Of Words from the King
"And if I don't make it known that I've loved you all along
Just like sunny days that we ignore
Because we're all dumb and jaded
And I hope to God I figure out what's wrong,"
- 4am by Our Lady Peace
That evening, the celebration was called off and instead, Hercules found himself in the vigilance behind the king's bedroom door with Meg, who was pressed against his chest, still in shock from what had transpired.
Icarus and Cassandra were there, as well as Meg's two sisters and some of king's advisors. The queen-mother and the king's aid were inside, hearing the news how the king was faring. Hercules drew comforting circles on Meg's back, trying to tell her without any words that he was there for her.
When the door finally opened, the healer, Harmonia and king's advisor Autolycus finally came out.
Everybody stood up at the same time, anxious to get the news.
"Fortunately, the Gods were gracious tonight and the king will make a full recovery," the healer begun and there was a collective breath of relief.
"However, it seems as though the king has been infected with the poison for a longer time. Were talking about many weeks, at least," the healer continued. Meg furrowed her brows. So this was the reason why her father had been looking so pale and sick?
"We need to find out who did this. Was the culprit caught?" Autolycus then asked.
"Yes he was, I left him in the hands of your guards," Hercules the spoke up.
"It seems like it was done from the inside of the palace. Who would do this?" Harmonia wondered out loud.
"Whoever it was, I'm sure that the young man behind tonight's attempt will know something about it," Hercules reasoned.
"Yes, you must be right, Hercules. My son passed me his word, asking to see all of us present," Harmonia then told them with obvious authority.
"Is father well enough to receive all of us there?" Henioche piped in.
"That is his wish, child, and he is the king, so we must obey," Harmonia gently reminded Meg's younger sister, who blushed profoundly.
Than the small group of people shared a slightly confused look, before entering the king's bedroom together.
The king was bed-ridden and pale, but had already a bit healthier color on his face than before. Meg took it as a sign that he was starting to get better. Alongside Cassandra, Icarus, Meg's sisters and queen-mother Harmonia, there were also few guards, a king's advisor and the head of the city council, one of the Elders, attending the meeting.
"Thank you all for coming. As you all well know, attempt was made against my life this night. As my health has left still much to improve, I must choose a substitute ruler for time being," the king explained, looking at each person standing in the room. The advisor and the head of the council both perked up at king's words, eyeing each other. They obviously assumed that one of them would be elected.
"In a situation such as this, there are still many… Uncertainties. The possibility that something might still happen. Because of that, we need the best possible person to lead our city-state," the king continued and the advisor and the Elder both shook their head furiously, agreeing with the king.
"That is my I have chosen my daughter, princess Megara as the substitute leader," the king announced his decision. The room fell silent and all looked more or less taken aback by the king's decision, above anyone else, Meg herself.
"But your Highness, the princess is a clever girl, but only a girl," the Elder smoothly begun.
"Yes, your Highness: as you yourself pointed out, we are living perilous times. Maybe someone with more experience…" the advisor smoothly continued.
"And you consider yourself as such?" the king gave a small, unimpressed laugh.
"Megara has better understanding of the life outside the palace than neither of you two. And she is my eldest living child, my daughter. Besides, are you questioning your king's orders?" Creon frowned and both men grew pale, mumbling apologetic words.
With a gesture of his hand, the king beckoned his eldest daughter closer and Meg obliged.
"My daughter, do you accept my proposition?" her father than asked.
"Yes, father. I accept. I swear I'll choose to do what is best for our people," Meg solemnly replied, kneeling before him.
"Good. I know you will, that is why I chose you. And you," at this point, he pointed at the Elder and the advisor, "you shall do your best to help her, understood?"
"Yes, your Highness," they both agreed reluctantly.
"Good. Now I wish to speak to the princess. You others are dismissed. Expect you, Hercules, I wish you stay behind as well," the king concluded.
Meg and Hercules looked at each other and Hercules gave Meg an encouraging smile.
"How are you, father?" Meg approached her father gingerly, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"I've been better, but I've been certainly worse, my dear," the king smiled weakly at his daughter and Meg smiled back, tears in her eyes. They had their differences, but how relieved was she that her father had received help in time!
"I heard you were the one who caught the man behind this attempt?" king Creon then turned his attention to Hercules.
"Yes, your Highness," Hercules solemnly replied.
"You did well, better than any of my soldiers and guards. I still haven't been able to thank you for your bravery in the battle against the Dead. You're a brave man, a better man than any other I have encountered. I now realize, after reconsidering things, that I judged you too harshly in the beginning," king Creon explained slowly and Meg's heart leapt in her chest.
"Father, is that why you changed your mind?" Meg asked, not believing her ears. Her father was the most stubborn man she knew, would he really change his mind about her relationship with Hercules or was this another twisted crook in her life?
"I was trying to protect you, my love. But it seems that I was protecting from something that you didn't need protecting from. We parents may be funny in that way, sometimes. As I said before at the reception, if you two want to get married, you do have my blessing. Even though I do have a funny feeling that you would do it nevertheless," her father smiled drily.
"Thank you!" Meg came to embrace him, making sure not to hurt him in the process. King Creon smiled, embracing his daughter back.
"Thank you, sir," Hercules told him as well, bowing slightly at him.
"You may call me just Creon from now on. You are going to marry my daughter after all and become a part of my family," Creon then replied, smiling at him.
Hercules was excited as the realization hit home: he was now officially allowed to marry Meg, as he had hoped for so long. Maybe things really would get better, eventually as he had hoped for. All he did care about was being with her, no matter what it meant. They could work all of this out together, he had been sure of it before and now he was even more certain of it: he wouldn't let anything come between him and Meg.
-A/N: Whew, that was one rollercoaster of a chapter, don't you agree? Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words, I do cherish them. It makes me very happy to know that you enjoy reading my stories. Thank you very much for reading!
Shout-out to the guest reviewers:
-Sol99: Let's really hope that's not gonna happen (lol), I'm glad to hear you're enjoying this!
-Sakura: Me alegro mucho, muchas gracías para tí!