Embers of Sun and Flame: Before We Have It (Fuegoleon x OC)

Chapter 5 Together and apart

Solara opened the doors, and walked in to see a throne before her. But the throne was empty. The Queen, however, was around. Her presence radiated from the walls, like a gentle, lulling blink of dawn, or a prelude of something. It was such a strange feeling, like the entire room was painted with the few seconds that precede the first notes breaking from instruments at a concert; the moment before the sweet melody of the composition reaches your ears.

The window, behind the throne filtered light into the room and wrapped it in a veil of softness, one that made the tension of Solara's muscles fade, even if only as much as scraping the top layer of frost from her. But. It made her feel better.

Her steps carried her into the room, the clicking of her heels still bouncing around from the walls, and circled around the throne, which revealed the sight of the Queen.

She stood in front of the window, tilting her head up and looking at it with a straight back. The specks of golden radiance of her crown, flickered in the cascading light, as if looking to reflect that which fell over them, amplifying it all. And her eyes, it seemed like there was a swirling collection of colours, but which they were, Solara wasn't sure. Maybe a hint of blue, one that was bright, like a clear sky.

"[Afternoon, my Queen,]" she curtsied while greeting, bowing her head with the motion.

"[Good afternoon,]" the Queen replied as her lips tugged back into a smile, but her head turned, only after the syllables had tumbled from her lips. And the swirling of colours in her eyes were just as they always were; of every colour imaginable.

Solara hesitated for a moment, not sure where to start, or if to start.

"[How are you on this fine day?]" The Queen inquired, still looking at the her.

"[To... be perfectly honest, my Queen... I've been better,]" she admitted, averting her eyes.

"[That's unfortunate to hear,]" Queen Anima stated while taking a few steps closer as the syllabled flowed through the air, laced with sorrow and sympathy that were reflected in the smile she gave. Now that she was standing so close to Solara, their height difference became apparent; the queen towered over the other, seeming as if the radiance of her crown, too, was trying to reach the heavens, and Solara was standing in the shadow cast by the ruler of all of Thea.

Which she was. All of them were, the nobles. They might have been the representatives, the faces of the Council and the Throne, but they were all merely standing in the blinding shadow of the Queen herself.

"[Thank you. May I inquire how you are?]"

A faint laugh left the Queen, but one that seemed pleased as well as amused. "[So formal...]" She thought to herself out loud before gesturing towards a side door, one that wasn't apparent while looking from the main entrance. "[I'm well, it's a fine day in the queendom, after all,]" she stated while taking the first few steps towards the door as Solara followed.

"[I'm glad to hear that, my Queen. It is indeed a fine day,]" the words tumbled from her one by one, spoken with a monotone voice that was forced, but rolled from her tongue without a thought.

The Queen only hummed as a reply as they walked, not exchanging more words on the way to another room. The throne room was meant for receiving foreign officials, a statement of grandeur, but it wasn't needed with one of her own. Another room was better suited for domestic meetings, in her opinion, though she had learned that it wasn't the common practise in many other nations, even if she had to wonder about it. Why would so many focus on ruling with such charades even those who were supposed to be their trusted advisors and other officials. 'Weak leading' was the conclusion she had come to, having stopped to consider if her being made a difference, but having concluded that it didn't matter in her mind. Would it not be better to work towards trusted relations and leading, rather than ruling? Though the two words were used most often interchangeably.