The Dying

16

Marcus does his best to show Aurora that she is of primary importance in his life. Almost to the point that he ignores Margaret. 

"Margaret," Marcus says coming up to her in the library.

"Well hello there stranger, get enough of my mother?" Margaret teases him.

Marcus blushes and looks down ashamed. "It's alright, Marcus. Even if I didn't get to participate it was quite lovely." Margaret says with a wicked light in her eyes.

"Minx. I came to apologize to you. I've ignored you far too much in an effort to make your mother feel more special. By doing so I've neglected to get your ideas on the wedding."

Margaret smiles at his discomfort. "I really don't give a shit. Is that terrible to say? I just don't care. I love you and so does my mother. I love that you care for her enough to take the time to make her feel special. I know that the transport is due in tomorrow and that there is someone you are supposed to take as a mistress or wife."

"Aurora told you that?" Marcus exclaims in shock. He didn't think that Aurora had told anyone but him.

"Yeah, I was in the room when she woke up from talking to the throne remember? Besides mother talks to me just about everything."

"I don't want to, you must believe me." Marcus says almost desperately.

"I do. I know you feel for her much more than you feel for me. The way you touch her, it's damn near magical. If you could you would say the hell to everyone and just be with her. I am well aware of that. I'm leaving the wedding decisions to you and her because it is your day, I'm just there out of necessity."

"You mean more than that to me and I know your mother would have no problem killing to protect you."

"Yes, I know that mother loves me, and I believe that you do care for me, just not like you do my mother. You love me, but are in love with her. I also know that you've been doing all that you can to make her feel that love and that she's very important to you. 

"I approve and hope you keep doing that." Margaret says smiling happily at him.

"You don't mind that I haven't been paying attention to you?"

"Not if it means that you've been paying attention to my mother." Then the smile falls a bit. "I'm not sure how things will be once you add in the new female or females. I'm sure that the throne will more or less make you take more than just the one she warned mother about."

"Yes, she's doing a good job at cornering me into accepting the unknown female. There are times I wish that Garrett had been the chosen one."

"You don't really mean that, Marcus?" Margaret says astounded.

"Oh, yes. Because then it would mean that I could be with just your mother and I wouldn't have to be with others."

"If Garrett had been the chosen then he would have made me one of his wives or mistresses and he would have done the same to Margaret. He wouldn't have let you have me and he would have continued the abuse your father gave me. I would rather have to share you and have you be in charge than Garrett any day any time." Aurora says coming over to the other two.

She wraps her arms around Marcus and he holds them to him. She lays her face on his back. "I came to tell you that the transport ship is coming down. They made better time than they had estimated. They should be here in a couple of hours."

Aurora can feel him tense up at her words.

"It's okay, Marcus. I have to share you, but you have convinced me that I'm not just one of potentially many. As long as you keep that up I'll be alright.