Christine felt as though the days had become a blur. She and Erik, both became somewhat distant, holding each when they needed it, but there was nothing to distract them from the pain. The House was still out of session and there was not any business of state to be conducted since the news of the princess's death had reached the ears of the country and other countries.
The day had come when the funeral was prepared. It had seemed to come too quickly and too slowly. She had hoped that the pain would somewhat lessen when the casket carrying the girl's body would sink into the earth. Then the realization that she would never touch the sweet face again, it was gone.
It was a cold day, she would remember that the sun had shown and there was barely a cloud in the sky. The stain glass from the windows had a beautiful glow to them, one from above shown down upon the small white casket. Despite the beauty of the other elements the cold, hard stone is what really brought her to a leveling point.
Erik stood next to her in a solemn stance, awaiting the point when he would have to step up to the casket and draw his blessing upon it. His eyes did not dart about, only stayed directly in front, watching, waiting. She wanted to hold his hand, touch him, give him a small amount of comfort, but it was unseemly in public scenes.
Yes, people had come, surprisingly, and despite the plague threat, which was slowly dissipating. It was becoming less and less of a threat, but people were still plagued and the fact that the sickness had even spread to the castle was even more of a shock. Now, people were calming down and the Nobles were slowly coming back to the capital.
The House would open once again and she would be somewhat glad since it would give Erik a chance to think of something besides his daughter's death. For now she would stand besides him and watch as he went towards the open casket and placed a small red dot upon his daughter's forehead for the sign of eternal afterlife. Before closing the casket he kissed her cold cheek and gently lowered the lid.
Erik stepped back and Christine went besides him and placed a white rose on the coffin as four guards lifted it and made their way down the aisle, with Christine and Erik following. People turned and the women blew a kiss as it passed by them. All dressed in black garb, the people followed their king and queen to the burial site. Silence came with them in a tide, no one spoke, only the sound of some sniffling, and shoes on the pavement.
They arrived at the site. As the minister read Cecile's last death ceremonial rites the coffin was slid slowly into the earth's dirt and settled. Christine began to weaken, and tried very hard not to be noticed as she placed her hand into Erik's. He did not give any notice on his face that what she had done gave him a small amount of happiness or comfort, but he did squeeze her hand letting her know that he appreciated her.
It was over and now they had to mingle with the guest and listen to how sorry they were and how devastated they were to loose, presumably the last true Borswan woman in the royal family.
"Majesties." Lord Kingsley came up and bowed quickly with his wife. "We are both very sorry."
"She was a great child." Lady Kingsley nodded through her tear stained cheeks.
"Thank you." Erik nodded.
"Sire, my Lady." Lord Halverson came to the royal couple. "I came to tell you that I am very sorry."
"Thank you, Lord Halverson." Christine nodded.
"And there is something that needs to be spoken in private between us." He licked his lips and stared right into the couple's eyes. "I have some unsavory news, and it needs to be dealt with immediately. Although I will wait until the House is back in session."
"You may speak now." Erik looked at him.
"No, Majesty." His head shook. "I cannot. I must speak privately with both of you. Many plots are going through out the palace and I am sure you would not be fond of them."
"We will speak tomorrow then." Erik nodded.
"Yes, Majesty." He bowed and as he left said, "Again, I am sorry for you loss."
"Majesties," Christine looked up to meet the eyes of a man that she wished never to see again. "May I express my utmost grief of this tragedy."
"Thank you, Lord Benedict." Erik spoke.
"Majesties." Arabella stepped foreword from her father's side; Christine noticed her face had a bit of scarring, "I truly am sorry to hear of your daughter's death."
"Mistress." Christine smiled gently at her. "Are you well? I heard you had obtained the sickness that killed the princess."
"I am well enough." Her smile that came to her face was trusting, but her eyes shifted towards Christine to see what type of game she played.
"You should be in bed resting, if you are only well enough." She chided, but as in one would a child.
"Your concern is most appreciated, Majesty," Arabella cocked her head. "But I would not miss a moment at where my king needed me."
There was a moment of stunned silence in which everyone was unsure of how to take the meaning, Christine looked at the woman before her, "Ah, for the support yes?" Christine smiled at her. "The support, which you and your family brings to the king and your queen?"
"Yes." She bit her lip from producing any more speech that would be deemed un-lady like and lewd.
"It is appreciated then." The queen looked at the woman who was her husband's former mistress. She could not deal with the tiresomeness of this woman, utterly sick of her constant insistence to be a nuisance in her life.
"Once again, Majesties." Lord Benedict ignored his daughter's behavior and looked to his king. "We are sorry for your loss."
"Thank you, Lord Benedict." Erik felt torn between feeling proud at the moment of his wife reminding Arabella her place or embarrassed, he decided to completely disregard the situation, for now.
The people did not stay for long, nor did they ask for the future of Borswan. Perhaps they did not want to find out in case of the answer would be fearful, or perhaps the queen's place at the king's side was questionable in their eyes and did not want to cause a scene in front of many people. Christine knew they would want to know in time whether or not she carried a child in her womb. She knew that her outspoken personality and her politics were still in question for many. She knew things took time.
"Tomorrow is the start of a new House of Nobles." Erik said quietly beside her as they strolled through the gardens.
"New?" She questioned.
"Cecile is dead," His plain speech, was unsurprising to her. "An heir to the Borswan throne is dead and there is none to replace her." Christine remained silent; it still was not the time to tell him. "And I feel as though things must change."
