London/Oakwood
January 2015
I was awakened by Claire stirring beside me, and giving a slight cry. I rolled over, to see her sitting on the edge of the bed, taking several deep breaths.
"What is it?" I asked, concerned, "is something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," she replied quietly, "the twins have decided to arrive early. I've gone into labour."
"They're a whole month early," I said, suddenly worried, "what happened?"
"Nothing. You don't need to worry, Robert, but I would really appreciate it if you could get me to the hospital quite quickly."
I climbed out of bed and dressed rapidly, then helped her into her dressing gown and slippers. Every so often she took a sharp intake of breath, but at least she seemed to be shifting away much of the pain. Understandably, though, she was a little shaky on her feet.
"Just let me tell Andrew, and then we can go."
I brought the barrier down, and then brought Andrew's image to mind and initiated the contact. He answered after a slight delay, and when he did I could see he was in the council room in Avon palace.
"Problem, Robert?" he asked, "you look worried."
"Claire and I are going to be a little tied up for a while. She's gone into labour. Could you let anyone who might be interested know?"
"Where are you going to be?"
"Bart's Maternity."
"Okay. See you later."
With that, he broke the link and I crossed to my wife. I helped her to her feet again, and then teleported us both to the reception area at Bart's, supporting most of her weight on my shoulder. A nurse saw us immediately and came over to assist, while calling to another to get a gurney. Five minutes later, the trolley arrived, accompanied by another nurse and one of Claire's doctor friends, and she was helped to lie down very gently.
"If you'll excuse me, Your Grace," said the doctor, firmly, "we'll call you when there's any news. Don't worry. She'll be fine."
Claire looked at me, managing a smile from the gurney.
"It's alright, Robert. We'll be okay."
Before I could argue further, a nurse interposed herself between Claire and I, and my wife was wheeled off down the corridor, through the double doors marked "Maternity". I watched her go, then the nurse looked at me.
"The waiting room is down here. I'll make sure someone brings you a coffee."
She showed me into a room with some half way comfortable looking chairs in it, and then went out almost immediately. I stayed standing initially, and after a short while realised that I was pacing. I forced myself to sit, and once the nurse had returned with a pot of coffee, I tried to relax while I drank it.
I really couldn't pin down why I was so nervous - everything had gone according to plan with the pregnancy this time, and the fact that she could shape shift now was bound to make things easier - but I still felt like a cat on a hot tin roof. It was all I could do to stop myself scanning out for Claire to magically see that she was alright - but to do so would have been a severe breach of privacy in a hospital.
"You're broadcasting, Robert," came a familiar voice from the doorway, and I looked up to see Gray leaning against the jamb.
"How did you know?"
"Andrew called me and told me. He thought you might want some moral support, and seeing as he's rather tied up at the moment, holding the fort in Avon, he asked me to come along in his place. Just don't worry about it. She'll be fine."
I gave a smile. "I'm glad you're here, Gray," I said, meaning it, "damned if I know what's wrong with me."
I paused, then what he'd said as he entered hit me. "What did you mean when you said I was broadcasting?"
"Despite our different traditions, you and I have worked together enough over the years in matters arcane for me to have developed a sensitivity to your mental state when you're particularly agitated. I can't read you often, but just now... I imagine you're suffering from a certain amount of déjà vu, although it really isn't necessary."
"She's nearly a month early."
"Robert, that often happens with twins. You're a doctor. You know that," Gray replied, firmly. Then he gave a smile and gestured to the coffee pot. "Any spare?"
"If you can find something to drink it out of," I answered.
He disappeared briefly, reappearing with a cup he had found Lord knows where. He filled it, then took a sip, but looked a little disappointed.
"I do miss really enjoying a cup of coffee," he commented, a little sadly, "however, it is better than the rigours of old age, so I am not really complaining."
"I thought you were used to the change by now," I said, a little worried.
"I am, Robert, never fear," he answered with a smile, "I just get wistful at times."
He fell silent for a few minutes, and we both drank slowly. The coffee was at least drinkable, if rather bland. Finally, Gray looked at me again.
"Have you decided what to call them yet?"
"We went for Alison for the girl," I answered, "and for the boy we were wondering about Cathal...if you didn't mind. I already have a son called John, so another would get confusing."
"I would be honoured," he replied, perhaps a little surprised, "might I ask why?"
"You have been a good friend to me for a long time, and to both of us for a good while."
"Someone has to help Andrew keep you on the straight and narrow," he answered with a smile, "thank you. I'm flattered."
I finished my coffee and got to my feet again, starting to pace once more. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Gray shake his head slightly.
"Stop acting like a caged animal," he said, quietly, "it will be fine."
However, I couldn't help it. I suppose memories of the last time he and I had been awaiting news of Claire in a hospital waiting room were just too strong. I just shrugged, and continued my backward and forward progress, glancing nervously at the clock, while Gray seemed to doze in his chair.
About forty-five minutes later, I saw a doctor come striding up the corridor, and into the room.
"Congratulations, Your Grace. You are the father of twins...a boy and a girl."
