15 FIFTEEN

Will took his sweet time coming to their table. People kept pulling him over, clapping him on the back, applauding him. Will certainly seemed to be enjoying it.

"He's certainly enjoying himself " Karen snorted.

"That's the Will we know" Thomas chuckled.

Celeste couldn't help but agree as she watched Will chat with a few ladies. They were giggling at something he had said and Will looked proud of himself.

Will wasn't even that funny!

Still, their high pitched laughter filled the room.

"Oh, Wilhelm" One said in an overly exaggerated accent.

"You are too funny"

Celeste kept her scoff to herself.

Will arrived at the table at the same time that the food did. Celeste gave the steaming hot plate of stew her utmost attention. Her mouth watered as she gobbled a spoonful. She heard Will draw his chair and laugh at something Thomas said.

The stew was more important. Celeste wasn't used to being starved. She didn't like the feeling. Why had she never noticed how tasty stew was? Was it just this stew or did all stew taste like this? Did she like it only because she was hungry?

"Didn't they teach you manners at the castle?" Will smirked at her, breaking Celeste out of her chain of stew filled thoughts?

Celeste glared at him sharply.

"Is that where you learned to sing?" Celeste shot back. Will rose an eyebrow at her.

"You have to admit I was good," Will said.

"I don't! Because you weren't good. You sounded like a constipated frog" Celeste lied.

"A constipated frog?" Will said incredulously as Karen laughed loudly.

Thomas patted Will on his shoulder.

"Blue," He said solemnly. "I think you hurt Wilhelms feelings"

All three of them burst out laughing. Will gasped dramatically.

"My own best friend!" He said despairingly. "I always expected this from Karen, but you Tommy? Does loyalty not exist anymore?"

"Where did you learn to play like that ?" Celeste said curiously.

A shadow fell over Will's face but it left quickly.

"Doesn't matter. Now if you don't mind,

I am going to eat the food I EARNED FOR US"

His spoon was almost in his mouth when he paused. He reached into his pocket and threw something at Celeste. Celeste caught it easily, feeling the cold metal in her palm.

"Forgot to give your locket back to you. I just realized I had it " Will said turning his gaze back to the stew.

"Thank you," Celeste said softly. She turned the locket over in her hand, grimacing at. It was a reminder, a reminder of her name.

Sitting here in a crowded pub with her friends, she could be mistaken for anyone

She wasn't just anyone.

She Celeste Valois, last of her name, rightful ruler of Astoria.

Celeste contemplated wearing the necklace for a moment, then she thought back to the first time she wore it. She could almost see her father holding it out to her.

" This used to belong to my sister " He had said softly. It was one of those rare occasions where her father didn't look like a King. He just looked like a very sad person reminiscing the past.

" You would've loved her Cel, even now you remind me so much of Laila. You have the same fiery heart and a warrior's soul. She would've loved to meet you too. She never used to take this thing off, she was wearing the bloody thing when she died too.

And nows its yours Celly. Whenever you wear it , it will remind you of who you are. Not just Celeste Valois, but a good, brave person"

At that time, Celeste had eagerly grabbed the locket and had promptly never taken it off. She was proud of it too, showing it off to everyone. Laila Valois had been his father's little sister by one year, the aunt she had never known. People still told stories of her, the girl with the red hair. The kind girl, the brave girl, the fearless lion. Loved and admired by every single person that met her. The princess who died at sixteen. Two rebels had snuck into the castle, when a little servant boy saw them both of them tried to kill him. The servant boy, who at that time was only eight claimed Princess Laila had emerged out of nowhere, pouncing on the two men. She fought and held her own against two grown men while protecting a child. She knocked one of them out, she had her sword at the throat of the other. But she couldn't kill him, when they hear the guards' footsteps Laila looked away for a moment. A moment was enough, the rebel's knife caught her in the stomach. Laila had fought with honor, the enemy had not. She was remembered as the warrior princess who sacrificed her life for a mere servant boy.

Celeste clenched the locket in her fist. Her father had been wrong. She was nothing like her aunt.

This locket was only a painful reminder of all she had lost.

It was a painful reminder that her family was dead.

" Anything interesting happen when I was gone ?" Will said mouth full of stew.

Celeste shoved her locket in the little pocket of her dress.

" Celeste met this handsome gentleman," Karen said, eyes sparkling with mischief. Will choked on his stew.

" I would hardly call it meeting" Celeste glared at Karen who only shrugged. " He was just saying hello"

" Hello?" Will snorted.

" Just drop it" Celeste grumbled.

" Yeah I doubt just any common boy would be good enough for Your Majesty here," Will said.

Celeste knew he was joking, she knew she should brush it off. But for some reason, that comment hit a sore spot.

Celeste glared at him.

" I don't have time for annoying pricks. I have a country to run" She said harshly.

Everyone exchanged a look at her sudden change of mood. They ate the rest of their food in peace.

They walked, soon leaving Nashville behind. Celeste kept to herself all the way.

They finally stopped for the night, tonight they built a fire. Celeste heard the flames cackle as she stared at the night sky. She could hear Thomas and Will talk in hushed whispers on the other side of the fire. She felt someone lay down next to her.

" That's Orion," Karen said softly, pointing to a group of stars. " The lions head," She said turning to Celeste.

Celeste stared at the stars, feeling a sense of calmness take her.

" I never paid much attention to astronomy," She said wistfully.

" Those are Andromeda, Perseus, and Cassiopeia" Explained Karen.

" There's a story behind them, would you like to hear it?"

Celeste nodded.

"The King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia of Ethiopia had a beautiful daughter named Andromeda. The vain Queen Cassiopeia whose boastfulness knew no bounds claimed that her daughter was more beautiful than even the sea nymphs. Upon hearing of this, the sea god, Poseidon threatened to unleash a flood and monster on Ethiopia. To save the kingdom, Andromeda was sacrificed and chained to a sea-cliff to be devoured by the monster.

Perseus who was sailing by was captivated by the frail beauty. In return for her parents' permission to marry Andromeda, Perseus killed the beast and joyously claims his bride.

Athena placed Andromeda in the skies next to Perseus. Poseidon also placed Cassiopeia in the heavens on her throne, where she hangs upside down half the year as punishment for her sins." Karen finished.

" That's... neat"

Karen chuckled.

" That's Hercules," She said again. " Pretty famous though"

" I've read about him," Celeste said. "It's depressing though, isn't it? He spent all his life fighting, and just when he thought it was over... And by the person he loved? His own wife?" Celeste chuckled bitterly. " Greek Mythology is messed up"

" I cried when my dad told me the story. Don't look at me like that! I was six. I remember looking at him and cry that it wasn't supposed to be this. The hero was supposed to live happily ever after. But aside from fairy tales, I've realized that's how it is. Greek Mythology is messed up but so is this world. Good conquers all, that's not really true"

Celeste smiled sadly.

" We can't just give up, can we? There would be no heroes if no one tried" She said thinking of her aunt Laila.

" I think heroes come to realize that some things are worth dying for," Karen said.

Celeste felt a rush of admiration and love for Karen. She stared intently at her.

" When we go back to my castle, I mean I know you probably wo- But Thomas wi- Would you want to stay at the castle with me? Or at least visit me every day?"

" As your lady?" Karen said jokingly.

" No," Celeste said nervously. " As my friend"