The Labyrinth of Negrastir

The Delivery

The news of Nessa's labour reached my ears while I was on my way to the kitchenette on the other side of the bridge.

It caught me completely off guard and caused a brief delay before I hastily returned to the royal chambers on the second floor.

Despite the festive atmosphere of the ongoing New Year's celebrations, my cousin hadn't shown any signs of discomfort.

On the contrary, her smile was radiant, and she moved gracefully to the festive tunes all around the court.

The celebrations stretched on late into the night and I promised to assist the maids in tackling the overwhelming pile of dirty dishes at the Servants' Quarters.

It wasn't that I was bored or anything. My intention was simply to be helpful and let the younger ones relish in the festivities while it lasted.

The future I left behind was a desolate place – devoid of hope, joy and laughter. Observing the normalcy of life here, I felt compelled to take action and preserve the peace for as long as I could.

When I finally arrived, the chamber was a gruesome scene of chaos. It took me a while to shuffle through the crowd of servants before I reached the bloody bed, surrounded by a sea of people.

Nessa shouldn't be due for another week, so it surprised me to see her writhing in agony. She had fainted multiple times in my absence, and now she lay unconscious for the nth time.

Despite their tumultuous relationship in the past, I held onto the hope that Hera would empathise with my decision to lend a hand to the unfortunate soul because, within this perilous place infested with demons and foes, Nessa and I were both held captive.

I cast a spell that restored the strength she lost and enabled her to push forwards. By the time the clock struck two in the morning hours, I found myself holding a precious baby boy.

His soft cries filled the crowded chamber with the sounds of new life. Nessa's body gave out after giving birth and I placed the newborn on her bare chest.

When the sun finally rose, the chamber was still heavy with the lingering smell of blood and the pungent odour of sweat.

Stepping out of the pitch-black castle, I couldn't help but be captivated by the majestic sight of the rising sun as it cast its enchanting glow across the twilight sky.

Minutes later, I noticed Malachi riding across the bailey. His horse's hooves echoed loudly on the cobblestones.

When he approached, I stood up, acutely aware of his piercing stare on my sweat-drenched clothes stained crimson.

There was no hint of panic on his face as he dismounted; instead, he appeared apologetic.

"How... how is she?"

"She's doing fine. Just a bit worn out, I guess, but they're both doing great."

"Ah, I see. Where can I...?"

I pointed at the grand archway that towered behind us.

"She's on the second floor."

He nodded and, with a swift motion, secured his horse to a nearby tree. As I was observing him, our eyes unexpectedly met.

I dropped my head and looked the other way. My cheeks became bright red.

It looked like he wanted to say something to me, but instead of saying anything at all, he bowed slightly and went inside.

As I looked down at my bloodstained clothes, a heavy sigh escaped from my lips.

Did I look worse than I felt? Maybe.