An Old Woman Gives New Life

About a month ago, an old nun by the name of Agatha had arrived back into a little town run solely by women. Women who some of are pregnant and all by the same man as was Agatha. Agatha was a woman in her 50's and had assumed she was simply too old to get pregnant. But the Lord had seemed to have willed she conceive by the young King of Ostgrenze. To try and abort the life inside her, the life she was gifted was out of the question. The moment she knew she carried a child she had fallen in love with it.

She kept it a secret from her sister nuns. She made the perilous journey from her convent to the town with the monastery ran only by old priests and monks. There the women of the town offered her sanctuary as well as a new set of clothes. She would soon become a mother. By the grace of God, she would be a mother and be responsible for a new life.

"May I ask, Sister," spoke the oldest woman of the town, Mila. "Who is the father? There's no need to be shy. The women in this town who are all pregnant out of wedlock."

Agatha hesitated but the women had proven trustworthy. "It is the new King. I laid with him just before he went to be crowned. He... um, he took my virginity. I had taught I was too old by God had willed it otherwise." She rubbed her large belly. It was larger than most.

"Greta is no different. She is also passed her childbearing years but there is stands with child. You... well you are about to give birth to the King's first child."

Agatha got suspicious from her words, "What are you saying, Mila? That I should put forth this child's claim to its father's throne."

"Not in the least. You should stay far away from thrones and so should your child." Mila said sincerely.

"I never really got to thank you and the women for all they've done for me. I, a disgraced nun who broke her oath to our Lord." She looks downcasted.

"Perhaps you are a disgraced. I cannot say for sure. But what I can say is that you are not a disgrace as a woman. You cherish the child inside you and that's what's important. Do you regret this child?"

"No," Agatha mouths, "I love this child." She looks down and lovingly rubs her large belly.

Then came the day she had long await. Agatha had been hanging clothes to dry when a sudden pain shot through her stomach and she felt water splash down her legs and feet. A mother and daughter by the names of Lucinda and Wanda were kind enough to hold her hand as she went into labor. While Greta acted as her midwife.

"Push, Agatha, push! I can see the head!" Greta exclaimed.

Pushed Agatha did and squeezed Lucinda and Wanda's hands. She pushed and when she felt her baby slide out her she fell back on her birthing bed. "Ugh!" She went but soon smile when she heard the cries of her newborn child.

"It's a boy!" Greta happily cried with watery eyes. "The first child to be born in this town in years!"

"Please," Agatha extended her arms to her baby, "let me hold m-" Another pain surged through her stomach. It was only then the women noticed Agatha's belly was still distended.

"It looks like there's another one!" Greta exclaimed. "It's coming! Lucinda, take the baby." The pregnant woman took the newborn and wrapped it in a bundle. "You got to push again, Agatha!"

Agatha screamed in pain. Lucinda and Wanda winced as Agatha was threatening to crush their hands. With one final scream and push, another baby was brought to the world, crying and wailing like, "It's a girl! You have a beautiful baby girl!" like her brother.

"Twins, Agatha. You've been blessed with twins." Lucinda said in delight.

"Um, I do think she's done." said Greta. Before any questions could be asked, Agatha screamed in pain again. "There's a third one coming."

That was Wanda's cue to take the second baby from Greta. Soon enough a third baby was squeezed out from between Agatha's thighs. "It's a girl. It's another girl." Greta whispered.

There were women just outside of Agatha's house who listened in. The sounds of those three babies crying were the most beautiful sounds they've heard in years. Greta wrapped the third baby in a bundle of her own. "You have three beautiful and healthy babies. God has bless you indeed."

Agatha had tears trailing down her cheeks. "Please," she requested for her babies to given to her. The three women who assisted in the delivery of her babies. The newborns, pink, fragile and somewhat bold were laid on her chest and arms. "Hey... I'm your mother. I'm.. I'm so happy to finally meet you. So sorry your father couldn't be here but..." She looked at the three women and their distended bellies, "but you'll have siblings to play with." She kissed each of their heads. "I love you all so much." Agatha looked up with a grateful expression, "Thank you, Lord. I know I did wrong by you but thank you for my children."

Now at present day, Agatha breastfeeds her twin girls while her eldest son slept soundly on her bed. "Are you allright, Agatha?" That is Greta.

"I'm wonderful. I love my babies dearly. So when are you due?" She nods to Greta's belly.

Greta runs her hand around her stomach. "A few more days."

"Are you looking forward to it?"

"You know I am. I am proud to bear the King's child. He'll come back one day soon. He promised to father the children of the rest of the women." The two women smile at each other before Greta goes off to resume her duties of the day.