I nodded to him, trying to mask the fact that I wasn't surprised. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine," he replied, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me, "it was one of the easiest births I've attended in a long time."
"You see," came Gray's voice from behind me, "I told you."
I looked at him and saw that he was smiling.
"Okay, okay," I answered, lightly, "don't you get tired of always being right?"
"It's part of my job," he replied, grinning, and stood to join me, "that's why you employ me."
"Hmm," I answered, then turned to the doctor, "may I see them?"
"Of course, Your Grace. This way."
He led us down the corridor, through the set of double doors I had seen Claire wheeled through earlier, and into a private room on the right. Claire looked up as we entered, tired but smiling, holding the twins, one in the crook of each arm. She looked wonderful.
"Hi love...hello Gray. Did Robert ask you?"
"About Cathal?" he asked with a smile, "yes. I would be delighted."
"Good. Let me introduce you to your namesake then," she answered, indicating the infant on the right. Gray looked at the boy, who chose that moment to open sleepy eyes and look at him. Then Gray seemed to stop dead in his tracks and went a little pale.
"What's wrong?" I asked, startled, "you look like you've seen a ghost."
Gray didn't answer immediately. However, after a brief moment he looked first at Claire, then at me. "I think your new son has an old soul, Robert," he replied, fast regaining his composure, "it just surprised me. Maybe I had better leave you two alone. I'll call you in a couple of days. Congratulations to both of you."
And with that he squeezed Claire's hand gently, then nodded and left the room. When I went outside to find him, he had already disappeared.
"What was all that about?" Claire asked as I came back into the room, and from her tone I got the impression that she was unsure whether to be worried or offended, "what does he mean about Cathal having an old soul?"
"Just that our son has lived other lives in the past," I replied, "you've seen the mental images of when Gray's done regressions on me."
"I was never quite sure I believed them. However, assuming it's true, how did he know?"
I shrugged. "He surprises me at times. I really don't know."
I looked towards the door then back at my wife. "Anyway, more important just now is how you are."
"All three of us are fine. Come and be introduced."
I smiled and sat down on the edge of her bed, and took a good look at my new son and daughter.
"Which one's older?"
"Alison. She arrived about ten minutes before Cathal," she answered. She paused for a moment, then added a little sadly. "Do you have any idea what was wrong with Gray? Did I do something to offend him?"
"I honestly have no idea. I've never seen him act quite like that before. I'll try and call him later, though, as I just hope nothing's wrong."
She gave a small smile, then shifted our daughter to her other side and took my hand.
"Thank you, Robert."
"For what?" I asked, surprised.
"Everything, really," she answered, "for everything you have taught me, for marrying me and for the children."
I answered her smile, a trifle embarrassed. "Please, you don't need to say that."
Before she could reply, there was a knock at the door and the doctor came in.
"Your Grace," he said, quietly, "your wife is tired and should rest now. Perhaps you can come back in the morning."
I looked at him, then at Claire who I had to admit looked worn out, and then back at the doctor. I gave a nod, then rose from the bed, kissed her on the forehead and headed for the door.
"See you soon."
"Of course," came the answer, and then the doctor shut the door behind me.
"I assume everything is okay?" I asked him, finally.
"Everything's fine," came the answer. With that, I nodded again, then headed down the corridor and teleported out once it seemed appropriate.
* * * * * * * * *
Claire came home about three days later, and the twins were settled quickly into the nursery, under the capable charge of the redoubtable Mrs. Chandler. It wasn't until a couple of days after that, however, that I managed to contact Gray. He had been blocking his Trump, which had surprised me, but when I finally got through to him I could see he was in the library at Oakwood.
"Are you willing to explain what happened in the hospital?" I asked, quietly. In reply he extended his hand to me, so I took it and stepped through to join him, "I wasn't joking when I said you looked like you had seen a ghost, and you hurt Claire by walking out like that."
"I am sorry. That was not my intention," Gray answered, quietly, "but in a way it's accurate."
He reached over to the drinks' table, and poured a couple of glasses for us, before seating himself in one of the chairs. I sat opposite him, and as I did I noticed that by the bottle were a couple of astrological charts. "I just wanted to be sure," he continued, "but casting the charts confirmed it. We've both met your new son before, Robert. For you he was just a passing acquaintance. For me..."
He broke off and took a drink, before looking up at me. "How well do you remember the Duke of Clarence?"
"Your William? He died in the same accident as your son Richard...their launch was holed when the Duke was going out to do an inspection tour in one of the Welsh harbours as I recall: ran aground and killed everyone aboard."
Gray nodded.
"I never knew him well...social functions, and the occasional private meeting during the first eighteen months of the war, including the Lammas three-line whip...although I know you and he were close," I answered, then paused a moment, "why?"
"He was an old soul, also, and probably Talented had he ever been tested - although the Royal Family never have been, even now. I had known him in various previous incarnations, many of them ending... painfully for one or the other of us."
"So?"
