The Dream Oath

Chapter 4.7

The clock struck two.

Maria rose and signaled her maids back to bed. She needed to be alone. For her, mourning would never be a group activity. It was either treason or infidelity. Both of which she was sure that Edgar would kill her on the spot.

He should be asleep by now though.

She grabbed the vase of flowers off the entryway table and headed out of her rooms. The guards that were supposed to be outside of her doors where nowhere to be seen. Lucky break, she thought.

Moving to her old rooms she rehearsed the song in her head. She'd written the melody while Draco was away on his last, fatal mission. She didn't know what the lyrics would be yet, but she had faith that they'd come to her as she mourned one last time.

The passageways were empty as she padded to the tower that used to house her rooms before she became queen. The song was building, she could feel it.

Draco always asked her to sing for him whenever he returned. He'd lay on her couch, close her eyes and just listen. The content smile of a man with no worries playing over his face. She'd never see that again, but she could sing for him one more time.

Even the door to the roof refrained from creaking as she greeted the night sky. The sliver of a moon providing just enough light to look over the mountains and forests outside of the city below.

Setting down the vase and holding only the roses, she didn't feel the thorns pierce her cold hands. She sang.

Oh my hero, so far away now,
Will I ever see your smile?
Love goes away like night into day.
It's just a fading dream.

I'm the darkness, you're the starlight.
Our love is brighter than the sun.
For eternity, for me there can be,
Only you, my chosen one.

Must I forget you? Our solemn promise?
Will autumn take the place of spring?
What shall I do? I'm lost without you.
Speak to me once more.

We must part now, my life goes on.
But my heart won't give you up.
Ere I walk away, let me hear you say
I meant as much to you.

So gently, you touched my heart.
I will be forever yours.
Come what may, I won't age a day,
I'll wait for you, always.

As she finished, Maria tossed the roses over the wall and returned to her rooms. She didn't see Edgar behind the door as she passed.