Epilogue
Cleto passed down the long hallway, stopping every time he came up to the closed doors of his bedroom. He pressed an ear to the thick wood, hoping that he might hear something, which he didn’t, thanks to the damned wood being so thick. He kicked it, hurt his foot, and went back trying to hear something, only to have a servant tug on his arm, and move him away from the door. Every time he stayed at the door too long, one of the servants would push him away. And they didn’t flinch when he gave them a dirty look, as they use to. Nope. In the year since being crowned king, and crowning a queen, it seemed the household sided with Clair for most disputes between them. Even now, he’d been shoved out of the room when things started to get tense. What? He could handle tense? Or could he? Hell, he didn’t know, and didn’t have a damn answer, either.
For hours, he had been pacing the floor, waiting for some news, but he got nothing. Nothing! Not even one of them would at least come out and give him some bit of news. Just a little. Just let him know that everything was going normal would be good. It would help him stop worrying so damn much and wanting to tear someone’s head off. A miracle had happened for them and he wanted to be in there with her, not standing outside doing nothing. Why’d they kick him out again? They needed to do something? Right, the babe—his child—was turned around and they needed to move it. Okay, he was going back in there.
Cleto rushed for the door only to have three of the servants quickly put themselves right in front of the portal, blocking him.
“How long does this take?” he asked them. “It’s turned by now, she stopped screaming and I’m back in control so let me back in.” One of the servants shook her head and kept her mouth shut. “Damn it I’m the king here!”
Instead of answering him the servants only stood there with a look that told him they weren’t going to move, no matter what he might do or threatening looks. So he once more started his pacing, stopping every so often to give them a glare.
Oh, the waiting drove him nuts! He wanted some news, anything to help him not freak out. And he was freaking out big time. The longer he waited out here without a word the more he started to fear the worst. Maybe doing this was a bad idea after all, yet, then again, it was too late to turn around now.
The lock turned.
Cleto stopped and turned so fast he stumbled. The door opened and one of the servants came out and said something low to another that stood guard at the door. The woman nodded and looked up at Cleto right before quickly dashing into the room. Cleto ran for the door but it slammed in his face, the lock turning.
“Argh!” He hit the door with his fist. “What happened to being loyal to your king?” he yelled. He banged on the door. “I demand you let me in!”
“My lord, you are doing yourself no good,” the high priest said, slowly coming up the stairs. “These things take time, and in the state you’re in, you’re in the way.”
“I need to know she’s all right,” Cleto said, pressing his face against the door.
“She is in the best of hands,” the priest said. “Here, have a drink. It will help with the waiting.”
Cleto took the glass and downed it, handing it back to the man. “She will come out of this fine. Promise me she will.”
“You’re queen will be just fine.”
“Then why is it taking so damn long?” Cleto snapped. “They shoved me out because of a small problem. They said a small problem and still I’ve been out here for over an hour!” He hit the door again. He turned away to begin the passing and was about five feet from the door when he heard a combination of a scream and a yell. Cleto stopped dead in his tracks, turned, and rushed back to the door as fast as he could.
“Clair!” he yelled, banging on the door.
“My lord, please!” someone yelled.
“I swear if you don’t unlock this door and let me in—”
Everything went quiet. Cleto stilled, the fear of the unknown hitting him like a fist to the gut. It became so quiet that he felt and heard his own heart pounding in his chest. He couldn’t really hear anything, but he was able to hear movement, as if people were moving around very fast and he heard a bit of mumbling. Then Clair cried out once more.
“Damn it. Open this door!” Cleto demanded, banging on the door again. And just like before all went quiet. He held his breath, waiting, wondering, and fearing again. He heard muffled voices then footsteps as someone came towards the door.
The door unlocked and opened. The same woman that had dashed inside now stood in front of him with a smile on her face. “It’s over.”
Cleto didn’t waste any more words with her. He pushed past her and ran into the room towards the bed, stopping at the side and going to his knees, his eyes on Clair. He was almost afraid to touch her.
“Clair?” He said her name, fearing that she might be sick again. Her face was slightly pale and servants were finishing up cleaning her up. When he said her name, she opened her eyes and smiled at him. He let out a sigh and stood up, sitting down on the bed next to her, taking her hands in his, and kissing them quickly before kissing her on her lips and all over her face. Finally, raising his head, he asked, “Are you alright?”
“Yes. Very tired and very sore.”
She also sounded exhausted. “God you had me so worried,” he sighed. “Please don’t ever do that to me again. We had a deal that you wouldn’t make me worry like this. I almost hurt someone.”
“Really?” her eyes widened.
“No, but I sure as hell wanted to.” She giggled at him and he kissed her again. “Is everything really all right?”
“Have a look for yourself.” She motioned with her head for him to turn.
“Your majesty.” One of the servants bowed and smiled. “You have a son.”
Cleto was speechless. The woman came up to him and placed the tiny bundle in his arms. He looked down at a face he just couldn’t image could be so small and fit so perfectly in his hand. The tiny bundle had his hair color. Light brown with one dark streak on the side, and standing straight up at the moment. He had Clair’s mouth, but as far as Cleto could tell, he looked just like him.
“He’s perfect,” Cleto stated, unable to take his eyes off him. “What shall we call him?”
“I don’t know, but there is another surprise for you,” Clair said
Cleto finally looked up to see another servant coming towards him with another small bundle in her hand. “A daughter also,” the servant announced, placing her bundle in the crook of his other arm.
“Twins!” Cleto gasped. He turned, a big smile on his face and tears streaming down his cheeks. “We’ve got twins.” He went back over to the bed and went down to his knees, holding his children. “I don’t know how to thank you for these gifts.”
He looked at the girl and almost chuckled. She had dark hair that matched Clair’s and a light brown streak on the opposite side from her brother. And she looked just like Clair.
“It’s I that need to thank you,” Clair said. She reached out, touching the top of one of the twin’s head. “I was told I could never have children and you just blessed me with two. My life I don’t think could get any more perfect than what it is at this moment.”
Cleto gently placed one babe in Clair’s arm and kept the other. Leaning over he kissed her. “I love you, and I love the family you just blessed me with.”
Clair reached up, touching the side of his face. She smiled and kissed him back. “I love you, my toy soldier, so very, very much.”