Fate | Baldwin IV

loyalty

"How is the movement of the baby?"

Suleyman's gentle voice pulled me back from my thoughts, breaking the momentary silence that had settled over the infirmary. I lay on the bed, staring out through the open arches, lost in the warmth of the breeze and the distant noise of the courtyard while he sat nearby at a small desk, hunched over a parchment, quietly scribbling. Two nurses were present in the chamber with us, standing at the foot of the bed, silent and attentive, ready should the physician need anything.

I turned my head slightly, glancing at Suleyman as I thought about the question.

"God, it's like..." I shook my head, trying to find the right words to express the feeling beneath the layer of my skin despite knowing that I was sure to fail anyway, for no words were sufficient to help a man understand what it was like. "...It's running laps in there. All day."

"Well, that's good," he murmured without looking up, noting my answer as he spoke. "You should worry if it stops."

I turned my head back toward the view outside, resting my hand on my now visibly swollen belly that no dress nor fabric could hide any longer. I had already passed the halfway mark of my pregnancy long ago, and each day I was more and more restless about how fast the baby was growing, wondering if I could even survive pushing something so large out of me. It seemed impossible from the sight of my belly alone.

"How's your appetite?" Suleyman continued with an unconcerned tone—obviously not sharing the same unspoken fears about childbirth. "Any cravings?"

I paused once again to think before replying, "...I suppose I've been craving pastries a lot. I always ask for extra dates after supper as well."

"That means it's a girl," blurted out one of the nurses, eyes lighting up in excitement, hands timidly clasped together.

I turned to her, my head tilting against the pillow. "Really?"

"Yes." The other nurse nodded with a grin. "Sweet for girl, savory for boy."

"Oh, well..." A tired smile formed on my face as I ran my hand over my stomach. "I should start sewing dresses, then." I glanced at Suleyman, but his eyes were still on the parchment. "What do you think?"

He gave low hum, barely paying any heed to the conversation, perhaps even unaware of my gaze on him.

"Do you think it's a girl?" I asked again, more directly.

"Hm? Oh—" he finally lifted his head, and waved the question aside with a faint scoff. "No. I don't believe in those tales."

The nurses exchanged a quick look before one of them leaned in slightly. "But they always turn out to be true," she said under her breath with a knowing smile.

Amidst the innocent chuckles, Suleyman cleared his throat. "Yes, uh—where were we?" he continued smoothly, setting the quill down on the table and turning his full attention to me. "Your majesty's diet—yes. Are you experiencing any unusual cravings? Like...dirt, or...sand, or ice?"

I frowned. "Heavens, no. Who craves that?"

"People who need them, mostly," he replied simply. And just as he was about to go on, the nurse chimed in.

"My grandmother used to eat dirt."

We all looked at her. And she looked at us back, but her enthusiasm immediately faltered when the second nurse slightly pulled her back by her sleeve as if to remind her not to speak unless she was spoken to. She pressed her lips together awkwardly, and said nothing else.

"As I was saying—" Suleyman turned to face me again, "it is not unheard of, though it is rather hard to explain. But if your majesty's cravings remain normal, there's nothing to worry about." He offered a brief, reassuring smile before continuing. "Now, I imagine I don't need to tell you this, but you should be eating plenty of lamb kidney and eggs during this time, and you should not be skipping any meals—your body needs more food than ever now."