The Silver Amazon of House Castellon

Birth of a Heroine

The worst storm in decades had been battering the Ishgar Continent for the last several days, heavy rain and fierce winds keeping everything inside for their own protection. This included the Castellon Estate in the Valyra Empire.

While everyone else in the empire had been bemoaning the dangerous weather and being forced indoors, the members of the household had been focusing solely on the Castellons, specifically the ruling head of family.

"Gods Damnit! Get this little fucker out of me!!!!" In the mansion's master bedroom laid a tall woman with golden brown skin, high cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and rich chocolate eyes. Her usually long, bouncy silver hair was wet and matted to her skin as she laid in bed surrounded by her nurses, maids, and her doctor.

This woman is Duchess Alexandra Castellon, ruling head of the Castellon Dukedom, one of the three duchies of the Valyra Empire.

She was giving birth to her second child. Although this birth was proving to be much more difficult than the first.

"It's okay darling, you're almost there. Just keep pushing." The person speaking was the Duchess's husband, Lord Jeremy Castellon (formally Hill). Jermey was a tall man, standing at six foot three, with short curly black hair, pale ivory skin, lush forest green eyes, and dimples that popped out of his soft cheeks as he smiled down at his wife.

Alexandra glared at her husband, grabbing the collar of his shirt, and pulling him close to her face. "Listen here! If you tell me that I'm 'almost there' one more time, I will fucking gut you, Jeremy! I swear to the fucking gods!"

Unlike the others in the room who flinched and stuttered at the woman's threat, Jeremy remained calm. "Okay, Alex. I'll just keep quiet then, my love."

Alexandra was going to say something else but let out a loud groan instead as the pain became more intense.

"I see the head my Lady!" The doctor at the end of the bed exclaimed.

"Arrrggghhh! You are never fucking me again, Jeremy Castellon! You hear me?!" The Duchess roared.

Just as suddenly as the pain began, it ceased all together. The room grew silent, the only thing that could be heard was Alexandra's strangled breathing.

"What-what is wrong? Where is my baby?!" Alexandra cried out, struggling to sit up with not only her exhaustion but Jeremy pushing her down.

"They-they are alive, Your Grace." The doctor quietly spoke as he stared down at the baby in his hands, his eyes meeting the baby's unwavering gaze.

"Why are they not making any sound?" Jeremy asked.

"I am not sure, Your Grace." He said before handing the newborn over to the midwives to be cleaned and clothed while the others prepared bath for their lady.

"It's okay, my love. They are alive." Jeremy whispered to his wife.

"If that were really the case, they would not look so nervous, Jeremy." Alexandra was unnerved by the whole experience, first her child was making no noise, and secondly the nervous and confused reactions of the doctor and nurses.

The conversation ended when the doctor returned with the newborn wrapped in a black blanket but was hidden from their view.

"My Lady, my Lord. We must speak with you about the babe." The head doctor spoke, his face gravely serious.

"What's wrong with them? I thought you said they would live." Alexandra narrowed her eyes at the men.

"They will, my Lady. But we are worried about their... body."