I do not own the WWE or any of the characters associated with it. I only own Rose and her family.
Chapter 7
Rose awoke to the sound of drums. There was a day of celebration now that she was better from her childbed fever. She had survived; something not many women of her position could claim when having an heir to the throne.
She looked out the window and saw the flowers in her garden. They had been neglected in her absence and she wished that Mary had tended them. She rose as the door opened. She smiled, her husband and her son entered. They had definitely taken a liking to each other.
"How long have I been in bed?" She asked, sitting up more fully.
"About two days. The doctor said you would make a full recovery. Lord Kane, Lord Adam, and I decided to hold a feast in Richard's honor." He smiled at the child.
"May I hold him?" She wondered how he felt. Was he soft? Was he like his father?
"Of course you can." He gently set the infant in her arms.
The child cooed at his mother and snuggled softly into her. She smiled at her son. He was a sweetheart, but how long would it last in a whirlwind court like this?
"Is he…" She began.
"He is indeed a half-breed. He needs souls and you to survive. You must allow this to happen naturally of course. He will discover it in due time. When the time comes, we will have a holding cell for those prisoners sentenced to death and he will harvest them." He looked at her.
"My lord, I can't accept the bonding to you. I wouldn't be able to bear being torn from my son. He bonded to me and I can't live without it. Please understand that I am not trying to disobey your wishes, I just can't do it now. My son was born two days ago and I don't want to consider it until after he grows into a young prince." Rose held her breath as the child snuggled almost possessively into her.
"My lady, the child has bonded you to himself. I couldn't hope to bond you to me when the child has taken to you." He nodded to the Richard. "I will teach him and when he is of age to be a prince of the realm, and then I will bond you. Unless we have more children." He hugged her gently. "Come. You must get ready for the feast, this is a happy day. Your child is going to be proclaimed as a prince and there will be much feasting and dancing this day."
She got up and put Richard in the makeshift crib that Morgana had given to them when he was born. He looked up at her and with those beautiful green eyes; she knew he would rule one day. She donned on a black coat and a purple gown, arranging her hair as beautifully as possible. She put Marcus's symbol in her hair and then went to give Richard to the wet-nurse.
Marcus escorted her to the hall after giving the wet-nurse instructions to bring the child to the joust for the people to see. They must see that he had a family; it would make him more human in their eyes, not just Lord Marcus the Reaper.
To the surprise of Lady Rose, many had turned up for the occasion. Lord Christian, Lord Adam, Lord John of Cena Hills and his wife, Elizabeth, Lady Evelyn, Lady Morgana, and a most unexpected visitor had come for the wonderful occasion. His crown gave him away and Marcus bowed immediately.
"My king, you have heard our glorious news?" Marcus looked at him. He was much older. War had made him much wearier than he remembered.
"I have and I congratulate you and your beautiful wife." He answered, smiling at Rose. "The child and you are healthy, I trust?"
"Of course, my lord. I could not very well be out of bed if I still had a fever. I am most grateful that you are here to see my son." Rose responded.
"I have excellent news for the gathering. Shall we dine?" The king took the left of Marcus with Rose taking the right. Lord Kane didn't seem to mind to have to move one seat, but he hovered around Rose to make sure she was fine.
"Marcus, where is Richard?" Rose asked, a little worriedly.
"He will be with us for the joust, my love. Please eat. You haven't had anything in a few days." Marcus pointed to the apples fresh from Avalon.
"Of course, I'm just worried about him."
"Marcus, she is just concerned as any new mother would be. I'm sure my mother was the same way. I do love a woman who has motherly instincts. It makes them a good candidate for queen." He smiled.
"Forgive me, my king, but why are you here? What exactly is your news, King Taliesin?" Lord Kane asked from the other side of the table.
The old king stood up and took a deep breath. "Good people, I have known for a while now that I am getting old and that I will not bear any children to succeed me. In that vein, I have been watching my kings in battle and how they rule as kings of their domain. I have selected a candidate and I am pleased to announce that Lord Marcus will become the new High King on my death." Applause followed. "I am pleased that Lady Rose has given Marcus a son for that means we have a pure line that can keep Britain alive and well!" The crowd gathered cheered their High King, but Marcus knew it was only a matter of time before his death would make Britain his.
"Thank you, my king." Marcus said. "Let the feast continue!" More cheering followed as Lady Evelyn pouted. She wanted to be where Rose was. She was not happy with the state of affairs at all.
