“Lady Myra; are you alright?” A young housekeeper asks with much concern as she watches Myra clutch onto her stomach.

“Chime, I feel that its time. My child wishes to become a part of the world.” Myra says as she looks at the young girl.

“Oh, oh my; lady Myra we should get you to the medical room.” She gently takes Myra’s free hand.

“I fear we may not make it that far.” She says, once again and clutches her stomach.

“Lady Myra?”

Two servants hear Chime from down the hall they come to help. They pick up Myra and carry her to the medical room as quickly as possible. Chime stays at Myra’s side the best she can.

“Ah, Lady Myra; seems the child is finally ready to come into the world.” The Doctor says. Myra gets onto the medical cot. The doctor turns to look at Chime.

“My help is not here tonight; would you stay to give me a hand?” he asks her before she leaves the room.

“Yes, of course.” Chime gives a bow.

Then within two hours she gives birth to a child; the infant does not cry the doctor hands the child to Chime; she wraps it into a cloth.

“Doctor what’s going on is my child… AH…” before she can finish she has another contraction.

The Doctor goes back to Myra.

“Another?” he whispers.

“What?” Myra asks.

“Give another push Myra.”

“Ok.”

Then after another four pushes she gives birth to another child. He wraps the child into a cloth. Then he looks over at Chime who is still holding the first born.

“Could you step out with me for a moment Chime?” the doctor asks.

“Yes of course.”

They lay the children together on a small cot. Then they step out of the room.

“I must report to the king. You are not to tell Myra about the children; we must first inform the king, we must wait for his instruction.”

“I understand.” She looks down sadly.

The doctor leaves: he is quick to return with the king. The doctor enters the room he returns with the first born. He hands the child over to chime.

“As an order from your king you are to never tell anyone about the events of today, you are not to tell Myra bout her birthing of two children nor about what sex they are. Now you will take this child to the edge of the kingdom’s border, and you will leave the child there. If you refuse this order you shall share the fate of the infant.” The king says.

“Is there something wrong with my child?” Myra asks the moment the doctor re-enters the room.

“No, there is nothing wrong with your child; you have given birth to a beautiful baby girl.” The Doctor says.

“Once the girl is old enough she will wed my eldest grandson, it has already been documented.” The king says then leaves the room.

The doctor gives Myra her child.

“She is beautiful.” Myra says with watering eyes.

“You need to get some rest Lady Myra. Your daughter will be cared for just as the rest of the children are.” The doctor looks over at her and the child.

He takes the girl from Myra and leaves the room. Myra rolls onto her side and closes her eyes.

***

Chime takes the infant into her arms. She goes out to the edge of the castle border.

“Is anyone out there?”

She is answered by the night’s silence.

“Please someone, are you out there?” she calls out again.

“I am out here.” A hooded man answers.

“Who are you?”

“I cannot give you a name as of now. Is the child you carry one of Myra’s?”

“Yes, this is Myra’s first born; it is her son.”

“So why are you calling for someone way out here at the edge of the castle borders?”

“The King has ordered me to do something unforgivable and cruel; he wants me to leave this child alone to die. I can’t do it, even more so knowing this is a child of Myra. I could not betray someone who has only ever been kind to me. Please will you take this child and care for him?”

“I give you my word that the boy will be well taken care of. If you ever have to tell anyone about this night, who you gave the boy to…”

He whispers a name into her ear then carefully taking hold of the child then he and the child disappear as if they were never there.

“Thank you.” She calls out to the emptiness, whipping the tear from her face she bows and returns to the castle grounds.

***

“Ari congratulations.”  A guard who is walking with Captain says.

“I don’t understand.”

“Myra has given birth ...” Before the Captain can finish what, he is saying Ari has already started running down the hall.

***

Suddenly there was a loud bell ringing. Myra gets to her feet then she leaves the medical room slowly. She takes a deep breath to gather her strength. Then she continues. Soon she and Ari meet as they both come to the end of the hallway.

“Why are you out of bed? You just gave birth to our child.” Ari says as he holds onto her shoulders.

“I’m fine; the signal bell the castle is being attached.” Myra says.

“We should go and make our stand.” Ari says.

“No, we need to first get the innocent out of danger; if we don’t the future of the kingdom may not exist.” Myra.

“Ok, you are right. You guide the children I will follow from behind we’ll protect them together.” Ari

“Mr. and Mrs. Arrows is there anything I can do to assist you?” Chime asks as she comes around the corner.

“Yes, we’re going to get the children and bring them to safety.” Myra says.

Chime gives a quick bow of her head.

“Alright we should move quickly.” Myra says as she starts on her way to the children’s chamber.

They make it to the children’s chambers.

“Wait, where is my baby?” Myra calls out worriedly as she looks around the room and the children are all crowded together.

“I believe the child was placed in your chambers, it’s a tradition for new families to spend the first night together.” Chime says.

Without hesitation, she runs out.

“Mrs. Arrows!” Chime calls out behind her, but she’s stopped by a hand on her shoulder.