Mother

She was running. As fast as anyone can while pregnant. In a world full of shadows and monsters. This child wouldn’t be a god or goddess. They wouldn’t have special powers or be strangely beautiful. Sadly, being the child of the Queen of this realm gives certain expectations you must live up to. She was human, married to a Fae King and carrying his child that was only human if the Oracle is to be believed. Many believed the baby was a product of infidelity, but only the Queen and the King knew the truth. They had conceived a human. Rare but not unheard of, at least not among the common folk. An unremarkable child with remarkable parents. ‘That’s ok though’ the Queen thinks. She has enough love for the child that they won’t need anyone else. The darkness of her husband’s hounds chases her through the giant redwoods. Her peasants disguise ripped to shreds by teeth and claws. She never thought she would be a monster, but for her child she would destroy the world and herself. Queen Moirai is just a human fighting for her child. Bleeding for her child. Heart breaking for her child.

She hears the ghastly howls of the wretched beast after her. No. Not her, but just her child. They wanted her to receive an abortion, because the child would be different than the rest of them. Because he or she would not be able to handle this world. The Queen knows different, however. Whether it be motherly instincts or just a feeling deep within her bones. She knows this child will do something, contrary to the Oracle. Contrary to what everyone thinks. The child might be only human, but a mother knows. The Queen knows that one day the child shall climb and claw with every tooth and nail her way up. Her. Yes, that feels right to Queen Moirai. No one could tell her the sex of the child but saying ‘she’ feels right in her heart.

Teeth snap at her ankle. Searing pain spreads like creeping vines up her calf. The Queen falls shielding her hidden stomach with her coat. Protecting her unborn daughter as much as she can. The Queens’ red hair splayed across the white snow covering the ground. No. The Queens’ brown hair soaked with blood. Queen Moirai had cracked her skull open on a jagged rock when she fell. The hound circled her waiting for the others to arrive. It would not attack till its master came and gave it the order. Her vision blurred, she laid in the blood drenched snow staring at the twinkling stars above the tree branches. The Queens hand reached up trying to grab a branch to help her. To protect her from the coming dangers. Her other hand feeling around the snow for anything to distract the hound. Her hand caught on the rock that had given her a splitting headache. She pushed with all her might onto her feet. The hound growling inches away from her. All at once it pounced as her arm swung the pointed rock into its side. There was a sickening crunch of bone, and a whimper escaped the hounds snarling mouth. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. She helped raise these dogs since they were pups, but her husband’s magic kept a sway over them and nothing would break it. So, she does what she must and draws her arm back and plunges once again into the hounds’ side. She stares into its eyes watching life leech away. She stumbles away, clutching the rock in her now torn hand.

The Queen once with a straight back and dignified look, now hunched with a blood-stained face and tear streaks down her cheeks walked onward with no destination in mind. Something pulled at her. Something was trying to point her deeper into the forest. She could hear the howls growing closer to their dead packmate. She continued on despite the blood that ran down her temple now further blurring her vision. She followed. It was her only hope of saving her daughter. The Queen was no fighter, but for her daughter she would be. She would kill and destroy. She would make sure her daughter survives this life and the next no matter the cost. She would make people live their worst fears if it meant her daughter could dream of the moon and stars, because the moon and stars are what you look at with wonder and amazement. They are what you one day hope to touch even if it is just your fingertips.

The Queen soon came upon a cave with flickering light deep in the forest. The arrow that has been pointing her leading right into the cave’s mouth. Queen Moirai did not hesitate with any fear of a trap. She could feel it. Whatever lay waits in the cave would save her daughter. As she grew closer to the warmth surrounding the light she heard a lovely voice emanating from around the fire. “Hush little baby don’t you say a word mommas gonna buy you a mocking bird- Oh dear me. Can I help you?” The startingly beautiful older woman reaches a hand out to help Queen Moirai sit down near the fire.

