Chapter 30
"How is he?" a very pregnant Anama asked the doctor.
"He is deteriorating, slowly, and I hate to say it, dying. He hasn't much longer." said the doctor.
"Is there anything we can do?" she asked.
"I'm sorry princess. We can't do anything for him except make him comfortable." he said.
"Thank you, doctor." she said.
"Your welcome my lady. I will be back in two days time to check up on him. Good day your highness." he bowed as he left the palace escorted by a guard.
Anama stood outside the doors, slowly pacing. She was eight months along in her pregnancy and looked as if she would burst any day now. The doctor told her she would deliver any day now, even though she was a month shy of the original due date.
She closed her eyes and sighed before opening the doors. She walked in quietly, closing the doors behind her. She walked over to the bed and sat down, not wanting to disturb its occupant, but she didn't prevail. He opened his eyes and looked at her wit a smile.
"Hello, father." she whispered.
"Hello, child." he rasped. "How are you and the baby?"
She smiled. "We are both well. The doctor tells me that I am to deliver any day now. So, I suppose any day now you will be able to see your grandchild."
"Oh I cannot wait." he whispered.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Oh I feel wonderful. A bit on the exhausted side, but happy none the less." said the King.
"That's good. Do you need anything? Water, food?" she asked.
"No, I am fine child. How is Hector?" he asked.
Anama lowered her head so he wouldn't see her face, but a ghostly white hand reached up and raised her face to him.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing. He has just been a bit distant lately." she said.
"Oh well I can imagine. With everything that happened, what with losing you and all." said the King.
"No, it's not because of that." she said.
"Oh, it's about me then, hm?" he asked.
Anama could only nod.
"Yes, well I assumed he would be like this. Losing a parent isn't easy, especially when it's your last one." smiled the King.
"I've never seen him like this. He never eats, never sleeps, he is always away either hunting or just riding. I barely ever see him." said Anama sadly.
"This isn't easy for him." said the King.
"Yes I know this, but, he can't keep shutting people out whenever something horrid happens in his life. He needs to accept these things and he needs to accept help from others." said Anama.
"Have you told him this?" asked the King.
"I haven't seen him long enough to even utter a single word to him." she said.
"Go, find him and let him know how you are feeling." said the King.
"Are you kicking me out?" she asked with a playful smile on her face.
"Of course I am. I am old and need rest." he laughed. "Go and find him."
"Where do I look." she exasperated.
"Try the stables." whispered the King as he fell into a restful sleep, the medicine finally taking over.
Anama stood and kissed his forehead before pulling up his covers. She opened the door and closed it behind her, letting a lone tear fall from her eyes as she leaned back. She heaved a big sigh and wiped away her tears and set off to find her husband.
As she made her way through the halls, people would bow to her out of respect. Usually she would return the bow with a smile, but she was in too much of a hurry.
She reached the stables faster than she thought, considering she pretty much had to waddle everywhere. She walked in and looked around, seeing if she could spot Hector anywhere. She looked in all of the stalls but he was nowhere. She looked outside a window to her right to see a lone figure standing off in the fields, staring at the ocean.
She walked quietly through the fields, watching him as his dark chocolate hair blew in the wind. His arms were crossed and he leaned to one foot, which meant he was thinking. She walked a bit further and stopped a few feet away. He didn't notice her walk up, which she was grateful for. She wanted to look at him, watch him for any type of reaction.
"Hector." she said.
Hector turned quickly to see his wife standing but a few feet away from him. He must of been in deep thought not to have heard her walk up.
"Anama, what are you doing out here?" he asked.
"Coming to find you." she said.
"What for? Is something wrong with you and the baby?" he asked suddenly alert.
"No, we're fine. But you're father is not." she said.
She saw the concern on his face disappear rather quickly, and a stone front wall take its place.
"Hector, you can't keep doing this." she said.
"Doing what?" he retorted back, turning to face the ocean once again.
"Staring off into a world not your own. Ignoring everyone that you come into contact with. Your father is dying, and there is nothing you can do to shut that out from your life. He needs you, and as much as you hate to admit it, you need him just as much. He is your father for Christ's sake, Hector. Are you just going to stand here while he lays in his bed, becoming paler and sicker than he already is? That isn't fair to him or to you." shouted Anama.
"Fair? You want to know what isn't fair, Anama? Having my mother die when I was but a child. Having to watch my wife die of an illness no one seems to know about. And then to top it all off, having to watch the only other person who has ever given me guidance, who has ever shown me love and respect die, right in front of me. How fair do you think that is?" he shouted.
