Chapter 14: Anna's Death
"Mama? Are you okay?" The tiny Lloyd crouched beside his mother. "What's wrong, Mama?" The dying Anna turned her head slowly to look at her son. His big brown eyes that he had inherited from his father, were wide with fear and worry. His mother reached up slowly and stroked his cheek.
"Oh Lloyd..." she murmured, her voice weak and shaky. Tears welled up in the small boy's eyes and his chin trembled.
"Mama, you be okay, right?" he whimpered. "You see, Mama, you be okay, you see. Daddy come back and make you better."
"No Lloyd, I'm sorry, but that can't happen..." his mother said weakly. "Mommy has to go away for a while." Tears began to fall from Lloyd's eyes and he hugged his mother's neck.
"No," he sobbed. "You be okay." Anna stroked baby Lloyd's cheek again.
"Please don't cry, Lloyd. Don't cry." Lloyd looked up at her. "I don't like to see you cry."
"Mama..." Lloyd whimpered. Suddenly, a voice came from behind Lloyd.
"Hey, are you alright?" A dwarf came hurrying over. "What happened?" Anna looked up at him.
"Please..." she whispered. "I don't have much time left...Please...take my son...take care of him...take care of Lloyd..." The dwarf nodded and Anna explained everything to him. When she was finished, she turned her head to Lloyd. She beckoned him to put his head close to her face. She gently kissed his cheek and said,
"Don't ever forget that Mommy loves you..." With this, Anna's last breath escaped her lungs as her life left her and baby Lloyd, sensing something was wrong, began to cry loudly and pitifully while Noishe howled mournfully for he knew that one of his masters was gone forever.