more then blood: Cloak and Dagger

chapter 4

Hortensia learned that her master was married to a beautiful woman named tove. she had strawberry blonde hair that was in curl's, eyes as green as jades, her skin shined like gold, she took down men and beast a like. Hortensia listen as the Hilda continued to talk about Tove. she was smart and resourceful, she loved adventure at any turn. people remembered Tove for being free spirited, others remembered her bravery.

Hortensia felt a little jealous of Tove that people would remember her and honor her life. her love for life and her wanting to explore, she loved running and swimming. She loved going hunting Magnus. she loved exploring new places.

Hortensia smiled saddly as she imagined who Tove would have been. she felt like she knew her through these stories.

She wondered if Tove ever thought about how lucky she was to live with a person who would morn her loss and remember her for years to come. she thought of the baby boy bjorn. he had lost his mother, magnus had lost the love of his life. she would want Bjorn to hear story's of tove. but she would also wants him to see her as his mother. she knew it was wrong of her for wanting Bjorn to want her as his mother but then why would god put her child's soul in bjorn's body? why would god find a way for her to have her child, far far away from that adulterous drunken manchild.

her body felt boiling hot with anger when she was pushed from her thought's by Hilda asking her a question. " i didn't get your name miss? " Hortensia smiled at her. " Hortensia, it means of the garden " Hilda guided her to the kitchen at the bottom of the stairs. " So where are you from hortensia " hilda was was play trying to be polite to her. She appreciated the gesture. " I'm from a small city around Rome. " Hilda nodded at her walked her into a huge kitchen with many other men and women. They stopped talking and looked at her, she even heard a few gasps.

Hilda brought hortensia forward and put a supportive hand on her shoulder, " everyone, this is hortensia, she's from rome. she's a nursemaid for the prince. " they had noticed the chaines on her feet. most looked at her with pity while a few looked saddly at her. but none of them looked at her with disgust or with shame.

Hilda saw one of the newest cooks come up to her. he was young with blond hair with sliver green eyes. his hair was long and in braids, he wore gold and copper braid rings, he was tall with a good sized chest, his face still held baby fat in his face. he was clearly a young man barely 20 year's old. his voice was slightly deep when he spoke. " i'm hawkthron pleased to meet you. " Hortensia smiled her brown eyes sparked with life as he held out his hand out to her. she gladly took her hand into his shaking it a bit before she let it go. soon a women with black hair stood up.

her hair was put up in simple but beautiful braids; but what caught her attention most was her deep blue eyes that almost looked purple, she was wearing a maid uniform like that the other maids but she had silver braid rings in her hair. the sliver complemented her eyes and made them sparkle. she walked up the Hilda and she curtsied to her. " hello, i'm Heidi of coleman. we hope that soon feel comfortable in your new home here in ozon.

Hortensia smiled and tried to curtsy back to her. " i am Hortensia of rome but i believe that as change now. " Hortensia saw the sad look in her eyes when she saw the chaines around her bare feet. everyone began to introduce them self, giving her warm welcomes and so on before Hilda spoke up. " are you hunger Hortensia? " she really didn't have eat while she was on the ship. even before her loss she couldn't stomach what food they did give her. " i don't want to impose miss Hilda " but Hilda simply grabbed her shoulder gently and guided her to the table and spoke to the cooks in a kind but strict voice. " cook her something she can stomach please, i'm not sure how long it's been since she had a proper meal. " the cooks got right to work cooking something she could keep down.

Magnus was in his office doing the kingdom's tax's, looking over new law's, looking over the income tax and trying to not to let his emotions get the best of him.

though the shadow of loneliness blanketed him before he felt numbness take hold. time seemed to tick by slowly before a thunderous knock on the door, shocking him out of his own mind and self. someone had asked to come in. " come in. " his blusish gray eyes focused on the door as it opened to reveal a maid came in with a tray of tea, bread, jam, honey and milk.

the maid placed the tray on his desk. " i brought you something to eat my lord, you didn't come down for lunch. so i brought you something. " she watched as she bowed to her liege and went to leave. he called her back." thank you. but I will not be able to stomach this much. " the servant curtsied again. Magnus watched the servant left the room with a frown on her face.

the door made as soft thud sound as it was shut. Magnus picked up the honey and drizzed it into the tea to make it sweeter. he stirred it into the tea before he brought it to his lips and enjoy the taste of the normally bittersweet tea. he closed his eyes in bliss as he savored the sweetness of the tea until it cooled to a lukewarm temperature. he drank it all slowly, savoring every sip.

he sighed deeply at the feeling of bliss that the drink gave him. it was nice, warm and delicious. Magnus soon put the cup down. he picked up the honey and drizzled it onto his bread making it sweet as well. He sighed loudly. he picked up another piece and dipped it into the honey and ate it. His eyes scanned the document one more time, making sure he got all the information correct.

Heidi noticed he wasn't eating much, it reminded her of prince Bjorn. he wouldn't hardly eat at all in that short time since his mother was killed. it seemd the loss was affecting them both and it worried her to no end. she saw the dullness in his silver blue eye's. she walked around and was getting ready to go clean the cinder from the fire place before she noticed Hortensia was walking around in the corridor with dazed look in her eyes.

she silently approached her, her steps barely making a sound. " hey! Hortensia, would you like some tea and honey? " Hortensia snapped out of her trance. she turned around to see Heidi smiling at her. " hi Heidi. thanks for offering but i'm fine. i'm just tired is all. maybe tomorrow." she smiled at her and was about to leave before they heard there little princes cry.

she saw Hortensia give a small jerk before she rushed down the corridor to prince Bjorn's room. she opened his door and picked him up with care rubbing and patting his back trying to calm him down. Heidi watched as Hortensia rock him gently back and forth before she saw that Hortensia cheast was leaking. she turned to her and blushed a bit when she saw Heidi saw her like that. " he might be hungry, would it be okey if i feed him in private. " Heidi nodded and shut the door quietly, giving Hortensia privacy. as soon as she knew Heidi left she took in a deep breath. " hush son, its alright. " She rocked him slowly back and forth rocking him back and forth. " shhh, don't cry my little one. It'll be okay I'm here. "

she laid him on the floor and changed his dirty dipper and cleaned him up before she picked him up. She soon sat down in the same chair as before she placed him on her lap and began to undo cloth around her chest to feed him. he fussed about as she brought him close to her chest when he looked into her eyes and calmed down. He looked at her and lached on to her as he began to succle while he made contact. she looked at his green eyes and smiled as he looked up at her with warm shining eyes. all she could hear was her heart beat as she looked into eyes.

" that's my sweet baby "she gave him a warm smile as she sang a lullaby to him from rome. she soon saw his eyes begin to drup before he fell asleep attached her nipple, but Hortensia held him to her chest till he was fast asleep. as her eyes soon became glassy, she leaned into him kissing his sleeping form before getting up and walking over to his crib and laying him down and covering him with a warm blanket. " sweet dreams my little one " her voice barely above a whisper. She retied her chest cloth and kissed his forehead once more before walking towards the door and closing it behind her softly with care.