King Leofrick of Etherstine paces outside the royal nursery as his queen wails in agony at the throes of giving birth to the heir. Her birthing pains only seem to get worse as time passes by and yet the child has not arrived. Was a woman meant to scream that loud, the king thinks to himself as he worries for his beloved as well as his son whom is yet to be born. The wait made him grow wary and he couldn’t seem to bear the cries from his wife Allys.
Suddenly an ear splitting scream rang past the doors of the nursing room and through the hall. A small cry from a new-born was heard moments later and the king heaved a sigh of joy and relief. He waited patiently for a midwife to announce the gender of the baby. A timid small woman came out of the door and announced with a deep curtsy that the queen has just given birth to a boy. ”and what of the queen” he asks with deep concern. Before she can reply Allys screams loudly again followed by the wail of 2 new-borns. The midwife scrambles back in to assist in what can be assumed as the second and third children.
Three babies born at once, the king thinks in amazement. It’s been heard of but never been seen again in Etherstine since the birth of the first royal triplets over 100 years ago. As he thinks more about this he hears a strained scream before yet another new-born wails for the first time. After that all is quiet and Leofrick has a sense of dread before he rushes into the nursery where no man must enter until all is presentable. Nothing would have prepared him for what he saw behind the wooden doors
Blood and hot water was everywhere from floor to the bed and piles of linen stacked in the corner. All the midwives and extra servant were frozen with fear as they saw the king stand before them but he was focused on his queen who laid on a bed soaked in her own sweat with eyes tightly shut while she breathed heavily. Leofrick rushed to her side and asked gently “are you well my love”, she looks up into his eyes “if it pleases then king then all is well. Look upon the 4 sons I have given you and the kingdom of Etherstine”. He smiles broadly and kisses his wife on the forehead before letting the midwives attend to her as he gazes upon his sons for the first time. With wisdom and pride, he gives each son their names-Gavin, Roger, Fredrick and Leonard.
