20- I Am Your Son After All (Part 2)

Later, he was learning how to fight with Katlan, being a warrior's son, he was much stronger.

"Yes, defeat him! You can do this, Zephyr!" She encouraged him. 

But, Katlan defeated him instantly. 

"Sorry, Mama, I lost," 

Zephyr made an almost crying face when he failed to impress her.

He was hugging his mother who was brushing the dust from his face.

She always lifted him from the ground.

"It's alright. You are the future king of Delphia!"

She grinned, initially evoking thoughts that he was undefeated. 

"One day, you will be so strong that they couldn't meet your eyes," 

"Not even father?" 

"Of course, who is he before my strong son? Everything is below you," She chuckled, making the King clear his throat. 

"Well, excuse me, Lady, I am standing right here,"

"Throne is for my son. You take my heart, Your Majesty," She flirted with him openly.

"I think this little one is stealing my place in your heart too," He smirked, pinching Zephyr's cheek before leaning down to his woman.

"You think so?"

"Yes-"

"Go back, father, she is my mama,"

"And my woman." 

Smirking, he snapped fingers twice in the air with a stern call. 

"Yor,"

Getting the signal, he bowed from respect and came forth with a kind smile, opening his hands to Zephyr with an offer too good to resist.

"Yes, My Lord. Prince Zephyr, please come, I will give you a tour of the barracks," 

"Can I go, Mama?"

"Sure,"

"Yay!"

Laughing with inexplicable glee, he got up hastily and ran away with Katlan, excited to have a tour.

When the couple were left alone, King Hayden leaned down, kissing her neck.

"Now tell me what you were saying?"

Giggling with a wink, she pecked his lips and walked away.

Leaving her man mesmerized about the grace she always dripped.

His love for her increased by each passing second.

He felt so blessed to have a woman like her in his life.

But, circumstances never remain the same.

Soon her health started dropping drastically and it perturbed both of them to the core. 

"Dear, please take care of yourself," King Hayden whispered worriedly, kissing her hands.

Hayden lost his composure.

"You have kept me together. What could I possibly do without you? Get better soon, I need you and you know it," 

Tears were glistening in his eyes, he couldn't imagine his life without his queen, she was a part of his soul after all.

"Hayden…"

"I am ordering you to get better, Queen," He made an almost crying face.

She was his compassionate partner and with her losing her health, he no longer knew what to do.

"Take care of Zephyr, Hayden,"

"I will but who will be there for me then? Who will be left to brighten my life, my dearest?" 

His voice broke, placing her hand over his forehead.

The tear he held back so far rolled down his cheek and in that moment Zephyr stormed inside the room with his Aunt.

"Prince, your manners-"

"Don't touch me, Auntie."

"When I have ordered my mother will feed me then she will else I won't take a bite," He growled strictly, glaring at Lady Red.

"But, she is not okay-" 

"I said my mother will feed me, Auntie." 

"It's alright, come here, my love," 

"But, My Lady,"

"Ah, it's alright."

Chuckling weakly at her stubborn son she opened her hands to him. 

"What happened, Mama? Are you hurting?

"I need my future King,"

She knew he was made like this and so attached to her. 

And at that time, she yearned for her son to be with her.

"Isn't there anything I could do to lessen it?" Zephyr asked innocently.

Muffling a sob in her chest, gripping onto her dress weakly. Watching her in pain was unbearable for him.

He wanted to do anything for her, to help her.

"Be with me," She whispered, feeding him with her hands. 

"Isn't my Zephyr the strongest?" 

"I am your son after all!" He grinned, wiping his tears causing her to cup his cheek.

Her heavy eyes were at her dearest son, worried about his future, what type of life he would lead.

She had endless distress.

Could anyone adore him as much as she did? 

"Then be strong, become unbreakable. You are my pride after all, Zephyr," She whispered, placing the tray away and bringing him to her.

"Are you going to be okay?"

She nodded with a tear, her lips quivered, "Hmm. I think I will go to a land of fairies,"

"Really?!" 

"Yes and from there I will watch you,"

She didn't want to die, she wanted to grow old, watch him become a king, have grandchildren, watch over him for a little more time.

Six years weren't enough.

Though it was another matter that even sixty years wouldn't be enough.

"Genevieve-" 

Hayden's jaw dropped out of dismay at her painful words but she stopped him and kissed Zephyr's forehead.

"I will watch over you always,"

Lowering his gaze, he couldn't hear further and walked out of the room. 

It hurt him too much. 

The young prince was so baffled upon hearing her words. 

"Watch over? You will live with me, right?"

"I love you," She giggled.

Pressing her teeth together to kill the cry between her vocal cords and continued smiling.

"I love you too,"

She hummed, wiping his lips when he was done eating, making him lay beside her. 

He remained with his mother for the next few hours.

It was late at night, their father was consulting every doctor possible to find a cure for her.

He was desperate to save his wife.

"Can I sleep with you? Father is not here too,"

"Why ask? You can," She hummed, laying down with him.

Her fingers were running down his hair, holding him firmly. 

She smiled, finding all his solace when he was cradled in her warmth.

His sorrow vanished, closing his eyes but soon heard her whimpering.

"Argh… no,"

Body turned cold that woke the boy up from his slumber when it no longer felt the same.

"Mama? Are you okay?" 

Sitting up, he held her shoulder. Her eyes were closed, lips parted slightly as she whispered her last words.

"Al.. dina…"

He had no idea why she uttered that name.

"Mama…? Did you say something?" He whispered, shaking her shoulders to wake her up but to no avail, she didn't react.

When no reaction came from her, tears began to blur his vision. 

He shook her violently, hands trembling in horror.

"Mama? Mama, wake up!" 

Tears began to stream down his face, mouth wide open due to misery.

Emitting a painful sob when she failed to react with a trail of blood leading from the corner of her lips.

"Mama, open your eyes! Please!!" 

"Father!!" 

Screaming, he got out of the bed, running to his father who was in his worst condition, hairs scattered, face miserable.

Searching for a cure only to hear the agonizing news from his son.

"Mama is not waking up, wake her up! She is not responding to me!"

He came running, crying badly.

With this he fell on the ground of the hallway with pure anguish, with powerlessness. 

"What… ? No, no, no, this can't be! Genevieve, my love!!" 

Losing his mind, Hayden senselessly ran to see his wife while Zephyr was still on the ground, curling his hand in a fist.

Before he could fall, she would have held him and now…

There was no longer his mother who could pull him in her arms and vanish his pain or sorrow. 

"No, no, no…"

Soon this realization hit him that his mother wouldn't be coming to embrace him anymore and he lost it. 

"Mama!!" 

He pressed his forehead on the ground and let out the most booming, anguished, wail of his life. 

That day, he lost all his reasons, all his sweetness and urge to do stunts to impress his mother… he lost it all. 

From, "I am your son," to, "I am the future king," - 

He didn't know when things changed for him but in growing years, he forgot about her.

Or, rather he didn't want to remember her because he missed her too much.