I do not own the WWE or any of the characters associated with it. I only own Rose and her family.

Chapter 17

The months had past and Rose was having her child. Morgana was in the room with Rose, while Adam entertained the children outside the door. Rose was in agony and she knew she didn't feel like this with any of the other children. Was it her punishment for still loving Marcus?

When she was utterly exhausted, she realized she hadn't heard the baby cry. "Morgana?"

"Yes?" Morgana's voice permeated.

"Where's the child?"

"Dead, Your Majesty. The child was born dead." Morgana answered as gently as she could.

"I…" Rose was astonished. "What do I tell Marcus? What do I tell the children?"

"You tell them the truth, as they deserve." Morgana told her. "You lost your child and you will live on and help your children."

"I need to rest."

"Indeed you do. I will tell the children and Lord Adam, then go to the king and the prince. They are no doubt planning for the battle." Morgana left her.

Rose sobbed into her blanket, wondering why the gods had cursed her with such a horrible fate as to lose a child. Was it her punishment for loving Marcus? The child had been born dead. Maybe their love was dead too? But what about Richard and Theresa? They were still his children.

A soft knock interrupted her racing thoughts. "My lady?"

"Come in." She answered softly.

"I'm sorry for your loss, my queen." Kane said softly. "You wanted the child?"

"Of course I did!" Rose cried. "How dare you insinuate otherwise?"

"I didn't mean to. I just don't understand why you still love him so. After all the heartache he must of put you through since he took you from us. I could only imagine what you went through. The bonding must have destroyed you." Kane softened more. "I was looking for you every day. Don't think I wasn't, Rose. I love you."

"I know. I love you too, but I… Kane, he's my husband. The father of two of my children, regardless of his sins. Of course he did horrible things, he's a Reaper. From my understanding, they only do horrible things. The fact that he was so nice to me for so long, it makes me grateful and to suggest a lie would be dooming anything I could have with him. I wish to salvage what I have with Marcus. When he attacks, I don't want to have to choose between you. I have to tell him that my last child was dead before it was born and no mother wants that responsibility." Rose sighed. "To tell you the truth, I sometimes wish he had come back in the year after Theresa was born. It would have made everything a hell of a lot easier on me."

"And what about our children?" Kane asked.

"Of course I love them and I adore them, but if Marcus had been High King like he was supposed to be, none of this war would be happening right now." Rose looked at him. "You must promise me that you will protect Richard."

"Of course, I will. I promise, he's my heir." Kane answered swiftly.

"Thank you."

-:-:-:-

Two weeks had passed and there was still no attack from Marcus. The castle was a buzz that the High Queen had lost the baby. After surviving childbed fever for the sixth time, Rose put on her black cote and her black gown. She walked with her children behind her and tears in her eyes as Kane escorted her to outside the city walls.

The grave had already been dug and she began to cry harder. This was very difficult for anyone to bear, but she couldn't do it. She turned around and saw Marcus at the tree. He nodded to her and she walked to him, wondering what he was doing her.

"Marcus? What are you doing here?" Rose asked as the family turned around. Lord Adam poised to defend her from the monster gracing their presence.

"I heard the news that our child…" Marcus looked away.

"It's true. I'm sorry. I couldn't have known." Rose answered sadly.

"I know. I wanted to give you time to grieve. I came to see the child put to rest." Marcus stepped forward and gingerly embraced her. "What will you do now?"

"What I always do, Marcus. I will take care of the children. Theresa is now eleven and learning to be a woman. I will teach her what I must so she might survive with a husband."

"What about us?" Marcus asked.

"Marcus, you want a war with a grieving mother. You don't understand that I am not going to fight you and I don't wish to. If you want me, then take your place as High King. Kill Kane and take me for your own as you did when you took me from my parents!"

"Rose, I can't take back what I did. If Kane hands me the throne, I can have you again."

"What did you do to her those six weeks, Father?" Richard asked stepping forward, closer to Rose.

"I bonded to her and cared for her, nothing more." Marcus answered his son.

"Mother?" Richard turned to her. "Is he lying to us?"

"No, Richard. He isn't. You need to accept that not everything Marcus does makes him a bad father. You yourself need souls to survive." Rose stated.

"I take criminals at the king's discretion."

"My point is that you are like your father in more ways than you would like to admit." Rose countered. "I for one want to know when you will attack us, Marcus. I am tired of waiting."

With his child buried, he grabbed Rose's arm and put a sword to her throat. Theresa, Maria, and Vivian screamed as Lord Adam and Richard were poised to save Rose. Rose however didn't scream.

"I will be attacking at dawn and as insurance that you won't attack me before that, I'm taking my wife back." He sneered. They disappeared into thin air and Richard turned to Kane.

"Now what?"

-:-:-:-

Marcus reappeared with Rose and Rose forced herself away from him. "I am not your toy, Marcus. How dare you do that at your own child's funeral?"

"I do what I have to do, Rose." Marcus answered getting his armor on. "You will appear at my side during the battle and you will do as you are told. Remember, you must obey me. You are still bonded to me."

"Very well, but I do it in indignation rather than servitude."

"Rose, you will kiss me when tomorrow is over. I will win and I will make you mine once more."

"We shall see Marcus." Rose answered as she tore a piece of her train off her gown. "We shall see."