A Royal Obligation
Chapter 243: A Mother’s Heart

Chapter 243: A Mother’s Heart

Eirik slowly stirred from his sleep, the warmth of the morning sun filtering through the thick curtains of his chamber. The pale golden light painted the room with a soft glow, making everything seem gentle, as if the world outside was still and peaceful. His eyelids fluttered open, and the first thing he noticed was the absence of Kaelix.

Kaelix’s familiar presence, the strength of his steady gaze, and the quiet comfort of his touch had been there when Eirik had fallen asleep, but now, he was gone.

His heart dropped slightly, and he instinctively turned his head, as if expecting to see him sitting nearby. His gaze swept the room, searching for the comforting figure that had been there for him through it all, but instead he saw his mother sitting by the bedside,just like yesterday.

"Mother?" Eirik’s voice was thick with sleep, but it carried an undercurrent of longing.

Queen Morgana sat in the chair beside his bed, her graceful form draped in a soft blue gown, her face etched with concern, though it softened when she saw him awake. She offered him a warm smile, the kind that only a mother could offer, full of reassurance and unconditional love.

"Yes, darling, it’s me," she replied, her voice gentle as she reached out, brushing a stray lock of his hair from his forehead. "Kaelix left a moment ago with your brothers. They came to check on you."

Eirik’s eyes darted toward the door once more, as though he could will Kaelix’s return with a glance. But Kaelix was nowhere to be found. The emptiness in the room, the quiet space where his protector and confidant should have been, tugged painfully at his heart.

"Kaelix... He left?" His voice cracked slightly, betraying the unease that clung to him.

Morgana nodded softly, her hand resting on the side of his bed. "Yes. He’ll be back soon enough. He just wanted to address some things with your brothers." She paused, studying him carefully, as if weighing her words before she spoke again. "What would you like to eat? I’ll have it brought to you."

Eirik blinked, the offer simple but grounding. His thoughts had been so scattered, so filled with uncertainty, that the suggestion of food seemed to bring some clarity. He hesitated for a moment, considering the options. "Fruit," he finally answered quietly, his voice hoarse. "And some bread. A little porridge, if you have it."

A soft smile touched Morgana’s lips, a flicker of relief in her eyes. She was glad to see him responding so clearly, even in these small things. The change in him, the spark of life that was slowly returning, gave her hope.

"I’ll have it brought to you right away," she said, but before she could leave, she hesitated, sitting back down beside him instead. Her hand, delicate yet firm, reached out to take his.

Eirik’s eyes widened slightly as he looked down at their clasped hands. His mother’s fingers, long and slender, enveloped his own in a gentle grip. It was a simple gesture, but it carried so much weight.

"What is it, Mother?" he asked softly, his voice still raw from sleep. Is there a problem?"

Morgana looked at him, her gaze steady, but something in her eyes shifted, something deeper, more vulnerable. It was a look Eirik had never quite seen before. His mother, always the strong and regal Queen, the pillar of their world, was now a woman before him, quietly pulling back the layers of her own heart.

"I want to share something with you, Eirik," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Something I’ve never spoken of before. It’s not easy to talk about, but I think it’s time."

Eirik’s brow furrowed, confusion and curiosity mingling in his gaze. His mother had always been so composed. But something about the way she held his hands, the quiet weight of her words, made him lean in, his attention entirely on her.

Morgana took a slow, steady breath, collecting her thoughts. "Before I had you," she began, her voice trembling ever so slightly, "I had a daughter." She paused, as if the mention of this child caused a ripple of emotion within her that she had long buried.

Eirik’s heart skipped a beat. He had never heard of this, his mother had never spoken of another child. He had always thought he, Theron and the twins were her only children, the only ones she had ever held close.

"A girl," Morgana continued, her voice heavy with sorrow. "She was born after the twins, a little sister to your brothers. But... she didn’t survive. She passed away only two weeks after her birth."

The words hit Eirik like a physical blow. He had never imagined that his mother, the pillar of strength he had always known, had endured such a loss. His throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t find the words to speak.

"I didn’t know," he whispered, the words slipping from his lips with a mix of guilt and empathy. He looked into his mother’s eyes, searching for some hint of the woman he had never known, the woman who had lived through such unimaginable grief, just like his. "I didn’t know you lost a child. I..."

"I never spoke of it," Morgana interrupted softly, her voice breaking with emotion. "It was too painful, too raw. I blamed myself for her death. I shut everyone out. The grief consumed me, and for a long time, I thought I could never heal." Her voice faltered as she fought to keep composure. "I couldn’t bear to look at anyone without feeling like I had failed her, failed myself."

Eirik was silent, his heart aching for his mother. He had seen her as unbreakable, but now he saw the cracks in her façade. He thought of how she had always been strong for him, always steadfast. How could she have carried that kind of pain and never shown it?

He swallowed thickly. "I’m sorry, Mother. I can’t imagine how that must have felt."

Morgana gave a small, sad smile. "It’s no longer important, Eirik. I’ve healed. I’ve come to understand that I couldn’t control it, that I couldn’t prevent it." She squeezed his hand gently, her grip reassuring yet tender. "And I want you to understand something, my dear. You are not to blame for your loss. The child you lost... it wasn’t your fault. You did not fail."

Eirik’s breath caught in his chest. The weight of her words sank deep into his heart, and for the first time, he felt the suffocating burden of his own grief begin to lift. He had blamed himself, silently, blaming himself for the child that never had a chance to live. He had thought that perhaps he hadn’t been worthy enough to protect the life he had helped create.

But his mother’s words, her understanding, her own admission of pain, broke through the walls he had built around himself.

"You think so?" Eirik whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You don’t blame me?."

Morgana nodded slowly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I will never blame you for such, Eirik.

We all carry our scars. But we survive. And you will, too. You have to forgive yourself, just as I have forgiven myself."

Tears welled up in Eirik’s eyes, but this time, they weren’t born from sorrow alone, they were born from something deeper, something healing. He felt like he wasn’t alone in his grief. His mother’s pain mirrored his own, and yet, her strength had become his guide.

"I will," he promised quietly, his voice barely audible. "I will forgive myself."

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hands. Morgana reached out, her hands soft and steady. She gently cupped his face, wiping away the tears that lingered on his skin with the tenderness of a mother who had known loss herself.

Her touch, so simple yet so profound, eased the pain in his chest. Her hands, graceful and comforting, brushed across his cheeks, as though she could wash away the weight of everything he had carried in silence for so long.

"Shh," Morgana whispered, her voice a balm to his fragile heart. "There, Eirik. It’s all right." Her gaze softened, and with one last delicate touch, she placed a kiss on his forehead, warm and loving, as if she could impart her strength directly into him through that single, motherly gesture.

Eirik’s heart fluttered with emotion, the bond between them reaffirmed in that tender moment. He closed his eyes, letting the feeling of her love settle over him like a comforting blanket.

"You wait here," Morgana said, her voice steady once more, though the kindness in her tone lingered. "I’ll bring your food. Just give me a moment."

Eirik nodded, his throat tight with unspoken gratitude. "Thank you, Mother," he murmured, though the words didn’t seem nearly enough to convey the depth of his feelings.

With one last smile, Morgana stood and left the room.

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