The Fall Of Astraea

18. Meira and Melantha part 2

When I entered the council room, everyone went silent. Melantha followed me quietly as she sat on my left side. My mother was already sitting on the right. I sat on my father's throne. "What can you report?" I asked the top general.

He stood up and bowed to me before he looked down. I could tell from his facial expressions that the news he brought was not good. "Well, your majesty...."

"Out with it. I know it can't be good." I said as I glared at him.

"We are going to lose, my queen." Everyone gasped. I didn't. I knew this was coming, but no one listened to me. After everyone stopped talking, he continued: "The humans have brought reinforcements from another kingdom. None of the creatures here want to help us. They said as long as they're not bothered, we can be wiped out. Our numbers are diminishing." Everyone continued chatting about how the elves, goblins, and centaurs were selfish.

"Silence!" I shouted, and they all kept quiet. "You brought this on yourselves, sad to say," I told them, and they looked offended. "This is what got my father killed, this arrogance that you have. You captured my lover and thought that everything would be alright? I still don't understand what vendetta you people have against humans, but if we don't try to look for peace, we are all going to be dead."

"In the past, humans have hunted us," a general started, but I shushed him.

"The past is the past. Unless you want to lead your battalion to the war front and promise us that you will win the battle." I glared at him. He didn't say anything. He kept his head down and the rest did the same. It was now time to contact Jonathan. I hadn't seen him in a year after his people saved him. I wondered if he still loved me. I walked out of the room and my mother and sister followed me. They both have never said much since I got crowned as Queen. I turned to my sister and she stopped walking. "You're accompanying me to the kingdom of Stuart."

"What?" Melantha said, then composed herself. "Sister, please, don't punish me anymore."

"How do you see this as punishment? We're going there for a peace treaty, and our soldiers will accompany us." She didn't say anything and looked at the floor with anger. I knew she didn't think I could see her face, but ever since our father died, she had been so angry, and I wondered if it was at the humans. But she helped in her father's death, even if it was by mistake. That is why Mother never spoke to her anymore.

"Okay, I will go." She said and ran away from me.

I went to my chambers to write a letter for Jonathan. I asked him to meet up with me at our favorite spot. I sent the letter, and I went to the forest's edge on the day of the meeting. I was not sure he would come, but I had hope. I wondered if he looked the same or if he looked different from me. The war had changed me. I didn't trust anyone, as my sister ruined that. So even now, as I waited, I was ready to strike if I had to. It wasn't long before I saw someone with a sword come into the moonlight. It was Jonathan. He looked different. He looked more rugged. His blonde hair was longer and he had a scar on his eyebrow. But he looked more handsome. We looked at each other before we ran into each other's arms. We hugged each other tight before he kissed me, and I kissed him more passionately. I had missed him.

We lay down on the ground, looking at the moonlight. We held hands as we spoke of the last year. I then told him that I had been able to make my people surrender. I spoke of how I wanted to merge the magical creatures and the humans. "Do you think that would be possible?" he asked.

"It will be hard work, but I want to try. We can make it into one kingdom—the kingdom of stars," I said as I looked at the stars, raising my head to the sky.

"Astraea," Jonathan said softly, and I nodded. I rolled over to look at him, and he brushed some of my white hair back.

"And you will be king."