Nocturne

☼ Chapter Twenty-Eight ~ Aurora ☼

The sunset was beautiful.

Aurora smiled up at the sinking sun, the sky now awash in vibrant pinks and gentle oranges.

She turned to the woman by her side, hand clasped softly in hers. Her purple eyes were turned up wonderingly to the heavens, oblivious to the amber ones gazing wonderingly at her.

Aurora didn't know how she'd done it.

She'd brought her back- brought them both back. She'd proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that she was strong enough to wrest their future from the hands of all those around them.

Aurora had never doubted her own strength before, but in the face of the courage of her girlfriend, her past confidence seemed strange, a conceited belief of a narcissistic child. Strength isn't innate, measured by popularity and social skills, nor is it the number of weights you can lift or laps you can run. Strength had to be earned, proven day after day, moment after moment.

Had Aurora proven her strength?

She didn't know.

But when she did, she'd know.

She hoped.

"Nocturne?" Aurora queried, quietly as she could manage.

Nocturne jumped slightly, and Aurora laughed. Still the same old Nocturne after all. "Yeah?"

Aurora squeezed her hand. "We should get to bed. Aelius wants to see us pretty early tomorrow."

Nocturne nodded absently. "Yes, yes." She hesitated. "Do you mind if I stay out here a little longer?" She gestured to the horizon, where the full moon was rising again.

Aurora nodded, trying and failing to hide her disappointment. The lesson that Nocturne had a life separate from her own had been the hardest to grasp over the last month. She still struggled sometimes.

Was it not the Moon's lot to reflect the Sun's brilliance?

Aurora kissed Nocturne on the cheek. "Good night, then. See you tomorrow?"

Nocturne smiled up at her. "Yes. Good night, Aurora."

The morning dawned bright, but Aurora, Asa, and Nocturne had been up long before Eos had drawn open the gates.

Prince Aelius hadn't been the only one to greet them in the throne room that morning. Queen Surya and King Arun had awaited them also, standing before the thrones that dominated the room.

Nocturne had drawn in a little worried sigh of air when she'd seen them. They were all dressed in the highest finery Aurora had ever seen, as if they'd spent the night preparing for some grand event.

The King had largely avoided the three in the weeks since the failed execution, what some people were already beginning to call the Sunfall- despite it having taken place at dawn. Aurora had only seen him thrice, two of which were unavoidable state functions.

She squeezed Nocturne's hand. It seemed there was more at play than either of them had guessed.

A crowd milled around in the great hall, all uncertain gossiping and excited fluttering. King Arun presented himself with all the majesty of a peacock, whereas Aelius lingered slightly off to the side, seeming relaxed, yet as powerful as a serpent. The crowd's whispering grew louder and even more eager.

Aurora was no fool. The crowd saw what they wanted to see, but Aurora had seen and heard enough of the prince and king in recent weeks to figure out pretty quickly that something was different in the relationship between the two.

"Aurora," commanded King Arun, "Come stand by me."

Aurora narrowed her eyes at him.

He grunted. "Please, come stand by me." Aelius shot his father an approving nod.

Aurora stepped forwards, raising an eyebrow. Her ceremonial robe made a pleasant swishing sound against the stone floor.She hadn't had a chance to notice how much the power dynamic between the men had changed before. Arun seemed almost deferential, acknowledging Aurora and Aelius in a respectful manner.

What had Aelius done to him?

She had seen many of their interactions, overheard rushed conversations, but she had never seen King Arun so submissive before! Sure, Aelius had gotten him to agree to this, but Arun had never been like... this.

The High Priestess searched her mind and Arun's expression. Fear, she realized. The mighty King Arun, Lion of the Noonday Sun, was afraid.

She knew she must be spending too much time around Nocturne, because her next thought was in her quiet voice. How long before fear turns to anger, and from there, to hate?

Arun cleared his throat and began, pushing the words from his throat. "People of Apollo!" Asa, Aelius, and Aurora all shot the king a look at the same moment. "And of Artemis," the king corrected himself in a slightly quieter voice. "I have gathered you here today to bear witness to the changing of the crown."

The crowd rumbled again, an energized buzz of neither happiness nor disappointment. Nocturne looked slightly confused. They had all known what would happen, didn't they? It had been announced on all the posters throughout the City, not to mention shouted at innocent passerby by the emerging anti-lunar group calling themselves the Sanctimonia. Aurora's mouth twitched upwards.

"I, King Arun of Apollo, do hereby renounce my golden crown and abdicate from the throne. My son, Prince Aelius, shall rule after me and I and all my people shall be subject to his decree."

He stopped, awkward and uncomfortable. Aelius coughed pointedly, and the once-king sighed.

His face was worn down, the fire in it that once blazed high enough to scorch the sky nothing more than fluttering embers, in need of a protective hand to stay alight. Aurora almost pitied him.

Almost.

Arun sighed and reached up. He lifted his crown from his head, glittering in gold and ruby splendour.

He hesitated. "Now?" he asked, quietly, so the yammering crowd wouldn't hear.

Aelius tilted his head and waved an arm at a vast vaulted window and the city and sky beyond. The clouds were beginning to light, the buildings warming from the night, the gazania daisies and california poppies adorning the streets and houses peeking out between their petals as they awaited the dawn.

"I'd say you have about five minutes. Aurora?" Aelius responded, his voice mercilessly loud.

Aurora nodded confirmation, knowing what he was asking. "Seven minutes and twelve seconds, actually, but yes." Her tone was quieter, but not so quiet the group of honour, consisting of Asa, Nocturne, and Queen Surya, could not hear.

Nocturne looked confused. Queen Surya leaned over and whispered in her ear, and her mouth opened in a perfect O of understanding.

The new ruler of Apollo must be crowned before dawn but after sunset, so that Apollo never had to go a moment of any day without a leader firmly on the throne. If the current ruler died during the day, their death would not be announced and their reign end until after the sun had fallen.

The tradition would not be broken now.

Arun closed his eyes, his face creasing into ancient furrows. Queen Surya took his hand.

It was her throne too, given to her by marriage. If Arun gave up his crown, hers would fall too. Yet she smiled and quietly encouraged her husband.

He knelt before his son.

The crown seemed to glow in the firelight, glistening and gleaming, leaping and singing.

He lifted it as he bowed his head, offering it to his successor.

Aelius took it from him, bowing his own head in turn. Instead of putting it on himself, he offered it to Aurora.

"For peace."

Aurora smiled and echoed him, her eyes meeting Nocturne's for a heartbeat as she spoke.

"For love."

She leaned down and placed it upon the new king's brow. He looked out over the hall and the city gleaming outside, dawnlight beginning to seep in.

"For Apollo!" the crowd cheered along with their declaration.

For Apollo.