He was startled when his mother's expression finally changed . The top and bottom halves of her face didn't match . Tears dripped from her eyes, but her lips smiled with bright dimples . There was joy and yet there were tears . Clovis stood up and moved to his mother, hugging her, having to kneel to do so . She hugged him back, tightly .
"You are free . My son is free . " She whispered softly the words filled with so much emotion . "My children never have to go back . " He held her while she spoke, letting her cry it out . Soon his mother kissed his hair forehead and let go . Her hand gently holding his cheek .
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"My son… a Prince by marriage free of the family you were born to, but I was sold to . " She let go and he smiled letting her go .
"Mother, I love you and I am glad you are happy . If all else fails we three will be well taken care of . " Clovis agreed, or at least he thought he did . The look on his mother's face made it clear he did not .
"If all else fails… Clovis it's over . Your safe you don't have to fight anymore . " she tried to explain to him, make him see but her son smiled woefully . He knelt so he was eye level with his mother and took both her hands in his .
"I still have to compete in the games . I have to at least try, Mother . Someone has to stop Bastil . " Clovis pointed out and the disbelief and utter refusal in her eyes dimmed to disappointment . "If we let him become Emperor the people will suffer, the shifters may well be extinct, and the pact made with most our sister countries will be in danger . That palace will become a cold blood bath, and to be honest, anything is better than that . "
"I know, but why does it have to be you, Clovis? Why can't one of your brothers stand up and fight . Why do my children have to suffer for their father's mistakes?" She asked wiping her eyes as she looked at her son . Clovis smiled and chuckled softly .
"None of my brothers are strong enough to compete against my brother . All of them have been taught by their mother's to be quiet and fade into the background or pander for one of the main 4 heirs places . The few who would have fought were silenced with the accidental death of Roan . " Clovis pointed out, recalling the brother who had sadly passed . Roan had been the third son, a few years older than Clovis but he was cold . He was smart though, strong, quick on his feet, and polite . In the long run he had been the best candidate for the crown, despite being third born, and the son of a concubine .
There was no love lost when the older boy died, but there was a sense of understanding . Though ruled an accident it was clearly a message to the children not to overstep or they will disappear .
"Yet you have the courage to face them, why don't they! Why should you have to go?" Eve demanded, honestly her motherly fear started to seep into her words . Clovis smiled and stood up, running a hand through his hair before looking back at his mother .
"Mother, that is exactly why . I am your son . You taught me to be brave . You taught me to love my people, and you opened my heart so that I could accept my wife . She in turn taught me to love the shifter people . Mother, I must go back because to run away isn't who I am . It isn't the son you raised, just as Vella married Mordrin unafraid . We are your children, we can face the world just as you faced the harem to protect us . " Clovis explained love pouring from his eyes, gratitude in every word . "You made me a man, and gave me my name, now it's time I prove I am worthy of my name . "
Chapter end
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