Chapter 2
Three days later, there was a feast for Caine. It was to commemorate his bravery and his friendship to the military units of Mornalva.
Alice, Caine's wife sat sobbing as each toast was said; her eyes red and puffy from crying the last few days; mourning the loss of her husband and friend. Cybil sat beside her and gently stroked her back.
Anothy sat with the rest of the men; his gaze was riveted on Cybil. Whom he had learned was the deceased man's sister. She had clear eyes, but they held the sadness of one who had lost a loved one. She was a silent stone beside her sister in law.
He didn't miss the small angry looks Cybil would give to his father on occasion when he spoke or when he did something.
The moment supper was cleared, Cybil excused herself, and she and Alice left the table and headed out of the castle doors.
Anothy stood up, excusing himself as well then he went towards the front doors approaching the two ladies; instantly helping Alice as she walked down the stairs with Cybil on the other side of her.
"Oh thank you m' lord, you did not have to come and help me. Although I greatly appreciate it" Alice said with a soft smile to Anothy; "You are most kind, carrying this baby is making me waddle like a fat cat."
Anothy grinned; "A beautiful cat though," he commented making the woman blush as they walked along.
"Caine will be remembered by all here tonight, he was a wonderful warrior and a great husband." she said her voice choking on a sob.
Then she gasped, and groaned wrapping her arms around her middle, "Oh Oh" she groaned.
"Alice, is it the baby?" Cybil asked with worry.
Alice nodded, before groaning; "It's coming" she groaned; "I'm going to have the baby."
Cybil panicked; "Oh my god! Oh my god! We need the midwife, and to get her home fast." she said
Anothy scooped Alice up into his arms; "Where do I take her?" he asked and started to sprint after Cybil told him; "Go get the mid wife Cybil"
Cybil didn't hesitate she took off to grab a horse from the barn and rode bareback shouting for the gates to be opened so that she could get the midwife from town.
She felt the pain of leaving the gates but didn't stop as she headed for the midwives cottage.
The woman heard her calls and came running with her already waiting bag; she saddled up her own mount. Together the two galloped back into the keep and right to Alice and Caine's home where they could hear her cries of pain.
The midwife clambered off the horse, and rushed inside. A few minutes later Anothy came outside looking pale. Cybil tied the horses up and ran inside the house to be by her sister in law's side
Anothy waited outside while the screams from Alice echoed through the night when finally everything quieted a few hours later only then the wail of a baby could be heard through the thin walls.
He sighed and the door opened, Cybil came looking haggard and tired; "It's a boy," she said, "Alice is naming him Nathanial Caine Novalia" she said; "He's healthy and the midwife is cleaning her up right now. She wanted me to thank you for getting her home so quickly."
Anothy pulled Cybil into his arms and hugged her; "You should rest, you have had a trying three days Cybil" he said softly.
"I will go to bed later; right now Alice needs me to help her with the baby." she said, gently pushing him back; "Thank you Lord Meryl."
Anothy stepped back, watching Cybil enter the house again. He turned and headed back to the castle.
King Andreas stood in the entrance to the main hall, his arms folded across his chest and an angry scowl on his face.
"I heard that Alice had her child?" he said; "Where is Ms. Novalia?"
"She remained with her sister in law, not that that is any of your business" Anothy remarked with a small snap.
"It is my business, she is not to leave the castle grounds without my say so, yet she left in a hurry to get the mid wife." he said his eyes narrowed.
Anothy rolled his eyes, "Of course she left to get the mid wife, neither she nor I knew how to deliver a baby!" he remarked, "She wouldn't leave her sister suffer without someone who has the knowledge to help us there."
Andrea's looked around; "Where is she?" he asked; "Why did she not return with you? She has a room here in the castle."
Anothy stared at his father; he had no clue that Cybil had a room inside the castle, and since the castle usually was for the royals he became suspicious of his father's words.
"You know son, I think it's time you took a wife. Alice is a fine woman, and has already given birth to one child. She would be still able to give birth; perhaps you should look into having her as a wife." Andreas stated with a thoughtful expression.
Anothy's anger peaked and he turned his back on the man he had refused to call father since his childhood; "Forget it; I am not looking for a wife. As of yet, and I will not use a woman the way you seem to enjoy doing."
Andrea's fell into step with him; "It will be good for you and the future of this kingdom if you take a wife now." he continued; "I'm sure I can arrange a ball that would allow you to meet the eligible princesses."
Anothy stopped and turned his hate filled blue eyes on the man who had birthed him; "Back off father, I will choose my own bride. Now stop hounding me about it." He snarled. Then he bolted for his bedroom on the next floor slamming the door shut behind him.
