The Dying

19

"Do I actually believe that, yeah, I do. You manipulate people to do what you demand and yet when the people don't follow your rules you don't care. You could have stopped the destruction of your people easily, all you had to do was kill the bitch. You didn't, at least not in time to save our people.

"You say that you love your people and yet for pride you are willing to let the daughter you claim to love die.

"Let me ask you something. Say that I marry the unknown female and she tries to kill Aurora, what will you do to her?" Marcus watches the female that the Throne is currently using to speak to him.

Marcus allows plenty of time to pass before he speaks again. "Yeah, that's what I thought. If she or any one kills or tries to kill her you will do nothing and yet she is supposedly the key to you helping your people survive. 

"This other female is only going to bring scholarly greatness once more, but do nothing else to help this people survive and yet the one you say is the key you will do nothing. You don't give a shit about any of us, all you care about is you and your precious manipulations."

"I love you all more than you can possibly understand. I could do nothing to stop any of what happened. I cannot step in and stop people from doing what they will. I can do nothing to stop people from trying to kill others. I can't take a direct stand to punish-" Marcus cuts her off.

"Bullshit!" Marcus stands up so fast from the chair he was sitting on that it fell and the noise it made caused some of those in the room to jump. Marcus turns to face the female.

"You can directly interfere. You do it all the fucking time for the ruling family, for the king and his queen unless you choose not to. 

"You choose. You know who the guilty parties are and do nothing to punish those that break your own laws and because of that Demetri was able to overset millennia of your laws and destroy us as a people.

"You didn't have him go to Earth to bring back the females because you gave a shit about us as a people. You had him do it because if you didn't then we'd be dead within a century from the constant insurrections and infighting we have between us. You don't care, you never have. You heard the tears and cries of our females and did nothing to punish the king that caused it all.

"What's worse is that you are even now causing the same death to happen to the one you claim is to help us survive and prosper once more. There isn't any one else to blame this time, only you. So don't you dare say that you love her or your people because all you love is having someone to rule over." Marcus is breathing hard and people back away from him as the anger is pouring off of him in waves that can be felt.

The female slumps her shoulders. "Enough, Marcus, enough. You don't need to take another wife or even any mistresses. I do need you to stay as the king though. Aurora and Margaret are needed to help my people and help you rule."

Marcus gives a bitter laugh. "Well you should have thought of that before you ordered her to tell me what you did. She's dying, just like my mother, but instead of months of lingering and wasting away she'll be dead by morning. You didn't believe me when I said it earlier, take a look for yourself and see. See what your selfishness has caused the most caring person I've ever met besides my mother."

Only then does Marcus move and the female has a clear view of Aurora on the bed. Aurora is white and breathing very shallow, hard to see that she is even breathing. 

The female gasps, "Oh no, no." She shakes her head as she speaks and her voice is full of horror.

"She tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen. Ever since her conception she's been alone until Margaret. But even then Margaret was only given to her when she damn near died twice. She took an incredibly brave step in allowing me to be with her. She still doesn't fully trust me and that was because of how she's been treated since her birth. She has no reason to believe that I won't turn from her like my father that loved my mother from her birth. My father turned out to be a brutal bastard and she had a hard time believing that I am not the same. After all, I look just like him. She didn't want to have anything to do with me at first because of that.

"The only reason she even took a chance on me was because I promised that I wouldn't be with any other females other than Margaret. Then along came you and forced me to break my promise. That is the reason why she is dying. You are the reason, Throne, you and no one else is responsible this time. You can't blame it on my father. You can't blame it on me. You can't blame it on her. There is no one else to blame.

"And because of it many will die. That is what happens when you manipulate and play games." Marcus turns his back on her and carefully bends over to pick up his chair once more before sitting down.

"I would appreciate it if you would all leave and let me have what time remains with my love in peace. If Margaret wishes to say goodbye you can send her in, but I don't want any one else in here. There is nothing else that can be done for her. Nothing else that can be done for us." Marcus ends his speech empty. Only once there is quiet does he allow himself to breakdown and cry.

"I'm sorry, Aurora, so very sorry. You do what you need to do and I'll be joining you shortly." Marcus leans forward and kisses her lips. He takes her hand in his and sets his head on her and cries.

"Marcus," the soft voice wakes him up. Startled he jumps a bit.

"Oh, Margaret you startled me."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. I was told that she doesn't have much time left now."

"No, it won't be long now." Marcus wipes the remainder of the tears from his face before turning to Margaret and doing his best to give her a smile. 

"It's okay, Marcus, I know you love her and this is hurting you." Margaret tells him as she pulls him into an embrace. They both start crying.

"You'll be joining her soon after she dies won't you?" Margaret says through her tears.

"I can't go through this again, Margaret, it almost killed me when my mother died. If I didn't have Korban than I would have I think."

"Her children?"

"They can't be saved if she dies. They are very weak right now and likely will die before she does."

"My children, what will happen to them after you die?"

"They will as well. I'm sorry, that's not fair to you, Margaret or any of the others. You are going to have the biggest heartache to deal with." Marcus holds her tight before letting her go.

"Go ahead and say your goodbyes, I'll leave to give you some privacy." Marcus says and gives her a kiss on her forehead before leaving the room.

"Mom, you don't have to leave. Marcus doesn't have to take the other female to wife nor does he have to have any mistresses. It can just be us three and I won't ask for much of his time. Don't leave us, don't leave me. You leave and I'll be all alone. I'll lose you, I'll lose Marcus because he'll join you and I'll lose my children. I'll lose everything, please mother, don't make me lose everything."

Margaret breaks down crying once more.  After some time she is able to regain her self control. "I'm sorry mother. I'm being terribly selfish, I know. You've suffered more than you've ever told me. You gave me everything you never had and I love you for it. I just don't want to lose my best friend. But I don't want to make you suffer either. You do what you need to do for you. You've never been selfish, you've always have given everything to those around you. This time do what you need to do for you. Don't worry about me. Don't worry about Marcus. Don't worry about the people, just worry about yourself for a change. I love you." Then she kisses her mother.

Marcus comes in a bit later and finds Margaret crying in her hands. He goes to her and pulls her into a hug as they both stand by her side. They will stay with her until she passes.