This story is a co-op between TheFlax and myself. It is set, not coincidentally, 9 months after this story.
Constantinople 1134:
The small party made it's way through the storm sewers below the capital. Coming up a ladder, they arrived in a cellar. Leaving men behind to keep an eye on the sewers and cellar, the rest quietly made their way through the vast estate with the aid of perfect directions.
Arriving at the right room, Makedonios knocks and then opens the door, leaving the rest out in the hallway.
In the room, Anna was lying asleep in an expansive and luxurious bed. Even in her rest, she seemed weary and completely spent. Nearby, there was a crib with a newborn baby also sleeping for the time being. Overlooking the infant was an older woman than Anna with a severe expression. Her graying hair was pulled back into a bun for practicality and her sharp eyes immediately turned to Makedonios as he entered.
The Megas looked at the midwife and jerked his thumb in the direction of the door. She scowled at him in return. He put a finger to his mouth to signal her to be silent. He then pulled out his seal of office, gave her a stern look, and again jerked his thumb towards the door.
She relented and left. A couple of his guards took her down the hallway and sat her in a side room. Orders had been quietly changed to make sure no staff were assigned to this part of the estate on this night. No one would know Makedonios or his men were here.
Makedonios walked over to the crib to see his son. He remembered when Anna had snuck into his bedroom decades ago and he smiled. Quietly walking back over to her bed, he bent over, laid a hand on her shoulder, and gently woke her up. "Anna..."
Anna mumbled something inaudible as she slowly opened her eyes, blinking several times her vision finally focused itself on the origin of the voice who had called her name. She gave him a tired smile.
"Makedonios... thank you."
He lovingly brushed hair from her forehead. "I'm the one that should be thanking you. He looks wonderful. For obvious reasons I can't stay long. But there are a couple things we need to talk about. Would you like to hold him while we talk?"
She propped herself to a sitting position and looked at the infant. In hushed tones she answered Makedonios. "Best not wake him if you want to be discreet."
He nodded and sat next to her on the bed. "Alright, we haven't spoken about this stuff in letters for obvious reasons. But I hope you understand that I quite simply need to take him with me tonight. He isn't safe here. I admit I have been beside myself with worry ever since I got your cryptic letter."
The new father glances over in the direction of the crib. "You know how these things play out. Someone in the family tree gets afraid and seeks out all those who might have a claim to the throne. I fear by creating him, you and I put our son in grave danger. He needs to disappear. I hate to take him away from you but I would hate even more to think of what might happen if your husband, or even worse, your older brother started getting paranoid."
"Yes, you have to take him." Anna glanced once more at the newborn. "I only ask you write to me about him, whenever you have the opportunity to do so."
He nods again. "Of course I will. But keep in mind that he won't be with me. For his own safety, I'll have to stay away from him as well. I'll know where he is, and I'll keep an eye on him, he will have to go through his whole childhood without knowing us."
Makedonios looks at her and allows himself a small comforting smile. "Do you have any questions?"
Exhaustion increasingly apparent, she shook her head lightly with her eyes downcast.
He looked at her sympathetically. "We're almost done. I know you need your rest. There is just one more thing to figure out. What do you wish to name him?"
"I thought you would want to name him." She chuckled. "My husband dislikes most of the name I've chosen for my other children."
He smiled. "I feel singularly inadequate to the task. Plus, he might never meet you. I think it would be nice if he had something from you. It won't be the name he has in public of course. But it will be his 'real' name."
"Very well." She paused a few moments to reflect upon an appropriate name. "Constantine, yes, he shall be our little Constantine. I trust you will make sure he is baptized soon?"
Mak nodded. "I like it. A good strong name. Shame no one will ever know it. And yes, I'll get him baptized. I have it all arranged. Oh yes, you get to be the first to know. I've decided I'm going to retire as Grandmaster. And I'm not running for re-election as Megas." He looks over at the crib. "I have other things I have to take care of now."
He stands up. "I know your exhausted so I'll take my leave." He leans over and kisses her on the forehead.
"May God watch over you Makedonios." Her features voiced a sadness she could not express in words.
The Megas walks over to the crib and gently picks the baby up for the first time. Little Constantine stirs a little but doesn't wake up. He walks back over to Anna while gently bouncing. He speaks in almost a whisper. "One last thing. He has to die. It's the only way we'll keep him safe. When my men let the midwife back in here, I need you to tell her the baby didn't make it. Tell her I took care of... the disposal. I don't expect everyone to believe it but it might throw people off enough. If we want this little guy having any sort of future, he simply can not exist."
He pauses a moment to see if Anna wants to say goodbye to her child.
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