Septimus was old. There was no doubt about that. He was not dead though and whilst he was alive, he must rule his kingdom, fairly and justly.
His beloved, Marian, was pregnant and she was exhausted. He wished he could help his beloved but he had a kingdom to rule. Not for the first time, the crown felt heavy on his head. He sighed. Maybe death wasn't such a nightmare after all but a dream he could look forward to.
A maid rushed in. "M'lord, her majesty, she is about to have the baby! " she said, with haste. Septimus looked up. His heart swelled with joy.
"Tell her majesty that her beloved shall be there as swiftly as possible," he said to the maid, " Go now! Make haste!" "Yes, m'lord," she said quickly and rushed out.
Septimus moved as quickly as possible. He may not have been as quick as he used to be but he was still a warrior, and a great one at that.
He came into the room, only to hear Marian's scream. He rushed to her bedside and grabbed her hand." My beloved!" Septimus said, "I am here now there is no need to worry". "As usual, m'lord, you are late," his love said smiling weakly, but then she screamed and squeezed his hand. "Shhh, Marian, I am here, " Septimus said, in a comforting tone. "I am aware of that m'lord, " Marian gasped before letting out a torrent of unladylike words.
"The babe is coming, m'lord! " the maid said. "Shh Marian, it will be over soon," he said stroking her dark curls. "Push, m'lady," the maid said loudly. His love let out another ear-splitting scream.
The maid held up a child as Marian lay there panting. She was a beautiful baby girl,with dark eyes and pale skin. There was tiny bits of black hair on her head. The maid gave the child to Septimus' beloved. "Darchelle," his lover said," Her name is Darchelle."
Septimus smiled. Darchelle was ancient tongue for dark and it suited the baby perfectly. The child giggled. Marian gave the babe to Septimus, who cradled his newborn daughter in his arms.
But then Marian screamed. "M'lord!" the maid said, surprise in her voice," There is another! Another babe!" Twins? Septimus thought,bewildered. His beloved grabbed his arm and clutched it as if her life depended on it. She screamed again. Septimus did his best in comforting her.
The second babe was the almost the complete opposite to the first. Her eyes were as pale as the moon,her little strands of her were white-gold and she had porcelain skin. She was as beautiful as the first child though. "Lucila," Septimus whispered. "Lucila is perfect," his wife said. Lucila came from the tongue as Darchelle and meant the opposite,light.
Septimus' heart was filled with love for his new daughters and suddenly the throne wasn't a burden anymore. All that mattered were his family.