The Places We Go

Chapter IX; Soleil

     After taking some branches to make a bridge, Soleil and Luna had successfully crossed the river that had caused so much chaos. They had been so late to Rielweth that the kings decided to postpone the ball by two months just in case. After this, they had arrived early, so Soleil was able to get to know the colorful characters that lived here. There was the head king, Ryaxleb, who was a quite interesting man. His husband, King Calxyan, had a very short temper compared to Ryaxleb's humorous outlook on life. During only the few weeks Soleil had been here, she had seen and heard some royal drama that likely even Luna shouldn't have heard. Ryaxleb had divorced King Calxyan and married two other men, first one name Bexner then Etxne, then remarried King Calxyan and she, Luna, Calxyan and Ryaxleb went to Bexer and Etxne's wedding by the time the Rielweth gathering began. She was told this "mad the way" in the kingdom, but she still couldn't fathom this way of life for herself.
   Ever since the night when she had helped Luna with her wound, she had not put the handcuffs back on her and did not require her to stand by her side, for she trusted her now. Nevertheless, she stayed by her side and only separated when a man offered to dance with her. Being too nice for her own good, Soleil had accepted. She had expected him to be similar to that of Prince Ideus, but she was more wrong that she thought that she could be. He wore a short shirt, showing off his very defined abs, and was an extraordinary dancer. He had taken a quick liking to her, and offered to eat with her. Again being far too nice, she accepted. They had eaten little when Luna came over to them with her plate.
     "Oh, you're here." She said degradingly to him as she set her plate down. "Would you mind leaving us alone?" Soleil's heart skipped a beat. She wanted her, alone, or perhaps just him away. "I was here first. You're welcome to join us." He responded as Luna stared at him. "Leave. Now." Luna's temper already on edge, the man l scoffed as he stood. "Shall we go?" he said. "Let's take this outside." Luna said as the two turned for the back exit. Soleil followed, concerned as to what was about to happen. What she thought, however, was again far from the truth. She knew that he had well defined abs, but Luna? She had never expected her to have such muscle, and even then much less than she had. She had worn a two-piece dress, and tied a sash around her waist. It was only now that she undid the sash and threw it to Soleil, who caught it and held it close to her.
     Luna's abs were nearly indescribable, for every word Soleil came up with was an understatement. Glorious? They were too defined for that. Superb? They were too strong for that. Spectacular? They were too beautiful for that. Beautiful? Was that the word? No, they were beyond that. There truly was no word in this language to describe them but "indescribable". She had thought that this mysterious stranger's abs were the best she had ever seen, but after seeing Luna's? She knew no one else could ever dream to compare.
These abs, however, weren't just indescribable, but powerful too. Not in the sense that she had a strong core, but a true power surged through them, a mysterious force similar to that of her own. Again, indescribable through all words available in this language, Soleil witnessed something she had never seen. Luna was fighting with the sheer power of her abs. She had truly upstaged the stranger, who stood nearly unconscious as Luna swiftly punched and kicked with precision. Sooner rather than later, he lay on the ground, severely injured. It was later known that he had died, though Luna seemed to have no remorse.
     After this battle, Luna came back to Soleil, quietly asked for her sash back, and replaced it on her person. Soleil was astounded at how Luna had fought for alone time with her, and for the first time ever she felt closer to her, and closer to the dream she had longed for ever since she had first heard Luna's voice. They returned to the castle and ate together, this time not in silence. Soleil was ecstatic, for she was finally having a real conversation with Luna, who also seemed to be enjoying it.
     Later on, when there was dancing, Luna had offered to go together. It was wonderful, and though they didn't know the dance they had fun. It was truly alright, since no one was paying attention to them and more focused on the exposure of King Ryaxleb's latest scandal. They danced the night away, but when the slow dancing began Luna claimed to be thirsty and left the dance floor. Soleil stood alone, waiting for her to come back, but she only did after the slow song was over. It's understandable, this was a lot. She probably only sees me as a friend, if that. She thought when Luna was coming back over.
     They continued to talk until Kings Ryaxleb and Calxyan came to discuss something with Luna. However, unlike when she was having a conversation with the King and Queen of Faormen, Soleil was allowed to stay. King Calxyan was not involved in the conversation between Luna and King Ryaxleb, so he talked to Soleil. "Who were you again?" He hushed as not to distract his husband and Luna from their conversation. "My name is Soleil." She responded in the same hushed tone. "Why are you here again?" He asked. That question was one Soleil couldn't answer. She didn't want to reveal her Zellarid roots, for he might lash out and end up dead at the abs of Luna, but she couldn't say she was from Mirirejar and come up with how she knew Luna. "What are you two talking about?" Ryaxleb asked, saving Soleil. "Queen Luna, do tell me this, how do you know this woman and why is she here? I would have expected you to introduce her if she was your girlfriend or an invitation to your wedding if she were your wife. Who is she, if not your partner?"
     Soleil thought back to Faormen. They had walked in through the beautiful doors and saw the magnificent ballroom. They got glasses of the special Faormen wine from the table that was full of them, and went over to meet with the King and Queen. They had queeried the same question as King Calxyan. "Us? A relationship? Ha! I thought you knew me better. You know I don't concern myself with such things. Too distracting from what really matters in life." Soleil thought back to her despair at that moment. It was when she had only just begun to feel these things, it had been so long ago, but she remembered how disappointed she was hearing those words from Luna's wondrous voice. Now it had stung even harder. She thought back to the few times that she had seen Luna's face, she thought back to when she had to stitch up Luna's shoulder, her glorious abs, the dancing earlier, all of it. She couldn't help but hope that she might be able to change Luna's mind.
"She's my associate. That is all you need to know." Luna told King Calxyan sternly. Even though her face was hidden, Soleil could feel her cold stare aimed at him. "Yes, but does she need to listen to this?" King Calxyan responded. Furious, King Ryaxleb stood up, slammed his weak fists on the table and shouted in his strong yet meek voice "Stop! Stop it Calxyan! How dare you speak that way to Queen Luna. Her guest is her guest, no matter their relation. I want a divorce!" King Calxyan sat stunned. He finally responded, turning away from his soon to be ex-husband.

