Political Discussion

And just like that the matter of whether or not the humans would join was settled and plans could begin. At least, it was settled for everyone except one key character.

"Wait, you are planning on going to the South?" Devrim's mouth hung slack-jawed for a moment.

"You mean you aren't?" Aurora looked equally confused.

Though the Empress didn't know why she should be surprised. Devrim had never sought adventure. He did what needed to be done, but the Emperor had no desire to seek glory and adventure.

The grey-eyed man was the opposite of Chief Zan, whose wanderlust had led him to the Land of Magic long before most of those in the room had been born. If pressed, Devrim would admit he preferred a good book and a night in with his wife to anything the outside world had to offer.

"We can send some of our best warriors..." Devrim started to argue, but already he was getting a look that provided his answer.

"I will take all the warriors with me that you like, my love. But in all of humanity, only you, Zan, the Guardian, Nurlan, Junayd, and I have the knowledge of the Land of Magic and its inhabitants to be up to this task."

"We aren't going to the Land of Magic though. Quite the opposite." Devrim crossed his arms.

"But we have encountered all sorts of unknown situations and creatures and learned how to adapt. I do think many of those skills will translate." Aurora blew out her cheeks. Her husband was not this dense. Something else was going on.

"Allow me to go, Your Majesty," Nurlan offered. He looked apologetically at the man in the chair next to him. Obviously, Junayd would not be able to leave on this adventure no matter how willing he was.

"I hope you will, General. But with me not for me. May I speak to you privately for a moment, my love?" Aurora's tone made the rest of the room prepare to file out. The Empress held up her hand. "With my husband's agreement, we will take a walk about the gardens. Chief Zan and Fate Hanna, will you carry on in my stead? I know there are many things which must still be decided."

Everyone rose to let the royal couple exit. Devrim offered his arm and the fiery-haired Empress looped her hand onto his elbow. They were barely in the hall before the two began to speak simultaneously.

"Do you really have to go this time?" The Emperor pleaded.

"Do you want to tell me what is really going on?" Aurora's voice overlapped her husband's.

The two stared at one another for a moment. A tacit understanding passed between them that they would discuss this once they got outside.

Servants brought thick winter cloaks for the two royals, and the pair walked out into the crisp afternoon air. The garden which they entered was covered with a healthy layer of snow. Only a few winter blooms peeked out among the white blanket, making the blooms bright pops of color in the otherwise bleak landscape.

Aurora smiled at her husband. "Let's try again. What is really going on? You and I both know we are the most equipped for this mission. The magical creatures lack their powers, but we have never had any magic to begin with. For once we will be the ones protecting them when we travel."

"That's the problem. You will be protecting them. Who will be protecting you?" Devrim sighed as the snow crunched below his ambling feet.

"I always thought you would, I suppose." Aurora laid her head on the man's shoulder. Even worlds away, Aurora had felt the man's love protecting her from harm. When Devrim was near, the Empress knew she would be alright.

The Emperor kissed the top of her head. "What about if I cannot protect you?"

"We will bring an army of support..." Aurora felt the man drop her arm as he wrapped his own around her waist.

"I love our kingdom, and I want the world to be alright. But you, Aurora, are my primary concern. I will protect you with every bit of strength I have. You, Mairwen, Alaron, Colvyr, and...anyone else who may come along."

"There's the real problem," Aurora gave a pale smile. "Colvyr is not a baby anymore and you have been hoping we would be blessed again."

"I have made no secret of that point," Devrim protested. "I always wanted a sibling, especially after my parents died. Mairwen and Alaron are wonderful, but they have their own lives. You know how lonely it can be in the palace when you have no playmate."

Aurora stiffened. As a child, Nanny had been her only companion other than the odd servant who was cordial. When Devrim came into her life, it was as if the skies had opened and the sun finally shone for the first time.

"I do see your point. But I am currently not with child. That is just the way it is. It took a decade to conceive our first. We may have to be content to let Anna's children and the young nobility be company for Colvyr for now." 'Or forever....' The Empress left the last words unsaid.

"I am sorry my love, I didn't mean to suggest that I am discontent with the way things are..." Devrim stopped as he felt Aurora's hands wrap around his chest.

"No need to be sorry. I love that you care and want to have a family and a life with me." She looked up at him winsomely. "You are a good man. The best, in fact. And as a good man, you will not stop the best chance of saving the world from going just because you don't like it. That best chance, by the way, is us."

Devrim sighed.

Feeling she was making some progress, Aurora pulled her body closer to her husband. "Think of it this way. It will be like our second honeymoon."

The grey-eyed man slowed his pace. "We didn't really have a first..."

"I mean, we spent a night in the most exclusive palace in the world and took a rustic tour of the north. Some of that was before we got married, but I would think it still counts." Aurora remembered her trip to and time in the Mystic Spires.

While some of the trip had been harrowing and full of tension, other parts of the trip had been some of the best moments of Aurora's life. Her first kiss. Her marriage. Love.

"You have an interesting definition of romance," Devrim chuckled. There was so much about the woman beside him that he would never understand. "My perfect honeymoon would have been somewhere quiet with a beach and no one to bother us except the occasional meal."

"How about we do both? We will go on this little excursion to save the world and then once we get back, we can take a family trip to the beach and sneak away for a couple of days." Aurora looked up and winked. "If we are lucky, that sibling for Colvyr won't be too far behind."

"You are quite the politician." Devrim clicked his tongue.

"That wasn't a no." The Empress noted.

"As much as I want to protect you," Devrim shook his head, "The idea that our children...our world... might be thrown into an eternal summer and end life as we know it--I know we need to go. Both of us. I am just glad you didn't consider leaving me behind this time."

"There is no impending threat against the castle. And I honestly never want to let you out of my sight again." Aurora had nearly lost the man too many times. She knew he felt the same about her.

"Promise me after this, we will settle down and grow old together quietly," Devrim hugged Aurora, rubbing her back as he felt her shiver.

Aurora knew how much of a toll leadership of the human world was taking on her husband. It took a toll on her as well. "If the Maker allows, I promise to lead a boring but stable life as a leader until Colvyr is old enough to take over. Then I will be happy to go live on a beach of your choosing with you and never be bothered again."

"Sounds perfect," Devrim agreed. The thoughts of all that might lay in his future took the much of the sting out of the present problem. As long as he had something to look forward to, the present seemed somehow less bleak. He heard the Empress snort lightly. "What?"

"I'm not the only politician around here, it seems. You just got me to agree to wanting another child and retiring early all in one conversation." Aurora looked up and squinted at her husband.

The Emperor shrugged, and tilted his wife's chin playfully with his finger. "What can I say? I learned from the best."