Rose noticed the hooded figure was sitting at her table. She knew it to be Lady Morgana, but why she should hide her face, she didn't understand.
"Do not be alarmed, child." The hooded figure said. "I hide my face for the High King knows me as the woman who killed the last High King."
"Who was that?" Rose whispered.
"Come find me after the feast and I will tell you all you wish to know about me, your son, and your new role as High Queen." With that, she swept out of the room.
Kane looked at her. "She's right across from your room if you wish to talk to her before the joust."
"My lords, I must beg your leave. I would like to lie down before the joust." Rose said, as she curtseyed to the kings. They nodded.
"Take care of yourself, my lady. You must not strain yourself." The High King said.
"Of course not, my lord. I shall be fine. I must rest. I will return with my son before the joust starts, I assure you." She smiled and left the hall. Walking down the hall, she ensured that she wasn't followed and then knocked on Lady Morgana's door.
"Enter."
She opened the door to find a beautiful woman with raven hair looking at her. She quickly closed the door and sat on the bed. "I have many questions."
"I know you do."
"I thought you were a story my mother used to tell me." Rose whispered, unsure of herself.
"Many people think that of me now. I ensured it to be so. It will remain that way through the ages and they will debate if I truly existed." Morgana looked at her.
"What happened? Why must it be like this?"
"You are familiar with the stories, yes?" Rose nodded, so Morgana continued. "Well, it happened, though not the way we remember it today. Arthur Pendragon will go down as a wonderful High King and that will never change. My role will always change, just as it did then."
"But Taliesin has ruled since before I was born. That would make you at least…" Rose said.
"I know. I retained my beauty through hard work and magic. I was with Arthur and my son Mordred, at their final battle."
"What happened?"
"They killed each other. Mordred wanted the throne and Arthur wouldn't let him have it. I retired to a convent, and then decided to move on. I have been living in Marcus's lands since he took over from my old husband, Uriens." She looked at Rose curiously. Marcus was right, she was a strong woman.
"Why is Marcus going to be the next High King?" Rose asked.
"It's his destiny. If you must know, you will have a total of five children. Richard will grow to be the next High King once Marcus decides to be in a secluded area." Morgana smiled. "Richard is a half-breed, but he will be more like his father than you know."
"If I bond to Marcus, will I live forever like him?" She asked, hopeful.
"Only if he wishes it. Bonding with a Reaper is very dangerous, my lady. One would hope that Marcus doesn't think so ill of you one day, that he wishes you dead and it happens. Reapers are very powerful and if you aren't careful, you might get caught in the crossfire." Morgana explained.
"Did you love my husband?"
"I did, but that was many many moons ago." Morgana answered.
"Thank you for answering my questions." Rose got up to go. "Are you coming to the joust?"
"No, I am going to sleep. Taking care of you exhausted me." Morgana showed her to the door. "My lady, you must know that I hold you in high regard, as does Lord Marcus. I cannot wait for you to show your true colors. It will be magnificent." With that, she opened and closed the door as the wet nurse emerged from her room.
"My lady, your son has been fed and changed. He's ready for his first joust." The wet nurse handed the child to her mistress. "You would hurry, mistress. The joust will start without you!"
Marcus knew Rose would seek Morgana out and he had allowed it because she would learn not to cross him. He looked at the joust fields. Soon, Taliesin would be dead and he would rule the land with his wife in his bed and his subjects cowering that they would not be chosen for his next meal. He chuckled. It would be perfect.
Rose came to the joust and saw all the smiling faces. "My king, I… Where's my lord Marcus?" She asked, concerned.
"He is jousting in honor of his son, my lady. He has given me the honor of presenting your son to the crowd." He looked at the child. "Richard is a wonderful name. He will be a fierce warrior, you can be certain that Marcus will teach him that."
"Thank you, my king."
"Good people, I present the heir to this kingdom and my lands: Richard, son of Lord Marcus and your new High Prince." The crowd cheered as the King handed Richard back to her. "You may sit with me, my lady."
"Thank you." She was numb. Marcus was jousting. Why? Richard seemed to feel her concern as he snuggled a little closer. Of course her son would know exactly what she needed. He was his father's child after all.
With the promise of four more children on the way, maybe one of them would be their mother's child and not just the new High King's. She looked at the field, then back at her son. Lord Marcus might be the Reaper, but Richard was still half human and she would insure he would keep that half.
Even if it killed her.