Hwarang: A Different Kind Of Halfbreed.

Epilogue

Jinheung paced around the throne room anxiously, it had been a long time since the doctor arrived,too long for his liking.  Why was it taking so long. "Would you please just sit down, you're getting on my nerves " Moo myung said as he stood up and started pacing.   "I'm getting on your nerves? It's been hours  and I have no idea what's going on" Jinheung said as he continued pacing.

"I'm not an expert on these things but doesn't childbirth take a while, why are you so anxious?" Moo myung asked.   Jinheung stopped pacing and stared at his cousin "You won't be so calm when it's Ah ro's turn and besides, Mei had a difficult pregnancy the doctor was worried at one point that the baby wouldn't survive" Jinheung said and resumed his anxious pacing.  "Well I'm sure she's fine so calm down" Moo myung said.  Jinheung shook his head and began walking to the door "I'm going to check on her" he said.  Moo myung ran after him and pulled him back "You can't do that, it's not allowed I really think you should just wait" Moo myung said.  Jinheung shook off his grip "I can't just sit still, I have to know how she's doing"

Mei was exhausted and according to the midwives, she still had a long way to go. She lay on a bed holding on to long white cloths tied to the ceiling, the ends of the cloths were wrapped around her hands so that she could pull on them when she had to push. Ai and Ah ro were assisting the midwives just as Mei requested.
  "Ai I can't do this anymore, I'm so tired and it hurts so so much" she said as she prepared for yet another contraction. "Please don't say that your majesty, I know it's hard but you mustn't give up, your baby is counting on you" Ai said.  "Yes your majesty, court lady Ai is right, it will be over before you know it and just think how happy you'll be when you're finally holding your baby in your arms. Please don't give up"
  Mei nodded and took a deep breath, she could feel another contraction coming and she tightened her grip on the cloths...

Jinheung was close to the labour room when he heard Mei's cries of pain, he pushed past the court maids standing at the door and burst into the room.  Mei's head fell back onto the pillow and she let go of the cloths hanging from the ceiling. "Your majesty you can't be here, please leave everything is fine I assure you" Ai said and attempted to lead him out but Jinheung went straight to Mei.  Her eyes were closed and she was breathing heavily, her face was drenched in sweat, there were some strands of hair stuck to her face. She looked extremely tired.

"How are you doing?" He asked, Mei opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"You're not supposed to be here, are you crazy?" She whispered.  "I was worried and scared, why is it taking so long?"
"I don't know, I'm really tired though I'm not sure how much longer I can hold on" Mei said and bit her lip, another contraction was coming.
Jinheung grabbed her hand and squeezed "I know you can do this, be strong Mei, I'll be right outside" he said and was about to leave but Mei wouldn't let go of his hand.  "Please don't leave I ne-" Mei squeezed Jinheung's hand tighter and she screamed as pain jolted through her.

Jinheung didn't like seeing her in so much pain, it made him uneasy.

"Oh no, she's fainted again send for Master Anh ji immediately!" Ai exclaimed and took Jinheung by the hand "I'm sorry your majesty but you must wait outside now, I'm afraid it's critical now" she said and led him out of the room. He walked out to the garden and was followed by Moo myung. 

He sat down on a bench and sighed, Ai  said she fainted again which meant it must have happened before.  Mei had gone into labour at dawn, the sun was setting now and she was still struggling.  Moo myung sat beside him gently pat him on the back.  "You need to calm down Jinheung, it's going to be fine Mei's a tough girl remember?"

"I know but apparently she's fainted more than once, I'll never forgive myself if anything happens to her"

They sat in the garden and watched the sun set, they watched as the moon and stars slowly began to appear in the sky.  Ah ro came rushing towards them, she was out of breath but she had a huge smile on her face.  Jinheung and Moo myung stood up and stared at her expectantly.

"Congratulations your majesty, the queen has given birth to a male child" she said and bowed. Jinheung felt a wave of relief wash over him, she did it and since Ah ro was smiling he could only assume that both Mei and the baby were in good health.

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Mei sat propped up against several pillows with her baby cradled in her arms. She and the baby had been cleaned up and dressed in white clothes. She stared at her baby and smiled, he was so small and soft. Jinheung came in and stood at the door, he watched her as she spoke softly to the baby. She looked up him and smiled. "Come see your son, he's so beautiful" Mei whispered. Jinheung walked further into the room and sat beside Mei. 

She was right, the baby was beautiful.  His skin was almost the same colour as Mei's just a few shades lighter, his eyes were closed and his tiny hand was busy searching for his little open mouth. Jinheung realised that he was crying when he felt Mei's hand gently slide across his  cheek. "Why are you crying?"  Mei asked.  Jinheung shrugged and turned his face away, he wiped his eyes and then turned back and smiled.  

"Want to hold him?" Mei asked and placed the baby into Jinheung's arms. "What are you going to name him?" She asked. 

"How about Han Sung?" He asked.  Mei put a hand over her mouth as tears filled her eyes. "Really, do you really mean it?"

"Yes, don't you like it?"

"Its perfect, thank you"  Mei said and yawned.

"You must be exhausted, I've been thinking Mei, maybe one child is enough" Jinheung said.

"What! Why?" Mei asked

"After what you've been through today I can't imagine you'd want to go through it again"

"Don't be ridiculous, it didn't hurt that much and it was worth it. Look at our beautiful little prince besides, Ai says it's only the first one that's difficult so I think we can give little Han Sung some siblings" Mei said. Jinheung placed baby Han Sung back in Mei's  arms and kissed her forehead.

"Have I ever told you that I'm so glad that you were a forward little girl" Jinheung said. 

"What are you talking about now?"

"I'm just saying that if you weren't so forward, you probably would've walked right past me in the forest that day and we wouldn't be here today. It's all thanks to you"  Jinheung said.

Mei smiled at her husband, she couldn't take all the credit, Buddha had a huge role to play at least thats what she believed.   She had everything she could ever ask for, she stared at baby Han Sung and was so grateful that she didn't give up. Everything had worked perfectly and now she could only look forward to the future.

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Thank you for reading commenting and voting. I really want to thank everyone who has been reading this book, I really appreciate your support and patience. I hope you enjoyed reading it.