The Archer

A few years ago...

POV LEILA

- Leila! Leila! Breathe! - someone was screaming, but I couldn't tell who. Everything was blurry and a dozen of voices around me were saying that I should breathe. I had no idea what was happening. Until I heard something. A baby was crying. Our baby. In that moment, I became a mother and Dian became a father. Seconds passed by and my vision cleared out. I was lying down and Dian was standing next to me, holding the baby in his arms. Our baby. 

- We did, Leila! We did it! We are parents now! - he said happily. - How do you think we should name it? 

He gave me to hold our baby in my hands. It was a girl. We had a daughter. I didn't have any names prepared. Everyone was giving names but somehow I knew that these names aren't perfect for our girl. In that moment, I felt something I've never felt. It was just like something whispered in my ear the name. 

- Ruina - I said. 

- Hello, Ruina! Welcome to the 'Mortales' dynasty! - Dian greeted her, then his lips gently touched mine. 

The three of us were staying in the room with Ruina in my arms. I couldn't help but stare at her eyes. Dark brown. Just like mine and Dian's. 

3 YEARS LATER

Arcelia is no longer ruled by Dian and I. After I gave birth, we bought a cottage in the end of the town of Zuko, where we grew up and where everything happened. Being close to my sister and mother was one of my best decisions ever. They loved spending time with Ruina and so did she. While my sister was spending time with her niece, Dian and I had some moments alone near the fountain where we were spending almost every evening of our teenage years. I must say that the town looked much better when Asteria, my best friend, was ruling it. She was a great queen. When she saw us with Ruina, her eyes lit up. She admired our daughter. My mom usually says that something is too good to be true, it usually isn't. And she was correct. Everything was going fine until the war. Until the moment when I lost everything. My mom, my sister, my husband. And Ruina. I never saw her again. The last person she was with, was Asteria. I told her to take Ruina in the palace. And I hope she is okay. 

AFTER THE WAR

POV ASTERIA 

It's been few months after the war and after my best friend and her husband died. I am no longer the queen of Zuko. Now, I am just a villager in a small town in Arcelia. Taking care of Ruina. 

- What are you thinking about? - she asked me. 

- I was thinking about my best friend and how much I miss her. 

- My mom? 

- That's right, Ruina. 

- Rue! - she screamed with her adorable voice. As the time passed by, I realized how much she has of Leila in her. She is more like Leila than Dian. Her look, her laugh, her freckles. It was just like I never lost her. Like I still have her here with me but in a junior version. Just like I am taking care of my best friend, not her kid.