52

One evening, Turgoth entered the house and removed his sword as usual. Rebecca was lying on the couch reading Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, looking as beautiful as ever.

“How was your day, my love?” he asked, gazing at her with as much love in his heart as he had felt on the day of their marriage.

“It was very good, indeed,” she said. “The young Orizons are all thrilled with this new air handball game. How about you?”

“I went to the hospital today. A trainee got a little hurt - nothing serious, luckily. But the nurse thought that I had come to meet you. She told me you had left the hospital a while before. You were there with Doctor Afterland. What were you doing there, Princess? Is everything OK?”

“Of course it is,” she smiled and carefully closed her book before putting it down, as if deliberately playing for time. “But I do have something important to tell you.”

“What is it, dearest?” The immediate look of concern on his face touched her and made her laugh.

“I’m pregnant!”

King Turgoth stood as still as a statue, staring at her. He could feel a cry of joy struggling to break out of his throat but he was somehow unable to make a sound. His face transformed before her eyes, the lines of age melting away until he looked almost like a child - a very happy child. Perhaps the happiest child in the world!

Rebecca held her arms open and he ran into them as if suddenly waking from a coma. He lifted her from the couch and swung her round and round - her feet flying off the floor like a kid - kissing the top of her head, her neck, her mouth, her cheeks.

“I don’t believe it! I’m going to be a father? What more could I possibly ask for? What did I do to deserve such happiness?”

Rebecca was laughing joyously, just as she had when Doctor Afterland first broke the news to her. She would become a mother just before her thirtieth birthday.

“Do your parents know?” Turgoth asked excitedly. “Your grandparents?”

“No, I wanted to tell you first. Just you and I know. And Doctor Afterland, of course.”

“Well, what are we waiting for, then? We should go and tell them immediately. And let’s tell Bull, too!”

“I’ve already invited everyone for dinner, including Bull and the Doctor. Lady Felicia and Lord Leiko will join us too, along with little Alexander. I want them all to hear the news at the same time.”

“That’s a great idea.” His face suddenly turned serious. “Needless to say, as of now, no more flying or training for you - at least not for the next nine months or so.”

“Ah, don’t worry. I know what to do. Doctor Afterland has already given me that lecture.”

Their discussion was interrupted by a knock at the door as the first guests arrived. Soon, they had the house full and Turgoth called for everyone’s attention for a moment. Standing with his arm around his smiling young wife’s shoulders, he announced the news. Everyone immediately turned to look at Doctor Afterland, who nodded and raised his glass to propose a toast to the couple and their unborn child. All of the other guests raised their glasses, too, and toasted the forthcoming birth before rushing forward as one to embrace the happy couple, almost knocking them off their feet.