WORRLGENHALL

by Luke, Monica

  With haste, once the king gave him leave, Laad smiled, as he remembered how he raced back to Nona who had just awaked for the day.

  “I have pleasing words to give you!” he said happily and his smile wide, she smiled too.

  “So handsome a smile you have,” she said, and touched his face, “Speak your good words.”

  “I now command all the bowmen,” Laad said, as he lifted her into his arms, “And more, we will now have our chamber.”

  “Such belief I have in you, I was sure of it,” Nona said joyfully, as he now swung her around in his arms, “Come let us go to our chamber and see what needs to be done.”

  Both hurried to what was once Uded’s chamber. The hallway dark, Laad held Nona closely, as they climbed the stairs to keep her from taking a misstep.

  “My first undertaking is to light this hallway,” she said gleefully.

  The door still broken from when Laad kicked it open, it squeaked and bang the wall as they entered, which made her jump startled.

  “…my second,” she said, and smiled.

  Inside the room, the wood floor still stained with the trail from Uded’s blood when his servant painstaking dragged his heavy body away, along with his blood stained bed, both frowned.

  “I shudder to think of what he has done on this bed,” Nona said quickly, “I will not rest upon it.”

  “Nor will I,” Laad said right away, “We will get another.”

  Both stood in the center of the room, and looked left and right, up and down. The bedchamber alone the size of the room they now slept in, and knew it was a good choice.

  “There is much room for us and our child,” Laad said, “But one day true to my words, I long to live on land as I did as a boy and in a home of our own. I want to wake and walk out to a green field among trees.”

  “And I have no doubt that we will not.”

  Hand in hand, they walked the room; then looked out its window, which looked onto part of the outer garden.

  “Look,” Nona said and pointed, “If you stand here, I can see you as you train, but only a little.”

  Laad walked over and looked for himself. “I will try hard to stand there and look up at you.”

  “I will watch you always.” She sighed.

  Laad’s thoughts drifted again, as his eyes closed only for a moment letting thoughts come to mind of the first time they made love in Uded’s former chamber, now their own.

  He remembered how after she sighed, as they held hands, how her thumb tenderly caressed the top of his hand and aroused by her touch, he stepped away from her; then closed the door as best he could.

  “What is in your head of us doing in this chamber?” Nona asked, being playful, “We cannot lie on such a loathsome floor.”

  Laad only smiled, as he drew close to her, before he lifted her easily high into the air and moved her to the wall before pressing her against it and raising her dress.

  “Not once will even your toes touch this floor,” he whispered, as he held her high with one hand and loosened his pants with the other.

  “Laad,” Wurden said as he put his hand on shoulder when he saw how lost in thought he was, “Someone comes…”

  **

  Queen Seda made way up the stairs, and although she was certain she didn’t need them, following King Rone’s command, one guard walked in front of her and the other behind her at all times.

  “It is the queen,” Wurden said, while straightening his posture immediately.

  As the guards approached, Wurden looked impressively at Laad.

  “What is this that you have the queen come to you?” he teased.

  Laad downplayed her visit. “Queen Seda is my wife’s friend.”

  “I knew I choose the right friend to keep when we were boys,” Wurden said playfully; then once Queen Seda reached them, both bowed their heads.

  “I am not wearing my crown, nor I am the king,” she said humbly and smiled; then gently put her hand on Laad’s shoulder, “You do not have to bow to me. How is Nona?

  “All I hear are screams,” Laad answered quickly.

  “Who is with her?”

  “Two old women are with her.”

  “I will go comfort her,” she said quickly.

  Seda walked inside and quietly closed the door, but hesitated as a shudder came over her of the last time she stood at the door after Uded’s servant forced her inside.

  The chamber no longer a gloomy dark place filled with the stench of the evil person who dwelled in it; instead, it smelled of flowers that she remembered, she and Nona picked just days before and fruit.

  A lovely brightly decorated heavy wool curtain separating the bedchamber from the dining area, privy, and play area, their outer hearth had two chairs in front of it, which made her smile as she imagined Nona and Laad sitting in front of it pleasantly talking about their day.

  Comforted by the feel and warmth that surrounded her, she walked farther inside noticing the patterned tapestries on the walls she helped Nona sew, before her nose lifted inhaling the scent of fresh apples and figs in a bowl on a large table in the center of the room.

  “Such a chamber filled with warmth and love.” She smiled to herself as he kept walking.

  When Seda heard Nona moan loudly, although filled with trepidation, she pulled the heavy curtain that surrounded the bed back and saw the two women Laad spoke of sitting on either side of her.

  “Please,” she quickly said when both immediately stood, “Tend to Nona.”

  Her forehead beaded with sweat and her hair soaked, Nona lay propped slightly on the bed by pillows. Her legs apart, she panted between her cries of agony making Seda gasp, as she imagined the pain.

  “Nona,” Seda said at once, and moved in close to grab her hand, “I am here for you.”

  “My queen,” Nona said, “I am in such pain.”

  Again, Seda gasped, unsure what to do.

  “Should this be her course?” Seda asked the two women beside her, “I was told she has been in this state for a time.”

