The Mad King's Throne

II. Kiss of Death

Beatrice sat near the bed of a dying king. reading to him and singing to him.
Time was precious to Beatrice as this was the dying kings few hours.
The king's advisor entered into the king's chamber to pay his respects to the king and with him his servants under him who each said their prayers.
Beatrice ordered the court doctor in to check up on her husband's condition.

"You've sent for me, mistress?" The doctor said with his bag of herbs.

"My husband is burning up; I was wondering if you could reduce his fever."

The doctor put his hand on the forehead of the king.

"How long has he felt like this?"

"About an hour now." Beatrice said.

The doctor was concerned at how high the king's fever had gotten. He mixed up a concoction of herbs and forced it down the king. The herbs where a very special blend given to patients in critical conditions. The doctor turned over to where Beatrice was and spoke.

"May I speak to you alone?"

Beatrice and the doctor stepped outside the king's chamber.

"The king want make it through the night. The fever is worse than yesterday.
I'm afraid the herbs want help."

The queen barring the news felt the overwhelming sensation of grief. She had been preparing for this moment for five years ever since he declined in health.
But nothing could have prepared her for the harsh reality. Her prayers where not being heard the same where for the Vothguards. The queen had been advised to be with Mordecai in his final hours however Beatrice still held on for hope. Instead of being with her husband she went to her room and prayed to the rival gods.

The winds rushed in, and a great storm came in and after a few hours the king.
Had passed. The news was delivered to the praying queen by the king's advisor.

"Mistress? I'm sorry to have disturbed your prayer, but your husband has passed."

The queen got up off of her chamber floors and asked.

"Did he go peacefully?"

The king's advisor nodded his head, and the queen sent him away for that she
Grieved greatly. The queen cried out for hours, for years she prayed to the gods.
But now it felt that the gods had betrayed her. She picked up her alter and threw it to the ground causing it to shatter into many pieces. She yelled out.

"Gods of Vothguard why have you forsaken my husband!?"

She ran out of her chamber and on to the main balcony that overlooked the city and yelled out.

"Why have you forsaken me!?"

The winds blew stronger as the storms grew stronger and a powerful lightning bolt came down from the skies and struck the city's temple causing it to burst into flames. The queen seeing this ran back inside to seek safety from the storms. She fell to the floor and prayed to the gods after what she had witnessed. The gods where anger with her, she could fill it. For that very moment she felt hate against the gods. where have they been when times of great need came to the lands of Vothguard? But as a devout worshiper of the rival
Gods herself she knew the gods have their reasons even if she didn't like them.

The next day came to past as the great storm subsided. The lands of Starhold
Mourned for the death of their king. At Starhold keep the body of Mordecai was in preparation for the ceremony of flame to celebrate both his life and to pay homage to the gods for the king's life. Beatrice hadn't slept that night the grief kept her up she hadn't slept much in the past couple of days and already the weight of the realm was crashing down on her. For many years Beatrice made
Decisions and practically ruled during her husband's absence but this was deferent. The very vassals that served the crown now are threatening the very existence of the kingdom. Civil war is on the horizon and there may not be a chance to stop it.

Cadman entered into the room where Beatrice was getting ready.

"Your majesty? The king's body has been prepared. Are you ready."

Beatrice smiled at Cadman.

"Cadman. We've both grown old you especially. You've always been by me and my husband's side even when things where though. You should rest now, retire.
Be with your wife and grandkids. I'll be sure you and your family are well taken care of."

Cadman smiled at what she had said.

"I'm no longer the kings advisor. I'm the queen's advisor and I will be until I die."

Cadman bowed to the queen in full display of loyalty and devotion and the two made their way to the ceremony.

The ceremony took place on the great balcony that overlooked the city. And down below from the balcony was the city's townsmen who came to pay their respects. All the temples' monks with torches in their hands made their way to where the king's body was Lain. The tradition of the land was for both the priest of the rival gods and the ruler of the land to perform the ceremony of the flame. Beatrice along with the priest set ablaze the king's body and the priest cried out for everyone to hear.

"The king be delivered unto the arms of the gods."

All went silent, not a sound but the flames could be heard. The wind blew in from the north and the people bowed their heads and wept for the late king's departure. But suddenly the silence broke as several horses burst through.
The crowds and trampled over both the guards of the keep and the people surrounding the keep and in came the dukes of Starhold on their horses of war.
And amongst them was duke Conrad who stepped down from his horse to confront the queen.

"Beatrice!" Yelled out the duke.

The guards surrounded her and the people.

"You take up the throne without our permission?"

The people looked to the queen in anticipation for what was to come next.

"Conrad, you fool. You stand here on a day of my husband's departure just to make a scene? Guards remove them from this place."

The guards moved in on the duke and the duke took out his sword and killed the guard. The crowd gasped at this site blood had been spilt.

The duke rose up his sword and pointed it in Beatrice's direction.

"I've warned you before that if our departure from this kingdom wasn't met.
With peace then blood would be spilt, starting with this guard."

The dukes went on their way peacefully but the message that was planted on that day was a message of war, civil war. The message stained the minds of the people and uncertainty grew. the people wanted to hear what was going on.
In the queen's own words. However, the queen went her way into her chamber to be left into solitude. She had already been dealing with her husband's funeral and now what she considered her best friend was now threatening war against
Her rule.