Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Gwenn

I felt Sorens direct me to a seat to sit down, a seat which one of the council members provided, at least they were not all dense not to see how much this hurt.

“I am sorry.” I said with a laugh as I looked around the room, this time, none of them were bold enough to meet my gaze. “I thought I heard something like, My husband already has a child on the way and this child is not mine.”

When nobody could look at me, I finally looked at Arius direction. He couldn’t do this to me. I know we had our rough patches but among his deal with Themis, I remember Themis telling me distinctly that one of the terms was no extra family other than the one which I will provide him. This was still hard for me to swallow.

“Arius tell them that the child is not yours or something. That was not part of our plans. It was not what we bargained.” I stated, looking at my husband.

Arius flinched. “Gwenn…”

“Look me in the eyes when you need to talk about your mistakes.” I growled out, turning my order into a command which compelled Arius to obey.

Arius head snapped to look at me but it should not be possible, I could not control the king.

“I never meant to hurt you, you need to know that. Please. I thought she would not end up pregnant and….” Arius started but I screamed out loud, so loud that they all covered their ears.

“My Majesty, you have to hold yourself, don’t break down in front of them.”

I heard the words whispered in my mind and my scream stopped, I looked at Sorens who placed a hand on my shoulders and gave me just the tiniest of nods to show that he was the one who said those words in my head.

I reined in my emotions so fast, my mask needed to be on and so I placed it on my face. My face settled into placidity as I waited for them to straighten.

“I felt pressure on me, where did it go?” A council member inquired but I didn’t say anything.

“Is there any other thing you want to tell me or am I required to remain here for some other reason?” I asked and when they all looked at me, I stared at them like I have not being affected.

“Anything?” I repeated

“A woman who is pregnant for the king cannot remove the child. The king offspring’s will be protected at all costs.”

I nodded my approval of the words which were said.

“Gwenn.” Isolde called and when I looked at her, she continued. “Your home should never be shared, I am sorry but before the week runs by, Faye will move to the king hallways, she will also be given the title of concubine, that is the second wife to the king.”

No matter how softly Isolde spoke, the words still rang in my head.

“If you are wise, you would try to get pregnant so you can give birth to your own child and maybe he might control the throne.” A council member said, a male this time and the females glared at him.

I smiled at his words. “I am not in a competition with anybody, I never married for the throne of Northshore and if I have my way, my son will inherit his mother properties and take over his grandfather’s title, my son will not fight for scraps here and neither will I.” and with those words, I turned to leave the room.

“I want to have the room in between the king and Gwenn room.” Faye spoke up as I froze, most of the council members cautioned her.

“Faye, don’t test me right now, I can kill you and not think twice about it, don’t take me as a woman whom you can engage in petty fights, if you want to fight, issue a challenge and lets fight to the death if not, don’t try and throw jabs at me, I will only return them with twice as much intensity” I answered and when she didn’t say anything, I nodded.

“You can have that room and have my room for your baby Faye.” I smiled at her, “Consider it my gift to the new family.”

“Wait where will you stay?” Arius asked in a panic but I didn’t reply, he would be lucky if I spare him a second glance.

I turned on my heels and walked away with my second in command behind me. “My queen, do you need help in arranging your new room.” Isolde asked softly.

“I don’t, the majority of the things in that room are not mine, they are for the king’s beloved and we all know who she is, she can have them. I will have my own things and my privacy is deeply respected and King Arius.” I said, Arius raised his head to look at me.

“We had an agreement about you giving me the army, you ought to have given me without new terms. Even if you break your promises, I don’t do that to mine. Starting from tomorrow night.” And with those words, I fled their sight and it wasn’t long before I got to the stables, took a saddled horse and started to ride. I rode out of the compound when I passed the boundary, I smiled a little and then continued to race, I didn’t stop until my horse got to a small meadows. I sat down on the glass while letting my horse to graze as I thought about my life.

Was I that cursed? The man I love was with another woman who was pregnant with his child and the man I am married is with another woman who was pregnant with his child. I was the only one who was unhappy in the whole mix.

I heard footsteps behind me but I didn’t turn, I knew without a doubt that it was my shadow, someone who was always either beside me or in front of me. Someone who had my back for certain. Right now I wanted to be alone.

“I want to be alone Sorens.”

“I know.” He replied as he took a seat beside me. “I am here for what you need not what you want.”

“You are here to gloat?” I snorted.

“No, I am here to be that shoulder.” He answered simply, like he had already knew my words of protest and he came with answers prepared.

“What shoulder?” I asked.

“That shoulder, the one you need to cry on.” He stated and like a dam burst within me, I threw myself at him as I started crying. Letting all my agony out.

He rubbed my back, offering me comfort, comfort I didn’t get from my husband.

He told me he would be there for me, no matter what. The person who loved me and the person whom I can’t love back.