Bellona (Part 1.5 of The Saskia Trilogy) by Aoife Marie Sheridan Page B

picking a pale blue dress that flows behind me; I decide to leave my hair down. I spend the morning in the garden. Taurus stands close by but not too close. Noon comes and goes and I find myself getting more nervous when Nierra doesn’t show. Did he change his mind? Maybe he couldn’t do this since my confession, maybe the baby isn’t enough? My hand rubs my stomach but a commotion gets my attention. Morrick is fighting with Taurus to let him pass. “Move now, guard, that is an order,” Morricks voice and face hold something that causes dread to pool in my stomach.
    “Taurus let him pass,” my voice sounds steady but my heart gallops. The closer Morrick gets, the further away from him I want to be. His eyes tell me too much. “Where is Nierra?” I ask, but tears already spill down my cheeks. The look Morrick wears is filled with loss. I cover my mouth with my hand, while shaking my head. I am trying to deny what he hasn’t even said. I push down on a sob that rises up my throat.
    “I am so sorry, Princess,” that’s all he says and my world falls apart, the ground moves from under me.
    Taurus is beside me, I blink, not sure how I got on the ground. Morrick stands rigid looking down at me. “No,” I whisper. “No, I don’t believe you,” I say and tears spill silently down Morricks cheeks.
    “I wish right now I was a liar, Princess.”
    I clutch my stomach and scream as pain ignites in my body. The air disappears and I can’t breathe. I choke for oxygen.
    “Breathe.” Taurus sits in front of me, his face calm, expressionless as he commands me to breathe, and I do, I suck in air and sob.
    “What happened?” I find myself asking, it is then I can see anger in Morricks eyes.
    “He... he was trying to do right by you. What you told him about your father, he just couldn’t settle so he confronted him.”
    My eyes cloud with tears “Stop,” I whisper, but Morrick doesn’t.
    “He confronted him but your father …. He killed him as if he was nothing.”
    More tears pour down my face, my body is trembling. “Do you know what he did then?” Morrick asks, and I can’t hear anymore.
    “Stop please!” I cry.
    “He laughed, your father laughed. He was my best friend!” his roar causes sobs to shake my body.
    Taurus is beside Morrick. “The lady has heard enough… My Lord.” Taurus’ words cause me to cry harder, my lord, Morrick will now be King and I his queen. Never, never , I vow. A hand touches my elbow to help me stand and I look at Morrick, hating everything he stands for.
    “Remove your hand.” He does straight away. I stand on shaky legs, fighting the tears. “I want to see him,” I request.
    Morrick nods and leads me to Nierra, to my Nierra. Taurus stays at my side the entire walk. It feels like forever, my body is numb, my legs move of their own accord. We have stopped and I look at Morrick, I wasn’t sure how long I had been standing here. “We will wait outside,” he says before pushing open the door. I nod not daring to speak, and step into the room. I look straight ahead. I do not look at the body that is laid out. I do not see Nierra’s sleeping form. I do not notice how his hands are folded at his stomach. No, I don’t look, because if I do, I know I might never recover, I need to see his emerald eyes. I don’t need him to die. “Nierra,” I whisper before sitting down on the chair that sits at his bedside. I reach out taking his not so warm hand in mine. “Why?” I whisper before the tears came. “Why?” I ask again, why take him from me. Was this my punishment? My eyes travel to his face, he looks like he is asleep. My fingers tremble as I reach up and touch his cheek, a sob burst from my mouth. I want to see his eyes just one more time, or his smile, the feel of his lips on mine. My tears come faster. Or just to hear his voice, just one more time. It is too painful. I pull my hand back, closing my eyes and I cry. Every moment spent with him replays on a loop in my