Alice, Caine's wife sat sobbing as each toast was said; her eyes red and puffy from crying the last few days; mourning the loss of her husband and friend. Cybil sat beside her and gently stroked her back.
Anothy sat with the rest of the men; his gaze was riveted on Cybil. Whom he had learned was the deceased man's sister. She had clear eyes, but they held the sadness of one who had lost a loved one. She was a silent stone beside her sister in law.
He didn't miss the small angry looks Cybil would give to his father on occasion when he spoke or when he did something.
The moment supper was cleared, Cybil excused herself, and she and Alice left the table and headed out of the castle doors.
Anothy stood up, excusing himself as well then he went towards the front doors approaching the two ladies; instantly helping Alice as she walked down the stairs with Cybil on the other side of her.
"Oh thank you m' lord, you did not have to come and help me. Although I greatly appreciate it" Alice said with a soft smile to Anothy; "You are most kind, carrying this baby is making me waddle like a fat cat."
Anothy grinned; "A beautiful cat though," he commented making the woman blush as they walked along.
"Caine will be remembered by all here tonight, he was a wonderful warrior and a great husband." she said her voice choking on a sob.
Then she gasped, and groaned wrapping her arms around her middle, "Oh Oh" she groaned.
"Alice, is it the baby?" Cybil asked with worry.
Alice nodded, before groaning; "It's coming" she groaned; "I'm going to have the baby."
Cybil panicked; "Oh my god! Oh my god! We need the midwife, and to get her home fast." she said
Anothy scooped Alice up into his arms; "Where do I take her?" he asked and started to sprint after Cybil told him; "Go get the mid wife Cybil"
Cybil didn't hesitate she took off to grab a horse from the barn and rode bareback shouting for the gates to be opened so that she could get the midwife from town.
She felt the pain of leaving the gates but didn't stop as she headed for the midwives cottage.
The woman heard her calls and came running with her already waiting bag; she saddled up her own mount. Together the two galloped back into the keep and right to Alice and Caine's home where they could hear her cries of pain.
The midwife clambered off the horse, and rushed inside. A few minutes later Anothy came outside looking pale. Cybil tied the horses up and ran inside the house to be by her sister in law's side
Anothy waited outside while the screams from Alice echoed through the night when finally everything quieted a few hours later only then the wail of a baby could be heard through the thin walls.
He sighed and the door opened, Cybil came looking haggard and tired; "It's a boy," she said, "Alice is naming him Nathanial Caine Novalia" she said; "He's healthy and the midwife is cleaning her up right now. She wanted me to thank you for getting her home so quickly."
Anothy pulled Cybil into his arms and hugged her; "You should rest, you have had a trying three days Cybil" he said softly.
"I will go to bed later; right now Alice needs me to help her with the baby." she said, gently pushing him back; "Thank you Lord Meryl."
Anothy stepped back, watching Cybil enter the house again. He turned and headed back to the castle.
King Andreas stood in the entrance to the main hall, his arms folded across his chest and an angry scowl on his face.
"I heard that Alice had her child?" he said; "Where is Ms. Novalia?"
"She remained with her sister in law, not that that is any of your business" Anothy remarked with a small snap.
"It is my business, she is not to leave the castle grounds without my say so, yet she left in a hurry to get the mid wife." he said his eyes narrowed.
Anothy rolled his eyes, "Of course she left to get the mid wife, neither she nor I knew how to deliver a baby!" he remarked, "She wouldn't leave her sister suffer without someone who has the knowledge to help us there."
Andrea's looked around; "Where is she?" he asked; "Why did she not return with you? She has a room here in the castle."
Anothy stared at his father; he had no clue that Cybil had a room inside the castle, and since the castle usually was for the royals he became suspicious of his father's words.
"You know son, I think it's time you took a wife. Alice is a fine woman, and has already given birth to one child. She would be still able to give birth; perhaps you should look into having her as a wife." Andreas stated with a thoughtful expression.
Anothy's anger peaked and he turned his back on the man he had refused to call father since his childhood; "Forget it; I am not looking for a wife. As of yet, and I will not use a woman the way you seem to enjoy doing."
Andrea's fell into step with him; "It will be good for you and the future of this kingdom if you take a wife now." he continued; "I'm sure I can arrange a ball that would allow you to meet the eligible princesses."
Anothy stopped and turned his hate filled blue eyes on the man who had birthed him; "Back off father, I will choose my own bride. Now stop hounding me about it." He snarled. Then he bolted for his bedroom on the next floor slamming the door shut behind him.