The Empress was bedridden for the next four days, she was supposed to be in bed for much longer, but her will to get up despite the purple bruises on her back that made every move painful, was stronger than the pain.
Only Maria and Emily tended to her, she even denied visits from other two court ladies that have just returned to the palace, which she never did. Empress had work to do, that is what she has told everyone.
Today, the first task on her list was to visit her son. She called for the boy to visit her during those four days she spent in bed, but he refused, insisting on her rest, assuring his mother that needed to explain. Yet the burden of those words sat heavy on her chest.
Maria helped her to get dressed in a cotton lavender gown, it was soft and not too heavy, it was a loose dress without a corset, simple, like those that most noble women wear around the house. The only thigh spot on the dress was around the waist where sat a silk golden ribbon that matched the embroidery on edges of the skirt and sleeves. Her hair was braided in a single braid tied with the same kind of ribbon as the one around her waist.
Tonight they will all dine together in the Queen's palace instead of the main one. She is to meet her son before that, because this is the only invitation he can't refuse. Only for a short while, just to explain everything there is to explain.
The Imperial family always dined together, that meant the Emperor would skip dinner to do unfinished work, Iyan would stay late training, so only the Empress and Neftali would dine together. The Empress would stay long after dinner ended and both of them ate to wait for her husband, actually waiting for a word that he won't dine or that he already ate in his office. Depending on his mood, he would make her wait all night, waiting for her to give up and leave on her own. But she never did, always, she would wait for him to come, even if that were the whole night. Tonight, however, he sent a letter promising to come, swearing even.
Who can doubt a man that swears on his father's grave?
Only himself who lied.
"Your Majesty," Emily came into the room. "Prince Iyan is here."
Maria looked at her lady's reflection while she was looking at Emily. "Let him in." The Empress said. Their eyes met in reflection. "Thank you Maria."
"Are you sure about this my lady?" Maria asked, playing around with the braid, fixing it when it didn't need to be fixed.
"I will be just fine, don't you worry too much."
They exchanged a smile and Maria left along with Emily. After them the boy entered.
He was tall for a sixteen year old, head always looking straight, shoulders back, standing tall and proud. His hair is dark, very dark, same as his father's, but his eyes are blue, like his mother's. He is always in training clothes, rarely in something casual or formal, a sword always on his side, but not now, not when he comes to see his mother.
"You Majesty." He bowed, deep like a soldier, he does that, not so often but occasionally, when the occasion is serious, now he felt like it was very serious.
"Come in Iyan." His mother said to him, She got up and sat on a chair instead of her usual spot in the green armchair next to the window. Iyan listened, came in and sat across from her.
"How are you mother?" He asked with concern.
"I am fine, thank you for asking."
"I heard, Neftali told me-"
"About my flare up?"
"Yes, that is what you call it."
"Doctors call it that, do not worry your head too much, I am fine."
The prince had this worrisome look on his face, mixed with tired features like dark under eyes and red colour in his eyes. For the last four days he is kept in the dark, all of them all. The only thing he was hearing during those days were his father's words, so confusing and so unpleasant to hear, not just the way he was speaking to Iyan, but everybody else. He knew that mother was the first one to experience it, when Neftali came to stop him from coming to see mother, he knew who was already there.
"There are things I need to explain to you, my son."
"Mother, believe me, I have no complaints about your decision, most grateful I am for it."
"Still you should know how it came to that decision."
"Father has been complaining to himself about the matter of religion, and those kinds of things." Iyan picked his words carefully. Never he knew how to speak of that subject in what way and from which side to approach it.
"I am afraid you are also going to curse it like him. It is true there are such things involved, my visions are unfortunately never in the wrong. I know you are hurt by this, and there is no way to ever apologize for things I took from you by making such a harsh turn in your life without asking."
"Mother, I am not mad at you. This moment would come in two years time, there is no harm done in rushing it. Father was going to name me an heir even if everyone said otherwise, those are his words. More you upset him then I."
"His anger will pass and he will return to his usual self, but for you everything changes, and nothing will ever be like it was before."
"And I accept that."
His mother reached out her hand towards him, asking for his. Iyan gave it to her, her hand soft and gentle held his, rough and full of blisters and small scars, tighter than he ever held his sword. "Then I must ask something from you. To give me a promise."
"I will mother, just tell me what there is to promise."
"Promise me that from greed you are going to stay far away, for greed is how we ruin ourselves and everything around us. Promise me that as a crown prince, not as my son, because that is from whom I need this promise."
Iyan came closer to her, covered her hand that was still holding tight with his own, and said every word from hearth. "I do not wish to die in a mountain cave." He said with seriousness that made her laugh for a moment.
"You still remember that story?"
"With every beat of my heath." There was an old folk tale his mother loved telling to both of them, there were many others, but this one was his favourite. Mountain cave was a place from one of those tales, a place where a pack of wolves sleeps, wolves who eat man alive.
He smiled. "I promise not to let greed take over my mind in any given moment of my every living breath. Both as your son, and the crown prince."
"Thank you Iyan."
"Thank you, mother."
"You have nothing to thank me for." She let go of his hand and stood up. "Now, come, your father should not wait for us." She was already by the door before Iyan stood up to join her.
"Can I know what my promise is for?" He asked.
"You will know, when the time comes." That was the answer Iyan was expecting.
"Right times always come, don't they?." He joined her, opening the tall white door with a golden handle.
"They always do."