We Stand Together

Chapter 26: The Queen's Benevolence

The sound of her boots walking on the metal catwalk echo against the walls. Her pace is unhurried but quick as she marches up to the occupied throne. Both the Queen and her brother wait, watching Eden with cat-like eyes. Had it been any other day, it would have bothered her, but with all the events that had transpired within the last hour, she could have cared less.

"It's alive, and still has it's ball," The Queen announces when Eden comes closer.

Eden knows she's referring to her and Uriah but she's not offended. The Queen seems like one of those people who would choose not to humanize a person, should she become attached. She gives off an air of wanting to be cold and distant. That's fine with Eden though. She has no desire to become closer to the Queen or her brother, only to retrieve what is hers.

As she comes to a stop in front of the throne, the prince turns to eye her with a smug look.

"There is no shame in running away, Guardian. Apart from the cowardice and the failure of it, it's an excellent strategy," He mocks her, putting on fake sympathy.

Eden glowers at him, rolling her shoulders. She knows he's trying to rile her up, make her lose her calm. Too bad Eden won't fall for it today. Two calm, steady breaths relax her tense body. Her posture straightens out again and her face falls into a neutral mask.

"We didn't run-" She pauses to ask Uriah his name. Uldren, he whispers in her mind.

"Prince Uldren," She finishes coolly, looking at the prince with an icy stare.

The Queen moves her stare from Eden to the prince, looking somewhat disappointed.

"Was no Gate Lord slain, brother?"

Uriah stirs within her armor, annoyed. He grumbles before materializing next to Eden's head. His white shell spins only once before he corrects, "Oh, we slayed a Gate Lord alright."

The Queen regards Uriah with a curious, cool glance before turning to stare at Eden, glowing eyes expectant. Beside her, the prince's smug expression holds. If Eden had to guess, he didn't believe that she had actually done it. But she thinks he's going to be in for a surprise with what's about to happen.

"Uriah, if you would," Eden speaks, loud enough for everyone to hear.

The silence lasts only a moment, but it seems to stretch on for hours.

The sound of something transmitting into the air shifts into metal clanking against metal. Uldren's expression goes from smug to outrage in a matter of seconds. Eden's mouth tips up at the corners before she clears her throat.

"As I said before, we're searching for the Black Garden."

Yellow luminescent eyes filled with rage swivel towards his waiting sister.

"They don't even know where it is."

His voice is low and harsh; he's angry at the prospect Eden actually killed a Gate Lord.

The Queen merely glances at her brother's face, expression blank and distant. Her relaxed posture reveals nothing as she responds, "Let us tell them. Search the Gate Lord for that which gains them entrance."

His look of betrayal at her words makes it clear to Eden that they are at odds with the situation. The female stands still and quiet, listening and watching patiently.

"Why?" He mutters, tone hard. "If you wish them certain death, just kill them here!"

There isn't an effort to conceal the shock on Eden's face as she watches the Queen's eyes narrow ever so slightly. The regal woman gazes at her brother with a cool, meticulous stare.

"Often, when we guess at other's motives, we reveal only our own," She murmurs softly, an icy bite to her tone.

As soon as the words leave her mouth, the prince is kneeling before his sister, eyes locked solely on her.

Eden doesn't hear what he says to her but whatever it is, it seems to please the Queen. She looks toward her brother, blue eyes searching.

"Then, please. Take what is required," She orders, authority pouring from her voice.

Eden watches as the prince forces himself from the floor and turns to her, face masked in an unhappy scowl. With great reluctance, he steps down the stairs and stops right in front of the head of the Gate Lord. Uldren stares at her with a bitter glare before yanking a knife from his belt. In quick, rough movements, he kneels and uses the knife to dig into the hardened metal of the Gate Lord head. Eden watches as he searches through the head until finally, he pulls the red optic from the broken husk.

The crimson light fades from the cracked glass as Uldren turns to her with a self- satisfied smile.

"Dead, unfortunately. A wasted journey I'm afraid," He observes, looking straight at Eden with a smirk.

Instantly, a fiery glare alights her golden eyes but before she can say anything, a smooth voice interjects.

"Perhaps. But I think these one's are resourceful," The Queen pauses, but only for a moment. "We gift it, in sympathy for their Traveler," She decides.

Eden watches his face fall as he stares stonily at the dead eye. He's silent so long that Eden thinks he isn't going to tell her when his voice suddenly carries over the room.

"Mars. Eighty-Four North, Thirty-Two East. Meridian Bay," He states, standoffish stare boring into her.

He tosses the eye towards her impossibly fast but Eden catches it without looking away. She stores it in one of the pockets on her belt and looks toward the Queen as she rises, gracefully, from her throne. She glances down at Eden, her proud, beautiful features void of any expression.

"I have shown you benevolence, Guardian. Should the Awoken ever need an ally, I will call on you. And expect you to answer."

The quiet snap of Uldren's knife into his belt draws Eden's attention back to him.

"She's saying you owe us," He quips at her like she's stupid.

Eden grits her teeth and glares at him. If it weren't for Uriah warning her of the outcome of her decisions, she would have opened up and spewed some nasty things at him. Instead, she settles for a barely spoken, "I understand that."

Eden then turns to the Queen and bows her head in respect.

"I humbly thank you for your help, Your Grace," She mumbles softly.

Then, she backs away and turns to walk back down the catwalk. As she's leaving, Eden hears Uldren call after her.

"Good luck.... getting through the Exclusion Zone," Prince Uldren mutters, an edge to his tone.

Annoyance swells in her chest. But, instead of getting angry or agitated, Eden doesn't even respond. There's no reason to. She's got what she needed and now, it's time to take her leave. Silently, she makes her way back to her ship and goes back to the Tower, ready for some rest and relaxation.