On a silver lit night, on a mountain surrounded by a blanket of dark greenery, the cries of a newborn echoed from a stone built castle, tucked away into the cliff side. Its small pink mouth had just opened for the first time, shocked to finally breathe outside of the womb.
The newborn, covered in amniotic fluid and birth matter was in the thin arms of the one who delivered it.
The thin mage gazed up from the creature in his arms, "It's a boy."
"A boy," his mother gasped as one of her handmaiden's wiped her brow. She was drenched in sweat, a clump of dark hair clung to her forehead and cheeks. With assistance, the newborn's mother slowly sat up from the wet patch on the bed. "I want to see him... my son."
"Just a moment, my Lady," the mage answered as he waved his hand to the side. From across the room, a large piece of folded blue linen gently lifted into the air and wafted over to him. He grabbed it and carefully wrapped the crying child before the man handed him to his mother.
The moment the child came into her arms, the Queen burst into tears.
"M'lady!" exclaimed her right handmaiden, who clutched the wet cloth tightly. "Are you alright?"
"I am just so relieved," the Queen replied between sobs, as she wiped away her joyful tears. "It was just much longer than I expected. I thought he was never coming out!"
"The young Lord's delivery was much longer than Lord Gregor's," said the thin mage as he removed his blood and fluid covered cloak. "It nearly took two sunrises for the young Lord to join the world."
A chuckle escaped the weary Queen as she tenderly stroked a finger on her child's forehead, "He is a stubborn one, just like King."
With her blue eyes never leaving the child, she called out to the man, "Thank you, Meinrad."
The mage smiled and bowed to her with a hand placed over his heart. "The honour is mine my Lady."
When he straightened up, the Queen ordered for one of the servants to summon the other royals. At the scene in front of him, the mage's smile grew wider from behind his trimmed beard.
The Queen raised her head as she repositioned the child growing peaceful in her arms. "What is it, Grand Mage?"
The Grand Mage flexed out his hand as he spoke, "The young Lord reminds me of my own child."
"Ah yes, of course," the Queen replied. "Congratulations are in order. Your wife also delivered recently, did she not?"
"Yes, four moons ago we were blessed with a daughter," said the Grand Mage as he commanded a breeze to brush against the Queen's flushed face. "Hannelore, after my wife's late mother."
"What a beautiful name," her words were full of praise. "You both must be so proud."
She paused for a moment, "I have decided. At my son's christening ceremony, she too will be honoured as a daughter of the court."
A dumb founded surprise struck the mage's face. He bowed down to her, "Thank you my Lady. This is an honour most kind! We are not deserving of this honour."
The Queen laughed sweetly, "Oh come now Meinrad. Stop with the grovelling. You have seen me give birth from areas only the King has seen; I think we are past commoner expectations now."
The Grand Mage straightened back up, an embarrassed but pleased grin on his lips. He was about to reply back with a good hearted laugh, when the chamber doors opened.
A small blonde haired child dressed in the same rich blue surrounding the newborn lord's tiny body ran forward excitedly from the hallway.
"Mother! Mother!" the boy shouted, his golden locks flew wildly behind him.
