Celestial Devotion

Golden Mercy

When the queen turned back around, unable to hide her appearance, glittery streaks of tears were noticeable. Her eyes shimmered as her voice quivered. 

She spoke out, almost breathless, "I didn't mean to lie to my people," she said while looking around, "and I was not aware your people were suffering." She looked down at the villager with honest sympathy and sorrow. 

Yet, as she finished her words, a flicker of anger sparked within her as she looked back up at the crowd. Turning aggressively, she stepped back to her perch by the throne, this time addressing everyone.

"It is not my intention to bring harm to anyone, but I have cut off Sol's kingdom for a reason. He is an arrogant man! You see how he abandoned his people like a coward, this poor man had to endure much agony to come here and ask for mercy." Her expression eased as she focused her gaze on the villager. "Now, tell me of your journey, and I am sure I can provide you the care you need."

The villager began to recount his trials, his voice trembling as he spoke of the scorching sun and the barren wastelands, the treacherous sea and the monstrous creature, the relentless storm and the guards' brutality. 

Each word painted a vivid picture of his anguish, leaving the queen and the crowd wide-eyed and stunned. The room fell silent, the weight of his suffering settling heavily upon everyone present. The crowd, once doubtful and accusatory, now murmured among themselves, their attitudes shifting from skepticism to compassion.

The queen stood up, placing one hand over her heart, seemingly the most heartbroken of all. 

"You have suffered so much. I would be glad to take care of you and your people. I can have my people help move your community here." She extended her hand toward the villager, inviting him to stand with her.

As he reached out to take her hand, he hesitated and then reversed his movement, kneeling before her as if he were a beggar. The queen withdrew her hand in confusion. The audience backed away, giving him the spotlight as he prepared to speak.

"Empress, I am grateful for your sympathy, but abandoning the sunny side is not my intention. I know once Day and Night coexisted in a balanced cycle. I am here to ask you to forgive Sol."

The queen clutched the fabric of her dress, taking a deep breath. "I never wanted the cycle to end, but it cannot be restored. Sol would have to be here himself. Only both of our presences can bloom a dawn. I am sorry."

Feeling his efforts might have been in vain, the villager spoke in desperation. "The emperor is there no longer, you see he has lost his mind. That is why I have come to deliver this message or request."

As the villager delivered the news of Emperor Sol's physical absence, Luna's initial shock turned swiftly to grief. She couldn't comprehend the possibility that Sol might never return, his mind lost or sick beyond reach. 

With a sudden jolt, her eyes widening in disbelief. "The emperor... lost his mind?" With a heavy heart, Luna buried her face in her hands, her sobs echoing through the chamber. The thought of never witnessing another dawn, of never reuniting with her beloved, weighed heavily upon her.

"Could I never witness a morning again?" she wept, the weight of her sorrow pressing down on her. "My only love, despite his absence, I could've cared for him in his state. Perhaps I have been the ungrateful one. My unhappiness led to the suffering of every community when we parted."

The villager moved closer to the queen, gently holding her face and using the edge of her dress to wipe her tears. He whispered, "Your happiness is just as important. You have been heartbroken for centuries."

For a moment, silence hung heavy in the room as Luna gathered herself, wiping her own tears with a deep breath. As she looked up, a steely resolve replaced the grief in her eyes. "I will go to him."

As the queen gathered herself, wiping away tears, she finally spoke with determination, "I will go to him." Her voice echoed through the hall, carrying both conviction and a hint of vulnerability.

As soon as Luna stood, a sudden glare pierced through the windows, catching her off guard. The brightness momentarily blinded her, causing the crowd to murmur with concern. The villager, sensing the tension and steadying the queen, reassured her as he helped her regain her balance.

But the whispers among the onlookers grew louder, filled with fear and uncertainty. "It was a trick!" one voice accused. "Sol is attacking us!" cried another. "A war is beginning!"

The villager, feeling the weight of their accusations and the urgency of the moment, raised his voice above the clamor. "Enough!" he commanded, silencing the crowd. He gestured towards the windows, prompting everyone to look outside.

Together, the villager and the queen walked to a nearby window, where a breathtaking phenomenon unfolded before them. A radiant sunrise painted the horizon with hues of orange and gold. The people of the moonside stared in confusion, but Luna's face lit up with joy and wonder.

"It is a sunrise," Luna exclaimed softly, her hands clasped together in awe. The twinkle in her eyes only intensified as she turned back to the villager, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Lost your mind indeed," she teased gently.

The once-villager, now bathed in the golden rays of the sunrise, stood illuminated even when moving away from the window. 

As the villager moved away from the window, the warm aura of the sunrise seemed to cling to him like a gentle embrace. The crowd watched in surprise and awe, their eyes darting between the radiant figure before them and the queen, whose expression softened with each passing moment.

The villager turned to address the gathered people once more, his voice carrying a blend of humility and determination. "I know I have endured much pain, but it was entirely worth it to see the queen smile," he began, his words sincere and heartfelt. "I know it is I who took it away in the first place."

Turning towards Luna, he continued, "Sol is no longer at his kingdom. He has lost his mind when he traded celestial living for a human experience. Luna, I have not only traveled and bled to ask for my people's mercy, but I am here to ask for my own. I was once arrogant, a poor ruler, but I know I should've never scorched you."

As he spoke, the villager's torn clothes miraculously shifted into fresh, shimmering golden cloth, a testament to the transformation within him. "Please forgive me, my love," he pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper now filled with hope and longing, "and I will make the rest of eternity up to you and our people."

The queen, unable to hide her bashfulness, rolled her eyes playfully before taking a step forward. "You have lost your mind indeed."

In a swift motion filled with grace and affection, Luna leaped towards the Sol, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. Sol lifted her off the ground, spinning her around in a dance of reunion and reconciliation.

The onlookers erupted into cheers and applause, their doubts and fears now replaced with hope and joy. The once-divided kingdoms of Day and Night seemed to blend into one as the celestial couple stood together, bathed in the warm embrace of the sunrise that marked the beginning of a new era of harmony and love.