"Are you hearing yourself? Throughout everything you just told me I heard nothing that regards to anyone else. Just you. You are so selfish right now, and quiet frankly I am over it. You think you are the only one that is hurting?" shouted Anama.
"Excuse me my love, but he is my father, not yours." spat Hector.
"Right. What about Paris? Priam is his father also am I wrong? Have you ever even thought about what this may be doing to Paris? Paris never knew his mother, and right now, the only parent he has ever known is dying right in front of him, and he can't do anything about it!" she shouted.
"Paris is dealing with it the best way he knows how, and so am I." he said.
"Standing here, staring out at the ocean, away from everyone isn't dealing with it Hector. Everyone is worried about you, especially me. You're never home, you never eat you never sleep. Are you even human anymore?" she said.
"Yes I am human and I don't need you shouting at me telling me what I should and shouldn't do! I am a grown man, I think I can deal with things on my own." he yelled.
"Yes I can see that." she said angrily.
"Look, I don't need you or anyone else to tell me what I am doing is wrong. And besides, you wouldn't know anything of what I am going through right now. You never knew your parents." he said.
"Look, I may not have known my parents, but I did have them. And I know what it is like to watch one of your parents die in front of your eyes and it is not a grand thing. It haunts you, day and night. You see the images that you wish you never saw, and there is nothing you can do about. Priam may not be my real father but he has shown me more love and care than ever before. So if you are going to stand there, and think that you are the only one that is suffering, then you are more selfish and cold hearted than I ever thought you were." she spat.
"I guess that's what you would see." he spat.
"You are unbelievable. Your father is dying, he may not even live to see tomorrow, and you are too selfish to even go and see him. Do you think that maybe he would want to see his eldest son, the future king of Troy, before his last breathe? Don't you think that he would want you by his side when the time comes? What if he did die tomorrow? What would you do then? Barricade yourself from everyone? He is so proud of you Hector, and he wanted to tell you that himself. I guess he won't be able too." she finished.
She turned away, tears flowing from her eyes as she walked back to the palace. Hector had tears falling from his eyes the entire time Anama spoke. He knew he was being selfish, and had hurt Anama with his words, but he couldn't face his father. He couldn't see him lying there, nearing death with each breathe. He wiped away his tears and turned his head to see Anama walking back towards the palace. He lowered his head and turned back to the ocean, the breeze washing against his face.
Anama walked into her rooms, tears still flowing from her eyes. She sat down on the couch and dropped her head into her hands, as much as her belly would allow. There was knock on her door, but she was to lazy to get up.
"Come in!" she said.
The door opened to reveal a very distraught looking Paris. His eyes were swollen red from crying and his hair was all over. He looked a mess. Anama smiled and motioned for him to come sit next to her. Paris sat down and embraced her into a hug. He let his tears fall once more as he clung to Anama as if she were a lifesaver.
Anama let him cry, giving a few tears of her own. They sat holding each other for awhile until Paris pulled away. He wiped away his dried tears as did Anama.
"How is he?" asked Paris.
"He still refuses to see him." she said, knowing they were talking about Hector.
"I figured. He dwells to much into the past, never realizing what the future may hold for him." he said.
"I know, and no matter how many people try and tell him that, he never seems to accept it." she said.
"In due time, he will realize what he has done and come to his senses." said Paris.
"Yes, but I fear that by then it will be too late." she said.
"Me too." said Paris.
"I just, ow!" she yelled as a wave of pain swept through her stomach.
"Anama! What's wrong?" asked Paris.
"I don't know." she said as she held her stomach. Another wave of pain swept through her as she tried to stand. Paris helped her up but she stood stock still.
"What?" he asked.
She slowly looked down to see water on the floor.
"Oh no." she said.
Paris looked down to see water on the floor and instantly knew what was happening. She was having this baby now, and they needed to move quickly. Paris ran to the door and threw it open.
"Guards!" he yelled. A guard ran up, weapon at the ready.
"What's wrong my lord?" he asked.
"Go and fetch the doctor immediately!" he yelled.
The guard nodded and ran off to fetch the doctor. Paris ran back inside and helped Anama who had been standing in the same spot, over to the bed. He laid her down as a cry erupted from her throat, signaling the baby was surely on its way.
No more than 10 minutes later, the doctor came rushing in, towels and water at the ready. He set down his things at the end of the bed and ordered Kia to help with Anama.
"Paris, go, find Hector. Now!" yelled Anama, as another wave of pain ran through her body. She cried out and clutched the sheets beneath her fingers, her knuckles turning white.
Paris ran through the halls, searching high and low for his brother. He asked everyone he came in contact with, but no one had seen him. He ran down to the stables to see Hector brushing down his horse.
"Hector!" shouted Paris.
