Made to be a Queen

Chapter 14

Maeve

It feels different now, being a commander. The weight of new responsibilities and duties weighs heavily, especially the duty to protect my soldiers and be acutely aware of battle plans. In this role, I find myself in the crosshairs – if I fall, everything crumbles.

I never anticipated that my reflexes would lead to me taking down the commander. My sole intention was to rescue Luna; she was moments away from being harmed. Fate had its way, and now I stand as the commander, regardless of Sebastian's approval. The risk has intensified, exacerbated by Sebastian's desire to end me and his destruction of my sword. Thankfully, the knife Luna gave me saved both our lives.

In Luna's tent, as we tended to our injuries, she examined the marks left by the commander's brutal grip on her neck. She sensed my worry and broke the silence.

"I can hardly believe you're a commander now!" Her smile was reassuring as she settled beside me, her eyes reflecting a mixture of awe and pride.

"It's no small task. I can't help but worry," I admitted, my voice tinged with a touch of anxiety.

"Remember, you're not alone. I'm right here by your side." Luna's arm found its place on mine, her fingers gently squeezing as she looked at me with unwavering support.

"Sebastian had intentions of ending my life. How can I not be anxious? And you... you're always on my mind."

"Shh," Luna hushed me, her voice calming, her fingers brushing against my skin soothingly. "You've got an army now, an army that's yours alone. In every realm, there are rulers, but a commander wields even more power than kings and queens. You have the potential to shape your own army, make it formidable, and ultimately defeat Sebastian."

Luna's words held a spark of inspiration, a strategy to neutralize Sebastian. "I'm not telling you this to push you, only to remind you of your newfound worth."

"But what about you? You're in danger too!"

Luna brushed off my concern, a determined glint in her eyes. "Don't worry about me. I can handle myself."

"Like how you handled things in the heat of battle? You could have been killed!"

"I did it to protect you!" Luna's voice carried a mixture of defiance and vulnerability, her gaze locked with mine.

"I don't need saving, Luna."

"But you know I can't stand by idly. I'm here to support you, to stand by your side through every moment and challenge. I want us."

As she leaned in to kiss me, I hesitated, turning my face away. Her confusion was evident, and her frustration bubbled over. "I don't understand you! Yesterday, you kissed me willingly, and now you're pulling away. Why?"

"I told you why... your presence poses a risk to my cause."

"Do you want me to side with him?"

"No, I want you out of all this, out of my life."

An unsettling silence hung between us. Regret gnawed at me for my hurtful words. Fortunately, the interruption of a soldier's call spared me from further explanation.

"Commander, can I speak with you?"

"Of course." I glanced at Luna once more, the weight of my words still lingering, before stepping outside to attend to the matter at hand.

I walked alongside him, absorbing his explanations with rapt attention. "I was the commander's right hand, so consider me your go-to. The name's Asher, a Veridian through and through. Hailing from the land of Greens, our king's power is waning, and you've seized the commander's mantle. Now, we follow your lead, your directives. To delve deeper into our tactics, we favor archers from the rear. Our arsenal boasts advanced technologies like stone-propelling machines and more. We boast a variety of sturdy horses, and axes are our weapons of choice, not swords. As for strategy..." He unfurled the war map, guiding my gaze, "Direct assaults are our forte."