Prologue

“Hurry hurry hurry!” cried the maidservant as she cleared the path to the entrance room of the queen chambers, where the Queen was laid down on the bed.

She was in labour, as she breathed laboured breath, screaming, scratching, and cursing at her husband who stood just at the entrance of her chambers.

Queen Celia walked past him in a haste into the chamber where her daughter lay, "Hurry now you need to push!” she yelled at her daughter.

With tears streaming down her eyes and with the last strength she has, she screamed out so loud.

"There, that's the baby's head!” yelled the maidservant.

"Come on Claudia, one last push and..."

The baby’s cry rang out in the chamber.

"Oh my! Queen Claudia, it's a girl,” her mum said as she lifted her while beckoning her father to come and cut the umbilical cord as tradition demands.

"Give her to me,” she said with tears in her eyes.

She handed over the baby to her with her husband by her side, she kissed her on her forehead.

"She has different eyes and her heartbeat is six times slower than that of a human being,” said Sautor as he properly examined the baby the mother was carrying.

Immediately everywhere went still, no one said a thing, only gazed at the mother and child. The girl was so pretty with purple eyes that look just like that of the elves, with tiny curly hairs on her head.

"She can't stay here,” said Queen Celia, “you know she will be killed if we keep her here.”

"What do you think we do now? I prayed she would be born human but I guess destiny has something else in store for her,” Logan cried, still looking at the little sweet baby now sucking on her mother's breast.

"Sautor, Gwen,” Queen Celia called, “this is to remain a secret, nobody, not even the walls, is to know about what took place here today.”

“Yes, My Queen,” they both answered.

Sautor was the most trusted and the right-hand man of Queen Celia, he taught Queen Claudia how to use her powers when she discovered them.

"What are we to tell the people?" asked Sautor.

"We need to come up with something, and very fast, words have spread already that the Queen has already gone into labour,” said Logan.

Exhausted, Queen Celia flung herself on the chair overlooking the windows of the east side of the castle, with dread and pain she spoke, looking at Sautor, "The necessary arrangements and provisions have been made.”

"No way!” exclaimed Queen Claudia.

“You can't do that mum, there should be another way, there's another way, I know it, we just need to calm down maybe a night or two and prepare,” Claudia said pleading to Logan to support her.

"There’s nothing we can do, that's the only way,” Logan replied while using his palm to rub her back.

"We don't have a night or two nights My Queen, we have to act fast before the word spreads out and you have to talk to your people Queen Celia,” Sautor said, 

With a swift movement, Queen Celia stood up and left the chamber without looking at her daughter, at that moment the bell at the walls of Petra sounded to summon the people to the court of the Queen.

"My great people of Petra, it is with a heart saddened with great pain and sadness I bring you the news of the birth of my grandchild which was delivered unto us a stillbirth today," said Queen Celia.

Immediately there was murmuring among the people, she let them be after a while, she raised her hands in the air to hush them all while she continued.

"I know it is hard for the people of Petra and the royal family as this great misfortune has befallen our people, as you all carry on your duties, do this with grief and mourning for the heir to the throne of Petra is dead." She concluded as they all rose while she left the courtroom with her guards back to the Queen chambers while everyone at the courtroom made their way out.

As she entered the chambers Sautor said, "we are ready.”

With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the guards and the door was shut behind them, she walked to her daughter's bed and kissed her forehead while looking at the little one asleep on her mother's hand.

“Have you given her a name yet,” Celia asked looking at Logan for an answer, 

"Her mother would name her,” he replied.

Queen Claudia carried her and looked at her with tears in her eyes, “Princess Aubery Ciana Logan of Petra kingdom." She said and kissed her on the forehead, passing her onto her father, he kissed her and gave her to her grandmother Queen Celia. 

Queen Celia wrapped her with a shawl of fine wool with the kingdom markings on it befitting for a princess, with that, she gave her to Sautor and nodded and left the room.

Sautor bowed and left the room with Gwen the maidservant through the back door that leads to the tunnels outside the city walls.