"Oh really? Another divorce? This is the fifth one Ryaxleb!"

"That's King Ryaxleb to you!"

"Not for long."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know you'll come crawling back to me. You always do. You divorce me, marry another guy, divorce him and marry again, then you divorce the second guy and then you're right back to me! I just play the waiting game while you're away. I only ever take my necessities with me after each divorce now!"

"That is not true! There were three guys after the second divorce! And... one after the third."

"My god Ryaxleb, make up your mind! Is it me? Or Bexer? Or Etxne? Or Andrew? Who is it! Or is it some fifth mystery man you've yet to tell me about. Oh, it's that stable boy Lane isn't it!"

"I don't know who it is, but certainly not you! Or any of them? Maybe I'll take a break from guys."

"Oh please, we all know that's not going to happen. Besides, they've only ever married you for the money and power that comes with being King. I married you for love!"

"You want to bet? Here!"

     King Ryaxleb grabbed King Calxyan's hand and ripped off the wedding ring. He walked around the table to Luna and got down on one knee. Luna slapped him across the face, so he got up and did the same to Soleil. She took the ring, King Ryaxleb began to celebrate, but Soleil handed the ring back to King Calxyan. The King put it back on and clenched his fist as he spoke. "I am hurt! How dare you. You know that I'm the only one who married you for you and not for your power! I'm the best you'll ever do!" Calxyan stormed out as Ryaxleb stood and brushed himself off. "I'm very sorry you had to see that. I assure you, he'll be fine. So, where were we?" He asked, asking like nothing had happened. Soleil sat dumbfounded, confused beyond measure at what had just happened.
When the two went back to their room, as this castle too was filled with guests forcing the two to share a room again, Soleil questioned Luna on the matter of the Kings once more. "Oh, that's just how these people are. Everybody shares a partner, living lives nobody knows. By my next visit they'll have been divorced and remarried at least five times more." She laughed, but Soleil still say confused about these people.
     They talked into the night, finally facing each other in the bed. They talked about numerous different things, until finally Soleil properly thanked her for what had happened with the stranger. "I don't believe I ever properly thanked you for dealing with him. I very much appreciated it." She said, moving her hair into a more comfortable position. Luna smiled. "Oh, it was nothing. He did after all reject a direct order from me, the High Queen, he deserved to be punished." Soleil sighed internally. Ah, so she wasn't protecting me, but rather her authority. Why did I think of anything else? "Of course, he had been bothering you as well, correct?" Soleil's heart quickened it's pace as she spoke. Or maybe it was both. "Yes, he was. Although he didn't ruin my feet as Prince Ideus had." Luna nodded. "Yes, your feet were hurt very badly." It was Soleil's turn to nod. "Yes. I don't believe I ever thanked you properly for helping me with the river either. I'm very sorry, I know these apologies are long overdue." Luna's face softened even more than it already was. "No need. You are apologizing now. Besides, all of them were such little things they were practically nothing." Nothing. Is that how she sees me? Nothing? Of course not, she defended me from him, she killed him for me, for crying out loud. It couldn't be possible that- "Are you alright?" Soleil had been thinking for too long. "Yes, I'm great, thank you for asking. Tonight was wonderful." Luna smiled. They both shook it off, but when they tried to sleep Soleil couldn't stop thinking about it.
     She smiled at you so much. Her face was softened. You made her laugh. Is she onto you? What is wrong with you! You can't feel this way! But I'm in too deep, yes I'm in too deep! So I've got to get out of this mindset- but what if she feels the same way? I thought taking Anastasia's place as a willing prisoner would be hard, but I never anticipated that it would be hard in this way. Oh gosh, Anastasia.... Arlie.... How could I do this? I must escape. But if she feels the same, the war could end with that symbol... But what if I make a fool of myself and get killed when I've had many opportunities to escape. There'll be other women, right? There will be another opportunity for me, right? Or is she the one? I've felt this way before but never at this intensity. I have to escape, I'm already in too deep, I can't go any further. I must escape.
     Soleil got up and began to exit the room, but Luna beaconed her back. "Where are you going?" Soleil stood for a moment. "To get a glass of water." The glass shimmered in the moonlight on the stand beside her and Luna's bed. Soleil stared at it as she laid there. She was truely in too deep, too deeply in love.