Just 10 months of the wedding, the queen managed to do her royal duty effectively that is to give heir to the kingdom, the biggest achievement of a woman in medieval period.

The kingdom of Castoria abuzz with anticipation as news of Queen Angela's pregnancy spread through the castle halls and far beyond its walls. The union of Angela, a formidable warrior queen, and King Joseph, a warrior enamoured with her strength and spirit, had been a celebrated event. Their marriage had not only united two powerful personalities but had also promised a future of hope and prosperity for the realm.

As the months passed, Angela's belly swelled, and with it, the kingdom's excitement. The queen, undeterred by the physical burdens of pregnancy, continued to rule with unwavering resolve. Her court marvelled at her resilience, seeing her as both a mother and a monarch, capable of bearing the future while maintaining the present.

One fateful night, under the light of a full moon, Angela's time came. The castle was a stir with activity as midwives and attendants prepared for the royal birth. Despite the pain and the intensity of labour, Angela remained composed, her warrior spirit shining through. Yet, in this sacred moment, she exhibited the gentleness and humility expected of a medieval queen.

"Oh, Lord, grant me strength," Angela whispered, her voice trembling. "May this child be a son, as my lord Joseph doth desire."

Her ladies-in-waiting and midwives fluttered around her, their faces etched with concern. The chapel's bells tolled, summoning prayers for a safe delivery. The castle's chapel was filled with nobles and commoners alike, beseeching the heavens for the queen's welfare.

"Hold on, my lady," said the chief midwife, her voice soothing. "The babe cometh."

Angela gritted her teeth, the pain overwhelming her senses. "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee," she prayed fervently. "Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death."

The labour was long and arduous, the pain intense. Angela's breaths were heavy, her face flushed with effort. Yet, she bore it all with the grace of a queen and the strength of a warrior. The midwives whispered prayers, and the castle's chapel was filled with nobles on their knees, beseeching the heavens for a safe delivery.

"Breathe, my queen," the midwife encouraged. "The child is almost here."

Angela gritted her teeth, her grip on the sheets tightening. "For our kingdom," she murmured, summoning every ounce of her strength.

Finally, after hours of labour, the cries of a newborn filled the room. A sense of relief and joy swept through the castle. The midwife, her face alight with awe, held up the child for the queen to see.

"A girl," she announced, her voice filled with reverence.

The room fell silent. The expectation had been for a male heir, a future king. But in Angela's eyes, there was no disappointment. Instead, there was a profound sense of pride and joy. She reached out, taking her daughter into her arms, her heart swelling with love and determination.

"Beatrice," she whispered, naming her daughter. "She shall be strong and wise, a beacon for our people."

In the castle's chapel, the nobles and commoners who had gathered to pray now murmured amongst themselves. The news of a princess instead of a prince brought mixed feelings. There was initial disappointment that there was no male heir, but it was quickly overshadowed by respect and admiration for their queen.

"God save the queen and the newborn princess," a nobleman declared, raising his voice above the whispers.

"Amen," another echoed, "May our Princess Beatrice bring honour to Castoria."

The initial shock gave way to acceptance and then to a growing sense of pride. The queen had delivered a child, and that child was now a symbol of hope and future strength.

"Queen Angela hath given us a gift," said an elderly woman in the crowd, her voice trembling with emotion. "May the Lord bless her and the princess."

In the days that followed, the kingdom of Castoria began to see Beatrice not just as a daughter of the queen, but as a beacon of a new era. The value of a ruler was not to be measured by their gender, but by their spirit and capability. The birth of Beatrice was not just the arrival of a princess; it was the dawn of a new hope for Castoria.

And so, under Angela's guidance, Beatrice would grow to embody the strength of her mother and the wisdom of her father, a true heir to the throne, regardless of her gender. Her birth was a turning point, a moment that would shape the future of Castoria. The kingdom, though initially surprised by the birth of a girl, soon came to see Beatrice as a beacon of a new era, where the value of a ruler was not measured by their gender but by their spirit and capability.

The people, nobles and commoners alike, came to admire and respect Queen Angela even more for her strength and her vision. She had brought forth a new era, and her daughter Beatrice was the living embodiment of that promise. As the chapel bells rang in celebration, the kingdom of Castoria united in joy and hope for the future.

"United we stand, divided we fall," the people chanted, their voices rising in a chorus of unity and faith.

"Hail Queen Angela, hail Princess Beatrice," they proclaimed, their hearts filled with newfound hope.

The birth of Beatrice was not just the arrival of a new member of the royal family; it was the beginning of a new chapter for Castoria, one where strength and wisdom were recognized and celebrated, regardless of gender.

To Be Continued.....