Three Flames: They Were Happy

5. Pregnant

Like a vulture Michael ate the remains of the cake. It was too delicious for him to leave it just at a slice. That was why he ate the whole thing. It was a cake meant for the king. His mother had baked it especially just for the king who she knew had a sweet tooth. Her son and the king had been best friends for a very long time. This gave the cunning woman to know everything she had to know about the great king. His dislikes and likes were in her memory. Even sleeping she would tell you how he liked his tea and how he hated his meat.

"Mother what did you put in this? It's really good" he complimented as he licked his fingers making sure there was no lingering taste. "No wonder Arthur loves it so much "

His mother had not said a word just looked at her son. Observing him with her sharp eyes. He had not noticed this before. He had been too concerned in what he was eating than on his mother who was known of her unstoppable tongue. She could speak until you the one who was listening got tired. Her being silent was never a good thing. She had been always a woman who saw things before they even happened. She was gifted in that. Her silence now scared her son .

"Uh...well I will be staying the night. It's already late. Plus I don't really want to bump into the queen." He had only seen her once. And the meeting was not pleasant. Neither of them gave each other nothing but glares. Well he didn't blame her. She had practically caught him and Arthur. She caught them minutes after their lovemaking. It was the first time Michael even saw her. She was a queen of beauty. She had hair golden as the sun. He was sure that it even shone on it like it was part of it. She had red lips more red than blood. A face that suited someone who was a queen of the most beautiful kingdom in the five nations. Her face was delicate, obvious to anyone that it had never seen any days of hard work. It showed on her face that it had been long awaited for her to marry royalty.

That face curved into a nasty menace filled angry glare. She gave to the both of them. "How dare you!" She had screamed. "You married me for this?!"

Arthur had calmly put drew the covers over Michael who was still staring at this strange woman. "What I married you for I've already done. I have no idea what you're doing here. To have found out what I was not hiding from you. Well now you know. It will do you good to know your place."

The new queen adorned with her royal jewelry. She chuckled . "King Arthur you've played a dangerous game for yourself. I advise you to stop now while you're ahead. Because I will so mercilessly cause so much havoc if you go ahead with this" her warning was sweet as her voice. To one who hadn't heard that it was a threat he'd actually think she had said the most wonderful words.

Michael drank a glass of water next to his now licked clean plate. He didn't like that woman. She looked evil. And that wasn't just out of the hate that he had for her because she had married Arthur. The way her eyes looked. They told great ruthlessness. That frightened him.

"What did the queen do?" His mother's voice and question broke him out of his deep thoughts. "So much so that you decided to run."

"She did nothing mother. She just threatened that she'd do something. I am not running. I just want a little break. I don't want to fight. Looking at that woman will make me fight. I'm used to fight with dragons. I am used to fight in wars. I am not used to fighting for someone. With a woman. I am not used to that."

Mona nodded. Understanding where her son was coming from. She had raised him to be a warrior to fight for his people. Not to fight a woman. "Arthur did wrong. What was the need for him to marry a sea witch?"

"Mother what are you talking about? Who is a sea witch? "

Mona sighed. " She is the daughter of a sea witch so most definitely she is one too. She must have lured Arthur into believing that he would get an heir from her. And it could be true. It takes just one bedding for a sea witch to get pregnant. Their children are a strong breed. Royalty has always craved for that. "

Michael felt his heart die out. "So that's why he married her. For the strong children she'd give him? Oh." He understood Arthur. If he was dying in two years he'd need an heir that was a certainty. An heir that would be able to outstand anything. Dead kings mean vultures will hover over the throne. But if he had a child and mother of the child that was that strong enough for anything there really wouldn't be any problem. A sea witch would make a good guardian for the throne. And the heir in question would be just perfect for the job.

What did this mean for Michael? Was this really his end? While Arthur was still alive. Would he really choose a sea witch over him?

"Mother I am confused. I don't know what to do. It's my right to be at the palace. It is my need to be there. Royal pregnancies do not last if they're not in their rightful place. Should I go back? Even though I know I will lose?"

His mother hit the dining table. "Not when I am alive! You can never lose. Aren't I your mother now? She might have the security of never losing that child she carries because of her mother's witchcraft. But I will show them that your mother is smarter. " This was a threat to the great witches of the sea. This was a mother's threat. A mother's vow to protect her child.

Arthur could not find Michael. He searched the whole palace but still no trace of his Michael. Riya's threat came to mind. Could she have done something to him?

Riya walked right into throne room. The first thing she got was a malicious slap from her husband. "Where is he?!" He demanded not caring about who he was talking to. "If you pull one strand of his hair! You will regret it! "

Riya looked at him bewildered that her husband could have the guts to slap her. "King Arthur what did you do? King Arthur are you asking for my wrath? Are you asking for my wrath?! Because I will give it to you. I am Riya Morgana the only daughter of the sea. I will so swallow you up and drown you if you are not careful. Be careful. I will not warn you again." The sea witch walked to her own throne. She sat on the was vacant seat ever since the king's mother's death.

Arthur narrowed his glare to her. "Do not be so comfortable. I may throw you out when I see fit. "

Riya's chuckles rumbled in the room. "That's where you're wrong my dear husband. I am going to stay in this throne as queen for a very long time. A very long time. " She smirked, "In fact I'll even outlive you "

Arthur was sitting on the palace garden bench waiting for Michael.

He was about to send a whole army to go search for his lover when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned only to see the person his heart has been searching for.

"Mike" he stood up immediately. Engulfed Michael into his arms. Breathing in his scent. His worry washing over just like a river. Now he was fueled with relief. "Where were you? Where did you go? "

Michael escaped Arthur's grasp. "Arthur do you know about the red moonlight's power?"

"What does the red moonlight have to do with anything?" He did not understand what a moonlight had to do with him leaving for almost an entire day.

Michael drew a breath. "The red moonlight has everything to do with it. Arthur I don't know how to tell you this. I went to my mother for confirmation. And she told me the what I suspected. I don't know how you're going to take this"

Arthur held Michael to him. "There's nothing you can say that I would take the wrong way." He kissed Michael who quickly ended the kiss.

He gulped down and opened his mouth to speak. "Pregnant." Tears flowing from his eyes. "I'm pregnant."