It had been hours since he had finally arrived at Windsor, following the frantic missive from the messenger. He had left Westminster with no second thoughts, and only a small retinue trailing behind on the few hours journey, his trunks being sent on behind. Upon his arrival he had been quickly ushered into the study in the opposite end of the royal apartments to Adaline’s chamber.
Nerves roiling in his gut, he paced the length of the room. How he wished to be at Adaline’s side - convention be damned. He felt so useless, being only a mere numbers of rooms aware yet not allowed to be involved. He was the King of England - why couldn’t an exception be made? A hand raked through his hair in frustration, the mass of dark curls growing increasingly unruly with each repetition of the motion.
Finally, the familiar face of Adaline’s chief lady-in-waiting appeared in the doorway. Without waiting to hear her news, he pushed past her and into the corridor. His heart thumped wildly in his chest, the beat in time with his footfalls. Was Ada alright? Was the child? Was it a son? He knew that there would be trouble for entering the bedchamber but at that moment the consequences were of little concern to him. The Lord would forgive his need to be united with his family. Pushing the door open, he hurried into the room, his eyes squinting in the darkness.
The soft, warm weight in her arms couldn't be real. He couldn't be real. It had to be a dream, because there was no way someone this perfect could exist. Her babe barely moved, but the gentle rise and fall of his chest made her grin -- he was so small. Her son had been with her only a couple of hours and Adaline already felt she had loved him her whole life.
The babe yawned and his mother sighed in awe, as though she couldn't believe her eyes. She was so in love with her little baby boy. "Are you tired, my love?" Soft laughter bubbled from her lips, her body exhausted and her eyelid heavy, yet she refused to sleep. The midwife had helped her to clean herself and the maids had changed the bedclothes, but she wished they would open the windows and allow some fresh in, some sunlight she missed so much.
"I think he's tired," she said to no one in particular, not really knowing if she was right. This mother thing was new, nothing had every prepared her for the moment her son arrived. Sure women who had already gone through childbirth and motherhood had offered advices, and she appreciated it, but still she was scared of doing it wrong. Running a finger over the smooth baby skin, Adaline took a moment to forget all those fears and insecurities and enjoy the moment.
She hadn't allowed the wet nurse to touch to her child. She was his mother and she would feed him, and she didn't care they didn't approve. Adaline was the Queen after all, they must obey her and if they didn't, she would make sure they didn't serve them anymore. She would not allow anyone but her to ever touch her son. At the sound of the familiar voice, her heart jumped and she couldn’t help but smile. Oh, she had missed him. "Artie," she greeted. "Come here, my love. There is someone who would love to meet you."