The emperor's lineage

Mute 2

Theseus P. o.v

I keep pacing back and forth trying to understand what Alexandros plan is, still I could not understand it. I ordered Leonidas to summon all the members of the table, while I write to my father to inform him of the development at the wall. I would have preferred to get answers from hat cunt by torturing her, but It would be difficult with Ariadne around. There’s also the fact that she is now mute. Arghhh……

During the meeting, Ariadne refused to see reason as to Ocean being a traitor. I ordered the generals to prepare for war. Without haste, the alarm is sounded, the people of the village gather around while I tell them about the situation, they all seem calm, while listening to me.

I groaned pushing back my chair, and walking out of the meeting room while still been furious, prepare for war, now Alexandros is working with a witch, we really should get rid of that useless brother of ours. I walk back into my bed chambers to see Ocean still sleeping peacefully. She had bruises on her wrist, lips some around her neck, then her limb…..why would my brother be so heartless. I ring for Lilian to come over.

She helps me bathe, I decided on a dress for today, she informed me of Theseus announcement to the people. I sighed not understanding what Alexandros want, why would he cross to the deserted lands. Lilian got me my lunch since I have no intention of going to the dining hall. I tried to get some news out of her from the time I was away, she only had little information for me, because she claims Ocean was with Leonidas most of the time.

I need something to do, I need to know why Theseus would do this, someone in this castle must be helping Alexandros but it seems Theseus hatred for Ocean is stopping him from seeing the truth. I need to look into it. Ocean should be able to tell me something I need to know. I ventured off to the camp to look for Leonidas hoping that he might be able to shed some more light on the matter. When I got to the training camp, it was almost empty, the few men I met there informed me that he is in a closed door meeting with Theseus, and some other generals.

I walked out of the castle feeling down and unsettled, then I remembered the temple. I made my way there, stopping only at the door to take off my boots. It seems oddly quiet inside today, I reasoned it must be because of the announcement Theseus made about the war. I saw the oracle in charge of the temple kneeling by the statue of one of the gods. She sensed my presence and turned sharply, the end of her lips pulled in a smile,

“my princess, I assume your journey was fruitful?” she asked holding a tray filled with fruits, oils, some other things,

“yes oracle, I said with a hint of respect, when she finally faced me,

I made way towards the statue of Pasiphae, I touched her feet before walking back to meet the oracle. She blessed me by touching my forehead, she is someone who I deeply respect as she was a close friend of my mother. I turned to head back to the castle when she handed a bottle to me, I looked at it perplexed, so I asked

“why would you give me an elixir, you know I do not need it?”, I told her recognizing the sparkling shades in the bottle,

“you can never tell my dear, Theseus was in some kind of slumber the other day, the elixir as we all know is the only remedy to regain his strength”, so you should have it too, you never know when the enemies would plot against you. The queen was also present that night, and she seemed really frightened by the sight of her husband, poor woman….”she said sighing softly…….

“Ocean was in my brother’s room?” I asked her been really anxious to find some answers from her,

“yes, and she even had to stay back with him, when Leonidas came back to the temple with me” she added explaining better to me,

“so why, what happened,”, I murmured to myself lowly

“what did you say princess?” she asked not understanding what I said,

“nothing oracle, thank you for your help”, I told her rushing out of the temple, something in my gut tells me that something happened. I knew that Theseus did not like Ocean but after the first time he had tortured her, he never did repeat it. I saw the look on his face, not a deadly glare but something new. I rushed through the busy hallways to reach my room, I opened the door and was glad at the sight in front of me. Ocean is finally awake.

I smiled while walking towards her on the bed, she smiled back. There is a servant in the room with her, feeding he some soup. Soon she finished her food, I asked the servant to help bathe her which she did. Once she is all clean, and well dressed, I settled her on the chair beside the window. She seems so frail, weak and broken. This only fueled my anger towards my brother and my curiosity. She keeps avoiding my gaze, only looking up when she hears my voice or feel my hands on her. She seems to be hiding something from me, so I decided to ask..

“ocean, what happened after I left for the voyage to the palace?” I asked her but all I get is broken sobs, soon she breaks down really hard, crying, I figured she might be angry at me for leaving.

“forgive me, I was only trying to look out for your wellbeing, not knowing that I was only making matters worse by leaving”, I said to her, but she only looks up, crying vehemently now. I stop questioning her, leaving her to herself while going to the bed to ponder more on the matter. I am slowly drifting to sleep when I heard the same servant from before talking to ocean, she is asking her about the type of tea she wants for the night,

“my queen, just tell me what tea you would like to drink?” I see the servant smiling softly while asking Ocean, but to my surprise she only nod to the servant’s question.

“get her some herbal tea to heal her,” I said while sitting up now,

“yes my princess” ,the maid said running off to get the tea. I stare at Ocean, who still won’t look me in the eyes, she looked like she has been dragged through the pits of hell, her eyes have almost lost it color, she steals glances at me, then cower in fear. What is all this….

Soon the servant returns with the tea, she sets it on the table, bowed then leave. Now it’s dark, the moon shining its beauty on its people, the candles brightly lit, but none of these seems to affect Ocean as she is lost in thought. I watched her stretch her hand out to pick the cup of tea but she hits her hand against it instead. She jerked up due to the hotness of the tea, I rushed to her expecting her to scream as I would have, but I heard nothing, I ring for the servant. The same one from before, she sees the scene, immediately she rushes off to get cool water, and some herbs.

She soon returns, I take it from her because I want to tend to her myself, I take her hand in mine, pull it towards the bowl of cool water, then I use my palm to take some water using it to bathe her wrist. She grasped the moment it touches her skin, but I hear nothing, I repeat it again before she jerked her hands away from me.

“what is wrong with you?” I asked her looking at the servant who looked equally confused, all we get is sobs

“stop crying and tell me what the problem is”…….no sound, I hope she is not……..mute, no way, I think to myself……she stands up walking out of the room in haste forgetting about her pains, I catch up on her at the door pulling her to look at me,

“talk ocean, please talk to me!”, I yelled but she looks me in the eye before breaking down in tears again….the servant rushing to her side. I feel a lone tear fall from my eyes as she just confirms it to me.