Chapter 59

The war was over and the south had been taken over my Queen Arcadia, all of her people were proud that their first Queen had successfully conquered a powerful alpha and they were bringing back the slaves they had taken away from them on the day of the death of king Magnus.
The journey back was rather slow but it was enjoyable as they made stops to various places as a request from the inhabitants of the land to meet their New Queen. They all hailed her and celebrated her win even at the defeat of their previous king. Most women were proud that their kind could sit on the throne and rule effectively, it was a great boost to their image and they all suddenly wanted to be like Queen Arcadia.
And it was only natural for some wolves to have undying loyalty to Mace and not accept their new Queen, they would try to take her down and see how they can snatch their Master away from her. But whichever one that did so much as an attempt, met with a cruel death. And Arcadia was fond of making the death slow and painful.
The night was drawing close and they were already half way into the valley, they set up their tents and spend the night laughing round bonfires and getting drunk, on the request of Queen Octavia. But she did it for a reason, to be able to get Sheila go rest.
She enters her tent and sees her deep in thought, she felt bad for the girl as she didn't deserve to be betrayed this way, especially now that she was pregnant even though it hadn't been confirmed.
But wasn't it normal that she having an affair with the Beta of her daughter's enemy would put them in a right situation one day? She must have had that talk with him surely. She remembers reading one of her letters begging him to come see her even if it was for the last time.
She clears her throat but she was still lost in a world no one could enter, then she decides to speak up, 'Sheila my dear?"
Her head whips to see the Queen, she rushes to her feet and takes a knee,
'Apologies for the inconveniences my Queen, I didn't notice you were at my door. Please come in." She pays her respects but Octavia wasn't after that. She raises the broken hearted assassin to her feet and they both land on the bed,
'You're close to Arcadia, you're a daughter as much as she is to me. I know you've been thinking too much on what you would do if you do find out that you're indeed pregnant. I—"
'I'm not pregnant, I can't be, how can I be carrying the child of a traitor." It stings her heart, she didn't want anything to do with Loki anymore and Octavia could understand her pain,
'Listen to me Sheila, it's possible that you might be or you're sick, I brought someone to check up on you." She looks at the entrance of the tent and a young maid comes in,
'You??!" She points her finger at the girl and she is ashamed to look at her,
'Do you know each other?" Octavia didn't like the response she got from Sheila,
'Yes….." She pauses for a minute, 'she was the one sage Mazi wanted to use to burn the will of the late King Fang; I saw them discussing and I stole the will. That was how Master Xerxes was able to take the throne back and crown Queen Arcadia after sage Mazi and Beta Azeah had tried to stop her from being crowned."
Octavia looked at the maid as she had her head down,
'I apologise for that moment, I was helpless and he would have killed me if I didn't. I never wanted to burn it in the first place, but I'm just a maid." It hurt her to call herself that when she always wanted to be something more. Sheila felt bad,
'But my Queen," her call made Octavia stop planning her death, 'she was indeed helpless, and I know very well that she wants to be a doctor but was never given the opportunity. We should give her a second chance. And if she does any funny business then we can easily rid her of the earth."
'Very well, you're forgiven, just come do your job." She dismisses and the maid is grateful, she comes closer to Sheila and tells her to lie down,
'I didn't get your name the last time we met." The assassin whispers with care in her eyes and this makes the maid blush,
'Azure. Thank you. For everything." She checks her eyes with a small smile and then she opens her legs, 'breathe in." And when she was done her face was even redder than when she started.
'So?" Octavia was impatient but Sheila prayed to the goddess that she should just be sick and not pregnant.
'She's pregnant, a week and a half." And her prayers were not answered, 'she should take more care of herself or she could lose the pregnancy, her body is delicate even though she is a skilled killer."
Sheila didn't know how to feel, she should be happy and she was but Loki…..it was the only thing that saddened her. Would she be able to tell her child that its father almost killed her? Octavia pulls her into an embrace,
'You would be a fantastic mother, do not bother yourself too much about what had happened, the goddess always has a reason." She reassures her and she rest in her bosom,
'I don't know if I can be a good mother, I don't think I'm ready for this, can we—"
'Don't you even say such!!" Azure interjects rather quickly and it amazes them both, 'a child is a gift from the goddess, it can never be wrong even though it is unplanned. It would make you happy." She sits beside her, 'I would take care of you, and even when your child is born I would take care of it."
'Sheila, I know this is hard but you have to do it, it is love, and love shouldn't be killed unjustly. You will be fine." She smiles at her foster daughter,
'But what would I tell the queen? How would she feel after she asks for the father and I point to him??" She was about to break down into tears once more,
'You will tell her the truth."
'What?" Sheila didn't like the idea of that, 'I can't! She would call me a traitor and never forgive me!! She will hate me forever, even after she has helped me so much she wouldn't want to ever see my face again. My service would be nothing to her anymore." She is about to cry again.
'I thought you saw Arcadia as your sister and not just your Queen?" It was a question that hit a deep spot in Sheila's heart, 'if your really regard her as your sister and love her with everything that makes you, then she wouldn't throw you out. She would see the love in your eyes and forgive you. Sisters would fight but they can never leave each other."
'But my Queen," the idea of telling Arcadia that Loki was the father of the child was bone-chilling, and she still had a strong resentment to Mace, there is no way she would ever look at her the same way. There would be a difference between them as long as she is carrying his child, she needed to get rid of it.
Even though she wanted to keep it so badly. It wouldn't let her continue her service to the Queen, then what would be her use? She would've have become useless and fat. No, she would get rid of it. She would do it quietly. No one would know and she would always be loyal to Queen Arcadia. Until she dies.
She nods to Octavia's advise and she is pleased, 'do get some rest Sheila, I would do my best to be checking up on you whenever I can. But even Xerxes has a tight grip." Her little joke causes giggles from both her and Azure but she wasn't even smiling, her brows crease, 'Azure, make sure she is always eating healthy and sleeping enough, I would be back tomorrow morning." She rises to her feet and takes her leave.
Azure pulls her into an embrace, 'everything would be fine, I know it would." She rubs her back but Sheila is void of emotion.
'I want to get rid of it."