"Paris, please, I am not in the mood." he said.
"It's Anama." said Paris out of the breathe.
"Look, she already told me how she feels about father and she made it perfectly clear she hates me, so-"
"She's having the baby!" shouted Paris, cutting Hector off.
"What?" asked Hector.
"Anama, she is in labor as we speak." said Paris.
Hector dropped the brush and ran from the stables. He took the stairs two even three at a time, hoping to get to his room quicker. As he raced down the hall, he heard her screams. He burst open the door, causing Kia to drop the bowl of water she held in her hands.
"Anama!" yelled Hector.
"Hector! Oh thank goodness." she sighed.
Hector ran over to her and kissed her on the forehead as he held her hand.
"I am so sorry my love, I promise never to hurt you again." he said.
"Too late!" she yelled as another contraction hit her, causing her to scream in agony.
"It's time!" yelled the doctor. "Anama, when I tell you to push, push with everything you've got."
"I'll try." she sighed.
"You can do it." whispered Hector.
"Alright, push!" yelled the doctor.
Anama screamed as she pushed. Never had she felt anything this painful in her life. Making a baby sure wasn't as painful as having one. She dropped back down onto the bed, trying to regain more strength before the doctor yelled-
"Push!"
She sat up and pushed with what strength she could muster.
"Keep pushing you're almost there." said the doctor.
She kept pushing until she heard the most beautiful sound she could ever here. A baby's cry.
"It's a girl." said the doctor.
"A girl." said Hector with a big smile.
"A girl." smiled Anama.
"Kia, take the baby and get her cleaned up. Anama, I need you to try and regain as much strength as you can before you have to push again." said the doctor.
"Again?" said Anama and Hector in unison.
"Yes, again. You are carrying twins your highness." said the doctor as if he knew all along.
Anama sighed and dropped back down onto the bed.
"I can't do it, Hector. I don't have the energy." she breathed.
"Yes you can. Only a bit more, you can do it. You're strong." he said as he wiped his hand along her forehead, reassuring her she would be fine.
"Okay your highness. Now when I tell you to push, push. This one should come out quicker than the other." said the doctor.
"Oh, Gods." said Anama.
"Push!" yelled the doctor.
Anama screamed as she mustered up every ounce of strength she could. The doctor instructed her to push once more as he pulled out a healthy looking boy.
"You have a boy!" shouted the doctor.
"We have a boy!" shouted Hector.
Anama only smiled, since she was a bit drained from delivering twins. Hector gave her a kiss upon her nose as he calmed her down. The doctor cleaned her up, and handed her the twins.
"They're beautiful." she whispered.
She let tears fall from her eyes as she looked down upon their faces. They both had dark hair like their father, although the girl had bits of blonde mixed in. They both had deep brown eyes like their parents.
Hector looked at them over Anama's shoulder. Never had he seen anything more beautiful than what was before him now. He gently stroked the boy's hair, as he opened his eyes. Deep brown eyes stared back at them, taking in his surroundings. The little girl whimpered a bit but soon fell back asleep.
"I will leave you two alone." said the doctor.
They both nodded as the doctor went to the door. Hector followed him out.
"Doctor, I don't know how to thank you." said Hector.
"You can thank me by going in there and taking care of your new family." smiled the doctor.
"Very well. Thank you." said Hector once more.
The doctor smiled as he turned and walked off, happy after a good day of work.
Hector went back into the room, but stopped suddenly at the view before him. Anama lay propped up in bed, her knees drawn up, and the two babies laying against her knees. She had a soft smile upon her face as she gently talked to them. Her face was flushed and her hair was a big mass of blonde curls. She looked beautiful.
He gently closed the door, and walked over to her. He sat down next to her and looked down at the two small bundles that they had made.
"They're gorgeous." he said.
"Yes they are." smiled Anama.
"We made them." he said astounded.
"Yes we did. Although I must say making them was more enjoyable then having them. But now that we have them, I would gladly do it again." she smiled.
"Good, because I want more." smiled Hector as he turned towards her.
"Ha!" she laughed. "Not for awhile my prince."
"We'll see." he said.
"Yes, we'll see." she smiled.
"I want to show my father." whispered Hector.
Anama turned to him to see if she had heard right.
"I want my father to see them." he said.
"Alright." she said.
Hector picked up his daughter and handed her to Kia as he helped Anama to stand while she was holding their son. Hector grabbed his daughter from Kia and the walked towards his fathers rooms.
Hector slowly opened the door to see sun shining in on his fathers room. His father was sitting up in his bed, talking with a few of his friends. When his father saw him, he asked his friends to leave. They excused themselves and left them alone.
