Empire of Dreams

*1*

The crowd was silent as I walked out into the bright sunlight after a long, long time. The countrymen and women bowed down to me as I completed the last walk of my life, the bible open in my hand but my mind racing in a million different directions. I was going to die.

Just as my head was placed on the stone, I turned my head to look at Mary. Never in my life had she ever been soft or kind towards me, but when she said she had never wanted it to end this way, it didn't take anything more to make me believe her. As her eyes watered up, I closed mine, thinking just one last thing-
'I wished things hadn't ended up this way. I wished go back in time and change it'

I waited for the cold blade to slash my neck, its cold stroke the last thing I would feel but instead, I was shaken awake. I realised only then that I had been dreaming. Safely back in my room at the Sudeley Castle, it was the my lady in waiting jerking me awake.

"I'm awake Sia!" I turned around, still feeling it was too good to be true that I wasn't dead.

"The baby! Baroness Catherine is having the baby!" Sia shook me excitedly but I felt all my relief vanishing.

The baby.

I don't know if the dream was true but if the reality remained unchanged, this was when Catherine would.... No, I couldn't let this happen, not when I had been given a second chance.

"Sia, fetch Kathyrn, and I mean my sister. Immediately!" I panicked.

"But my lady, there are the midwives and the doctor. You can't trust Kathyrn when she is only aspiring-"

I cut Sia short. I didn't have time on my side.
"This is an order Sia, if that's what it takes. Bring Kathyrn here now. Tell her this requires her immediate attention!"

I could see the sudden shock on her face. After all, it wasn't everyday that I ordered her around like this, but she needed to carry out my orders as soon as she could if I were to do anything. She left hurriedly though, thankfully calming me a little.

Changing quickly into a pale orange day gown, I rushed to Catherine's room. But I immediately decided against entering when I found it filled to the brim with rushing doctors and midwives. Traditionally there wasn't such a big crowd, the birth of a child being a small intimate affair, but Thomas had consulted some of the best doctors, having plans to not let his beloved wife feel the slightest of discomforts.

"There you are, little grey!" My uncle hugged me shakily.

"You look positively shaken" I commented.

"Well, that I am, but I'm also beyond myself with the mere thought of being able to hold my child in hands soon. Catherine says it is going to be a boy, I say a girl, but honestly, I would be happy with either as long as I have Catherine"

Hearing Uncle Thomas wonder about the future made me feel a strong pang of guilt in my heart.

It was only a dream I reminded myself, but something made me feel as if it was so much more than that.

As the hours stretched on, Uncle Thomas got worse. Instead of trying to sleep or carry on with his routine, he was now barging into the room for new information every half an hour, but it was all in vain.

Finally as the sky started to dim as the sun set, one of the doctors came out to inform Thomas about the complications and how it may be possible that only the child would survive.

Even after having seen this all play out in my dream, it was not easy by any measure to hear the news. I checked from the gardens for any signs of horses but I knew it would take atleast a couple more hours for Kathyrn to arrive with Sia.

The house had burst into a chaotic mess as Uncle Thomas ordered everyone around snapping at them uselessly. Oh how he loved his wife...

The next two hours were truly the worst of my life. I knew I was cutting it close, having no idea whether Kathyrn would even be able to help or not. But that was the only chance I could take. Though only ten, Kathyrn was one of the most knowledgeable doctors and if age would not cause a barrier, she easily possessed the talent to be one of the best.

"I assure you sir that I did not allow any casualities on my watch! The Baroness was provided with the best and most nutritious food" Leopold, our old cook defended himself.

It didn't take much effort to realise that Uncle had started accusing the staff members for mistaked they did not make.

"Calm down Uncle Thomas! It's not Poly's fault!" I intervened and as if only just realising what he was doing, Uncle jerkily sat back on the armchair in the parlour, his head in his hands now.

"What did I do wrong? Why my Catherine?" His voice broke, causing me to bend on my knees, forcing him to look at me.

"It's not your fault. And if it makes it even a little better, I have summoned Kathyrn from back home. I'm sure she'll be of help"

Though not completely reassured, Thomas's features eased a little, clinging on to whatever hope he could find.

As if on cue, the horses noisily enetered the palace gardens.

"It's them" Uncle and I both said at the same time as we rushed out.

"Greetings, dear sister, am I an elder sister yet?" Kathyrn's eyes shimmered in glee.

"We'll have time for this later. It's Aunt Catherine.... They she's not going to make it"

The shine quickly went out from Kathyrn's big eyes.

"Let me in then" she said and followed Thomas into the room, leaving me outside to pray that this would be enough.

Hey there! So, this was the first chapter of Empire of dreams. I hope you enjoy how it turns out! :) Also, I'll be posting a song for each chapter making a kind-of playlist for the story, so with the first chapter, here is the orchestral version of Haunted by Taylor Swift!