“Yes Please. I am Moirai and these people are after me.” The Queen whimpers as she warms her hands near the fire. “Oh, dearie that is no good what so ever. Let me warm some soup up for you and you rest. Your clothes are drenched from head to toe, and you seem to have a nasty gash on your head.” The older woman seems to flit around the cave preparing to warm the Queens soup. “My name is Clotho. I’m here with my sisters Atropos and Lachesis. They are visiting a nearby village for supplies.” The older woman says gently as she places the soup above the fire to warm. “Now why don’t you tell me what exactly ius going one while it warms up?” Queen Moirai nods, “My husband is after me, because of his child that I carry. Once I believed he was a good man, but after the recent events I see, I have always worn rose colored glasses when it comes to him.” The Queen sniffles. “My dear there is nothing to be ashamed of. When it comes to men we are often looking too closely to see the rough edges on the outside. Now tell me how close you are to giving birth.” The old woman’s eyes twinkle with a knowing look. To the Queen the old woman’s eyes look deep into her soul and unravel all the secrets and lies.

Water pools at the Queen’s feet. “Oh no I am so sorry. I have not been able to hold it that long since I got pregnant.” Clotho face pales with concern. “Dear, that’s not pee. Looks like you are further along than either of us believed. Don’t worry, my sisters will be here soon. Here, eat your soup while I gather the supplies. Normally I would not feed you when your about to go into labor, but I assume you haven’t eaten all day.” Queen Moirai sips the soup with a blank look not really hearing as Clotho prattles on. Atropos and Lachesis, Clotho’s sisters, arrive as Clotho finishes gathering towels and water for the upcoming labor. The Queen barely notices as Clotho explains the situation to them and the three sisters immediately get to work.

“Clotho. I fear I might die giving birth to my daughter.” The Queens’ blank gaze spears Clotho. “My dear I will do everything in my power to delay that.” Clotho’s eyes shine with a moon white haze. The cramps soon follow the breaking of the Queens’ water. The pressure on the Queen’s uterus and pelvis intensifies. Hours later, “Your dilated enough sweetie, now time to push.” Lachesis smiles while holding Moirai to the side to prevent tearing and to help open her pelvis up for the baby. The Queen Pushes with all her might. Her face turning red from the strain. Atropos standing ready with sharp instruments in case there is an emergency.

Clotho kneeling between the Queen’s legs ready to grab the baby wants she makes an entrance. “Somethings wrong.” The Queens states. Pale and sweaty from the constant battle of pushing. Dark veins run along the Queens throat. Her eyes bloodshot and bulging. The hounds the Queen realizes. Poisoned teeth. Her husband always did love his slow enacting poisons. “Clotho. Look at me.” The Queen pulls Clotho’s face to her. “I will die tonight. There is no other way. I am terrified of death, but I am more terrified that my daughter will die. I know you are not what you first seemed. I’ve grown up around otherworldly beings my entire life. Whatever you can do to save her I will gladly pay the price.” The Queen who Clotho first saw as an abandoned whimpering girl now the Queen of steal showing none of the fear she talked about feeling.

Atropos steps forward, “Clotho we can help. She understands the price. Let us help.” Clotho begins to shake her head, but something in Moirai’s eyes. A wild desperation only a mother could feel. “Please name her Keres. Tell her how much I love her.” The Queens tears begin to fall. “Of course, my child.” Lachesis says as she caresses Moirai’s cheek. The Queen pushes and pushes with all her might while the sisters chant above her dying body. A screaming cry pierces the eerily quiet world. Clotho hands the Queens daughter to the Quens trembling arms. Atropos now holding Moirai as Lachesis peers at the new babe. “A new thread of life begins.” Clotho murmurs tearily. Lachesis closes her eyes as she whispers, “And a long life it shall be.” Atropos shutting her eyes tightly as she lightly says, “lastly one life ends.”

The Queen, who would have been a wonderful caring mother, left this world doing the only thing she ever wanted. Holding her Babygirl. For her wish came true by the fates her daughter would live a long life, but the Oracle was still true in what she predicted. The child would still know pain and torture for that is the way of this cruel lonely world.