"Hector, my son. Come." said Priam, motioning for Hector to join him.
"Father, I have some people I would like you to meet." said Hector.
"Hector, I am not in the mood to meet any one at this time." said the King.
"Believe me, you'll want to meet them." he said.
Hector walked over and drew back the curtain that blocked Priam's bedroom from the door. There stood Anama, with two bundles in her arms, and a big smile on her face. Hector grabbed his daughter from Anama's arms and motioned for her to go first. She walked slowly over to the King, seeing as how she was a bit tired. She sat down next to him.
"Father, I would like you to meet your grandson." she said.
"Oh, he's beautiful." whispered Priam.
"And also your granddaughter." said Hector, as he sat on the chair next to the bed.
"Two?" said Priam astounded.
"Yes, twins." said Hector.
"Twins? Well, I must say. That is unheard of." said the King. "Hear, give me my grandson."
Anama smiled and handed him over as she leaned back against the headboard, next to Priam.
"You are going to be just like your father, breaker of hearts, people used to call him." laughed Priam.
"I was not." bantered Hector.
Priam only laughed as he watched his grandson show a gummy smile. Priam's eyes seem to shine with more light than they ever had.
"And what of my granddaughter. Let me get a look at her." said the King.
Hector handed his daughter to his father, and Priam seemed to light up more. There he sat, with two of the most beloved things he had ever met in his arms. Anama and Hector couldn't help but smile at the look upon Priam's face.
"What are their names?" he asked.
Anama and Hector looked at each other.
"Well, we haven't really decided yet." said Hector. "We wanted you to have the honors."
"Ah, I see. Let's see, what shall we call you?" Priam asked the two bundles in his arms.
He was met with giggles and gurgles.
"Let us see, let us call you, Iliana." he said, referring to his granddaughter. "And you, my son, Pelagios."
"It seems to fit them." said Hector.
"Yes well, after having to name children for so many years, it just comes naturally." said the king with a smile.
"I'm sure." smiled Anama.
The twins began to cry and Anama decided it was time to eat.
"I suppose they're hungry. I'll go and feed them and put them to sleep." she said.
"You should get some sleep also, you look exhausted." said the King.
"Yes, after having two children in one day is a bit tiring I must admit." she smiled. "Goodnight father. I love you."
"I love you as well my child. As well as these two here. I was glad I could see them, and I thank you for letting me name them. It means wonders." said the king.
"Your welcome." said Anama. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and picked up her two children. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, child." he said.
Hector gave his wife a kiss and opened the door for her. He closed the door behind her and walked back towards his father. He sat down on the chair next to the bed and heaved a sigh.
"There, there." said Anama. She had just fed the twins and had laid them down in the crib that was off to the side of the room, away from the balcony. The twins were a bit fussy but soon calmed down. They both lay, eyes closed, breathing deeply. Anama stood above them, a small smile gracing her features. She never thought something so small could make her heart grow so big. She was seated next to the crib, rocking it gently back and forth as the door opened.
Hector walked in, face looking solemn. Anama stopped the crib slowly as to not wake the twins, and walked over to Hector who had made his way to the balcony. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"What's wrong?" she asked him.
She was met with silence and she wondered what had been said between the two of them. She then felt a wet drop fall on her hand and knew Hector was crying. She unwrapped her arms and stepped in front of Hector. Tears were falling quickly from his eyes as he looked out over Troy.
"What happened?" she asked.
"He's gone." Hector whispered.
"Who?" Anama questioned, already having a feeling who it was.
"Father. He's gone." he said again, more tears falling from his eyes.
Anama's own eyes began to fill with tears as the realization dawned on her. He had been alive nought but two hours ago. She wrapped her arms around Hector as they both stood upon the balcony, holding each other as they cried.
Nightfall had fallen by the time the two unwrapped themselves from each other. Hector told her everything he and his father had spoken about, and he felt as if a weight had been lifted that had been there for years. He stood up and looked out over the city he loved dearly.
"Soon, this will all be yours." said Anama.
"Yes, and that is what scares me." he said.
"You will make a great King." said Anama.
"And you will make a great Queen. As long as I have you by my side, I can do anything." he said.
He smiled and kissed her as the stars above them shown a bit brighter than usual. They both looked down upon the city that they would soon rule, and wondered what was to come.
They knew that whatever happened, they would take it on full force, together.
Finally! Sorry it has been FOREVER since i have updated, but i just didn't know where to take the story, and i still don't, so i decided to end it the best way i could and i hope i did a good job. It's a bit long, just for you guys, i don't know if i want to do an epilogue or not. Let me know what you think!! Thank you all for the reviews and sorry for disappearing for awhile. Enjoy and please review!!!