Fin peered into the sleeping princess’s face, the rest of the world momentarily forgotten as he beheld miraculous life that had just been born. Despite helping his mother with countless births, he rarely ever had to hold the infants. The newborn’s mother or family members would immediately cradle them, cooing and crying over their new loved one. Not that he had ever cared or minded …
But this time was different.
The king stood with his back to them while Kate finished stitching up the queen who lay motionless on the bed, her daughter’s first cries being soothed away by Fin.
Fin knew that the king would’ve been able to hear the babe’s first weak shriek, as the room remained deathly silent, yet he still didn’t move.
“Your Majesty, would you like to hold the princess?” he asked softly as his mother continued her work.
“Is Ainsley … is she … here?” Norman’s voice sounded far away, his hands still clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the dark night outside his window.
“She sleeps,” Kate replied slowly. The king turned around hesitantly, sensing there was more to be said. “There was a lot of blood lost, and her heart is weak. I am using a great deal of power to keep her here. I can continue to do so for a few days at most; after that, if she does not wake and recover on her own …” The witch’s hands hovered over the queen’s body, a faint golden glow encasing her. The monarch moved stiffly back to the bedside, his eyes fixed on his wife.
With shaking hands, Norman reached out, and clasped Ainsley’s limp hand in both of his before half collapsing to his knees.
The princess in Fin’s arms let out a small whimper and opened her eyes. She looked around blearily, and the redhead felt his heart skip a beat.
She was so small …
“Sire, your daughter will need to eat soon, would you like to hold her before—” Kate asked softly while nodding toward the babe in her son’s arms.
“Leave.”
The growl from the king that interrupted the healer was directed at Fin. Norman’s hazel eyes had somehow changed. They seemed sharper … and smaller.
It was terrifying, and the redhead found himself unconsciously holding the infant even closer to his body than before in a protective gesture. The king didn’t spare the child a single glance before he turned back to his wife and rested his forehead on his hands that still hung on to her.
Fin looked to his mother who regarded the ruler with deep sorrow and understanding. Her eyes slid to her son and, using her chin, she gestured at the door.
After a moment’s hesitation, he took the hint, and with the princess swaddled in his arms, he walked out of the chamber.
Upon stepping into the corridor, Ruby and the guards jumped in surprise. They said nothing at first as Fin turned and closed the door behind him quietly.
“Does the queen need fresh towels? Those still look clean—” Ruby whispered before moving to grab the bundle in the redhead’s arms, only to have him jerk back carefully.
This startled the poor princess into giving another weak cry, making the guards and Head of Housekeeping leap back in shock.
“Ruby, please summon the nursemaid for the princess. She needs to eat,” the cook requested softly as he proceeded to gently rock the infant back into a more contented mood.
“The … The princess …? Princess. My Gods, there is a princess!” Ruby and the guards burst out into bright smiles. The Head of Housekeeping even began to tear up as they all shared in the moment of joy, until Ruby realized Fin wasn’t smiling.
The smile melted from her face.
“Her Majesty isn’t well enough to feed the babe?”
Fin shook his head.
Horror and grief filled her eyes.
“Oh, no … Oh, no, no … She’s …”
The knights immediately became somber, as they fixed the redhead with determined expressions. Before they could ask for details, Fin was already talking.
“She is alive, but … we don’t know for how long. Whether or not she recovers is … uncertain.”
Ruby’s tears spilled over, though for a different reason than happiness.
“Oh Gods,” she whispered brokenly before succumbing to sobs that the nearest guard sought to soothe by embracing her, his own eyes growing red.
“Ruby?” Fin’s hoarse voice called out quietly. “The princess needs to eat. I do not know where the nursemaid or nursery is.”
Pulling free from the guard’s arms quickly, Ruby dashed at the tears on her face before nodding.
“I-I will go summon her. The princess’s nursery is … the first door on the right after the turn. In the west end of the castle. She was going to be placed in Lady Jenoure’s old chamber but Her Majesty wanted to sleep with the child until … until—” Ruby broke off and took a steadying breath.
Fin nodded and proceeded to head in the direction of the nursery. The child in his arms grew fussier as he did so, either because she was hungry or because the corridor wasn’t as warm as the chamber she had just left, he wasn’t completely certain.
Once he reached the chamber, Fin didn’t think twice about magically lighting the hearth and every candle. His mother had told him once how important it was for the babes that had been born too early to remain warm. She had also said that normally there were some breathing difficulties for them.
Silently, Fin thanked the Goddess that it was summer and not winter for the princess. It’d be easier to keep her warm and wouldn’t be as tough on her small lungs to adapt. Seating himself in a chair before the fire, he stared back down at the child. Her eyes were open, though unfocused, and she was watching him. In fact … he was the first person she’d ever seen.
“I’m sorry that you aren’t getting the welcome you deserve,” Fin whispered as emotions threatened to strangle him. “You’re doing great so far.”
The baby let out a small snort, making Fin smile before he could stop himself.
“You know, I never would’ve imagined in my entire life that I’d be the first person to ever hold or talk to a princess.” He chuckled quietly. “Life’s a little funny sometimes … and sometimes it is unfair. I’m sorry that it’s already been a tough start for you. Your father is a great man, he just … he just is tired. Your mother …” Fin’s smile faded, and his eyes grew misty as the princess peacefully listened to him. “Your mother is a brave woman who loves you more than you can imagine. I hope …”
The door behind him opened, and Fin turned expecting to see Ruby arriving with the nursemaid.
Except it wasn’t, it was Eric.
