The Queen of the Dark | Kylo Ren

Her Parents' Fate

          Grace in your step, Xiia recollects on the few words that her mother said around the time she was crowned, Don't let them see you falter.

           The long train of her gown slides against the stone floors of the Jakorr Palace. The dressing maids did their best to clean the scrapes on her elbows and knees before slipping her into the elegant material with little time allowed. They follow behind her as she trudges silently to the throne room. Some of them stare at her, marveling in their work and congratulating the others in their management. However, most of them are terrified of who is waiting for them just beyond the doors of the grand hall. They all heard stories of him. Believing him to be a myth, a horror story to tell to children at night, they shake in their identical dresses.

          Xiia does her best to ignore the whispers that they exchange. She holds her head high when one of the maids places a hand around the handle of the throne room.

          Light seeps into the dark hallway. Eyes take a moment to adjust to the candlelight spread around the hall. The long marble room was mostly empty with the exception of the throne sitting alone on the dais.

          Cas turns to the abrupt noise of the monarch door opening. He smiles when his eyes land on her. He followed Xiia's order magnificently, standing next to her throne with his dazzling uniform. His medals of valiance and bravery are pinned neatly to his gray breast.

          She flashes him a variation of his smile, "You clean up well, General."

          "I could say the same about you, my Queen," he chuckles.

           Upon her entry, a soldier carefully positions the monarch's crown on a cushion from its secured chest. He rushes to the High General, presenting the headdress of emeralds.

           The dressing maids did well to clothe the queen with a lighter green color.

           Cas' gloved hands gently wrap down the expensive symbol and lifts it off of the cushion.

           Xiia tilts her head, even though it isn't exactly necessary due to Cas' height, but she chooses to anyway. She always liked the idea of a queen bowing to her most trusted advisor. An advisor she has known even before her ascension. A general that rose to his ranks for his resilience and his loyalty. For all anyone knows, she's bowing to Dioya.

             Cas' cautiously places the crown upon her head, careful not to tangle her long dark hair in the silver detailing. He sighs, wrapping his hands around his back after finishing.

             Xiia looks up.

             Her dark eyes collide with his brown ones. The two of them take in each other's appearance. Most of the time that they spend in the palace, they do not appear as their roles to the other. It's in moments like these that remind them of their duties.

             Cas' eyes scale Xiia's body.

             She catches it, "What?"

             "You look powerful."

             The words fill her up with more confidence than she needed, "You do, too."

             "Are you sure about this?" he almost whispers just as the other generals begin to pile into the throne room. Xiia spots General Reiner, still pale as a ghost.

            "I have to consider it, Cas. I already told you," she silently warns him.

            "I understand. I won't fight you on that. It's just ..." he looks down at his polished boots for a second, gathering his thoughts, "I just want you to be cautious."