The White Rose

The queens lying in: white oaks Palace

Winter-past and bad storms filled the kingdom with a melancholy unheard of before. There was rampant illness and epidemics of colds and coughs and flu many kinds. The king was worried and he decided to take us all to white oaks palace where we all retired in splendor and in worry. For many of the Royals at the time had had many children die of these illnesses of the cold and flu. And so the king was worried for me as well. I was nearing my time when I would go and be in my chambers and soon time came as the snows began to melt and many of the courtiers returned the palace to service. The king was especially worried for me because this was our first child. I was sitting among my ladies when I felt the first pains attack me. It did feel like an attack but later it felt as though I might be exaggerating things a little. That I was with needle and hand my cup of mold wine beside me. My gown of cream damask with slashes of gold and pearls.
I was dressed as the queen should be dressed. The girl MARI was indeed put into the tower. She was released but she would never serve the king or I in any position.
We wrote to her uncle of this offense that we had all witnessed and he was said to have gravely punished her indeed. We could do nothing but make sure that the girl caused no more mischief or told lies of any kind. I was sitting with my ladies when it happened the pain it was so real it took me from my own daydreams, cup of wine and needlepoint. One of the ladies came forward to ask if I was all right. I went and stood up feeling myself quite ill. I said that I would retire to my bed. Soon the court physician's were called and the palace flew into action.
The fire was built up and I was dressed in the same gown that the kings mother wore when she had him. This did some give me comfort. I called for more wine but was told that I shouldn't have anymore. The pain built then stopped then built again. I was allowed to rest a little here and there but I knew that the ladies were anxious and so was the king. I could hear priests and priestesses chanting to the gods for a safe delivery delivery as I continue to wax and wane in pain throughout the night.

    "The Queen is in her laboring time." Said Lord Chanbera as he served the king another cup of wine, "Praise Gods it be a son." Said the king, "And if it not your Majesty?" Asked lord Percey, 'Oh all fathers love their daughters tis true." "But it would be a good thing to have a little Prince." Said the king. "How does it?" "I heard it from my lady wife." Said Lord Pevency, "that the Queen is in splendid form." the king nodded, "By tomorrow night we shall have an heir." "I should go to the chapel to pray." Said the king rising with his Lords and walking down to the chapel royal.
    There he knelt amid clouds of incense as the Priests began to murmur prayers. There he stayed throughout the night praying as he'd never done before. He'd prayed for his late wife too of course but never as before had he prayed.

    "Push!" The midwife said as I felt my strength ebb. "Dialea help me!" I said praying to the Goddess of childbirth. "YOur Majesty its time." Said the midwife, "Push." "No!" I cried as I tired to bare this child into the world. Asi'd labored through the night the sun came up and now it was raining and the morning was half over. Then with a deliberate strength, the last I had I brought the squirming babe into the world, "Majesty there is no tearing, and you have born the child well." "Now praise Gods you will recover and will not suffer child bed fever." "What is it?" I asked worried now, for the babe had not let out the wail most common. I'd seen babes being born and usually. "No." I said as I remembered oneof the women giving birth. the child did not cry and was soon dead. A slap and the lungs inhaled and the tiny cries filled the chamber. I sank back into my pillows with relief. "You have a healthy son your Majesty." Said the countess of Ailshum, "Praise Gods it is a son."

    "Your maijesty." Came the sound of running feet as the king rose from his prayers, "The queen is delivered." "And man be not crel to hismajesty." Said one of the king's men of the chamber, "She has delivered of a healthy boy." Said the man beaming as he bowed. "Gods be praised." He said hurrying off to the Queen's chambers.

    I lay back amongthe pillows, my bed linens changed and was dozing. the little boy's cries had quieted and from the suckling the wet nurse was caring forthe child. That had been explained to me that I could not nurse my own son as a Queen must be continuing to have as many children aswould she have. the door was flung open and I started to rise from my bed to tell who had been so rude to enter my chambers to go away. But it was the king. "Where is he?" Asked the king. The child was given to the king and he looked down at the tiny body, the downy head, the little face. "Oh he looks likeme." He said as he came towards the bed, "My love you have done me well and this kingdom." "He shall be called Arthyr Edrid Lanal Prince of Valdore, of the most noble house of Onducier." I smile, "Oh he is a most lovely little Prince." I say with a nod, "Rest now my love for as soon as you are recovered the child will be blessed." "I have a son." "There shall be tournaments and feastss for the little Prince." "A son, by the Gods it is a son." "He shall be removed to the palace of Valdore and cared for by the knights and squires there." "He  shall have his wet nurse Mistress Barlyn, and several lords of the chambers." "Nine knights will be knighted and serve him most wondrously."
Soon we could hearthe fireworks and the cheers of "OLong live Prince Arthyr." "Gods save his Majesty!" And, "Gods blessher Majesty."