The Kings Sibyl

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"My mother and father are here visiting." Regan said as he sat next to me on the bench. Sitting had been difficult, as Elric had thoroughly bruised my ass last night after I disobeyed his orders. Although, I may have done so on purpose.
"What for?"
"Mother wants to spend the day with you and Allison. You can't tell her, but Edit plans to propose next full moon. He says he believes she's with child."
"Allison would have told me. And I've heard nothing so far." I began playing with the bush next to me. Hearing my dear friend may be expecting made me upset. I had wanted a child many years ago, but I realized I would be unable until I found my other half. Now, he was sitting in his office, and here I was, still childless. Four new moons had passed since our first love making, and my menses still hadn't come. If I was with child, surely I'd be able to sense it.
"What's got you thinking so hard?" Regan asked. He moved closer to my side and placed an arm over my shoulders.
"I fear I'm unable to give Elric an heir. He'll have to call Lucille back and impregnate her until they have a son or there will be no one to take over the throne once he secures it." The thought brought tears to my eyes. I had never been an emotional woman, yet I found myself crying over small things lately. The other day, I killed a small bug on accident. Normally I'd apologize and put it back in the earth to repeat the cycle of life. This time I cried for hours until Elric found me and told me it would be okay. Even after, I had to bite my tongue to hold my tears back at dinner every time I thought about it. My emotions had been all over the place lately, only succeeding in driving me more mad.
"Elric is damn near four thousand years old. He had one child with a woman many years ago. The child and its mother died during the Black Plague, and he hasn't been around many women since. Elric is a passionate man, he would never turn to another woman, not even for a child to pass his title to."
"A-are you sure?" I hiccuped.
"Absolutely. Now stop being ridiculous and let's go see that horrendous woman I call a mother."
"She's not horrendous."
"She's been up my ass to find a woman and give her a grandchild. She's horrendous right now. The woman is a head case."
I felt a smile settle on my face as he led me back inside and up the stairs. I could smell chef cooking, preparing dinner I'd bet. My stomach grumbled, followed by Regan's laugh.
"Your appetite has grown quite a bit, no?"
"It has not! Never comment on a lady's appetite." I grumbled as I turned away from the kitchen doors and stomped toward Elric's office. The dress I wore had become increasingly tight these last few weeks and barely fit over my hips. The food I'd eaten seemed to just sit there. I wore slippers, something comfortable on my feet because they'd been sore lately. I had taken to asking Elric for foot rubs at night. Eliza found me as I reached the top of the stairs, and the look she gave had me stopping in my tracks.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Elric is waiting for you." The girl was only six summers old and she was smart as a fox. I would always catch her wandering the halls and causing trouble for the workers. Our older brother had decided to leave with our parents, none had been back since and new people had been appointed the council position.
"Would you take me to him?" I grabbed her small hand and let her lead me towards the office, where loud voices could be heard. I opened the door without knocking, to see Lucille standing at one side of the desk, Elric on the other. They seemed to be having a screaming match while Elric's mother and father looked on in shock.
With a wave of my hand the woman was forced back into a chair and her mouth shut. Elric gave her a smug look as I walked to his side.
"Do not yell at your king." I grumbled. My head started to pound, and Elric grabbed my hips before giving me a strange look. His father smiled while his mother took to staring at my dress with a concentrated look on her face.
"Mouse, I've missed you." His lips came down on mine, followed by a bleh from Eliza.
"What were you arguing over?" I asked. Lucile shot death glares my way, her perfect hair assembled on top of her head in a neat pile.
"She wants to move to our home, she was trying to argue her point. She believes she'll be able to produce a powerful heir to take over for me when I'm finished with my reign." Elric explained. I could feel him watching my reaction, so I straightened my back and turned to him.
"If you feel as though that's the course you want to take." I met his eyes and readied myself for his answer.
"What do you think, mouse?"
I cleared my throat.
"As your mate, I want you to be filled with joy. If having a child is what you want, go about it by any means you deem fit."
Elric gripped my hips harder, I could feel the anger pouring off him in waves, rivaling my own.
"If you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend. I'll see you at dinner."
I found myself leaving the room, my emotions growing too strong.
Regan tried to grab my arm in the hallway upon seeing my distraught expression, but as soon as his hand came in contact with my arm, I felt my body expand and I was gone.
When I was a child, my parents had hired an experienced seer to help me maintain my emotions. I'd never been like this, never cried like this.
I reappeared, my body coming together from shadow, in the middle of my sanctuary. I sat, naked as a babe, on the soft grass as tears flowed freely from my cheeks. One second I was crying, the next I was screaming in pain as my stomach gave a deep stabbing, and a dark liquid poured from between my legs onto the ground bellow me.