"Cathal is William, Robert. Or was," he answered, quietly, "not quite my William, and not quite my counterpart's, but his chart indicates elements of both of them, starting from the basic similarity that he is again the son of a King, and the younger of a pair of twins, and working upwards. Grey agrees - I've discussed it with him - and we've come to the only conclusion that fits. It is as if two aspects of a broken soul have rejoined in your son...I suppose it's to do with being born into your family."
I took a sip of my own drink and regarded him, and was concerned to see the old pain in his features. I remembered attending Clarence's funeral, and how quiet and shaken Gray had been there, sitting with Brigadier Ellis off to one side. Looking at him now it was as if I was being taken back there.
Just for a moment, he looked his age.
"Gray, I still don't see why you are so upset. I know it must be surprising, but I would have expected you to be pleased - it gives you another chance to get to know him, and Lord knows Claire and I would be happy for you to do that. Past events aren't necessarily played out again in new lives - as you took pleasure in pointing out to me at the Tower, when you said I had never lived more than a human lifespan before."
"Robert, you don't understand," Gray answered, quietly. He paused, as if trying to pluck up the courage to continue, then he added in a voice almost too soft to hear, "I killed him."
I stared at him, momentarily speechless, before finally answering "Apart from the fact that you have just admitted treason, do you want to tell me why? You were friends. And your son was on that boat."
"I know he was," Gray snapped, showing almost his first sign of spirit since I had arrived, "and my nephew, although I did not know they were going to be until it was far too late to stop what was going to happen."
"So that is what you meant when I came to talk to you after Fritz's death, and you said you understood only too well what it was like to kill a son," I said, quietly, as that particular light dawned.
My friend nodded again.
"Why, Gray?" I asked, again.
"It was his choice. I fought it every way I could, but he would not listen...it all stemmed from the Lammas Working that summer, which as you know, he had peripheral involvement in. One thing led to another, and he somehow came to the conclusion that if England was to avoid falling to the Nazis it needed to sacrifice a Sacred King. He put himself into that role, and fate made me play the part of his slayer."
"Oh boy," I said, as much to myself as to him as it sunk in, "why are you telling me now?"
"Because I'm afraid in case something similar happens with Cathal."
"Do you have any reason to believe it will?" I asked, quietly, "is that always what has happened when you two have met before?"
"Not always...but I'm scared that it may, Robert. You are my friend. William was my friend. I don't think I could go through it again."
"I'm not sure what to say," I said, looking at him.
"And I'm not sure what to do," came the answer, his eyes fixed on mine, "part of me wants to make up for what happened last time, while another part of me is afraid that if I get too close to him, history will repeat itself."
"One thing my family have never been big on is self-sacrifice," I replied, forcing a slight smile.
"Except for you," came his answer, "you are different to the rest of them, and Cathal is your son."
"Gray, I'm sure you are being paranoid," I replied, trying to sound light about it, but not succeeding particularly well. I paused for a moment and took another drink from my glass. Then I looked at him again.
"What do you want me to do?" I asked, quietly, "I would have liked it if you had been around as he was growing up, but if you would prefer not to be, then I will understand. As I said, I don't want to hurt you."
He thought for a moment, before answering. "I'm not going to be about that much, given that you are going to be having years passing here for just a couple of days in Avon. After all, we can't both be away from Henley for too long." Another slight pause. "I suppose I can come and spend a couple of months here and a couple of months there at Oakwood...after all as I've said, Cathal is your son, and you are my friend. But please, don't be too upset if as he gets older I realise I am not ready to face him any more."
I gave a slight nod, saddened at his words, but not wanting to press him. I tried not to think of what would happen if the same twist of fate that had brought the Duke of Clarence's soul back into Cathal also intended for the outcome of his relationship with Gray to be the same as the last time. I did not want to come to blows with him over the life of my son.
"I'm sorry, Gray," I said, finally, "I wanted you to share our happiness in this - you have been so close to both of us for so long, and after all, you helped keep us both sane when Alisa died."
He gave a slight smile. "Robert, you are probably right, and I am most likely seeing the worst in this," he replied, "it doesn't always end in the death of one of us. It was just rather a surprise to see him come back so soon. With the exception of your Claire, I have never known it, or even heard of it happening before...that someone should recognise the soul of someone they knew earlier in their life. At least for most of us normal folks. Your family live long enough that I expect you will meet old souls you have known before across the years. For me it was unnerving."
I returned his smile. "You might consider the possibility of getting used to it," I said, quietly, "theoretically, there is no reason now why you shouldn't live for half a dozen lifetimes and longer."
He nodded, conceding the point.
"Out of interest," I added, "is there anything I should know about Alison, too?"
He shook his head slightly. "Nothing like this, certainly. From her chart it's hard to tell if she has been born before or not...but she certainly isn't familiar to me."
He paused a moment, then added. "Perhaps I could come over for dinner one night later in the week. If Claire's even willing to speak to me again."
"Friday night?" I asked, hoping that once I'd explained things to her, Claire's ruffled feathers might have calmed once more.
"I would like that. Thank you."
"I had better be getting back," I said, finally, "I'll see you again later in the week."
"Yes. I'll look forward to it," he replied, and as I brought the image of Millbank library to mind and disappeared, I could see him reaching once more for the charts.