10 Chapter 10: Reunion

"Adoria, have they arrived yet?"

"No, Your Majesty. They have not arrived within the 5 minutes between the last time you asked me and now."

Continuing to pace around my chambers without patience, I found myself growing more and more anxious with every passing second. What would happen if something had happened that I was not aware of? If Gaius and Lami were not as healthy as they claimed when they get here? Or if they find I have become too self-important and headstrong now that I have found myself in such an important position?

"Very well Adoria...my apologies, I am simply...anxious. I have not seen them in quite some time now. I do hope they have not begun to think ill of me."

"Please take a deep breath and think for a moment, Your Majesty."

"I am thinking, Adoria. And I have reached many a conclusion."

"These conclusions would happen to be...?"

Before I could respond to Adoria with a truly foolish response, Anna interrupted us with a small curtsy, her plaited hair flying behind her, clearly having rushed over.

"Your Majesty, your guests have arrived."

What happened next may not have been particularly befitting of a Queen, but I do not think that matters. With an excited squeal, I rushed to the gates to see Lami and my beloved. Oh, how I had missed him! I was quite fortunate in that I had Adoria to take care of me. If she had not run alongside me, lifting my dress enough so that I did not trip, I may have taken quite the embarrassing fall. I surely could not have dreamed of a better retainer. No, there was no better fit than my Adoria.

Today he was dressed as simple as a young farm boy, he looked as if from another world in that plain green tunic but it only caused me to love him more. I rushed into his embrace and felt him spin me around in his arms. It simply felt...right. This was where we were meant to be. Like fate, or destiny. This was meant to be us.

Our lips clashed, re-united. His lips against mine felt warm and soft. When we kissed, it was as if all was right with the world once again. My worries flushed away, forgotten. Time had frozen itself. This moment was everything, and everything was this moment. My heart would not stop thumping. Thump. Thump. Thump. That was the only sound I could hear when our lips were interlocked, dancing with each other. He was my world, and I was his. Could there be anything more beautiful to wish for? His lips were so soft, full of the innocence I loved him for. I knew that these lips were reserved for me, and mine were for him. I belonged to him, and he belonged to me.

Pulling away after the kiss for what felt like too short a time felt like being interrupted from the most wonderful of dreams. My mood as soon as it ended worsened considerably. That did not mean my day was any less bright. Taking my love's hands in mine, we finally spoke after a silence that could have lasted an eternity.

"Gaius, how I have missed you! You must tell me everything that has been going on since we spoke last! How have your family been?"

I had not heard his voice in so long. It was truly like an angel had descended from the heavens to bless me with his choir, despite the response being such a simple one.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I will tell you of everything!"

I shook my head a little as Gaius called me by my title. I should have known he would have felt too nervous to use my nickname, or even just my name in a place like this, bless him.

After our wonderful reunion, I faced Lami and pulled her into a great embrace as well.

"Of course, I would not forget the best of friends as well, Lami!" to which the girl-well, she looked more of a woman than a girl these days. It had only been a month but Lami definitely looked as if she had grown while I was not around. She looked more...mature, I think the word was. However you would describe it, I could feel the joy and excitement in her voice as if she had never changed.

"Oh Lulu, I missed you girl! I mean I know you're a great Queen and everything but it just really ain't the same y'know?!"

"Oh, of course, Lami. It has not quite been normal in any sense of the word for us as of late, has it?"

"No, not at all Lulu!"

Escorted back to the halls by a squadron of Knights who had joined Adoria, it finally felt as if I had brought a piece of home to the palace walls. We had so much to discuss. To catch up on. I had so much to show them, so many people to introduce them to!

I had already begun as we were escorted back. Pointing to a figure I was getting used to spending most of my time with here, I spoke. "This here is Adoria, who has been a wonderful friend and perhaps the best companion I could ask for in the absence of the two of you." We were offered a quick smile and a salute from Adoria before she swiftly re-focused her attention to her surroundings.

"Oh, so you've found a new best friend Lulu? Oh, the betrayal!" Lami joked, placing a dramatic hand upon her forehead as she pretended that she was about to faint.

That brought a small chuckle from Gaius. Now that he had come to my attention again I began to realise, he had been rather quiet since we reunited at the gates. Perhaps he was simply taken aback by everything around him? Still...he did not quite seem himself.

In an attempt to offer some amount of reassurance, I quickly planted a kiss on his cheek to let him know I was there. All he could muster in return was a faltering smile. So I had been correct. My love was truly not right. Something must have happened, I knew it.

The thoughts of that letter I discovered a week ago floated around my head. Someone who was adapting well would not have sent that, no matter how much I wanted to push thoughts like that away. He must have been lonely. I could not blame him. I had longed for his touch too.

If that was the case however, why was he not spurred on by our reunion? The eternal wait over for the moment? Was it because it seemed to be only for the moment? That we did not know when we would meet again after?

I noted to myself that we must set aside some time for a talk, but in the moment, selfish though it may have been I wished only to rejoice in finally having my love and my greatest friend from home within the Earthen Palace. Who could have imagined where we would end up here of all places? It was still so surreal.

Taking my love's hand in mine, I led us toward my very own chambers. I say led; I had tried to imagine that the battalion of guards were not really there! I had learned to tune them out or the fretting over my privacy would truly never end.