"Things must change?" Looking at him, she noticed his weariness, how tired he looked. She knew that he was not getting much sleep and his daughter's death was weighing heavily on him. "The people are just recovering from the plague and the death's of they're loved ones, I do not think that tomorrow would be a good time to bring up more change within the country. Perhaps next week, or next…"
"It starts tomorrow." He commanded. "I will strive for an equal government, less corruption, where women would be able to speak their mind and not be condemned for it, a country I wanted my daughter to rule and be proud of."
"She was proud of your country." Christine stopped him. "Your daughter was proud of her father, proud that he did so many things but somehow found time to spend with her. She was proud of the fact that you gave her an opportunity that many fathers of Borswan would have never even dream of. Cecile would have been proud to rule after her father."
"I want my wife to be proud of her country also."
"I am proud of Borswan and Liren." She smiled slightly. "Yes, Borswan needs to become open to more ideas and thoughts, while Liren needs to become stronger and in control again. All countries have faults, Erik. There will never be a perfect country."
"The House of Nobles will change." He swore to her. "It will become similar to Liren's government and Liren's equality."
"And I shall help you." Her hand came to his face and she pulled him in a light kiss, he was exhausted, she could tell. "Come, let us dream of future so we can bring them into light tomorrow."
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Christine woke in the morning to sunlight hitting her eyes. She moaned a bit and felt Erik's hot flesh beside her. Her hand reached out to him and gave a nudge.
"Erik." She did not want to open her eyes, she was extremely tired today. "We must get up. I have to review papers from Liren and you must open the House today." He did not budge. She sighed and opened her eyes towards the ceiling. "Why didn't they give us just one more day?" Mumbling she turned to face him. "Erik…"
He was dead asleep. Her eyes grazed over him as she noticed strange, discolored spots appeared on his skin. Christine gasped and moved quickly out of the bed, only to go to him and feel the heat that radiated off his forehead. His breathing came out raggedly and his usually pale skin had become worse, making the spots stand out even more.
Quickly putting on a robe, she called for Madame Giry to fetch a doctor. Christine waited in a silence, watching him, praying for him. She looked upon him again, he was without a mask.
"Majesty." Doctor Mitchell came through the door and rushed to her side, besides the king. "You must leave now."
"But I…"
"Leave." He dropped his voice, so that no one would be able to hear him. "For the sake of your child."
"Dr. Mitchell." Her eyes went to her husband. "His mask is not…"
"As before," Dr. Mitchell looked at her steadily. "The matter is between doctor and client, nothing will be said outside these walls."
"Thank you." Christine nodded.
"Now, please." He bowed slightly, "Leave."
She made no argument and quietly left the room, her robe tied securely around her. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she waited outside the door. His skin was so pale, so much like Cecile's but not as horrible. He was so hot to the touch and he looked like he could be death.
Feeling a little dizzy, she leaned against a wall, needing the support now. She held her stomach tenderly; wanting to feel some sort of reassurance, that one thing would be all right.
"Majesty." Christine looked up to see Madame Giry; she did not bother to straighten up. "Have you yet to tell him?"
"Would it be horrible if I did not tell him the day after his daughter died?" She questioned bitterly, she needed to sit.
"He needs to know."
"Forgive me if I seem a little hostile," Her dry tongue attempted to moisten her dry lips. "But if the king is lying on the bed, sick with plague I do not think that it is his first priority to know that his wife is perfectly fine with a child in her womb."
"It is his priority to know how the kingdom will fair if he dies." Madame Giry looked at her queen. "If he dies, then I suspect that he would like to know that his kingdom is safe and his dynasty will live on."
"Well telling him would not give him much incentive to live, then." She could not deal with her daughter dying one day and her husband the next.
"A child would give him incentive to live, though." Her head shook, "The king would want to see his child."
"And how do you suppose I tell him?" The queen questioned. "He is lying there unable to move, let alone speak! His eyes are shut and his whole body is burning with fever. This news could bring more stress upon him, something that he most definitely does not need right now!"
"Majesty." Dr. Mitchell came out of the room, and towards Madame Giry and her. "The king is not well. He has the plague, but luckily his other wounds are healing very well, and do not pose a threat."
"Will he get better?" She questioned.
"I am sorry, Majesty." He gave a sad smile. "It is too early to tell. If he is able to comprehend some in two days, he should be well enough. I give you my hope, Majesty."
"Thank you, Dr. Mitchell." Christine nodded, to him as he left. "Madame, what do you know of this sickness?"
"For those who get better it is as he says, two days." She sighed. "If they are unwilling to wake from those two days, then it will be many days before they see death."
"If those two days come and he is able to comprehend?" Her breath caught.
"He will be better in another two." Madame Giry looked at the younger woman. "Four days till he awakens."
"And more if he dies." Christine said quietly, they sat in silence for a moment, wondering.
"The House of Nobles must be aware that their king will not join them today." She sighed.
"Then also make them aware that their queen will join them instead." The queen, stood up straighter. "They may not like it, but they will become aware of changes that will happen."
"Changes, Majesty?" Madame Giry questioned. "What changes?"
"The king spoke last night of changes." Christine murmured. "And so he will have his changes."
Well, I am coming back to the states tomorrow, so hopefully I will be writing more and maybe I might put up a new story, hope that brightens up your mood a bit, but fear not this story might be close to finishing but there is still a lot that will happen! Please and thank you!
EV