The prince stared at Fin puzzled, as Kraken suddenly appeared behind him. The redhead guessed it was the child’s bedtime from his sleep shirt, but Eric looked completely awake, his eyes still puffy from crying earlier.
“What are you doing in here?” the prince asked, stepping into the room.
“Eric, would you like to meet your sister?” Fin hastily blinked back the tears; it wasn’t his place to tell the child about his mother’s condition.
The boy stopped in his tracks, his eyes round in wonder as he registered the swaddle in Fin’s arms.
“Come on over here,” the cook called out quietly as the little girl in his arms moved at the sound of her brother’s voice.
Eric’s face was stricken as he tentatively moved closer, until he finally rounded the chair and gazed down at the infant.
His baby sister.
She stared up at him and let out a small sigh that made Fin’s heart feel as though it were being squeezed.
“She … She looks weird. Why is she so tiny?” Eric stared down at the baby, his perplexed expression making Fin smile.
“She was born early, so she didn’t have time to grow more. She was just too excited to meet you.”
Eric lifted his finger and gently stroked her cheek.
Turning toward the touch, the princess immediately began to suck on her brother’s finger, making him giggle.
“Why is she doing that?”
“She’s hungry. Her nursemaid is coming to feed her soon,” Fin explained as the princess suddenly frowned and squirmed in annoyance.
“Ah, she’s unhappy that you aren’t tasty.”
Eric burst out in another fit of giggles, before taking his finger out of her mouth and gently patting her small head.
“What’s her name?”
Fin froze. Neither the king nor queen had mentioned having a name picked out.
“I don’t know yet. How about for now we just call her Princess?”
Eric looked somewhat disappointed, but he nodded. “When will Mom and Dad tell us?”
Fin’s spine stiffened. “I’m not sure … your mum was very tired after having her, so she may sleep for a while.”
Eric, too enamored with his new sibling, had completely forgotten his distress for his mother from earlier. Instead, he continued gazing with loving fascination down at his sister.
The chamber door opened again, and the nursemaid, followed by Ruby, entered. Both of them were pale and had obviously been crying, but fortunately Eric didn’t notice as Kraken was sniffing the baby interestedly, making the boy laugh.
“Time for us to let the nursemaid feed the princess, alright?” Fin slowly stood and turned to the woman who carefully took the newborn from him.
“Can I go ask Dad what her name is going to be?” Eric turned to Ruby, who showcased her complete inability to lie as she burst out into fresh tears when gazing upon the young prince’s eager face.
The poor woman fled from the room, and Fin was hasty in picking the young prince up and carrying him out into the corridor. Too distracted with the oddity of what had just happened, the boy didn’t think to question why his friend was holding him.
“Not tonight, sorry. Maybe later. Both your parents are exhausted.” As Fin stepped into the darkened hallway and shut the door behind them, he realized he had no idea where the prince slept.
“My chamber’s that door.” Eric pointed to the chamber beside his sister’s, which explained how he knew where Fin was. “Why was Ruby crying?”
“She’s … happy. Happy that the princess is here.”
“So Mom is okay?”
Fin inadvertently gripped the child tighter as he opened his chamber door and noted the governess who was fast asleep in front of the fire.
“Your mom is sleeping,” he repeated desperately.
Eric began to squirm then, and Fin hastily set the young child down on the floor.
“Something’s wrong!” The boy rounded on him, his fists clenched at his side. “Tell me! You’re my friend and … and friends tell each other everything.”
At first, Fin’s shoulders slackened, as he was unable to think of a proper way to handle the situation. Then after a moment, he slowly lowered himself down to kneel in front of Eric.
“Your mother had a really tough time giving birth to your sister, Eric, and your dad is … worried. My mother is doing everything she can to help her. You can ask your father about everything tomorrow.”
The boy was breathing hard through his nose as he obviously tried to stay in control of his emotions.
“So my mom isn’t dead?” he demanded.
“No,” Fin answered evenly, making sure to hold the boy’s stare.
The prince sniffled and wiped his nose using the back of his sleeve.
“Are you lying to me?”
The cook shook his head slowly.
“Then why is everyone so serious?”
“Eric, I won’t lie to you, but your father wants to be the one to tell you about what is going on. I’m not supposed to.”
The boy’s lip quivered, and Fin could see his young mind working furiously to try and find a way to argue his answer.
“I’m sorry, Eric. The best thing you can do is keep your sister company. She is really scared and hasn’t met anyone else yet. Do you think you can be strong and be there for her? She doesn’t have anyone else.”
The prince nodded firmly, his eyes still brimming with tears, but instead of displaying fear, his expression grew determined.
“You’re going to be the best big brother.” Fin reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair, then stood.
Casting a judgmental eye at the governess who continued snoring away, Fin turned to the door.
He was about to take a step when small arms suddenly wound around his hips.
“I’m scared.” The boy sobbed quietly into his side, and Fin’s heart broke into a million pieces because of it.
“I am, too, but we have a lot of people to help us. So we have to do the best we can.” The redhead turned and hugged the young royal back before he bent down and once again picked him up. This time he set the child down on his bed and tucked him in.
With a small chirp Kraken leapt up onto the green satin blanket and immediately sauntered over to Eric. The feline proceeded to nuzzle the child until he was rewarded with a fierce hug that probably hurt, but he made no move to stop the embrace.
“Kraken will stay with you all night, alright? I will see you in the morning.”
“But Ruby said you … you’re not back to work until next week,” Eric said while leaning back into his pillows.
“Friends don’t leave when they’re needed.” Fin managed a small smile, and then left Kraken and the prince for the night. Unsure of what the future held, and scared that Eric would soon have to say goodbye to his mother, the witch doubted he would be able to sleep at all.