Chapter 1

Twenty five years ago.....

The harsh screams of a woman pierces the silent night as she labours to bring her child into the world. She pants hard, her hair plastered to her face with perspiration. Her chest heaves and her fists grips the sheets hard. There are three midwives in the room with her. Two stand behind, preparing hot water and clean sheets while the last one helps the woman in the child birth.

"One more push Evaleen",Beatrice, the midwife says and wipes the moisture off Evaleen's forehead with a cool cloth. "The baby's head is almost out. I can see the hair. Your baby has so much dark hair. Just take a deep breath and push".

The woman, Evaleen grips Beatrice's hand and whispers to her. "Did word get to Cyrus? He should be here now".

"The King will be here soon",Beatrice says and smiles at her. "Word has been sent to him. Now just push one more time. Make it a big one".

Evaleen shuts her eyes and pushes as hard as she can. A strangled cry escapes her lips and the baby slips out of her smoothly. The piercing cry of a new born fills the air.

"It's a boy",Beatrice whispers with tears in her eyes. She quickly wipes the baby and cuts the cord connecting him to his mother. The other midwives, Hanna and Mary bring clean sheets, their eyes filled with awe at the new baby. Hanna wraps the baby with a clean sheet while Mary cleans up Evaleen.

"My baby",Evaleen whispers with joy. "Bring me my baby. Let me hold him".

Beatrice hands the baby to her and stands back to watch both mother and son with a smile. The baby quiets down the moment he his in his mother's arms.

Evaleen is filled with so much joy and pride. She stares at her son, born from the love between she and Cyrus, the King of Duville. And soon, Cyrus will make her his wife and his queen and they will spend the rest of their lives in the castle. She couldn't wait for Cyrus to arrive and share the good news with him.

"What will you call him?",Beatrice asks.

"Sebastian",Evaleen whispers. She has her eyes on her son and then she looks up and smiles at Beatrice. "His name is Sebastian. And he will grow up to be a strong handsome man, mighty and valiant. Brave and feared by all who see him".

The midwives smile at her. Evaleen was known for her fairy tales and fantasies. But they agreed with her nonetheless.

"He looks so much like the King",Mary says.

"Yes. He does",Evaleen agrees. Sebastian began to fuss and cry in her arms and Evaleen looks to the midwives for help. She had no idea what to do.

"He is hungry",Beatrice says. "It's time to feed him". She sits beside Evaleen and tugs down the neckline of her dress. Baby Sebastian clamps his mouth on his mother's breast and sucks hungrily. Evaleen gasps, filled with so much love for her son.

"We must move you to a much safer place",Beatrice says suddenly and gets up from the bed.

Evaleen takes her eyes off her son and frowns at her. "But why? We are safe here".

"We are not safe here Evaleen", Beatrice says. "Once the news gets to the King, it will spread. And should his Queens find out you've born a heir for the King, they will set out to end the baby's life".

Evaleen looks down at her baby, his eyes closed as he fed. He looked so calm, without a care for the world around him. There was fear in her eyes when she looks back to Beatrice.

"What if Cyrus comes?",she asks. "He won't find us here. He must know where we are".

"Do not worry Evaleen",Beatrice says. "Hanna and Mary will stay back, in case the King comes. They will inform him of our new location. But we must hurry now".

Evaleen still felt weak from the strain of her delivery but the urge to keep her son safe gives her the strength she needs. She swings her leg over the bed and pushes herself up, her baby cradled in her arm.

"Tell Carl to bring the carriage around", Beatrice says to Hanna. Hanna rushes out while Mary helps Beatrice to tidy up the place and wrap Evaleen's things in a bag.

"Put this around the baby",Beatrice says. She hands a thick shawl to Evaleen to put around baby Sebastian. "It will keep him warm".

Evaleen takes her breast out of her son's mouth who is now sleeping. She wraps the shawl around him and pulls the top over his head to keep him warm.

The sound of an approaching carriage is heard.

"Come on Evaleen",Beatrice says. "We must hurry".

The women pull up the hoods of their cloaks and step out of the little cabin. The night air is cold and harsh against the skin. Evaleen hugs her baby closer to her bossom to keep him warm and follows Beatrice towards the carriage. She can just make out the outline of a horse yoked to the carriage.

"Carl please help us with the bags", Beatrice whispers to the man riding the carriage. Carl jumps down from his seat and grabs the bags. Beatrice helps Evaleen into the carriage and then enters after her. Carl binds the bag to the back of the carriage and then shuts the carriage door. He quickly climbs back on his seat at the front.

"Remember Hanna, Mary",Beatrice says softly to the other midwives through the window of the carriage. "Should the King come, you know where to direct him. And if anyone else comes, act natural and do not give away the news of the baby".

"Yes Beatrice",Hanna and Mary whisper. "Be careful. See you soon Evaleen".

"See you soon Hanna, Mary",Evaleen says. "Be careful".

Hanna and Mary stand back as they watch the carriage move away into the darkness.

______________________________________________

Three months passed and King Cyrus never showed up. Evaleen was heartbroken. King Cyrus must have deemed her unfit to rule beside him and so he never bothered about her or her son. She struggled to feed her son and herself and kept hoping that one day, Cyrus would come find her.

One year went past with no sign of King Cyrus. Evaleen got tired of waiting and hoping. One fateful morning, she picked up her one year old son and a few coins for a carriage ride. She got to the path that led to the castle and waited for a carriage to arrive. Soon one came and she boarded it. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest as the carriage took her closer to the castle. She alighted and walked the remaining way on foot.

"HALT!",a guard yells from the high post above the massive gates. Evaleen stops and clutches her child closer to her. "What business do you have in the castle?".

She gulps hard before answering. "I am here to see His Majesty, King Cyrus".

The guards above laugh scornfully at her. "A peasant, wanting to see the King", another says. "You have such guts woman".

"What business do you have with His Majesty?",the first guard that halted her asks.

"I....",Evaleen stops suddenly. She couldn't tell them about her son. It would only endanger him. This meant she would never be able to reveal the identity of her son. Should the Queens find out, his life would never be safe.

The guards laugh hilariously again at Evaleen's inability to form a word. "Leave peasant, and take your child away before we're forced to punish you for daring to ask of His Majesty".

Evaleen had no choice but to turn away. She walked back sorrowfully, her steps heavy and burdened. Life was all over for her.

Then Sebastian touched her cheek softly. Evaleen lifted her eyes to stare at him and he smiles at her, a wide happy smile. Tears fill her eyes and she smiles back at her son. No! Her life was not over. She had her son to think about, and she would do everything she could to give him the best life. Her steps became energized and purposeful. Cyrus could go to hell. He had everything;riches, power, glory and much more.

But he would never have one thing she had. And that was her son.