Havoc of Betrayal

CHAPTER 7 - Firstborn

CHAPTER 7

"Pacing raises stress." Detrick said, watching Mathias walk back and forth, ringing his hands, pulling on his fingers, massaging his shoulder, back, forth, back, forth. "Mathias-..."

"It's stressful!" Mathias cut him off, "It is-..." Mathias turned to the door he heard a scream come through, his heart racing in his chest.

Mathias felt Detrick's hand on his shoulder, guiding him to a couch before crouching in front of him, saying, "She will be fine."

"Doesn't sound like it." Mathias breathed, eyes glued to the door in front of him, "Why is she screaming so much?"

"That's what happens when you push a human out of you." Detrick said, chuckling lightly.

"Rick, it's not funny."

"It kind of is." Detrick said, making Mathias's worried eyes move to his, "Deep breaths, Mat. Soon enough, it will be over, and you will be holding your baby between your arms."

"I'm worried about Izzy." Mathias said.

"She'll be fine." Detrick said, "Women are incredible. Babies are born around the world every day. Stop stressing over this."

"Have you seen this before?"

Detrick nodded, saying, "My mother. With both my siblings. It terrified me, but then I was so happy they were alright."

"Sorry." Mathias said, "I didn't mean to bring that up."

"You didn't." Detrick shook his head.

"It's been hours. How is that normal?"

"It is. Trust me, Mat." Detrick said, getting to his feet when the screaming stopped, turning to where the wail of a baby could be heard. He turned to Mathias with a smirk, saying, "Ready to meet your baby?"

"No." Mathias said, the same worry still on his face.

The door opened, and a midwife stepped out, walking out with a bundle in her arms as she said, "You have a beautiful daughter, your grace." She said, handing her over to him. He hesitated before taking her in his arms, concerned about dropping her, he held her close before looking down at her red face, arms held close to the tiny face.

Mathias didn't know when his worry slipped, but he was smiling, eyes locked on the small face, his finger brushing the soft cheek. A breath of a laugh left him before he said, "She's beautiful."

"Has your hair." Detrick noted, making Mathias nod.

He looked at the midwife before he asked, "How is the queen?"

"She is well, your grace."

Mathias nodded, dismissing her before he called out to Axel, who came in from a separate door where he was standing outside in his usual post at the door. Mathias laughed, going to him before grabbing his arm, saying, "My girl." He said excitedly, placing her in Axel's arms before he could protest.

Axel looked down at her, his silence shattering when she yawned, making him breathe, "She's so tiny."

"She's perfect." Mathias said, finger caressing her head softly, laughing quietly before whispering, "I made this. How is that possible? To make a life. It feels so surreal."

Axel's eyes didn't move from the bundled creature that felt so foreign to him, an arm cradled her, the other hand reached for her head, caressing his thumb over her brow and seeing how much bigger his hand was compared to her head before he said, "Fragile."

"Of course, she's an infant, what did you expect?" Detrick said.

Axel smiled, even though he dreaded Mathias having a girl, even though he knew that he'd have to try again for an heir, he couldn't help the words that left his mouth next when he said, "I'll protect her." Mathias's hand wrapped around his arm lovingly, their eyes meeting and he saw the honesty and certainty of Axel's words as he said again, his hand that caressed the baby's face moved to cup Mathias's as he repeated, "I'll keep her safe. I'll keep her alive. She is yours, a part of someone that I love above anyone else." He smiled then, saying, "I'll love her."