A Prince's Harem

Push

The very pregnant Duchess of Aquatia and Frostine, Viscountess Renais, was walking through her manor home with one of her friends and one of her ladies when suddenly her hand flew to her stomach as she stopped in her tracks.

"My Lady, what is going on?" The Duchess's lady fretted, trying to figure out what was happening to her mistress.

Marnie blinked once then jumped into action, "Send for the midwife and the physician at once then ride out to find the Viscount. I do not care how busy he claims to be, his wife is in labour and he would be a fool not to show up! Go!"

The Duchess fell to her knees, screaming in agony as she hit the floor, "Marnie! I can't!"

"You absolutely can, my friend, you can, you will and you must. You will have your child, and then we can leave this void forsaken place, together," Marnie helped her friend up and to her chamber, holding her hand tightly as the doctor and midwife arrived.

The Duchess let out a harsh scream, collapsing onto the bed for any form of comfort during the birth, "Marnie promise me one thing. Promise me that if  it comes to a choice then you make them chose my baby. Gavin needs an heir, if I give him a healthy son then another girl like me doesn't have to marry him afterwards. Promise me you'll choose my child and you will protect them."

Marnie felt her heart shatter at her friend's request, "Please don't make me-"

"Promise me Marnie!" The duchess panted out through her contraction, squeezing the Captain's hand.

"Your Grace, you must push!" The midwife called from her place below the labouring woman's skirts.

As her closest friend pushed, Marnie squeezed her hand to comfort her, "If it comes down to it, I will protect your child."

~~~

"Captain, there is too much blood," the doctor had pulled Marnie aside as the Viscount had still not bothered to grace the birth with his presence.

Marnie gasped slightly, "Oh dear void."

"We must make a choice right here and now. Do we save the Duchess or her child?" The doctor urged, time was of the essence, if he didn't act now then he would lose both mother and babe.

"It is..." Marnie took a deep breath, "It is the Duchess's one wish that you save her child if you can only save one."

The doctor nodded solemnly, "Yes, Captain."

~~~

The Viscount paced outside of the door, waiting for the news of the birth.

The doctor opened and closed the door behind him, "My Lord, there is news."

"Well what is it?! Tell me man! Do I have a boy?!" Gavin yelled, he could not care less about his wife but he needed a son.

"You have a son, an heir, my lord, but your wife may not survive this night. My Lord we need your permission to try to operate if I am to have any chance at saving the Duchess, I must ride out at once with your blessing," the doctor breathed out.

"Tell her she may name the boy, give her that comfort if nothing else," Gavin did not care, she had served her purpose and he had no use for her anymore, the matter of whether or not his wife was dead or alive was of no importance to him.

The doctor did a double take, surprised by his ghastly behaviour but he had no other choice but to obey, "Yes, My Lord."

~~~

"What do you mean you can't save her?!" Marnie yelled at the doctor, "I do not care if that stupid Viscount doesn't care, that is my best friend! You have to save her!"

"I do not have the time anymore... I was running on a limited enough clock even when I asked the Viscount and I don't have the time to ride out to the village now... I am sorry Captain," the doctor bowed his head.

~~~

Marnie sat on the bed beside her dying friend, "Does he have a name? Your son," She asked, swallowing hard at the thought of losing her closest friend.

"His name is Will. Lord Will Marino Renais, future Duke of Aquatia and Frostine, future Viscount of Lennox, his middle name is named for his godmother, you. Marnie, I know you'll treat him well whenever my husband allows you to see him," the Duchess blinked back her tears as she held her newborn son.

"I'm going to miss you, my sweet friend. My ship won't be the same without you to sail with my friend. I am so sorry I couldn't save you. I love you like a sister," Marnie pressed a platonic kiss to the Duchess's head, "And I will miss you."

"Before I go, I am setting my Fae Blessing to Miss Autumn Aurora. Gavin and Elyas have no right to bless or deny any part of his Fae heritage," the Duchess set the baby, Will, in Marnie's arms, "Goodnight Captain. I love you, my dearest Marnie."

Marnie took the baby into her arms, "I love you too my friend, goodnight."

"Until we meet again," and with a dying breath, her eyes slid closed peacefully.

Marnie bowed her head, holding the newborn close to her chest as he whined sadly, almost as if he knew what was happening around him.

~~~

"The Duchess is dead," Marnie spat at the Viscount, "When you decide to stop being a horrible individual then you can come collect your son from Autumn's home. Goodbye Viscount."

"If you take my son then I'll have you hanged for kidnapping," Gavin threatened, "I'll make sure you hang."

"What you seem to be forgetting is that he is my godson and at less than an hour old, this boy outranks you!"

"Three years is all you may have."

"Then I will treat him right for those years. I will see you at the Duchess's funeral," Marnie turned her back and left the manor with no other word spoken to the man she deemed responsible for the Duchess's death.