Fiction
The Draw of the Mother
& The Devotion of One
Melphis slunk into the queen’s haven, distraught and dejected. An odd sight for one so massive to be so nervous and demure. He reached the point on the floor for audience and prostrated himself, kissing the floor twice, as he had done for his whole life.
“I’ve failed, Mommy. They still live and advance towards their goal. My life is yours.”
He then raised himself to his knees and, careful not to raise his eyes, began removing his armor to bear the tattoo of offering. The Queen waited until her loyal warrior had revealed the tattoo and presented it, her face unreadable, though none could see it. Melphis would never deign to peek at her face and her harem never left the curtains without permission.
As she waited, raising the tension emanating from Melphis, she began to think about how she would keep those foul travelers from trying to prevent her ascendancy. Whom else could she send…?
Sounds of shifting movement and a soft, fearful moan could be heard from her harem behind her. Perhaps Saren could not handle this life… She would bear watching.
“Melphis, you’ve been my most loyal. If you’ve failed in this task, I must have underestimated those fiends. Come. Recline with my harem and release these emotions from yourself.
“Your failure, your disappointment, your tension, your shame. Rest with my lovelies and let these feelings melt. I have chosen mercy this day”
The last line, as always, intoned at a volume that reverberated throughout the secret haven. Melphis expected all possible decisions besides mercy every time he came here. Every time, ripped between the intense desire to die for his liege and the hope that he could live to serve for longer. The shame this hope brought him assured that Melphis would never become arrogant.
Melphis rose, and per the rites and rituals looked at his queen’s face and witnessed a smile just for him. This third time in 100 years receiving a private smile almost erased the failure from his heart by itself.
Seeing even the eyes of his Queen soften brought Melphis enough satisfaction to last him another hundred. He glanced towards the curtains leading to the harem, feeling conflicted about receiving so many boons, and in such a short time.
However, to deny an offer of “rest” would be akin to spitting in his deity’s face. If someone else committed this sin, he would slaughter the family of the sinner himself; and he would prefer not to kill his niece, the last living member of his family.
He removed the lower portions of his armor as no one is allowed past the curtains in clothes and laid within the pit of cushions and soft fabrics and sweet flesh and allowed his body to melt into the comfort, as his mind melted into dreams of serving his master. She was his whole world and he would give anything, sacrifice anything, to find that fourth smile…
Thanks for reading! I hope you find smiles, this day! ❤
