Tales of Love and Power

Chapter 21: Hazeda

"Hazeda," Abzalin spoke softly as he entered her chamber. His voice was full of compassion as he made his way to her. She was still in pain as she lay under the weight of her grief. When she heard his footsteps getting closer she sat up from her bed, cradling her belly, as she turned to face Abzalin.

"Your majesty...." She said, her voice trembling. Apologizes began to flow from her lips when Abzalin sat by her side. He came and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her gently into a compassionate embrace. Hazeda grew tense under his touch, unable to accept hat she could deserve such affection. She blamed herself for their loss and she would remain haunted by it long after her pain would go.

"No, don't apologize."He whispered. His words broke something in her and she let out a painful sob as she collapsed into his chest. Her tears stained his shoulders as they embraced. She no longer held the anger and confusion that she had felt all morning, instead all of her emotions melted into pure grief. She clung to him weeping holding him as her sole anchor to real life.

Tears spilled down her cheek as she sobbed against his chest. Abzalin placed a kiss atop her head stroking her hair. The loss of their child was a tragedy that neither of them was prepared for. It seemed that they had just begun to love this child and as soon as the pregnancy came, it was gone. Abzalin attempted to hold back his cries as he wanted to focus on Hazeda.

"I failed you..." She spoke in between broken sobs. "I couldn't protect our son."

"No," Abzalin spoke firmly fighting his grip on her. "This was not your fault." That was all he could say to attempt to comfort her and holding her was all he could do to make her feel less alone.

He used the handkerchief that was tucked into his sleeve to wipe her tears.

He laid his hand on her cheek in an attempt to comfort her. "Our Uzma is worth the world. This one wasn't in Azlah's will." He continued to hold her as another wave of tears left her eyes. As she wept into his arms he made no effort to push her away but rather he brought her as close to him as he could. He could offer her no more words as if he had spoken his own would have spilled out in a wave of tears. He kept her in his embrace until her crying came to a slow stop and all that was left was her whimpering.

After the long silence, Abzalin spoke again. "Does he know yet?" He asked. She shook her head. "No, I haven't had the chance. I don't know how to tell him." She spoke with her head bowed. "He was so looking forward to being a big brother." She closed her eyes and shook her head feeling more tears threatening to burst from her eyes.

Abzalin caught her cheek and raised her eyes to look at his. He looked at her with a love and kindness that she had not seen in a long time. "I will tell him. You focus on healing, Hazeda."

She nodded her head, her body feeling the weight of her exhaustion. He could see it too. He could see the weight of her grief falling on her like a boulder and he knew that would feel this weight for the rest of her life.

Abzalin gave her one final kiss on the temple before he stood to leave. Even on a day such as this, he was still the King and his royal duties came first even above Hazeda's feelings.

When Abzalin had left Hazeda felt the coldness of her grief return once more. There was now an aching emptiness where Abzalin's embrace had once been. Not wanting to be alone she called Guzha to return to serve her. "Yes, mistress" Guzha spoke curtsying as she entered.

"Where are the healers? Everything still hurts." She whispered laying down on her bed and cradling her belly in her hands.

"I've sent a girl to fetch them. They'll be here soon." Guzha spoke timidly. "But mistress, we may have a problem on our hands."