It was a very windy night in the Dark Kingdom. The wind blew hard through the trees that bent as if they were breaking off the ground.
All was quiet in the castle. Selena, now eight months pregnant, was in the living room, sitting in an armchair near the fireplace embroidering stuffed animals and a blanket for the soon-to-be-born baby, while she sighed happily to herself.
"*sigh* It's almost time, little one, I can't wait to meet you." Selena stroked her belly and felt a kick. "*huff* It looks like you can't wait to meet me too, as well as your daddy and the Brotherhood." At that moment, Edmund entered the room and sat down next to his wife and put his arm around her.
Selena let herself go into her husband's embrace, smiling warmly. "How is our baby?" Edmund asked warmly, his wife smiled, took his hand, and put it on her belly to feel the baby. The King heard kicks and smiled happily. "Did you hear it?" Selena asked him. "Yes. It's wonderful." Edmund bent his face to his wife's belly. "It's almost there now, I can't wait to see you." He kissed her belly softly, and then Selena.
The next day, Selena was in the nursery with the Brotherhood trio, who were helping her place the stuffed animals and the cover she had made last night.
Quirin put some stuffed animals on a shelf, sighed with relief when he put on the last puppet. "That's it, this was the last one."
"Don't you think you made too many stuffed animals, Selena?" Adira asked to the Queen.
Selena laughed. "No! Of course not!" She said exaggerated.
Quirin rolled his eyes. "Which basically means 'yes'."
Hector nodded, agreeing with Quirin. "You're already spoiling the princess even before she's born."
"Princess!? Do you think it will be a girl?" Selena asked him curiously. "And why?"
"Because if it's a girl, she'll cause less trouble than a boy." Hector replied.
Adira walked over grinning. "How witty you are, brother!"
"Don't push me, sister!" Growled Hector.
"Well, whether it's a boy or a girl, we'll still have to keep an eye on it." Quirin intervened.
Selena approached the three smiling. "Quirin is right. Anyway, the baby will be lucky to have you…" Selena stopped speaking when she felt sharp pains in her belly and realized what was happening: the baby is coming.
Selena fell to the floor in pain, only to be embraced by Quirin and Adira. "*huff* I guess it is time. *huff* Hector, call Edmund and tell him to join me *huff* in our rooms."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Hector ran out of the nursery to look for Edmund.
Then Selena turned to Adira and Quirin. "Adira, call the castle doctor *huff* and all possible maids and tell them to prepare towels and hot water."
"Immediately, Your Majesty." Adira ran outside to alert the castle staff.
"*huff* And Quirin help me get to my bed." "Yes, immediately."
Quirin helped Selena go to her chambers. After they got to the bedroom, Quirin laid the Queen down on her bed.
"*huff* I'm scared Quirin, what if *huff* something goes wrong." Selena was lying on the bed, filled with anxieties and fears.
Quirin took her hand. "Selena, you have to be calm. You'll see that everything will be fine." He reassured her friend.
Shortly after, the maids also arrived with hot water and towels, the castle doctor, Adira, Hector, and Edmund. Just as the handmaids were about to send the King and the Brotherhood out, Selena stopped them.
"No!" Selena, still in pain, stopped the maids who were pushing Edmund, Quirin, Adira, and Hector out of the room. "I want them here next to me. *scream* All four!" She ordered.
Although the maids were about to object, they understood from the look on her face that the Queen needed them, so the midwives allowed the King and the three knights to stay and help. Several very long hours of agony passed. Selena was lying on the bed, with pain all over her body, one hand of hers was holding Edmund and the other was holding the Brotherhood. Her cries echoed throughout the castle, until finally Selena's heartbreaking screams were replaced by the cry of a baby.
"It's a boy, Your Majesties. Congratulations." The castle doctor delivered the newborn to the Queen, exhausted but happy. Selena ended up shedding a few small tears of joy as she held the newborn bundle in her arms, Edmund gave her a kiss on her forehead and sat next to his wife and the Brotherhood leaned a little to see the baby better.
"What name do we want to give to our little prince, Edmund?" Selena asked her husband.
"I was thinking of your father's name. King Horace." He answered her.
"Really?" Selena smiled at Edmund and then also addressed the three knights. "How about you guys?" "I think that sounds good. Right guys?" Quirin said and Adira and Hector nodded in agreement. Selena smiled and looked back at the baby. "Welcome to the Dark Kingdom, sweet little Prince Horace." She said as she softly kissed the baby's cheek.