The Archer and Her Prince

I Need to Take My Throne

Edwin's Pov

"So, how do you like our room?" I ask Edores as she wanders around in the room that I had asked Alice if I could decorate and personalize.

"I'm assuming you did this?" Edores giggles staring at the blank canvases spaced around the very large room for her to paint, and of course the red bedroom door.

"That obvious?" I breathe out.

"Very obvious." She chuckles, "But yes, I love it. And love you. Thank you." She walks up to me with a kiss.

We lay down on our king sized purple bed. Yes I used her favorite colors, and I'd say it all comes together quite nicely.

"You and Orja are close." I state.

"What are you implying?"

"Just that he sort of treats you like he treated Eden. Protectful and enthusiastic, kind, friendly. It's a look into the past for me. It's crazy that he's here you know?"

"Well, he cares about you." Edores smiles at me and continues, "He's been trying to make up for not trying to contact you in the past. He feels guilty that Eden died shortly after he left and regrets agreeing to move."

"He told you all that? He was 8, what could he have done?" I chuckle sadly.

"And you were 9, what could YOU have done?" Edores locks eyes with me, "You can't keep blaming yourself Edwin. What the Queen did, sacrificing her, the Council of Power, it was all out of your hands. You were too young to be able to protect her. Stop beating yourself up over it."

I sigh, "I know. It's just, I don't know. Hearing them confess to their crime was just a slap on the face. I had hoped I misinterpreted it or heard wrong. But I was right. I love being right, but not about these kinds of things."

"The Dark Wizards have been King-less for almost a month now. You need to return back to the palace. Take your throne." She changes the topic.

"I don't want to. Let them be kingdom-less. I don't care."

"Wasn't this the reason you brought me here? To save your species? You can't do that by hiding and not taking rule." She states.

"I can't sit on my father's throne. It would feel wrong."

"Then don't. But you at least need to get that coronation done. And we need to defeat the Council of Power and whatever else the prophecy was supposed to state." Edores says.

"I hope just defeating the council is enough. I can't deal with more bloodshed. I know how to rule, not kill without feeling guilty."

"Fine, then you rule, I fight." She smirks.

"I-"

"Listen to me," Edores grabs my face, "you need to move on for now, you need to show that you are strong. Be fake or whatever, let yourself digest everything later. The Dark Wizards and prophecy need a king. So fake it and rule and we'll take care of this together. Then later on we'll have all the time in the world to digest and process everything. Got it?" She states authoritatively.

"Got it." I smile back and kiss her.

"Oh lovebirdssss." Someone sings in the doorway. I begrudgingly pull away from Edores and glare at Bursen.

"What?" I continue glaring.

"Leon has news. He wants to tell us all together, so come to the common room." He walks away. Good news or bad news?

Edores and I exchange uneasy glances and follow him to the living room where Orja, Leon, Mack and Alice stood.

"So what's the news?" Edores asks once we're all situated on the couches.

Leon sighs, "The invisible shield is breaking, some guards have found us. They need a king, the Crown Prince needs to become King as soon as possible. Some Dark Wizards are going crazy, chaos around the palace. The murders were covered up by the Council of Power. Don't know how and why, but they are clearly planning something. But for now Edwin, you are safe to take the throne. And he needs a queen, Edores, you both need to take control over the situation."

"Okay. I'll do it. Wait, can I even be Queen if we're not married yet?" She asks.

"We don't need to get into technicalities. They all know you were his girlfriend so it should be fine." Leon replies.

"How would this work? Coronation and all that since the King is dead?"

"Bursen will do the honors." Leon shrugs.

"Okay."

"Orja, how does the shield look?" Bursen asks.

Orja looks out of the window, "It's crumbling. I give it a half hour tops until Edores' palace is revealed."

"We should get going then." Mack sighs looking at Alice.

"You're both leaving?" I ask in confusion.

"Yeah. Edores persuaded us to. We would help, but college, plus our families are getting suspicious and we don't want to reveal anything. Edores also doesn't want us to die and have to explain it to them." Alice rolls her eyes.

"We wish we could help man, I swear. But you know how stubborn Edores is." Mack snickers, earning a slap on the arm by Her Majesty.

"I'll escort you guys to your room." Edores smiles and the two of them say bye and hug each one of us.

"I'll miss that bossy interior designer." Bursen laughs once they exit the room.

"You have to admit she's good at her job. This castle looks better than mine." I laugh too.

"Focus guys, we need to plan out how we're doing this. We have less than half an hour." Orja looks out of the window again.