A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews! I know some of you this couple is too UC and Sesshomaru is too OOC but it is very necessary for my plot to work out correctly, so I be of you to understand.

Chapter 4

How humiliating for him to see her dressed in cloth of gold, wearing a jeweled headdress and paying homage to him with a deep curtsey. How frustrated he felt, his intention now was ruined…he believed that even if he killed that stupid husband of hers, she would not wish to marry in such a position. Even thus, a Dowager Queen was powerful enough to deny a proposition of marriage from him.

'A son…what if she were to give him that so wanted male heir? That would secure her position forever. So for this I must strip her of all royal tittles…I will kill another bastard'

A widow wept bitterly for the death of her husband, but not so much for his death, but for the fact that she had not been able to provide him a boy to take his place. No son, no benefit, she thought. And cried and cried.

A page knocked on her door and entered.

"His will is to be read shortly, your grace. Be sure to attend the council meeting in a few moments" he bowed and left. Could he have left her much? There was much to doubt now, he had in truth been fond of her; how much though?

She entered, dressed in black an behind her two of the ladies-in-waiting whose marriages had not been settled so far. Ayame took her seat and signed for the reading to start.

"Written by his majesty, the King Kriesta two years ago"

"I am a happy man and King and for that I thank you, my subjects.

In the ill case of not being able to have a son, I will have no Regent. I declare that should I be dead before my time or should I die without an heir, I will have the Marchioness, my dear aunt take over the rule of the Borders, since it was through her connection that I obtained it.

On my behalf, I also leave payment for those who have been dear to me. First, my dear wife: I leave you no Regency, for I think of you not as a Monarch, but a tender loving creature. I have come to the sad conclusion that without much claim to the throne, I shall bestow upon you the title of Lady Willoughby and with it a castle in Willoughby, along with it two fortresses of your choice. Should you marry again anybody with a higher title than of nobility, you must return these gifts. I also ask of my council to consider returning the Queen's dowry to her and her plate and jewels. Should my wife be dead and therefore absent to this hearing, I ask for her to be buried next to me in the garden of Westminster…

I once again, pray for you my Lords to remember me with respect. The sum of three hundred pounds is awarded to the Duke of Northumberland, for having suggested the marriage of my lovely wife.

I, Kriesta your late King pray for forgiveness and a son to take my place also.

Kriesta, the King".

So he had actually left her something; she still cried. A castle and two fortresses! Her, past Queen of the North and of the Borders, now a simple Lady Willoughby! How could he have misjudged her thus!

She was shut away for the mourning of her husband and cried with all agony, all around her believing her to be in the typical exile due to the loss of a husband.

"Never!" she cried

Lord Sesshomaru, after two years, was so relieved of the news that he couldn't help but be lost in thoughts of her. He laughed for the first time in the past hundred years.

"Lady Willoughby…how very nice that is of Kriesta…A castle and a fortress!"

Now after two months of mourning in her chambers, she was at last away from all the torment of Court. Ayame had found some peace at the castle of Willoughby and loved the demons of villages around there. All were ready to call her Queen; all thanked god for giving them such a loving person.

She had given up all hope of return of the lost empire now. What did it matter? She had heard that Kouga had married the veriest tavern wench in all feudal Asia and she had borne him three girls and two boys. That had been the last drop. How did she expect to fight for a lost cause? The closest tribe to royal was Kouga's tribe, but he had completely lost it over some human he had seen and now his tribe was following the example. So there were half wolf demons all over the place. The Prince had definitely left all hiddignity behind a while ago.

She preoccupied in helping slay evil demons with her own hands for her fellow demons to show that she could be as humble as them anytime. Ayame cured the sick at her fortresses and with her ladies helped keep peace in the region of Willoughby.

Since the nomination of her title Ayame Willoughby, nobody of the nobility had sent for her to come to court of anything of the sort. Resigned within those beautiful walls of the expensive yet useless fortresses, she slept and awoke without a reason.

Sesshomaru sped to the Borders; more specifically to the area of the Fortresses and rather humble castles. He opened his hand and smiled at the sight of gold and emerald ring.

"At last" he said

A/N: Any questions I will answer as long as I know the response of course. Don't forget to review.