When We Ruled The World

Chapter Two: It Must Be Nice

                Astra took a pause to catch her breath and stiffen her posture before entering back into the Jaidone party's room. She wished nothing more than to slide in through the door and go unnoticed. Swallowed by the atmosphere of her friends relaxing finally after being on patrol all day. The hum of the dual fireplaces harmonized with one of the bard's from her brother's court as he strums at his bronze lyre in his lap and he sings in joke over a group of seven other men downing large pints of ale and playing a game of dominos. On the other side of the room the giggles of her court seamstress caught her attention as she gestured to whatever story she was telling the rest. They took bites of tiny sandwiches that matched the ones she was eating a few hours ago with the guys. And in the middle, what used to be many plush thin mattresses has been temporarily moved to make a dance floor and small setups for cards, chess, and tarot readings between the two courts. It was the in between moments like these that Astra felt peace. She wasn't royalty, she didn't have any duty. They were just humans from a small kingdom to the north trying to survive and make the best of what they had. That was what the party liked about Astra, she was like them as much as she could be. Refused to be stuffed away on some throne. No, she wanted to be out living a life. In her town many thought of her as introverted, and she was, but here, with the courts she had no problem revealing a little more of herself. There was a heaviness she wasn't aware of that was on her shoulder and it slacked off a bit as she relaxed her royal posture and shifted her weight to the left side of the door frame. The fire that was scrambling in Astra's chest nearly snuffed out at the site. A warm smile gently appeared and she leaned more relaxed into the wall admiring the mingling of her kingdom... at least while it was still hers. The ache was washing over her. Swallowing the magic she felt needed released, there was only one person who understood what she was feeling. Sage. Astra's eyes scanned the room for her right hand lady. When those pink eyes caught wind they were already staring back at her own. Sage was hunched over the figure of one of the readers at a tarot table obviously skeptical of a couple receiving a reading about their future. Sage cocked an eyebrow amused, scanning the cards one more before looking back to Astra. She took a large sip of ale from one of the knight's pint and he whispered trying to convince her the true meaning of the lovers card before she gave him back his drink and ruffled the hair on his head making her way across the room towards Astra. As much as she needed her right now, Astra really wished she wouldn't because an array of eyes followed Sage now making her presence known. Astra waved them all away in a slightly dramatic "keep going I'm not here" motion. And of course being their princess, they listened.

           When Sage reached Astra her tall frame shadowed over hers easily at 5'10. She wore a burnt orange tunic wrapped dress that matched Astra's court colors and had it pulled tightly against her body to exaggerate every curve she had made that day. Her normally gorgeous cool toned dark brown skin was glowing complimented from the backlight of the fire. Bronze flecks placed timelessly across her cheeks and trailed loosely down to her clavicle. Sage's pink eyes scanned over her frame before leaning down slightly so just the princess could hear her.

"Shall we walk, Princessa?", Sage's voice on her deepened register made Astra more obvious that Charon was right. She never did have a good poker face. Sage saw right through her the moment she walked in, but before she could agree Astra searched Sage's eyes to make sure she was okay with leaving and nothing was wrong. Sure, it wasn't uncommon for Sage to rest her voice when it was just them two, but she never did it in front of a crowd. Sage's expression didn't waver, so it left her no choice.

         "Are. YOU. Okay?", Astra whispered, hand raising to rest on Sage's left forearm in worry.

"That depends if what the word from the King's...", she paused, taking a second to glance over at the table from which she came, seeing the group of knights. They were louder than before, drinking merrily and playing games, each a partner on their lap that Astra was sure was different moments before. Sage cleared her throat and continued teeth gritting in her obvious disdain for the King's party, "from the King's respectable... round... table is indeed true. You are leaving us?"