Three Flames: They Were Happy

7. Midnight

Months passed..

Mona was arguing with her son about which names would be good for the baby. "Listen to me! I know better. I am your mother."

Michael shook his head stubbornly. "Mom Garry isn't a good name. This is a prince we are talking about. I want a name that will suit him. Suit his position. You know?"

Mona would not argue with that. But she still thought Garry was a very good name. And that was what she was going to name him but his father died so she named him after him. "Now that you are here who is there at that palace with your husband?"

Michael smiled shaking his head. It was long overdue that his mother would ask him this question. "Don't you want me and your grandchild here? Should I stop visiting you?"

"Of course not. I'm just asking who is watching that witch if you are here"

Michael sighed holding his folded hands to his now extended belly. He had to wear loose clothing now. His shirts were bigger than he had ever worn them. His pants were fluidly loose in order for him to move freely. "For your information mother Riya can't even move from her bed. She's on her last days and she can deliver any moment now. She doesn't have time to seduce 'my' husband."

"Why do you put quotation marks on your husband? He married you."

"Yes I know mom. But she married him first. Meaning no matter what she still has more right over him than I'll ever have. She will give birth first. Meaning the first heir of the kingdom. My son will be regarded as unnecessary. As me."

Mona held her son's hand squeezing it. "What are you saying? Why are you talking as if you don't have a mother? Silly boy. I told you that I had a way to get rid of that witch's pregnancy but you were adamant in letting it come to this. You're too kind my son. This kindness I do not know where you got it from because I and your father have not given it to you."

Michael kissed his mother's hands. " You are the silly one. I couldn't kill Riya's child. Mom that wouldn't make a difference. She still would be married to him. And she was not at fault for Arthur's decision. He chose to marry her."

"How do you know that? How many times will I tell you?! The woman is a witch. She has a witch for a mother. They could have easily used their witchcraft to blind the king. "

"Either way mom. They are husband and wife. They vowed to each other a forever. As Arthur vowed to me. As messed up as it is we will remain. Because it is our fate. Our destiny." He rubbed his stomach. "Our children will grow up together. As family."

Mona changed the subject. "You are on your last month as well. Shouldn't you also be in bed? Waiting for your own delivery? What if you are first to deliver? Or better yet you deliver a son and she a daughter. That can automatically make your son the heir."

Michael raised his hand to silence his mother. "Leave it to rest mother."

"And why would I be in bed? This is the only day I got free. Arthur is watching me like a hawk. He had a meeting today with the elders so I slipped out. Please just pretend like you are happy to see your son. Only for tonight."

His mother sighed. Unable to say anything more.

"And your grandson would like to eat that wonderful cake of yours."

His mother smiled fondly as she too rubbed the stomach that had her grandson. The woman could not wait to finally become a grandmother. She had been waiting too long.

Riya talked to her mother through her hand mirror. "I hate him mom!"

The queen of the water could undeniably understand her daughter's hatred. But she had to remind her about the reason she was there. "He belongs to you. The whole kingdom now belongs to you. What are you lamenting about? You have all you have dreamt for since you were a child. The king,the crown and the power. Have I not given you everything that a good mother has to give her daughter?" She was saying this because unknown to the king was the fact that she was responsible for his 'disease' it was just a ploy for him to get married to her daughter. Arthur fell into the trap like any prey would when hunted by such a skillful and experienced hunter as her.

"Yes I own him. He is mine mother but not his heart. His thoughts have only one person hovering over them. They have that annoying knight. Michael."

Her mother was surprised by this. "Didn't you kill him already? My daughter has gone soft? Show them who you are. Whose daughter you are. You have the power."

"No I do not mother. In fact I am powerless. Michael has royalty in him. He too is carrying king Arthur's child. Meaning I cannot do anything but watch as they increase my anger everyday by this love of theirs. Do you know that the man you say is mine has even forgot that I exist? All he thinks about is Michael and that bastard he's carrying."

Her mother did not know how this hurdle would remove itself. From their path. She had planned this take over a long time ago. She would not let anything get in their way.

"You will give birth at midnight"

This was no question. It was an order.