Oh, Anna

chapter 12

:))

Parting away from her was like exiting the warm covers of your bedding on a cold november day, wanting nothing more than to go back there and sleep until the sun is placed high upon the sky. I didn't know I could feel this way about a person, and it felt like all my emotions were crashing down onto me all at once. 

Opening my eyes, (not that I noticed I had closed them in the first place) I looked at the woman before me. I looked at her brown shoulder length hair that somehow seemed to always carry purple highlights, I noted that it was quite wavier now, being shorter than it was before. I notice her oh-so perfect facial features- her eyebrows full, with nothing breaking their perfect shape; her doe-like eyes, always staring me down like i could run off any second, when in truth, the only thing I could (and, honestly, gladly would) do was get lost in those deep blue eyes of hers, which, somehow, always seem to have dilated pupils; her celestial nose, adorned with the soft, natural blush her face has painted on both the center of her face and her cheeks; her cherry-pink lips, cupid's bow prominent, slightly parted as she, too, tries to decipher what the hell just happened.

I try to form words, I really try, but my brain is apparently not capable of that, so I'm just sat there in front of the gorgeous woman who just kissed me, gaping like a fish repeatedly. 

Then, I hear it. 

I snap out of it.

Her laugh. She's laughing at me.

"Was I that good, princess?," she says, cocking an eyebrow almost mockingly, voice slightly husky. Yes, I want to say, yes, you were, but my throat closes up before I can think a second too long about those words that were at the very tip of my tongue, ready to slip out. I swallow, "you know, I really didn't think I would end up kissing my assigned guard and, out of all places, in Lurris," I manage to dodge the question. She notices, I'm sure, but doesn't mention it.

Neither of us says anything for a bit, both of us too caught up in our own little world to be able to notice just yet that we could create one big world, big enough for both of us.

"Could we pretend this never happened?"

The question is placed.

The one that was both our first thought, almost a reflex, and, in that moment, our worst nightmare.

I barely register that I was the one who said it, trying not to think about the question itself too much, the words hurting me for reasons still quite unclear to me.

"Fuck no, Sky," wow, using my government name, i think, we're being serious, "if you don't wanna do this, don't wanna go through with this, fine. But don't act like it didn't happen, because to me, it meant a lot more than I would like to admit."

I'm quiet for a second. Thinking.

If this is my cold, cruel november morning, I could stay in bed until the sun sets if I wanted to. Or I could go to breakfast and go about my day. I could read, paint, or try out new make-up looks instead of spending it in the warm comfort. But, in the end, i think it will always be bed.

"That's.. Listen, Anna, I think I like you. I wanted to escape this, for some reason, because this is foreign territory to me, and it's terrifying. Not because of you. And I apologise for making you feel like it was, in any way, your fault," I breathe, her eyes lightening up, she looks happy, "but I don't think it's a good idea to fast pace this, um, whatever this is. Let's take it nice and slow, figure out ourselves and this war, and then we could have our happy ever after, hmm? I don't want to get the pretty memories synced up with blood, screams and tears," my voice is barely over a whisper, but I know she hears me clear as day. 

She looks happy with the assessment, at peace, and I get confirmation by a nod of her head, slowly leaning in to kiss my cheek, painting a garden of red blossoms over my face, warm as if the scarlet petals were in direct sunlight.

--------------------

It was a few days after the kiss, and I was still hesitant (even more than I was before) to ever go anywhere without Anna by my side. 

So, there we were, walking side by side along one of the many corridors in the Lurris Castle. Warm glow of the gold-rimmed lanterns which were hanged up on the walls illuminated our features, as it was already jet-black outside. Anna looked ethereal, as she always did, and I cannot help but wonder how did I not notice I like this woman. We were strolling through the halls in silence, though it was not the bad kind of silence. Not the awkward, what-the-hell-do-I-say-now silence, but the peaceful, I-could-stay-like-this-for-eternity silence. 

With the only thing breaking the tranquillity of our walk being the soft thumping of our shoes on the floor, we were startled when someone called out our names. "Sky? Anna? Why are you awake at this hour," Dorka asks us, her voice taking all the quiet we had away. "Just taking a walk. I find that the castle is prettier at night, glowing with the haze of the lights," I pause for a second, "why are you awake, though?"

"Oh, I was just thinking earlier today-" the words that's dangerous slip to the tip of my tongue, though I ignore them, "-and I just confirmed with Tess and Verchus that my idea could do no harm. I actually wanted to tell you first thing in the morning, but I think me bumping into you at almost two in the morning-" jesus, already?, "-is a sign to tell you right now," she pauses for dramatic effect, "I have written to the heads of Vitora, Druria, and Letis, asking for their help in the war. Though some of them were more hesitant than others, seeing as they have always been more-or-less neutral, they agreed. And we will be getting them in the span of the next three days."

"On the first day, later today, you two will be going to the Druria Kindom so that you can be back just in time for Tess and me going to the Letis Kingdom, and, in turn, we will be back by the time Snow and Potato will head to the Kingdom of Vitora. The only thing you have to do is get the monarch and come back," they grin, clearly proud of their plan. I, on the other hand, am a bit uncertain of this plan, and I choose to ask the first question that comes to my mind.

"The Druria Kindom?"

My slightly hidden tone of disbelief was apparently not hidden enough, because I am met with a blank stare, "yes, the Druria Kingdom. I need you to get King Bear and transfer him safely back here," stated the Queen, "We need all the help we can get. Plus, I already notified them of your arrival in the next 24 hours, so you can't really say no. So go pack up your three apples and come say goodbye before you go," her voice is heavy with excitement, hiding the nervous undertone of her voice quite well.

"Are you sure this is a good idea," I question, quite excited myself, but still scared enough to be able to let go of the chance to get out of this castle for the first time in over a month.

She doesn't respond, just narrows her eyes slightly and smiles, making me aware that she knows that I am excited despite everything. With that, she leaves without a single glance back.

"So," I almost jump at Anna's voice, almost forgetting that she was there, "we're leaving?"

"Apparently," I chuckle, seeing her worry stuck between her knit brows, "don't worry, Anna, we will be just fine. We will just get in, get King Bear, and get out. Not a single problem there, yeah?" 

I'm not awaiting an answer, knowing that she is, still, regardless of what I say, very bothered.

I choose not to address the elephant in the room, trying to not let either of our minds dwell too much on leaving Lurris in the middle of a war. 

"I will have to meet King Bear," I shudder jokingly, trying to lighten the mood, "I bet he's a stuck up sixty year old guy who still thinks that the Earth is flat," she laughs, and I smile, knowing that I am doing all this for a reason.

For the future.

-----------

1466 WORDS

hi i svur i didnt forget abt this book