Bodel
"How dare you!" Bear shoved a finger into my chest. I was pushed back with the force of it. After my outburst, announcing that he was dead mostly so Sage would hear it, he got up, ready for blood. My blood. "Do you realize how long I have been trying to get her back?" His eyes were terrifying, fueled with rage. "She is my lifeline. How will I ever get over what happened to our son now? I have no one to confide in." He snapped viciously. He realized at the same time as I did the magnitude of what he had said. He didn't care that I was his wife or that I had also lost a son. All he cared about was getting Sage back. He pulled away from me, "This is the last you will see of me." His eyes were telling and filled with rage. He marched over where Darias was playing, kneeling in front of him. I watched his face soften as he kissed our son on the head. Tears filled my eyes, his intention to leave, hitting me in that moment. I walked over to where they were, "What about our kingdom?" I asked, whimpering. "You're queen, you don't need me. You and your father can figure it out. This is what you both wanted all along." His words sliced through me like a sharp dagger.
He knew about my fathers conspiring and he thought I was working with him. It made sense now. I had thought he was working with my father, against him. No wonder he hadn't trusted me or confided in me or taken our marriage seriously. His belief that I was conspiring against him had overshadowed our marriage and Sage's return had put it into an early grave. My father, who I suddenly realized was always lingering, popped up beside me, "We are better off without him." His leering voice angered me. I spun around to face him, "This is your fault!" I screamed at no one but him. I was mostly quiet with my frustrations but this was more than I could bear. He recoiled, shocked at first before building up his anger. "You would not be queen if it weren't for me." He spat. "And I wouldn't be in an unhappy marriage either," I spat back. The tears fell, breaking apart my anger and filling me with sadness. "Just leave me alone." I said to him finally, wiping my tears away with my sleeve. I took Darias' hand with my other and led him away from his grandfather.
"It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my husband and your king." Bear had not in fact died, but I had watched him leave on a boat, never to return again. He was as good as dead and if he was to ever return, I would make sure he didn't enter Västerbotten County. My son knew the truth and so did I and that was all that mattered. I took the opportunity to seize the moment and lock myself into the minds and hearts of our people, that I was queen. I was the one that stuck around and nurtured our people. This was my village now.
