A Tale Of Queens

Sa-Alti

Alti had a very smooth pregnancy.

She had an even smoother delivery.

She went into labour in the early hours of the morning and by noon, a healthy baby girl with a head full of hair was born.

The child gave a boisterous cry the moment she was out of the womb, much to the delight of the inhabitants of the palace.

Alti permitted only her mother-in-law and the two royal midwives to witness the birth. King Phelon was right outside the door with his father and Alti's parents – although her mother grumbled the whole time about being excluded by her own daughter.

Once the baby opened her eyes after being cleaned, her mother let out an ecstatic  laugh. The women around her chuckled too, for the girls eyes mirrored her mother's. A golden grey shade.

“Let my husband in,” she ordered one of the midwives.

Phelon burst into the room, eager to meet his child.

Alti held the baby to him and he took her in his arms carefully. She stared at him with those peculiar eyes and he shook his head chuckling to himself.

“Are your father's eyes not worthy enough?” he asked the cooing child.

His mother swatted his arm playfully.

Alti shook her head, unable to stop the smile from spreading on her face. She was in pain, felt a bit lightheaded but the sight of her husband holding their daughter was enough to make it worth it all.

“She has your mouth. Maybe your nose too,” she assured him.

“Well? What shall you name her, son?”

Phelon thought for a while before deciding.

“Sa-Alti.”

His wife's brows raised.

“Alti's daughter?”

“Yes. She will be your daughter through and through. Wise, graceful, beautiful.”

Alti was touched that he said those things about her. Their marriage was going well but she hadn't realised that he thought so highly of her. Swallowing the urge to cry, she asked,

“Why do I feel that if something goes wrong with this child, then you will blame it all on me?”

“That is the plan, my Queen.”

Rolling her eyes at their banter, the former Queen asked the midwives to help Alti clean up so that the rest of the family could see her.

By evening, the birth of the heir to the throne was announced. And the streets of Khelet rang with her name.

Sa-Alti, the girl who was to take after her mother.