blanked, "Tis a boy milady!" she laid the child on the queen's chest.
The queen smiled as she looked down at her son, "Arthur" she whispered with her last breath.
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Hunith pulled open the doors to her former queen's chambers and staggered out. Uther approached her seeking an answer. Her eyes gave it to him. Leaving him behind, she staggered down the hallway. The haunting sounds of Uther howling in grief followed her.
She pushed open the main doors that lead to the castle. The sun was just breaking over the mountains in the distance and somewhere in the distance a cock crowed. With the every sinew in her body at breaking point, she yelled, "THE QUEEN IS DEAD! LONG LIVE THE PRINCE!" Before collapsing in the courtyard.