10 Loyalty

"My Queen, did you call for me?" Spoke a young guard as he walked through the doors of the throne room. Skin as dark as night, but cool as winter, emerald green eyes, brown curled hair that bounced with each step he took.

He stopped at some distance from the throne and bowed his head. He stood with his back straight as he lifted his head to stare at the woman who sat slightly slumped in the throne. Entangled within the tresses of her black long hair, she said, "Joey, I did call for you." sulking within herself she sat up and stared at the man before her. She admired him in a way but also pitied him.

"Joey you have been with me as long as I can remember."

His emerald green eyes sparkled with joy as his eyes wandered around the hall. He said with happiness, "My Queen for ten centuries I have stood by your side. I took the oath to lay my soul on the line to protect you from all harm. Even if that harm comes from my own ranks. Such traitors who break their loyalty towards our Queen is marked to be hunted by all knights within the kingdom and outside."

Lilith smirked with amusement. Her eyes sparkled slightly, going dim with great disappointment after some thoughts.

Her pale skinny fingers intertwined with a strand of her hair And she said, "Never noticed time ticked away so fast! Joey, you are a great man, an example of loyalty." Holding back her words carefully.

Joey cocked his head as he stared at Lilith in silence waiting for her to finish.

"I wish to have your opinion on someone." She said.

Joey's eyes sparkled with great excitement, holding back his excitement in his voice Joey said, " Are you referring to Raine my lady? He had been very sneaky and exclusive." before he knew it, words began to spill out of his mouth. He couldn't control nor stop himself.

Lilith raised a brow And asked, "Have you been spying on Raine? Why? Does your anger and jealousy for him goes that deep?"

Joey was left stunned for a moment. He did not realize the mistake he had made, he asked, "My Lady, is Raine not the one you wish to talk about?"

Her eyes darkened. "No, he is not the one. He is less of your worries. I hope one day you can overcome this anger you hold against him. But this is beneath you. Where does such jealousy come from? Is it because of our little maid Mariah?" Saying this she stared coldly into Joey's eyes.

Joey shook from her cold stare. His words began to tremble, " My queen. Mariah is not to be blamed for my foolish remarks." He hung his head low trying to protect the woman he loves, at all costs.

Lilith examined him for a bit. Resting her head into her palms she stared at him and said in a sharp tone, "The person I wish to talk about, is your darling lover; Mariah."

His once dark coal skin began to turn pale. "Mariah? My lady. Mariah is sweet loving and honest. She is true to herself. What is there to talk about?"

Watching his sweat trickle down his cheek, Lilith spoke, "If she is so amazing why question her loyalty? Why do you worry that she will be attracted to Raine? Don't you trust her? Or are you just blinded by love and believe everything that she says?"

The once tall man felt ever so short standing in front of his queen. He couldn't admit that he had such thoughts. Even though deep inside, in the corner of his head a voice screamed out loud that she is nothing but a slut! He couldn't understand why everyone was out to get Mariah.

"My Lady, don't believe in any of those rumors about Mariah. She is not like what they say. I promise. I can put my life on the line."

Lilith leaned back into her throne. Her heart was filled with great disappointment. She sat in silence wondering how deep does this man's loyalty for that woman goes! Sighing in disappointment, as to how foolish this man had become over the centuries.

She stared intently at him and asked, "Joey how deep is your loyalty for this Kingdom? For this Thorne?"

Shocked by the sudden question about his loyalty, he answered without thinking, hitting his chest with his fist, "I will die for this Kingdom and This throne. Even if I have to give up everything, I will protect this kingdom and this throne with every fiber of my being. With this very soul, I give everything for this kingdom."

The Queen nodded her head yet felt pity for him. She stared at him for a moment before saying, " Do you have you word, when Mariah will return from her trip of visiting her family?"

Joey stood straight with his head held high said, "She will be back in three months my queen."

With the swift flick of her hand, Joey turned slowly exiting the throne room. Not daring to question his queen, but only hoped the queen doesn't doubt his or Mariah's loyalty to the kingdom. He watched as the door closed.

"Such heartache awaits you, my friend!" Lilith whispered under her breath.