CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Thump...thump..thump........ thump...thump... thump.
Was it her heart or a dull pounding of some carpenter? She did not really mind.
Her eyes were fixed on the white cotton. The bulk in it. The child in it. Her sister in it.
The Lord was by her side, his woodsy smell filled her nostrils, but not as much as the smell of myrrh, of herbs and blood. Death indeed had a stench.
The head warrior stood by the king. Another guard she hadn't looked at stood by her side. A front the throne was the physician and Diana. The servant a sobbing mess, her nose runny. Her clothes long soaked with the salty dam that flowed down her eyes.
Selene could hear her hiccup but her eyes remained in the bandaged bulk. Her responsibility. She had failed.
Oh she wished she could cry. But then tears seemed to have dried up at their source.
"Woman. What happened?" Edgar said, his voice laced with pure wrath
The servant fell on her knees.
"I do not know...I do not understand" she begged with a sob
"The child was left in your care!" Edgar roared
"I do not know... I...it is a bad dream. We went in there to catch a fly. A butterfly and then I...I then...oh heavens" she wept helplessly
"Speak now and I can consider a more merciful death for you" Edgar spat angrily
"Have mercy your grace. I swear I know nothing. We were at the garden earlier, she...she wanted a flower for a vase she saw at the store room...I...or I never knew. I said we could get an orchid or two later and once I left the kitchen I took her to the garden" she narrated. Eyes pleading and tear pouring.
"We had took an orchid and a dandelion then we left. Then she saw a butterfly and said she needed that too. I couldn't say no, I chased it all round and then it flew into the manor. I...(coughs) I..I chased it into the manor and then up the royal wing. The devilish fly...curse it!! It flew up the stairwell and I had to go after it...the girl...the princess came up too. I was with her. I looked back to make sure she got up fine. I even helped her up the last step...I swear I did! Then...I caught the fly at the upper chamber. There...ohh (cries) there I told the princess I could disable it so it doesn't fly and she can keep it to herself. She refused, saying it would die if we did. That...that it had to go back to it's mother. I opened the window to let it out. And then I had to close it and draw the drapes over. Only to turn and notice the princess was gone. I don't hear anything. Nothing. Then ....then I met her dead at the bottom of the staircase. Ohh...ohhh I ...I never thoug...."
The woman cried out and thrashed in the floor.
'I see" Edgar said with a stoic face.
"My Lord, there seem to be more other would or bruise that would signal a struggle. It happens the princess died accidentally or was skillfully murdered unaware" the physician added
"NOOOO....I did not touch her! I would never hurt a child!! Please help me ..have mercy!!" The woman begged
"Silent" Edgar said in a low threat
"Lock her at the dungeon. Let her last days be there" he ordered
"No!!! Please!! Dont take me there. I have a child. I have children. Who will care for them? I am innocent I swear by the spirits, I am innocent" the woman wept and struggled against the guards who had gone to bundle ber away.
"You are right. You deserve no such mercy. Kill her where she stands" Edgar commanded and the warrior behind him only hesitated for a moment before he nodded and drew out his long sword. The guards holding the crying woman by both arms as she struggled.
Just as the warrior raised his sword
"If she dies I too die! There should be three graves today" Came the loud voice
The sword cane down slowly without a blood off it
All turned to the Riverland princess who sat beside Edgar
"Mia may have been killed or died by accident. This woman had nothing to do in it" Selene said as she rose.
She had listened. It all sounded like her Mia. To be sympathetic of a butterfly and want an orchid for a vase. It was Mia. She knew liars. Had grew up in their midst and right then, she knew the servant spoke truth.
The silence that followed was tense.
'Go to your family. Work elsewhere than the manor. Do not Blane yourself. Death is beyond us all" Selene spoke to the woman she nodded frantically. Her head bobbing like it would fall off any moment.
"Thank you!!!thank you...bless you" she cried out although the guards still held to her. Wordlessly seeking permission from their king.
With a single nod, the warriors released the woman who still thanked Selene and fled the manor.
Still standing, Selene took a final glance at the body of her sister. Mia Dwayne Cedric. The seventh and last princess of Riverland.
She was now alone. Alone.
"Farewell Mia...I hope you meet mother now" Selene said with a alone tear that tumbled down and with that left the throne room.
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The silhouette above the balcony. Hand on lips, a dark smile dancing around it.
The moon glowed a soft silver.
Like the light of death and power.
Yes, both like conjoined twin. One non-existent without the other.
The lands deserve a leader. A fearless leader. No man was equal
No two men
There would always be; Ruler,
Slaves. Rich, peasant. Dead living.
The lands deserved a true blood, not some bastard. A reward for sin. Lust. A mistake
Both would die
Even he did not deserve to live. No. He had ruled too long, he too unworthy.
The Earth was for the living
A stone for two birds
Oh...power was just a breathe away, the air already smelt of it. Time, patience. Wisdom
It was a lesson.
Power was not for the strong, no.
It was not for the brave. It was for the wise
The door swung open slowly. A larger figure came in, cloaked with green, it brought the smell of soil and grass to the poorly lit room.
"Supreme one. A missive" the newer silhouette said
Lengthy fingers touched the sealed letter, rolling it open
The silence was short before the superior spoke
"Send back to him Immediately that I shall receive her. She should cross the rivers without fear. My finest warriors shall meet her at the borders" it said
"Your majesty" the last figure said and left with a deep bow
"About time" the older silhouette whispered and closed the window. Leaving the moon outside and lighting the room in total blackness.