Being An Aunt~
The young handsome gentleman stretched his hands towards Elizabeth, who didn't notice that she had placed her hands smoothly on the young man's hand. The young man gently drew Elizabeth nearer, and she felt his strong, firm, and manly arms around her waist, and she shivered a little, but the man seemed to have felt her shiver, and so he drew her even closer toward his chest so she would feel his warmth, and then led her to the dance floor.
Everyone seemed to have disappeared, and all Elizabeth could see and feel was this strange man holding her at the moment. Elizabeth had never felt so drawn to someone before. Even being up close to the stranger, Elizabeth could see the minor detail of his face, and she could only imagine how beautiful this man must look without the mask.
"You look beautiful. I don't think I've ever come into contact with such beauty before." The man gave Elizabeth a dashing smile, enough to make one's heartbeat stop, but that's when Elizabeth realized that she was on the dance floor dancing with a stranger.
Elizabeth stopped dancing and tried to walk off the dance floor, if not just possibly run, from the embarrassment of being swayed by a random man, and she was a married woman.
Just when Elizabeth thought that she had escaped, she felt someone grab her hands. Thinking it was the previous young man, Elizabeth removed her hands from the person's grip, but then she heard someone fall.
Instantly, Elizabeth turned, and instead of seeing the young handsome man or another random man on the floor, Elizabeth saw Queen Anna on the floor, trying hard to move at the same time, groaning out in pain.
Elizabeth rushed to meet her, and then everyone turned to see Queen Anna on the floor. Two guards rushed in, as well as a woman, and Queen Anna moaned louder for them to help her.
"She's about to give birth, we need to get her to a vacant room where she can deliver her baby," she explained as if being experienced in it. King Arthur walked towards Queen Anna and Elizabeth and ordered her to be taken to a room with the court lady who would assist her. A physician was also called.
Everyone looked surprised, and some looked at the queen with pitying eyes. Everyone was aware of the king's recent degree and was worried about the child's gender; no one was even concerned about the child's mother.
Elizabeth could not follow them into the room; she could only escort them to the door. Elizabeth felt her heart thumping fast and her palms sweating; her nerves were tense, and she feared the worst. This was something Queen Anna had to face alone.
Hours later, after moments of screaming and shouting, a servant came out of the palace holding a small material which was stained with blood. Elizabeth felt her world clashing.
"My queen, the Queen is fine, healthy, and strong." It was like a burden was lifted off Elizabeth's shoulder. "And it's a baby girl."
Just then, the child's cry was heard, and they rushed to inform the king that the child was a girl. King Arthur didn't seem to appreciate the news, but he still went to see Queen Anna, who was lying on the bed with Elizabeth by her side, patting her on the head.
Queen Victoria was behind the king, and when she saw Queen Anna rocking her child in her arms. She looked weak and drained but still managed to hold her child. She felt happy and sad; it was like a female child was now more valued than a male child.
King Darik offered his palace to the king and insisted they spend the night there, under the pretense of the newborn child and her mother, but everyone knew he had other plans.
"My baby. Oh, my beautiful daughter." Tears gathered in Queen Anna's eyes as she stared lovingly at her sleeping child in her arms.
"Let me help you," Elizabeth offered, and she would care for Queen Anna's child so she could rest, but Queen Anna wanted to hold her a little longer.
But when Queen Anna fell into a deep sleep, Elizabeth gently took the child from the mother and placed her in the baby's cradle. Two maids came in to inform Elizabeth that her room had been prepared.
Elizabeth didn't want to leave the room, but felt she had to eventually leave the mother and child on their own. How happy Queen Anna must have felt and how relieved she was that no one was harming her child.
The maids took Elizabeth to her room, where she saw the king, King Arthur, sitting by the pouch closed to the fireplace, with his white evening sleeve loosed at the first three buttons. King Arthur looked tired and appeared to have fallen asleep, his right hand covering his face.
Elizabeth wanted to ask why the king was here, but felt the need not to, so she dismissed the maids and walked straight to the pouch. She leaned forward to cover up the king's body when she felt a heavy arm around her waist draw her close, and she fell on the king's broad, firm chest and her head right below his jaw.
She looked up, and their eyes met, his lips slightly parted, sending warm breath into her face. The arms around her were firm and didn't loosen up even a bit. She suddenly realized that she was on top of the king and he was holding her in place.
The last time Elizabeth felt this close to the king was on her wedding night, and that was far too long ago. Elizabeth never knew she missed this feeling until this moment. What was happening? Elizabeth wanted to get off the king's body, but it just made him wrap his two arms around her and speak softly into her ears, "Do I have to be more precise with my intention?"
Elizabeth couldn't help feeling taken aback. For some reason, she didn't know why she wanted to push him away so badly; maybe it's because of all the pain he made his wives go through and the blind eyes he gave them. Or perhaps it was really because she feared he would do the same to her.
King Arthur had yet to be informed of Elizabeth's pregnancy, and she knew it was taking too long for her to tell him. King Arthur slowly opened his eyes and revealed those crystal-like eyes that matched his silver hair that fell freely on his head.
"You look more beautiful than the last time," King Arthur brushed his hands on Elizabeth's back, sending electricity all over her body. The king leaned forward to place his lips on Elizabeth's lips, but she couldn't help herself, and she opened her mouth, and what came out afterwards made the king stop.