The Queen of Dawn

Chapter 19

Azora sat in a rocking chair, embroidering quietly, not paying attention to the goings on around her. The Ladies in waiting, midwives and wet nurses that surrounded her roared with laughter, and loudly joked around, but she couldnt hear them.  Her mind had completely numbed.

It was as if she knew what was happening to her, that she was pregnant, and that in nine months she could be dead. She drew in a sharp breath as her shaky hand accidently pricked herself. She cursed under her breath but kept on sewing, making sure not to get the little dots of blood on her embroidery.

Everyone went quiet as a maid made her way through the door, curtseying to the group of ladies, before heading to Azora and curtseying while handing a letter to her, the maid the quickly left as Azora hurridly opened the letter.

It was from her mother.

She knew there was no point in opening it, she knew what her mother would say, but she read it anyway and she was correct.

My Dearest Azora,
I have heard the news that I am to be a grandmother!
I am extremely estatic, and glad that you have listened to my instructions.
In order for the child to be a boy there are certain remedies and pastes that you should use, I know they work because I used them when I was pregnant with your brother...

Azora rolled her eyes and refused to continue the letter. She sighed and put the letter down, frustrated. The ladies noticed her frustration, and the dowager queen looked at her curiously.

"Who was the letter from my dear?"

Azora looked up in embarrassment,she hadnt realised she'd been so vocal with her frustration.
"Oh, it was just my mother. It was of no importance."

The dowager chuckled.
"Was she telling you about all the remedies you need to use to have a boy?"

Azora raised her eyebrows in surprise, how did she know?

"I had a mother just like yours, always writing letters to tell me to hurry up and produce an heir, but I was less lucky than you, as she was a countess and lived in the countryside, just a days ride from the palace!"
She laughed to herself, Azora smiled.

"When I had a daughter, she practically screamed at me, and the next time I was pregnant she made sure she was there to force me to take her potions! When I had Kalian, she gave me a lecture on how I should have listened to her the whole time."

"You have a daughter?" Azora questioned, she had never met her sister in law.

"I did." The dowagers mood shifted from joking to sadness.

"She died giving birth to her first child a couple years ago. The child did not survive either."

Azora bowed her head. She should have shut up, she shouldnt have brought up such a touchy subject. Suddenly she began to feel scared. What if she died in childbirth too? She shuddered at the thought.

The dowager forced a smile on her face and turned to her daughter in law.

"What about your family? We do not know much about them."

Azora forced a smile on her face too.
"Well I have an older sister named Meave, who is two years my sister, the same age as Kalian. She is married to a Duke back home and has two gorgeous children."
Azora smiled remembering her nephew and niece, they were the cutest things on earth.

"I am the second child, and then there is my younger brother Xander. He is only 10 months my junior, and he is to inherit the throne. He is betrothed to the youngest princess of Aldevere.

"My brother Rowan is three years my junior-"

"Why the strange age gaps?"
A curious wet nurse piped up.

Azora sighed. She did not really want to tell her whole familys life story, but it would pass the time.

"My parents have a curious relationship- if you could call it that- and there were periods of time where they were all over each other, and periods of time where they loathed each other;  ususally when my mother discovered another misstress."
Azora sighed once again, remembering the not so joyous times of her youth, but she snapped out of it when she realised everyone staring at her.

"Prince Rowan is betrothed to a counts daughter, and my youngest brother Kaiden is 14 years old. He has not a care in the world and spends his time horse riding and training."
Azora smiled to herself as she looked down, remembering her youngest and closest sibling.

"Do you miss them?"
A Lady in waiting asked.

"Yes, yes I miss them ver-"

"Your majesty, a letter"
She turned to see a maid holding a sealed piece of parchment.

The seal of Cavianny.

It was from Madeline.
☆☆☆

Just a quick note to apologise for the typos, I usually have short nails but I got them done and Im not used to how long they are.