A tree branch of my thoughts •R•A•N•D•O•M•

Promise Me

I opened my eyes, my head ached, the flat sliver of fabric the dungeon keepers call a pillow did nothing to cushion my head against the cement slab that makes my bed. I've been in the dungeon for three weeks, I've been waiting for my trial. I put my hands over my stomach and sigh loosing myself in my thoughts.
I'm surprised they've spent this long with my trial. I'm a nothing girl who tried stealing a royal steed to escape the kingdom. I knocked out the stable boy it was a foolproof plan. Until the prince came.
Prince Léandre Stefren, the most sought after bachelor in our kingdom. Came to the stable the hour I was in there. Yes I had overestimated my time of an hour but how coincidental that it was the prince who caught me. That kind hearted fool tried to tell me to run. With my belly I knew that'd be impossible. I'd sighed and told him to take me, I wasn't deserving of my child, if I was arrested or better yet killed as long as my child was safe they'd have a better life without me.
I squeezed my eyes shut as a pain shot across my belly, I carresed my stomach along the beauty marks. I've come into my ninth moon of my pregnancy I'd soon give birth to my beautiful child.
"Curly! Your trial has come!" The familiar dungeon keeper called, usually he just brought me my scarce meals and didn't utter a word. "Up you go the king doesn't like to wait." He continued. I crawled to the wall and brought myself into a standing position. I stumbled to the dungeon keeper, he held his hands out to catch me as I fell out the door. The dungeon keeper who I know saw had seemingly kind green eyes and uneven layers of brown hair, walked me up the step, it was near impossible for my bare swollen feet to waddle up the steps but I made it. I continued stumbling around the dungeon keeper kindly leading me. I made it to the throne room and I fell to my knees In front of the King, Queen, Prince, and princess's.
"Chloris Sheinade, you have been charged with attempted robbery and indangering someone of innocence." The knight at the king's side announced.
"Stand for the king!" The king shouted, I flinched and helplessly attempted at standing. Once I stood upright, I held my head down and tried to ignore the shooting pains.The king continued, "Sheinade, you deserve no mercy, robbery of any sort is frowned upon and stealing from royals is punishable by dea-"
"Aghhhh" I cried out, doubling over in pain. I fell to my knees and clutched my belly. I felt a significant pop and felt liquid seep down my bloomers most likely on my ratted gown as well.
"Father help her!" I heard a voice call out I hardly could tell if it was near or far my eyes squeezed shut only saw red. My ears rang as I listened helplessly.
"I will do no such thing for a criminal" a different voice replied angrily. I felt people surround me and began feeling claustrophobic.
"Then I will!" The first voice answered angrily. Suddenly I felt a warm hand on the small of my back. Someone scooped me up and I curled into the warm chest I felt against my side. The pain became unbearable until the point I couldn't feel it, everything began to fade. I didn't realize I'd passed out till everything was eerily calm.
When I reopened my eyes, my hands immediately reached for my belly, I knew right away it no longer held my child. I looked around and was surprised to see the prince standing my bedside.
"She's okay." He says, I breathed a breath of relief. "She is beautiful, has your hair, I assume her father's eyes, a dark brown. She is 7 pounds and 4 ounces. Very healthy considering she wasn't getting proper nutrients." The prince said, I was unsure why I took offense to that but I did.
"I tried my best don't accuse me of not caring for my daughter." I told him. His eyes widened and he shook his head.
"No, I'm not saying that at all. I admire the risks you took for that child and I regret the outcome of this new life." He said his steady voice wavering.
"You need to promise me something." I told him, ignoring his title and position, only seeing him as my last hope.
"I can try." He whispered.
"You will. You will promise me. You will promise me to protect that innocent little girl from the horrors of the world. I committed a crime I deserve punishment I don't deserve to raise that child you will promise me to protect that child." I told him fiercely he nodded.
"I promise you I will protect that beautiful baby girl." He told me earnestly. "I wish I could do more." He continued under his breath.
I sighed and closed my eyes, I would most likely not live beyond the next two days.
★∆★∆★
Chloris Sheinade was executed that night, the same day her daughter, Avyanna Amaris Stefren-Sheinade was born. Avyanna was the name given to her by the prince Léandre Stefren, the name Avyanna means strong, powerful and beautiful. Three words he used to describe the child he promised to protect. Avyanna was the adoptive daughter to the Princess Yeona, Yeona has found herself unable to bring a child to this world so this little girl became her own.
Avyanna grew up healthy and safe, she grew up protected just as her mother had been promised. Ingraved in the tiara Léandre placed on Avyanna's crown of curls like her mother's every morning was the word promise. Amaris, Avyanna's middle name meant promise.
In every way he possibly could Léandre fulfilled his promise.

The end