The Queen

28.

A look of determination comes over my face at the idea swirling around inside of my brain. Lyre notices me and I almost think he knows exactly what I am thinking.

"I know that look of yours Luna. You have an idea. But you're wrong," he says sternly. This causes the others in the room to look at him as he gains the attention of the floor. 

I look to him surprised, and he continues his thought, and it makes me think Lyre and I are closer than we know. "Giving yourself up isn't going to stop anything. It may stop the Gods from participating, but it won't stop the Dark and Light Regions from continuing their fight," Lyre says as he narrows his eyes at me. 

"Are you fucking serious Lunella!?" Jin turns on me in rage. 

"Oh, Hell no! I did not get tortured for who knows how long in my own land of ruling, all for you to turn around and go back willingly! Do you know what they will do to you!?" Lucifer joins in the yelling fest at me. 

I watch as they both stomp over to me and stop right in front of me. Lucifer cranes his neck to be close to my face. "They are going to chain you up for the rest of your days and keep you locked away in a room. They will do whatever they please with you whenever they feel like it, regardless of if you want it or not. They will torture you and let others torture you. Hell, they may even let the Light Region Royals in on the fun, just to prove to you that they control your life and what happens to you from then on out. You will be drained of your magic and die there, knowing not even the light of day or an ounce of anything other than suffering and misery," Lucifer tells me. 

I begin to cry and cover my face with my hands. Sobs start wracking my body because I don't know what else to do anymore. I don't know another solution other than this one. 

"Do you want to see our children grow up and any other children we may have Lunella?! Don't you want a good life with them and to be happy!? Don't you want to be fucking happy with me!?" Jin yells to me.

"OF COURSE I DO!" I yell and silence his and Lucifer's yelling fit. "Of course, I want to be happy but at what cost is my happiness worth! Thousands of people are going to die for me! People that have lives and families and people that care about them! Why is my life worth more than theirs!? It's not!" I yell through my tears. 

Lyre walks between Lucifer and Jin and shakes his head gently at them. I am crying in my hands again and Lyre places his hand under my chin to lift my face towards him. "Luna, I understand what you are trying to do. You want a peaceful end where no one dies. It's what everyone wants. But it's not a possibility. Just like with that village you lived in with that boy you named your son after. Do you remember what happened there? You gave yourself up and they all died anyway. The end will be the same if you give yourself up to the Gods. You will suffer alone and everyone you love and care about will die anyway. At least if you stay here and don't give up, you will have a fighting chance to save what you care most about," he tells me and wipes my tears away from my cheek with his thumb. 

"But who am I Lyre if I don't at least try! What does that say about me!" I yell at him through my tears. 

"I didn't ask you not to try Luna. You can try by being here and being the Queen your people need you to be. With all the war going on, the people here will need someone to look to. They will need someone to protect them and keep them safe. You are an amazing Queen and ruler Luna; I have seen you and heard you rule here for a few months now. I dare say, you are better than I would ever be in your quick thinking and decision making for your people. The people here already admire and adore you to no end. Imagine their suffering if you were taken from them. Imagine your husband's suffering as he scours the lands to look for you. Imagine your children's suffering as they go without both a mother and a father. Imagine your friends suffering when no one can find you. Imagine my suffering, when I have to search high and low for you all over again. When you think you are doing a good thing by giving yourself up, imagine those things. You won't be aiding anyone by doing that. The only thing you would maybe do is get the Gods to back out of the war," Lyre tells me as I stare up at him.