It was a bleak and rainy day. Rather fitting for the occasion. Azora stared out of the small window in her chambers out on to the street. The dowagers body was being carried in a coffin in a grand funeral procession. The King rode a horse dark as night in front, his head bowed.
Everyone including her was dressed in black, and the women wore black veils over their faces. Many people wept and Azora had to hold back a sob. One lone tear fell down her porcelain cheek, and she quickly brushed it away.
Everyone was down at the funeral except for her and a midwife. Azora had spent many hours trying to convince the midwives to let her go to the funeral, but she was not allowed to in her condition.
She could no longer hold it in, and she placed her face in her palms and sobbed, her shoulders shaking. She wiped away the tears as the continued to flow, trying to calm herself down.
The midwife handed her a cloth to wipe away the tears and Azora gladly accepted it. When she looked back down on the funeral procession, she noticed her husband looking back up at her, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Azora tore her gaze away and turned back to the coffin and it's journey to the Royal families mausoleum. She felt bad, all she could do was stand in her room and sob. She couldn't go and pay her respects.
Then she got an idea.
~~~Adora walked towards the shrine, darkness like a blanket, covering everything. All she could see was the statue of the Dowager Queen that stood over her coffin. It stood out in the moonlight.
As she walked towards the coffin, with a single rose in hand, she didnt realise the figure in one of the dark corners, leaning against the coffin.
Adora placed the rose with all the other flowers that lay in tribute to her mother in law. She was well loved by the people.
She was Azora's role model, a great Queen, and was a mother figure in the absence of both her parents. Azora leant down, folding her hands together, and prayed to God to help guide the dowager on the journey home.
Azora noticed the dark figure as his sobs grew louder, they startled her, as he came closer, placing a bunch of wild flowers next to her rose.
It was the King.
Azora turned her head, and kept praying, trying to ignore him, but failing miserably.
She snuck a few peaks in his direction, but was caught. She smiled, and he gave her a weak smile back, before breaking down into a fit of crying.
Adora no longer saw a king, all she saw was a broken man who had just lost his mother.
She sat awkwardly for a while, before hesitantly moving her hand towards him, and rubbing his back comfortingly.
He moved closer and sobbed into her shoulder, as she sat there, not knowing what to do as she kept rubbing his back.
He finally got a few words out."Ma- Madeline wasn't here" he sobbed.
Azora sat silently, slightly jealous that he thought of her first. But a little part of her knew his thoughts would go to her and Adora told herself off for making her hopes high.He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. Adora stared back in shock. This was very unlike him. He looked down at her growing bump, and placed his hand on it, and sighed. She sat there in shock, not knowing whether to jump up and run away, or let him be.
"I never meant what I said to you that night."
Azora still was stiff from shock, and he lifted his head and looked back into her eyes, making her stomach squirm.He chuckled than looked back down at his hand.
"It still amazes me, you know, babies."
Azora looked at him, puzzled. He'd had at least 4.
He laughed when he saw her expression, knowing exactly what she was thinking.
"Yes, Ive had 5 children, but Ive never even met them, let alone know their names. Heck, I dont even know their genders! Most of the mothers are so ashamed they moved away with their children and dont even let me write!"Azora scoffed. "I dont blame them." I muttered under my breath. He looked at her with a look of mock anger and betrayel on his face but smiled and continued.
"The only child I remotely know of is Madeline's ."
Adora scowled.
"She isnt ashamed of her losing her virtue, she just flounces around with her child, going on about how she's my favourite." He paused to see Azoras reaction.His voice changed to a whisper which sent shivers down her spine.
"I dont even know if she is my favourite anymore." He looked her in the eye.
"I never hated you, Azora." He stated, still whispering.
"I just didnt know how to handle having a wife."He moved his hand towards her ear, and tucked a stray black hair behind it, then looked down at my lips.
She unconciously licked them, making the gentle expression in his eyes turn to hunger.
He moved closer, his hand still cupping the side of her face. He moved closer, his lips almost an inch away from hers.Azora panicked.
She used her hands to push herself up from the floor, and stood up.
His face looked sad and shocked. No doubt he had never been rejected before."Im sorry, I must go." she whispered, before picking up her skirts and running out of the shrine.
YOU ARE READING
The Queen of Dawn
Romance~ Court of Navalia Book 1~ 1509 Princess Azora is sent across the ocean to marry a foreign prince, and eventually she will become his Queen. However tragedy strikes far too soon and she is under more pressure than ever to produce an heir... Unfortu...