Josephine

𝓔𝓹𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓭𝓮 44: 𝓦𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

January 30, 1974

Whapmaagoosti, Quebec Republic

I watched on as the rebel flag was lowered from the citadel in the small, seemingly insignificant village of Whapmagoostui. But this village was the gateway to a much larger prize: Kuujjuarapik. The latter town was a large supply depot, possessed an airport, and was the last rebel stronghold in the Marshlands. North of here was the flat, inhospitable tundra, where there were no viable natural defenses. I hoped that the rebel commander, whoever he was knew this and wouldn't draw my 1400 man army anymore North than it needed to be. I was waiting for the decisive battle and I knew that there was not much more the rebel army could retreat to.

I waited with a group of soldiers as a small party of unarmed rebels exited the gate of the town. Their uniforms were dirty and tattered and they themselves were worn and tired. When they reached our group they fell to their knees.

"Ta majesté, nous nous rendons" One said.

I looked to one of the soldiers next to me, one who spoke French so I actually knew what they said.

"They are saying that they surrender," He translated.

They nodded frantically.

"You cannot be the only ones here," I commented since there were only five of them.

"Nous sommes les suels qui restant votre majeste," One of the rebels said.

I looked at my translator who gulped.

"These five are the only survivors," He said.

Oh... well that makes... a little more sense.

"Take them away, clothe them, feed them and whatnot," I ordered the soldiers.

The rebels appeared surprised by my command, along with my soldiers.

"But your majesty they are the enemy!" One protested.

"It matters not that they are the enemy, they are still human beings like you and I, so do not break orders," I snapped.

The soldiers nodded, brought up the tired rebels, and scurried off, leaving me alone to my thoughts. Except my solidarity was soon interrupted when my stomach lurched. I didn't hesitate to sprint over to the gulley on the side of the road where I vomited my guts out. It was only a short spurt and it was over fast, but it still surprised me. I had not gotten physically ill since... since my visit to Yunnan. Perhaps I should pay a visit to the army doctor.

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I sat on the examination table set up in the makeshift hospital while Chloe, the village girl from Val d'Or tested my vitals. She had settled into her new life as an army nurse without resistance and she actually quite enjoyed it from what I could tell.

"So you out of the blue got sick?" She asked.

I nodded as she tested my blood pressure.

"Do you have any idea of what it could be, so the doctor might have an easier job?" She asked.

"No, not really, I don't really 'get sick'. It surprised me, It's been close to two years since I've had any major ailment,"

She placed her hand over my heart to test my heartbeat.

"Well, I think, though I am no professional as you know that it is just a winter bug that you caught,"

I nodded again, seeing that as the only reasonable solution. Then the doctor, a man named Jacob entered the examination room.

"Good afternoon your majesty, I hear your feeling under the weather," He said with a smile.

"Yes, it was a little odd, but your fine nurse told me it is likely than not a stomach bug,"

He glanced at Chloe with a smile.

"Well we'll see if that's true, I have just a few questions to ask you first," Jacob said and he grabbed a clipboard and pen from the table nearby.

"Have you eaten any food that was overly sugary, salty or majority carb-based in the past say two to three days?"

"Nothing that fits in those categories besides some meat from the supply wagon," I replied.

He jotted this down.

"What have you drunk in the past two to three days? Anything sugary or perhaps bad in any way?"

"Just fresh water from the supply wagon,"

"When was the last time you bled your majesty?" Jacob asked.

I cocked my right eyebrow.

"Bled?" I replied, unsure of what he was speaking of.

"Yes, bled," Chloe said, motioning to her legs, and I instantly knew what she meant.

"Oh! About a month and a half I think," I answered casually.

The doctor and Chloe both went blank for a moment until Jacob recomposed himself.

"Your majesty, we are going to need a urine sample," He said rather rushed.

"Okay... sure," I responded, not understanding their sudden panic.

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A short time later, Jacob came back into the room, holding the test results. He was biting his lip worriedly.

"Doctor Jacob, what is the verdict? Why are you so worried?" I asked.

"Your majesty... did you sleep with your husband recently?" 

"What!? Why on Earth would you ask that!? That is... an extremely personal matter!" 

"Well..." Chloe trailed off.

Was something wrong?

"I'm just going to be blunt your majesty... you are... you are with child," 

At first, I wasn't sure what he meant, but it quickly dawned on me. I was overcome with a mixture of happiness and terror. I wasn't sure how to handle this, I was scared and worried. But one thing was certain: 

I was having a baby.