Chapter Three
Although my father was furious with me, he still permitted me to be near my mother. Every day I observed her belly swell and her radiant glow spread through every fiber of her being. And seeing her so happy, and feeling so blessed, was enough for me to overlook my father’s stubborn ways.
“I wonder what they will choose,” she cooed one afternoon, leaning back in her rocking chair and swirling her fingers against her bump. Her youthful face displayed only serenity and love.
Sitting by the sun-filled window and the crackling fire close behind her, gave her the aura of a celestial, bright and warm. Queen Caeliora, the epitome of royal grace with her long golden hair that matched my own in shade, flowing gracefully off her shoulders. Her golden eyes held a soft and loving warmth that I had come to only see mothers possess while with child. I wondered if she was aware that she would absently hum short melodies, seemingly lost in her dreams of seeing this new potential come to life.
I smiled up at her from my sitting position on the floor beside her. The same position I always took as a child in order to be as close to her as possible without sitting snugly in her lap.
“Whatever they choose, I’m sure they will come out perfect,” I said in a soft tone, as if the vibrations of my voice were forceful enough to wake the unborn dragon.
“You’re absolutely right, my love,” then she let out a small sigh as her mind seemed to trail off.
Reaching up, I grasped her small hand lightly in my own.
“Does it bother you, Mother? That I have never had the urge to make a permanent change?” A solid force of air sat stuck in my chest as I put the words between us. My father’s opinion was one thing, but my mother’s words were of great value to me. She had always been the constant source of unconditional love that, for some reason, Aeneus never seemed to display.
Her eyes snapped up to capture mine and my heart sank, knowing I had upset her - especially when her answer was so predictable.
“You know that I have never been bothered by you, Huri. Some just don’t make that biological change and that’s fine. If you are happy being the way you are, then I will love you for it regardless of what anyone else may think. And I would never want you to feel pressured to be something that you are not. It would hurt my soul knowing that my own child conformed to society’s expectations unwillingly,” she said with confidence. Such confidence that it was difficult for me to not smile at her words.
I rose to my knees and reached up to peck her soft cheek.
“Thank you, Mom,” I said before looking over at the cradle that sat in the corner of my mother’s room.
It was made of a light colored wood with a translucent sunflower canopy cascading over it and off to the sides. Inside was a single toy for comfort, a stuffed dragon that I crafted myself for my new sibling. Its rose-gold scales shimmered on the fabric.
“I think they will be a little girl,” I mentioned casually, picking up the toy and sweeping my fingers over the wings. “And I think she will be the most beautiful dragon our city has ever seen.”
A light giggle sounded from behind me and I turned to watch my mother slowly rise from the chair and walk over to me.
“You know, I think you'll be right. A mother knows,” she winked up at me.
“Even with me?” I gave a small smile over at her.
“Yes, even you. I had no clue how you were going to come out so I guess I did know after all,” she laughed lightly, but then abruptly stopped.
“Mom?”
With eyes clenched shut she hunched over, using the cradle to keep her footing stable and holding onto her abdomen. Letting out a slow and ragged breath she looked back up at me and attempted another smile.
“It’s been so long since I had you that I forgot what contractions felt like,” then she closed her eyes tightly again.
“Let’s lay you down and I’ll call for the physician,” I offered as I started guiding her to the bright yellow covered bed.
I grabbed the first person to cross my path in the corridors and sent them to alert all the necessary people before returning to her side. However, when I returned, it was evident that something was gravely wrong.
The first contraction happened only moments before but when I approached her bed the metallic scent filled my senses before the horror that met my eyes. She shrieked in agony, a thick sheet of sweat covering her forehead, causing her golden hair to darken as it sat pasted to her skin, and her bed was soaked in dark red blood.
Rushing to her side, I held on to her delicate hand tightly. Something was wrong. And when she gazed up at me, it was clear that she was thinking the same thing.
“If something happens…”
“Don’t say that!” I cried but she continued through gasps of breath.
“Be there for them. Promise that you will watch over them,” her voice was quiet and forced as the pain seemed to rush through her in waves.
Before I answered, the door slammed open and my father ran in with the physician. When he saw me his nostrils flared and his gaze hardened.
“What happened?” he demanded.
“I don’t know. She was fine just moments ago and then the contractions started,” I stammered as he pushed me aside and took my place beside her.
As more people funneled into the room, her eyes never left mine. And through her pain her eyes remained pleading towards me. Before I was ushered out, I mouthed the words I love you, and I promise.
That day I lost my mother, became the guardian of an infant, and watched my father descend into despair.
