One
Snape's Pov...
The bells tolled their mournful dirge as it was announced that Queen Lily was dead. She had been in labor with their second child for a day and a half when he was told of his wife's death. His wife of thirteen years, dead! The thought was just inconceivable, and yet, women died of child bed complications all the time.
The tall, black haired wizard king, summoned his squire at once to remove his dragon armor, and he rushed to his Queen's bedchambers. Her ladies were already crying and wringing their hands. The old priest was giving the Queen her Last Rites, and then checked a final time for any signs of life.
"Oh!" The priest said, startled. "Your Majesty...I...I didn't see you there. I--"
"Leave us," Severus barked. "I would be alone with my wife."
Everyone scuttled out of the room like startled hens. He took out his black wand and lit more candles, and tucked it away in his doublet. Lily looked so wasted and pale, not like the vibrant witch he married to appease his father King Tobias's wishes.
Her wavy auburn hair spread across her pillows was the only thing vibrant about his wife now. His Lily. The only good thing to come from his tumultuous reign. True, she had given him a strong, healthy son in the first year of their marriage, but he was recently wounded by an arrow in this latest bloody battle with that upstart kingdom the bloody Grangers. The doctors feared for Prince Damien's life.
Severus took one of his wife's hands, and kissed it, not realizing that he was crying until this moment.
"Forgive me, Lily," He said raggedly, "For not being here when it was your time. I will always love you. Always."
He kissed her one last time on her lips, as if by kissing her, he could will her back to life. But alas, his Queen, and companion for life remained dead. And where was the baby she had labored so hard to bring into this world? He saw no sign of it, so it must have died.
He suddenly did not want to stay in this room. It was all too much, too soon. He retired to his own chambers without speaking to anyone, and that is where he was found a month later, when emissaries from King John Granger were sent with the terms of an armistice written up, including a contract to wed Princess Hermione Granger, a well reputed, beauty, and clever witch all around...

