The Kingdom

25

Two months later...

Cahill paced around nervously with his men watching him in silence. No one dared to say a word to the king. That was something Cahill did not like, the way people had changed with him, still that day it wasn't about that. It wasn't about that at all. It didn't matter if the men now see him in a different way, no... the only thing that mattered was the yelling coming from inside his chambers. Yells from Cathleen that were driving him insane. Suddenly, a loud cry made him stop and he smiled knowing the baby had been born.

"It's a girl..." A woman came to say.

"And Cathleen?" He asked feeling his heart beating fast. "How is she?"

"The queen is fine." The woman smiled. Cahill smiled back at her feeling an enormous relief.

"Can I see her?" He asked and the woman nodded.

Cahill entered his chamber feeling his legs trembling and his knees failing. The women that helped Cathleen deliver the baby made room for him to pass and bowed in respect for the king. Cathleen was lied on their bed holding a tiny little thing in her arms.

"How are you?" He asked with a smile on his lips and placing a kiss on her forehead.

Cathleen looked exhausted and her hair was still wet from the effort she had made. Cahill sat by her side and she unwrapped the little girl so he could see her.

"I am sorry I could not give you a boy." She said. Cahill looked at her and shook his head.

"I am happy with a little girl." He told her feeling so much joy looking at the fruit of his love with Cathleen.

"She has your blue eyes, Cahill." She said looking up at him.

"Give her to me." He asked wanting to hold his daughter in his arms.

Cathleen did so and he held the baby resting her head on his hand. The baby opened her eyes and he cracked a laughter.

"Mary..." He whispered marveled. "Princess Mary..." He said making Cathleen's heart beat fast with joy.

"She is healthy and strong." Cathleen continued. Cahill sat on the bed again.

"You must rest now." He talked to Cathleen.

"Cahill?" She called his name.

"What my love?"

"You can go now look for Keira." She told him. Cahill's eyebrow curled.

"Now? But..."

"I delivered the baby and we are fine. It's time to find Keira, Cahill and give her the throne. She's the righteous heiress not me. We don't want this burden. None of us is happy and you know it."

"I don't think it's the right time. Mary is so little and you are still recovering..." Cathleen shook her head.

"We've lost too much time already. None of this is ours, it belongs to her. Mary is here now and I am fine. We are both fine so please do as I ask you. Please..."

Cahill nodded. "But know that I wish I didn't have to go."

Cathleen grabbed his hand in hers. "I know. I love you with all my heart Cahill and it kills me that you have to leave us but my father is not my father anymore for he misses her so much and I don't want to rule and I think people know that for sometimes they look at me strangely."

"It's not because of that... it's that now you are their ruler. The men also changed their manners with me and I wasn't expecting them to do so."

"I also miss her." She said as a whisper and gazing at Mary. "She doesn't know she has a niece..." Cahill saw the tears flickering in her eyes and kissed her lips for comfort.