Drafty

The Great Pain

        The Queen went into labor soon after she felt the immense pains.  Her cries could be heard across the castle.  The sound bounced off the stone walls, and with every wail came a wince from each servant in the castle.  Although most weren't particularly fond of the Queen, they still felt deep sadness when she was in pain.  However, they continued to work.  The Queen would want them to, and so they tried to ignore the violent shrieks.

        Many hours later, King Derich heard a small knock on his door.  It was early morning, and the sun had not risen just yet.  The King had been awake for hours waiting for the news of his new child, so when the doctor walked in to the king's study, he was very excited.

        "Is it a boy?" the king asked the doctor, "Oh I hope so.  I've been wanting a boy since the day I was married...."

        "SIr!" interrupted the doctor, "I'm afraid the news I have will not excite you."

        "No no.  It's okay if it's a girl.  I was just hoping that..."

        "You're highness, you must listen to me. Please," the king stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the doctor, completely serious.  "Thank you," answered the doctor, "Your Queen... is... is...."

        "Spit it out man!" roared the king, "What has happened to my wife?"

        "I'm sorry your highness," said the doctor in a quieter tone, "It's just that she's.... she's dead.  She died in childbirth just a little while ago..."

        "What do you mean she's dead?  How is this possible?"

        "Againl, I'm sorry your highness.  We did the best we could.  The baby's dead too and..."

        "What do you mean the baby's dead too?" the king's face suddenly became enflamed.  He was heading into a fit of rage when, out of nowhere, the king began to cry.

        "Your highness, are you okay?"

        Tears streaked across the poor man's face as he wept for the death of his wife and his child, "Tell me doctor, what was it?"

        "A... boy," the doctor responded.  The king wept harder until without warning, he stopped.  "We must keep this to ourselves doctor," said the king, "If word were to spread around the kingdom, who know's what would happen.  The death of a spouse, at least in our kingdom, is a sign of bad luck and thusly a bad ruler.  If my daughter is to be Queen, we must keep the people on our side.  Promise me you won't tell a soul doctor."

        "I promise," he responded, "But what of the Queen? Won't the people wonder?"

        "We'll say she got sick.  Very sick.  She doens't go out much anyway, and so I doubt people would noticed if she never showed her face again.  Doctor, will you not tell a soul?"

        "I never shall.  My loyalty to you runs deeper than that of a lowly peasant.  Your secret is safe with me."

        "Thank you doctor.  Now leave me to mourn the two deaths I shall forever dread."

        "Yes your highness."  The doctor bowed deeply unto the king and hurried out the door of the study.  The doctor, of course, had no intention of keeping this a secret.  He had been growing increasingly tired of the rule of the Derich's ever since he was hired to work in their castle.  He knew of what went on outside in the kingdom, and he knew what he could do with the information to make his life better.  If only the Queen had given him the respect he had deserved.  Then maybe things wouldn't have ended this way.