  “This is her first, my lady,” one woman answered, “The first is always filled with more pain than any others that may follow.”

  Again, Nona cried out as a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.

  “If you wish it, I will have Laad come to you to hold your hand.”

  “He has begged to be by my side,” Nona said, as she panted, “But he should not see me in such agony.”

  “Nona,” Seda soothingly informed her, “He hears you. Each of your screams pierces him as sharply as would a blade.”

  “Then I will bite my lip,” Nona vowed, “And not cry out.”

  **

  Laad abruptly stilled in the middle of speaking to Wurden when he no longer heard sounds coming from his chamber, and as his face turned pale with dread that something had gone wrong, he eyes closed and his head lowered.

  “No one has come out to tell you good or bad,” Wurden said already knowing his thoughts when he lowered his head, “Reason it as good.”

  Nona no longer screaming, and no sounds of crying from a son or daughter, Laad began to fear the worse.

  “As sudden as a blink of an eye,” he vowed to Wurden, “If those I love are taken from me, I will leave this place. I will leave this place!”

  Pacing again as he proclaimed his vow, when Seda’s head peeped outside the door, he stopped and his breath stilled.

  “Quickly, go for Orhan and bring him here,” she ordered, “Tell him, the queen sends for him.”

  “I will go,” Wurden volunteered instead, but Laad wanted to go to help clear his head, and insisted.

  Accustomed to delivering messages with haste, Laad raced to Orhan’s chamber, and as he did, no care who may have heard him, spoke loudly to himself.

  “I pray you God,” his humble prayer, “That all is well with my wife and unborn child. My love is such that I fear I cannot bear to lose them and nothing hidden from You, You know what truth is in my heart.”

  As he ran, he rep
eated those words until he reached Orhan’s chamber; then banged on the door.

  “What is it?” Orhan questioned, annoyed with the persistent banging.

  “Queen Seda sends for you to come to my chamber,” Laad said humbly, because Orhan was highly regarded by the king.

  “What is wrong?”

  “My wife is birthing our child,” he answered, the worry in his tone obvious, “And such is her pain, we fear the worse.”

  “Many who birth children go through such pain,” he mentioned, “But go, I will follow soon.”

  Laad left him, hurrying back to his chamber, and without thinking walked inside to tell Seda what Orhan said, and as he did, when one of the women pulled the curtain back to go rinse some of the bloody cloths, he saw Nona and from her tired look, his heart fell heavy.

  “Nona, my sunrise!” he called out wanting to rush to her, but Seda stood and pointed at the door for him to close it with him on the other side of it.

  “Orhan will come,” Laad blurted, turned and rushed out.

  “What did you see?” Wurden asked when he looked at Laad’s face noticing the look of surprise and sickness on it.

  “Blood everywhere,” Laad answered, as he felt himself becoming sick.

  “Blood…” Wurden repeated and shook his head, “Have you not seen blood spew from those you have slain with your sword. Calm yourself Laad, or I swear if all goes well and no harm comes to your wife and child, I will tell tales of this in the men’s hall always and mock you.”

  Just as Wurden spoke, Orhan came down the hallway, but said nothing to Laad and Wurden when he passed them.

  Instead, he calmly opened the door and closed it, leaving Laad and Wurden staring at the wood in front of them.

  Noticing her youth, he sighed and knew why she was in such a state, before he told the women to spread her legs widely apart again.

  “Child,” Orhan said as he looked between her legs, “The water within has leaked out. Now you must push.”

  “But,” Nona panted, “Such pain.”

  “You will push!” Orhan ordered firmly, “And with great toil.”

  Nona obeyed, gnashed her teeth and pushed, but nothing happened, “Until I speak for you to stop, you will push,” he said sternly, “And with great might.”

  Again, Nona pushed, but this time as she pushed, the baby’s head appeared.

  “Once more,” Orhan ordered, “Push!”

  “I have no strength,” Nona said, as again she panted.

  “You must,” Seda said as she held Nona’s hand, “A gift wants to come into this world for you and Laad to hold and love.”

  Again, Nona pushed and the child came out of her womb.

  “Such a wonderful sight,” Nona said amazed that a living being actually came out of her and began to cry, and as Orhan pinched him, he began to cry loudly in sync with his mother.

  “Such a strong sound,” Orhan said, as he cleaned his hands, “It is good.”

  “I thank you, Orhan,” Seda said, and smiled.

  When he heard the sounds of crying, Laad stopped pacing.

  “I hear strong lungs,” he said quickly and began to walk towards the door as Orhan walked out.

  “She and the child are well,” Orhan said now, walking away.

  Laad exhaled loud and hard.

  “I am grateful,” Laad said.

  “It was but a minor toil,” Orhan said, stopping only for a moment, “But if she bears more children…”

  “Yes,” Laad said, listening intently expecting some ancient secret for child birthing.

  “Make sure she remembers she must push,” he added, as an amused smile came on his face, but he did not turn around for them to see it.

  “I shall.”

  “Then, I will leave you too,” Wurden said, “This night has been long.”

  “Old friend,” Laad said, about to thank him.

