United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 22 - Ruby

Ruby was not expecting to Shintaro to return for a while. When he was given a mission, he took every detail very seriously, and since the fortress was probably quite large, the queen figured that he would scout the whole area before he was satisfied. As soon as Falte had returned from the weapons room, where Shintaro had been before departing via teleportation, Ruby had begun helping her adviser close the library for the night. After they had finished doing this, Marcus had proposed a late dinner together in the cafeteria. Ruby and Falte had immediately accepted the idea, each of them realizing that they had hardly eaten anything that day. 

Fifteen minutes after the library was completely closed, Ruby, Marcus, Falte, Aaron, Amy, Linda, Rachel, Gabriel, and Emily had sat down around one of the larger tables, eating the late meal that the cook had graciously prepared for them. 

As they ate, Marcus explained to Linda, Rachel, and Gabriel everything that had taken place in the recent days - the attack on Emily, the finding of the "abandoned" fortress, the guess that a Shadow was stealing the Arielians to create Dark minions, and Shintaro's departure to scout out the hideout. Linda and Gabriel listened with grim faces, each of them frowning thoughtfully at everything the king told them. Rachel listened attentively with a wide-eyed, dreadful expression at each piece of news. 

"What do you plan on doing if there really is a Shadow abducting your people, Your Majesties?" Linda asked slowly, her voice somehow managing to sound blankly curious. She was sitting with her elbows on the table, her chin rested on her fingers, which were laced thoughtfully. Her icy blue eyes were serious and half-lidded, which they always seemed to be. 

Ruby and Marcus shared a nervous glance, but it was Ruby who spoke. "We're not sure," she said with a sigh, dragging one hand down her face. "For now, it depends on whatever Shintaro finds at the fortress. We have to know our situation first." 

"But assuming that it is a Dark," Linda said, untangling one hand and gesturing vaguely with a tilt of her head. "Do you have any ideas?" 

This silenced Ruby. Dread and anger spilled into her heart as she realized that she had no idea what she would do. She cursed herself mentally - she was the queen of Ariel. She should know how to handle everything when things got bad, how to defend her kingdom and its people. Instead, she was clueless and helpless to protect even her own daughter. 

Ruby noticed Linda's slightly regretful frown and realized that the telepath had probably heard her thoughts. Clearing her throat, Ruby hurried to speak before Linda could examine any further. "Unfortunately, I do not. But this is what my husband and my adviser are for. We will figure this out." She stopped herself before she said no matter the cost, because really, Ruby didn't want there to be a large cost. 

"Hm," Linda said shortly, the crease between her brows vanishing. "I suppose it is a bit too early to tell." She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and rested her chin on her folded hands again. 

Ruby sighed and leaned back in her chair, her eyes falling absently to the plate of food that was before her. Marcus, noticing, reached under the table and took her hand in his. When the queen glanced up at him, he gave her the gentle smile that Ruby had fallen in love with all those years ago. 

She squeezed his hand and returned the smile, though she was hardly in the mood to laugh along with whatever conversation Amy and Falte were having. Now that Linda had mentioned the fact that Ruby didn't know what to do, the queen couldn't stop thinking about it. What was she going to do, if there really was a Shadow stealing away her citizens and Turning them into Shadowbeasts or Darks? 

Ruby's gaze drifted unconsciously to Linda, and the queen wondered if the telepath had a plan that she thought was worth sharing. But that assumption didn't last long, because Ruby noticed that Linda was hardly paying attention to anyone else anymore. Her icy, calculating blue eyes were fixed on Gabriel, who was seated respectfully across the table.