Months passed.
One cold evening, Elara was deep in conversation with Olivia when she felt a sudden, sharp pain in her stomach. She paused, her face tightening. The discomfort intensified quickly, and Olivia, noticing the shift in her expression, was immediately on alert.
"Elara?" Olivia whispered, concern etched in her voice.
Before Elara could answer, her water broke.
Panic surged through Olivia as she helped Elara onto the bed. She turned to rush for the physician, but the palace guards, seeing her distress, insisted on fetching help themselves. Olivia remained, clutching Elara's hand, whispering soft reassurances.
Word spread through the palace like wildfire—Lady Elara was in labor.
Queen Ashley, usually composed and regal, was a storm of nerves. She paced outside the chamber, hands clenched tightly as Elara's screams echoed from within. "Please," she whispered over and over, eyes lifted to the heavens, "let her be safe."
Duke stood beside her, stoic and strong, yet gripping her hand with silent desperation. The news had reached every corner of the kingdom, and crowds gathered before the palace walls, their breaths misting in the cold night air. Among them, Torin stood alone, watching silently, his expression unreadable.
Then—at long last—the sound everyone had waited for pierced the night.
A baby's cry.
Relief broke across Queen Ashley's face. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she rushed into the chamber. There, she found Elara drenched in sweat but alive, glowing with exhausted joy.
Soon after, once both mother and child had been cleaned, Duke entered the chamber. His eyes locked onto Elara's. He crossed the room in a heartbeat and took her hand gently in his.
"You made me a father," he said, his voice trembling with wonder.
Elara smiled at him, tears welling in her eyes.
He kissed her forehead softly, reverently.
Queen Ashley approached with the newborn wrapped in fine linen. "It's a boy," she declared proudly, handing the child to Duke. Laughter and joy filled the room, echoing into the halls.
Moments later, King Torin entered. His gaze flicked from the baby in Duke's arms to Elara, then settled on her with something unreadable behind his eyes.
Without a word, Elara rose from the bed—despite her exhaustion—and gently took the baby from Duke's arms. She turned to face Torin, stepping forward until she stood before him.
She looked down at the baby, then up into the eyes of the king. "Your grandson," she said softly, and held the child out to him.
A stunned silence filled the room. All eyes were on Torin—none more shocked than Duke.
"We chose a name," Elara said, "but... you may give him yours, too."
Torin's voice was husky. "What is his name?"
"Zarek," she answered with a smile. "It means harmony."
Torin took the baby into his arms. His eyes, rimmed red, shimmered as he looked at the tiny face before him. Then he looked at Elara, the walls around his heart crumbling.
"I am sorry," he whispered. "Forgive me."
Elara slowly pulled away from his embrace and looked into his eyes. "I forgave you the day I married your son."
Torin smiled.
Elara turned to everyone gathered. "He smiled," she announced with a light laugh.
The chamber erupted with laughter.
Queen Ashley embraced Elara tightly and placed a kiss on her husband's cheek. The maids, Olivia, and the physician all stood nearby, beaming as they witnessed the moment of healing and joy.
Duke stepped forward and wrapped his arms around them all, joining the family's embrace.
Torin's voice rose with new authority. "It is time to share this joy with our people."
Queen Ashley nodded, radiant with happiness.
With the baby Zarek in his arms, King Torin stepped out onto the grand balcony overlooking the kingdom. The crowd below quieted as he raised the infant high.
"Today," he proclaimed, his voice ringing clear across the night, "I present to you our newborn prince—Zarek!"
A thunderous cheer erupted. Joy spread like wildfire as the people of Vanilor cried out the name "Zarek" over and over, their voices echoing into the stars.
Torin turned back into the palace and made his way to Duke's chamber, where he gently placed the baby into his father's arms.
He looked between Elara and Duke. "I will see you soon. I must send word to the dignitaries—tomorrow begins a celebration like no other."
He smiled, the weight of years lifting from his shoulders, and departed.
Duke turned to Elara, cradling their son.
"Thank you," he whispered, wonder and love in his eyes.