  “There is no need for words,” Wurden said, and he put his hand on Laad’s shoulder and walked away.

  Quietly and humbly, Laad entered the chamber, but remained outside the bedchamber while the women cleaned the blood and mucky fluids on Nona and their child; then as Seda walked passed him to leave, he spoke.

  “My queen,” he said, “I thank you for your kindness.”

  “Thank me for my kindness,” Seda repeated bewildered he did, “A hideous sight I would have been had you not slain Uded, and you know I love Nona so, there is no need for thanks or ever will be.

  “But my queen you have done so much for me and Nona” Laad’s voice softened even more with gratitude, “I …”

  “Laad,” Seda cut his words short, “Go to your loved ones.”

  Seda left Laad standing by the door, and once the two women had left, meekly, he pulled back the curtain, lifting his eyes to Nona, then the bundle in her arms as he approached them.

  “Husband,” Nona said softly, her face glowing as she handed the bundle to Laad, “Your son.”

  Gently, Laad took him and sat on the bed next to Nona.

  “I could never have reasoned I could love so deeply,” he said. His eyes swelling as his chest puffed with pride, he kissed the top of his son’s head, before he kissed Nona tenderly on her lips.

  “What name will you give him?”

  “I have reasoned and reasoned day and night as your womb grew,” he said, staring at his son’s face, “But as I paced it came to me…”

  “And it is?

  “Elaad,” Laad answered.

  “Then Elaad his name is,” Nona said proudly, as Laad moved to lay beside her with their son in his arms, “Elaad, son of Laad.”

  **

  Seda went back to her chamber and once undressed, slid quietly into bed beside King Rone, who when she did rolled over and pulled her close to him.

  “Is all well with Nona?” he asked half asleep.

  “She has given him a son,” Seda answered, as she rested her head on the pillow and musingly sighed thinking of the joys of motherhood.

  Her sigh deep, King Rone raised his head; then looked at her.

  “What brings such a sigh?” he asked.

  “Would it bring you joy to have more children?” she asked, “With two sons grown and one married who will have children of his own soon all would gather.”

  “You ask a question that a course has already been set to follow.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My queen,” he said, “You have women attend you. Nothing is hidden from me.”

  “Nothing...” Seda said, while looking at him curiously.

  “Nothing,” King Rone said, as he smiled at her.

  “What is in your head?”

  “Such joy I felt when words came that you have gone a time and have not bled,” he confessed, “But I held my joy within, until the words came from you.”

  “I feel sorrow,” Seda said saddened, “That you did not hear it from me first.”

  “Then reveal it as if I had not.”

  “There is no joy in hearing again what you already know.”

  “Speak it.”

  Seda smiled; then looked at King Rone lovingly.

  “My husband Rone,” she whispered, “A father you will be once more.”

  “I love you, my wife,” he said as he kissed her, “Deeply.”

  “And what is inside me?”

  “More.”

  “A daughter you will have.”

  “I make sons,” he said proudly.

  “And now you will make a daughter.”

  “Then I pray she is like her mother,” he said, “Beautiful, and with a mind for words able to win the hearts of many, including a king’s.”

  Chapter 8

  The king’s admiration for Orem great as one who served under his father and him as well, although he waited as long as he could out of respect before replacing him, at the urging of his quorum, he sought another Lord Helm, and after much discussion, Irek who served under Orem, he chose.

  Irek, who had proven himself in battle many t
imes, but had stayed behind instead of going to the lowlands because of an illness, when the king chose him, none grumbled or spoke against the his decision.

  Whoever first in command thought of as fighting in place of the king, other than the king’s sons, all would obey his commands when scouting the lands, in wars or battles, and matters with the united men.

  Since Irek moved in place, he had word on who would be under him, but asked the king to have a challenge. A challenge were only the guilds could vie and in the end, whomever showed the best skills for battle and reason, would command under him and be high in place to also attend the king’s private quorum in all things, which even Belon and Ogorec could not.

  The challenge set for a short time away, the men trained honing their skills, but as Irek watched them, time after time he did not see the one he knew would do well among them and, in truth, only who he wanted.

  Irek close friends with Laad’s father watched, in truth, actually helped him grow from a boy to a man and wanted him to take his inherent place by moving higher in status, and although many already respected him, to gain the respect of all, he wanted him to vie for the honor.

  The days passing quickly, the vie now set for early morning, that night Irek went to see Laad in his chamber, and as he discreetly knocked on his door, when he answered Irek spoke to him quietly, but didn’t come inside.

  “Time after time,” Irek spoke, “I see you only training with your bowmen.”

  “It is not my will to vie,” Laad revealed, “I am pleased with my place and in it I can be near my wife and son, and not scout the lands in the springs.”

  “Your father reasoned that too,” Irek said, “And chose to be what he was instead of rising more. If only in your youth an illness had not taken him before his time, just as it did your mother.”

  “What are your words to me?”

  “That nothing is foreseen to us in life…” Irek’s vague answer, “Fate is fate, and is in all things.”

  “Your words are veiled to me,” Laad questioned, “Why?”