To Take What Is Rightfully Ours

Chapter 28. Treating The Child Right

Diane knocked carefully on the nursery door, trying not to scare Haisa who had her back turned and probably didn't hear her coming.

'How is he?' she inquired as soon as Haisa turned to look at her.

The woman sighed, 'I'm not going to lie, it doesn't...

'Doesn't what?'

'It doesn't look good.'

Diane nodded to herself and slowly walked closer to the table. The newborn boy was lying on a pillow, swaddled in a clean blanket, and it looked so tiny. All the newborns were tiny, of course, but this one was smaller than usual. He wasn't crying but he didn't seem to be asleep either.

'His breathing is shallow and his little heart, bless him, is beating so fast. And that combined with all I know about the Queen's pregnancy and how long the labor lasted...' Haisa trailed off.

'Just say it.'

'I'm not sure he will survive the night.'

Diane let out a sigh, crossing her arms on her chest, 'Damn it.'

'I'll make him as comfortable as I possibly can, of course, but- did you ask the Queen?'

'She won't see him. She didn't even hold him and she refuses to see him now. She demands to be left alone,' Diane answered. 'Both Rhaenyra and I tried to talk to her but-' she shrugged. 'I understand she went through horrors to give birth to him but he is still her child...'

'Maybe if we tell her about the situation-'

Diane shook her head, 'It won't make a difference. I wish it would but it won't. I've seen her, she completely shut down. It might change with time but it is not happening today.'

Haisa sighed and looked at the newborn, 'Well, then- what about the King?' she asked, going to the other side of the room to wash her hands.

'I do not know where he is and I do not wish to,' Diane answered. The King was probably celebrating and, considering his track record and attitude towards his other children who weren't Rhaenyra, she didn't want him anywhere near this baby.

'Did he give the poor baby a name?'

Diane reached out to stroke the newborn cheek carefully. He was just so... small, and innocent, and untainted by the cruel world he had just been brought into. Despite newborns not being exactly the definition of "beautiful", he did look like a little perfection. With white hair on the top of his head, of course.

'Not that I know of,' Diane answered.

The baby started fussing, and Haisa's words came back to her again. He might not live until the morning. He might not live until the morning and both of his parents had better things to do than be there with him.

'They probably shou- what are you doing?' Haisa asked, turning back and seeing Diane carefully picking up the newborn.

'I'm holding him,' she answered, putting the baby closer to her chest. He was so tiny, he easily fit into her arms and weighed almost nothing.

'I see that,' Haisa said. 'Why?'

'So he will know he is not alone,' Diane muttered, observing how the baby seemed to snuggle even closer to her and stopped fussing. His tiny hand took hold of the fabric of her dress. 'And if Balerion takes his soul tonight, he will be warm, and comfortable, and cared for. I will stay with him.'

'You will do that?'

Diane looked up at Haisa, 'Yes. Yes, I will. I don't want him to feel abandoned in the last moments of his very short life.'