The Runaway Queen

Chapter 4

There's a awkward silence as we walk. I'm really not in the mood for conversation. Jaosh seems like he has his own troubles to stew over. But just to be polite, I speak.
"So your a suitor then?" I ask, trying to hide the distaste from my voice.
"Not by choice." He mutters. I do a double take.
"What?" I ask, confused. We stop in the middle of the hall. Jaosh turns as red as a beet.
"I'm sorry your highness. I didn't-" He starts, but I don't let him finish.
"No seriously I want to know what you meant." I say.
"My father is a duke in Iovania. My uncle is the king. He thought it would be great if he married off his nephew to the Queen of Faiyria. So they sent me here. But they never asked what I wanted. I never have wanted to become a king. And I would rather marry for love-not for power." Jaosh tells me. Iovania is a country far north. Personally I think the king there is incompetent. But I smile at Jaosh's statement.
"Why are you smiling?" He asks suspiciously.
"I know exactly how you feel. I never wanted to be a queen and I don't want those Seatadors to choose who I marry." I tell him. He laughs, and we continue walking. But this time, we walk in a comfortable silence.
When we get to the dining hall, a single Seatador waits there.
"Good evening." I say as I take my seat.
"Queen Eadu." The Seatador bows.
"With all respect, why have I been summoned here?" I try to stay polite, but in truth, I'm still angry.
"We have chosen the suitor we thought would be the best king someday." He says. There's a sudden quiet in the room as I realize he means Jaosh.

Jaosh is a nice guy. He's also handsome, with his blonde hair and hazel eyes. Out of all the suitors, I would of preferred him. But I don't want to marry him. I can't marry him.
"Excuse me. I am very tired and would like to retire to my room." I say coldly. Then I stand up and leave.

I feel like I can't stay in the castle anymore. It's confining, telling me that I have to do my duty. It makes me feel trapped. I don't like being trapped. I would go outside to my garden. But with the recent assassination attempt, the castle is sure to be crawling with guards. There's no way-even for me-I could sneak out of the castle. So I go to my room. I flop down on the king sized bed and stare at the ceiling. There's a knock at the door, but I don't bother answering it. I just want to be alone. The door creaks open. I can tell it's Mufar because he's the only one with the gall to open the door.
"Talk about it." He tells me. I spill out my guts to him, telling him about my betrothal, about Tago and the fact people are trying to unseat me from my throne. Mufar sits in the chair by my bed, patiently listening to my troubles.
"I wish I wasn't Queen. I just want to have a normal life. I can't be myself here." I finish.
"I can honestly say your the best thing that this country's ever had." Mufar says gently. I make a sound that's half laughing and half disbelief.
"Please. My people think I'm a joke." I whisper. The words echo around my brain. It's so true. When I was thought to be dead I would hear them talking about me. I learned that the people didn't miss me, they missed my antics. The things that would make people laugh. When I figured that out, it really stung me.
"Maybe at first. Not now." Mufar says, choosing his words carefully.
"How do you know?" I ask him miserably.
"I hear things. Anyway, you've done so many good things in Faiyria. You disbanded the Kypaiha. You made sure the poor had a way of getting money. You've made the people feel like they matter." Mufar tells me passionately. As soon as I was crowned Queen, I went to the Kypaiha. I found Rogust. He paled when he saw me. I could of had them hanged. Instead I told them I would spare their lives if they completely disbanded the Kypaiha. Once a week I've sent a undercover spy to the slums to make sure that Rogust is keeping his word. So far all is good.

I smile wistfully at the memory.
"Thank you Mufar." I whisper. Then I close my eyes.
As soon as I hear Mufar leave, I'm up and silently tiptoeing around my room. I change my dress, bandage my cut arm, which I've completely forgotten about until now, and sneak out. I head to the library. I open the grand double doors just enough to slip in.
I look at the shelves trying to figure out where the books I want are. I see them towards the top. I could get a ladder. I could come back tomorrow. But obviously I do the irrational thing.
I kick off my high shoes and place my feet on the bottom shelves. I test it to make sure it will hold my weight. It's good. So I quickly climb the bookshelves to find the books I want. I grab several of them and slip them under my arms. Then I start my descent.
I've just nimbly landed on the ground, when I hear the voice.
"That's one way of getting a book." Derrin says. I turn to face him.
"Better then you could do. Anyway, what are you doing?" I tease him. He smiles.
"Mufar warned me to keep a eye out for you as you probably wouldn't stay in your room. The real question is what are you doing here?" He laughs.
Dang Mufar.
"Late night reading." I tell him. He comes and takes a book from my arms.
"Amazons-Real or Not?" Derrin reads. He looks at the expression on my face, and his light hearted mood changes instantly.
"I thought that if I'm leaving tomorrow, then I should read up on my enemy." I say flatly.
"I'm sorry about everything." Derrin says quietly. I sigh.
"It's my duty." I say miserably. Derrin steps forward to give me a reassuring hug. When he pulls away, I feel much better.
"Thanks. I needed that." I say, forcing a smile on my face.
"You can't possibly read all of these in one night. You want help?" He asks. I smile again, this time a real one.
So that's how I spend the remainder of my night. Reading up on the Anazons-my worst enemy-with my best friend at my side.