Havoc of Betrayal

CHAPTER 19 - A Crumbling Knight

CHAPTER 19

Mathias's fingers ran across Axel's head, gentle caressing it, trying to comfort the knight who'd broken down like he'd never seen before. Mathias's head was against Axel's shoulder as the latter lay over his lap, sniffling softly. Axel's hand against Mathias's knee, the other around his own torso, holding onto the king's hand.

"I am supposed to be the one comforting you..." Axel breathed.

"We both lost her." Mathias muttered.

"It drove me... knowing that it was unfinished. Knowing there was revenge... but... it did nothing. It...put an end to it. What is left? There is nothing left. Nothing left to pursue. Nothing left to stay strong for."

"I still need you, Ax..." Mathias said brokenly, "I can't lose anymore. I can't lose anyone else I love so much, especially not you." Mathias muttered, kissing Axel's shoulder before he rested his head there again. "Because she is gone. And I can't let anyone else down. If you aren't holding me up, what am I to do?"

"Mat..."

"I am giving you more to do." Mathias said, "I am giving you more to do, Ax. You need to keep me going. You need to make sure I don't break. That I don't fall. That I don't faulter. You need to remind me why I have to still do this. Ax... I am giving you more to do. Don't refuse me."

Axel paused for a long while before he whispered, "Tomorrow..."

Mathias let out a breath, saying, "I love you."

It was quiet for a while before Axel said, "You should talk to the queen."

"Later-..."

"Mat, she's feeling the same things you are, but she didn't satisfy that urge for revenge we all had."

"I can't move." Mathias muttered, "Later."

"I hate this..." Axel said brokenly, feeling his heart squeeze tightly in his chest, making another sob escape him.

"I know." Mathias sighed, feeling his own tears gather in his eyes again.

***

It was hours before Mathias managed to leave his chambers, going to the queen's. He knocked on Eloise's door, but got no response. He pushed the door open, his eyes falling on Rose seated beside her sister who was laying on the bed, an arm around her belly, hand slowly caressing it, her other holding her sister's.

"May we have a word in private." Mathias said.

Rose was about to get up when Eloise grabbed her hand, saying, "Stay."

"Eloise." Mathias insisted, then looked at Rose, saying, "Leave us."

"I don't want to talk." Eloise said, her tearful eyes glaring at him.

Rose leaned over her, whispering something before letting go of her hand, then bowed before leaving. He walked up to the bed, sitting where Rose had been a moment ago with his back to Eloise. It was a moment before he turned ever so slightly to her, holding his hand out as he said, "Please." It was a long moment, and Eloise didn't reach out, which had him repeat, "Please." Eloise grabbed his hand, and he clutched it tightly before he said, "I took care of it."

"Not before she died." Eloise said, and his hand tightened.

"Izzy-..."

"You took his word. A traitor's word." Eloise cut him off, "He might have been lying. Pointing the finger at someone else to get away with it. To gain your trust again-..."