Chapter 78.
The month passed and Sofia recovered, Floria's condition being announced and celebrated all over the Realm. She began to show a slight growth under her gowns, and all the Maids giggled and hugged her when they found out she had a child in her. Loki smiled at her more often, watching her walk toward him and he saw her happiness when he announced their forthcoming child to the Court. They were overjoyed of course, sharing words of congratulations for the young Queen and all offering their hopes for a healthy birth. She accepted them, being grateful and gracious to them all.
It was all well, and Floria was overjoyed to be his sun again as he gazed at her warmth. His eyes still finding Sofia in the way of her though, and he was having enough of the girl trying to eclipse her. He was going to put an end to her flirtations and meddling once and for all, and he was going to be cruel to do it.
"You called for me My King." She said, entering the quiet chamber and folding her hands over the emerald gown she wore to get his attention. He nodded, motioning for her to sit and she did so, taking the seat across from him as he crossed his legs. He stared at her a long time, watching her smile and flutter her eyes lashes at him.
"I have called you here to give you an ultimatum." He said and she listened to him with a fading smile. "I want you to end your flirtations and meddling in my marriage to Queen Floria, or I shall have no other choice to make example of you by ruining your reputation and dismissing you."
"But... My gentle King... I only act as my heart desires. I cannot stop my love for you, it would be like pulling the sun from the sky." She said and she looked down at her hands. "I think of you, and I find myself warm with desire to know you."
"You refuse then." Loki said, and she stood and threw herself to her knees at his feet.
"I do because I cannot stand that you should ever be unhappy. And... and I think you should be happy to know how much I desire you." She said and stood, unlacing her gown and letting it slip to the floor. He jumped from his seat, his mouth falling open and she walked toward him as he moved from her in her corset and very short petticoat.
"Put your gown back on and leave. I will not have a woman who whores herself serving my Queen." He demanded and she took his hand and brought it up under the hem of her petticoat, his fingers grazing her bare flesh and he repressed a shudder.
"Do you feel how I yearn for you?" She asked and she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. Her mouth needy and he pulled back, a gasp at the door as Floria stood in shock at what she was seeing. He pulled his hand away from her body, and Sofia ran for her gown. Floria cradled her small belly, Hogun and another Councilman trying to support their Queen.
"How could you? How..." She gasped, her body slumping and Hogun glared at the girl while holding his daughter. "I have your child in me and you are wenching... with... with her?"
"Floria, calm yourself, the child needs you calm." Loki said and she gasped, tears falling down her face and he walked toward his Wife. She wept into her hands, and his heart broke as she gasped for air. Hogun held her, trying to comfort her in her time of need and Loki hated Sofia even more.
"My Queen." Sofia said, and she turned on the girl as she wrestled with her gown.
"You will be silent! You are dismissed from my service, do not return here!" Floria screamed and pointed at Loki. "Was she worth this?"
"It was not what you think it is, don't get upset or you will hurt the child Floria." Loki said, wrapping his arms around her and growling at Sofia. "You heard your Queen! Leave, you are dismissed!"
"I need air." Floria whimpered, her hands trembling as she held to her father and Loki held her from behind. Hogun glared at Loki, and he shook his head at the father of his Wife. She cried out, holding her belly and pinched her eyes in pain, the other Councilman in the room gasped in horror. She backed away, lifting her skirts and screamed, everyone looking at her feet and seeing blood on her shoes.
"Fetch a Healer! She is in distress!" Loki shouted, the bald man bowing and running the halls as Hogun and he lay her on the bed.
"It was not as it looked, I was dismissing her and she removed her gown and approached me to seduce me. I am sickened by her actions, and would never betray you like that." He said, holding her hands and she screamed in pain and cried.
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Eir walked into the hall, the two Healers with her grim as she shook her head and Velora cried. Sari wept into her hands, and Loki sank to the floor against the wall. Hogun walked to the other Councilmen and they bowed their heads in mourning, their respect for the lost child evident.
"She will conceive again, and we tried everything we could, but it was all for naught." Eir said and dismissed the other girls. "I am so sorry for this loss My King, she mourns it as well."
"Thank you Lady Eir." He said, standing and walking into his chambers to see his Wife. He approached quietly, seeing her cling to her pillow and sob. The sounds coming from her as she wailed, spoke volumes and were of a deep pain as he walked to the bed. She cried again, watching them remove the bundle of blood soaked linens that carried the body of her lost child.
"I am so very sorry Floria." He said and she cried into her knees, she held herself and rocked back and forth on the bed and he sat next to her to hold her. She shook her head, her screams muffled in his chest and she slapped him as hard as she could.
"You... you did this to me." She cried and he held tighter to her. "My baby died because of you and her!"
"It was not as it looked, I swear it Nightengale. Be angry with me if it makes you heal faster though." He said and she screamed and balled her hands into fists, beating them into his chest and she screamed again. Velora watched her daughter, bringing her a draught and putting it to her lips.
"Drink it dear. It will help you sleep." She said, and Hogun stood in the door as she drank from the cup. Loki stood, and he walked to his Counciler, pausing and he saw Lord Brand standing in the doorway. His fists balled, and he glared at them man in anger.
"Your family has done enough damage for the day My Lord. Remove yourself from these chambers before I have you removed." Loki growled, and Hogun turned and glared at the man as well. The Councilman, recognizing that he was over his head, left in silence and the only sound was the weeping of Floria.
"I want that girl ruined, exposed as a whore." Loki said to Hogun and Sari blinked back tears as she walked past to comfort her Mistress. Loki felt a tear fall from his cheek, and he blinked. "Announce that this family is in mourning for the child, and make sure that it is understood that Queen Floria did nothing to harm it. Tell the people... tell the people that, she is still a woman of great grace and kindness and that she will be resting until she feels ready to return to public life."
"Yes my King." A Councilman said, pausing. "I Shall we add your sorrows to the announcement?"
"No, for her loss is greater than mine, and I can never understand fully what she feels." Loki said, and he walked back into the Bed Chamber and looked at the now sleeping Floria on the bed. He moved his chair closer to her, and took her hand as she slept to watch over her.
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She woke that evening, seeing Loki sitting next to the bed and her hand in his. He sat forward, smoothing his hand over her hair and he kissed her forehead. She shook her head, her heart breaking again and he held her hand tighter, being careful not to crush it.
"Floria... Please don't turn away from me. I love you, and need you so much." He said, his tears falling and he kissed her forehead again.
"I lost my heart and child." She said, and he sat back and shook his head at her. He held her hand, kissing it and she lay still on the bed and closed her eyes.
"No, I am still here. I will never leave you, I swear it." He said and she closed her eyes again and wept in silence. He looked at her, laying his head on the mattress and he let his tears fall as they would.