Royal ailments

Astra looked confusedly at her two sisters. As the Big Sister, it was her duty to take care of them and take control over situations like this; but she was now much older – much more mature – mentally, than she should be. If she controlled the situation too well, she could be found out, and things could turn out badly.

"Agra," she pleaded, "please don't cry. I know you're upset about Mom, but..."

Agra cried louder, which made Belinda cry even louder!

"Agra please," she continued, but found herself at a loss for words. Suddenly, she remembered a tactic that had been used with her when she was Agra's age. "Agra, what kind of an example are you setting for your little sister?"

Agra stopped crying, and tried to wipe her tears with her sleeve. "Good," said Astra, " now..." but Agra seemed to decide crying was the right thing to do, and began bawling again.

Astra pulled her hair! This was so frustrating! She wanted to cry herself!

"Belinda," Astra said, turning to her younger sister, "Belinda, please!"

Belinda stopped and sniffled. Astra didn't wait for her to start crying again.

"Belinda, can you tell us exactly what happened?"

"Well," she sniveled, as Agra struggled to control her tears to listen in, creating a brief silence, "Mom and Dad were at the meeting... and she suddenly said... something..." Belinda seemed to be making a superhuman effort, "...something about her belly.... and then Lana and the other servants grabbed her and ran and they said to find you and go to the healer and... and..." but she couldn't keep doing the superhuman effort any more. She started crying again.

But Astra didn't hear her crying. She didn't hear Agra crying, either. She was lost in her thoughts. She finally knew where she was, she finally knew when she was. It was the day her sister Carola was born. Her mother had just been rushed off into a birthroom, and the healer was to assist her when she went into labor. Maybe there was a reason she had been sent back to this specific date. Maybe her role in Carola's upbringing was pivotal in her final destiny. Maybe there was something in the future caused only by Carola's existence.

But from these confused thoughts, only one thing escaped her lips:

1. "Carola"
2. "It is time"

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