Had someone not met Lami, they may have been taken aback by how bold she acted in front of royalty and a battalion of armed guards. I am certain most would not have expected her to rush past all of us to dive headfirst onto my bed.

"It's huge, Lulu! Isn't it a little much?" she cried. I looked away for a moment, trying to think of some way to downplay the luxury this life had afforded me.

It was not what I had expected to brighten Gaius up, but a smile formed upon his lips as he spoke.

"Well, it does suit a Queen. And you've always been my Queen, Lu."

I could not help myself. I wrapped my arms around my love so tight that it was becoming more of a bear hug, but he was just so sweet. Perhaps I was simply worried over nothing! Of course, being invited to see Royalty and their company would be an overwhelming thing! How foolish of me.

"You are too sweet, dear." I offered in return before our lips met again, freezing time and simply relishing the touch of one another. Every time we met, I was blessed with the touch of his lips. In the past month, I had made decisions that may have lasting effects on our very nation and possibly the world for generations to come. Yet, this was when I felt most like a true Queen. My King had arrived, at last.

Could we stay like this forever? I would not complain if that were the case.

Things could not be that easy, of course. We would simply have to hope that the legion of guards around us would not judge us too harshly for the way we were openly displaying our affection for each other!

Adoria was not very good at whistling, I learned rather swiftly. I could hear her attempts to be casual about it from just near the door, though she only sounded forced and awkward. It was almost cute of her.

Lami on the other hand had become used to this over time. Sometimes she would fawn over us. Other times, she acted like a mother around two precious children when watching us. So why was it that she seemed different? Almost as if she were analysing our every move, despite the friendly smile on her face? I had known her long enough now. There was more to this than what appeared on the surface. Surely?

It could not be that I was simply too paranoid as a Queen, could it? Had I been letting such things leak into my personal affairs? I certainly hoped not.

After our lips had parted once again, I gave my attention to Lami, and even let her try on the royal crown. I do not think such a thing suits her if I am honest-she is such a free spirit, after all.

Besides, I could not give this up after so short a time. No, my drive had increased in the last month. There is a reason for everything. Enough of that. My dear friends from home were here. My mind should be clear of thoughts like these. Gone from the back of my head.

"Shall I introduce you to a new friend of mine, you two? I think you would like Uli."

My query was met with an overwhelmingly positive response.

"Oh, I'd love to meet all your new friends, Lulu!"

"As would I, my love."

Before I knew it, we were not just meeting with Uli but with the entire palace. Dahlia was very fond of Lami, which I suppose I should have seen coming. They both spoke their mind whenever they could, after all. Uli and Gaius were not a pair I expected to take off with each other so much, but I was not one to complain of such a development!

The only people in the palace we avoided were those like Fraus. People I had no intention of seeing on what was meant to be such a joyous occasion.

I do not know how Adoria had managed it, but she had managed to find Gaius and I a spot to be completely alone together. Underneath one of the colossal leaves of the Great Oak, close to the peak, we lay in each other's embrace, just as we used to before everything had changed. Adoria was keeping watch not far from us, but it was as if it were just the two of us once again as Lami found a new friend in Dahlia.

"Gaius...my love, I could truly stay like this for the rest of my days. When some time has passed...and you are certain your family will manage, come and sit beside me every day. Be my King."

An awkward smile was mustered up in return. It did not take a scholar to know that Gaius was clearly nervous when I had said this. It was understandable of course, but it was something that we needed to discuss were we to be together as we planned. Finally, he spoke. Music to my ears. Though that was simply how his voice always sounded. I believed it to be impossible for someone's day not to have brightened after having heard the voice of my love.

"Am I...can I really be a King?"

"I ask myself the same thing every day on if I should be in my position, dear. I do understand your nerves."

"It's not the same, Lu."

"It's not? How so?"

"Well...you have...actual problems! Responsibilities! You're still the one who is Ruler and in charge in the nation, even if I join you as King!"

Gaius did not usually get so flustered, or as loud as this. It was saved for very rare occasions. This was one of the occasions that I did not quite understand it. Whatever could he mean? Not having the final authority on things that will affect our nation does not make him less valuable to me, nor does it mean he cannot do anything to help. He can do plenty. He should know that himself.

"Gaius, my love, calm down, please."

I offered a quick peck on his lips to buy a moment of silence, before I continued.

"You can do this, Gaius. All things happen for a reason. Fate has decided it will be this way, and we know your place is beside me, yes?"

"How can you be so sure? Hasn't this month been chaotic? Scary?"

"Why, of course it has! That comes with the duties I bear, Gaius. But after just a month...I would not trade my position if you begged."

"Well, I'm not begging. But Lu, I really don't understand. I would have thought you'd be discussing stepping down anyday now. From how it seemed when you started...the life together we may have had."

"Gaius, this life will be even better. I swear on my honour as a Queen that it will be."

My heart was sinking as Gaius formed a frown. Just as his letter struck a sadness into my heart before with a mere 6 words, he improved upon the feat. This time, it only took 3 words. The face he made was not one of the Gaius I had become so accustomed to, that much was clear. He had been acting rather strange all afternoon, but I had not been expecting something like this. Upon hearing them, I froze.

"Lutum, you've changed."