The Queen

20.

I am awakened by Sapphire's screeching and realize I am in bed alone. Jin is nowhere to be found but I can hear Roc pacing outside the bedroom door. I get up and am lucky enough that I fell asleep in my gown. I go to put my shoes on and walk over to the vanity mirror. I make sure my face is fresh and apply a little bit of makeup from the vanity and brush my long hair. I decide to leave it down before I place my crown on my head. I open the bedroom door, and Roc is there pacing back and forth like he is worried about something. 

"Roc? What's the matter? Where is Jin?" I ask him. 

"Oh, good morning my Queen," he says with a small bow before straightening himself back up. "King Jin is in the throne room with the other Kings. Those two intruders from the Light Region were brought in early this morning and the Kings are deciding if they should be allowed to seek sanctuary here," he explains to me. 

"Oh! In that case, take me to the throne room. I need to help with that decision as well," I tell him as I begin making my way there without him.

Roc tuns to catch up to me. "Is that wise your majesty? With your condition and all, I don't want you to be exposed to the people of the Light Region," he says.

"You forget Roc, I lived in the Light Region for over a year. I even visited villages and the Dragon Keeper's palace. I think I can handle two random people," I tell him with a smile. "Besides, what if they really need to be here to escape from that place? I want to make sure that I do what's best for all of the people of Ember, regardless of where they come from," I tell him with a smile.

"You know, you just keep making me think you're the Uniter in the prophecy," he tells me.

"I know," I say proudly.

We make it to the throne room, and I can hear talking from inside. I look to Roc and he grabs the handles of the doors for me.

"Jin is going to kill me for this," he grumbles at me.

"Good thing you're my guard and not his then," I say smugly. I won't let anything ever happen to my friend.

Roc opens the doors for me and I see two men kneeling in the middle with their backs to me. I pay them no mind as I stroll into the throne room, the sounds of my heels clicking against the stone floor.

When the Kings see me, they all smile. Especially my Jin. He has his hand rested against his hand with his elbow on the arm of his throne to prop it up.

"Someone should be resting," he says to me with a gentle smile.

I walk over to the throne and smile, "someone was bored and doesn't like decisions being made without her," I tell him.

"We can make decisions without you, you know," Pan says with a sarcastic grin on his face.

"Yes, but my decisions are better than yours, Shadow King," I say jokingly back to him.