There was something about the look in her eyes. It was the
sort of look that inspired confidence in her followers, her army. She was the
sort of woman that men fought wars for. While she was painfully aware of her
effect on men and women like, it wasn’t for her ravishing looks, as she didn’t
possess those. She was fairly plain in her appearance. Long brown, straight
hair; brown, never ending eyes; and a slightly crooked smile. She stood with a
complex mix of feigned grace and awkward self consciousness, as she addressed
her men. Somehow, when she spoke, she transformed. Her beauty shone through, like
the way that the sun reaches the smallest of plants in the early hours of the
morning. Her intellect was rapier sharp and just as quick, throwing in a crass
joke or two to elicit a laugh from the lower ranks, and connect her to ‘the
common man’; while eloquently tying in beautifully predetermined metaphors and
imagery to inspire the utmost confidence from her ranks. Her name was Elena,
and she was our queen. The one we would march for, the one we would die for,
and the woman that I called my wife.
She
stepped back from the podium, sounds of applause still ringing in our ears.
Elena walked off the stage with the power and grace of a well spoken official,
but behind the thick red curtains of the stage, she let the sort of façade melt
away. She reached out and hugged me tight, looking deep into my eyes for
approval.
“How
did I do?” I had to chuckle as it was evident that the speech was a rousing
success, yet she still asked. Honestly, I was the last person she needed
approval from. She had a legion of young men willing to die for her. Me? I was
an advisor to the tactics committee, and very rarely saw any action on the
front lines. I smiled and stroked her
cheek.
“You
did good, kiddo.” I said, half sincere, half jokingly. She stuck her tongue out
at me and laughed.
“One of
these days, you’ll stop calling me that.” She said, pushing herself against me.
I smiled, a small private smile and pulled her closer. A cough sounded from
behind me, and Elena looked past me rolling her eyes.
“I’ve
got to be the only ruler in all of fucking Astor that has to stop public
displays of affection with my husband.” She grumbled and pushed away from me. I
turned. It was Cynthia, her etiquette coach and the face of public relations
for the kingdom. She was a sterner looking woman, with thinly rimmed glasses,
and her hair pulled out of her face. Cynthia looked down at the stack of papers
and walked forward, being joined by one of the military advisors on the way. I
saluted the gentleman, recognizing him to be one of the generals of Elena’s
airship fleet. General Dante Valk, leader of the 1st airborne
squadron, the finest pilots in all of Astor. Elena smiled and reached out her
hand to the general who bowed and kissed her hand.
“All
allegiance to her majesty, may her grace protect.” Elena despised the greeting
but it had a certain degree of formality to it that her station demanded. The
general righted himself and Cynthia smiled.
“Your
Grace…”
“Elena.”
Elena said curtly looking at Cynthia a little harshly. The formalities seemed
to be an unnecessary addition to her position and most unwelcome. I hid a small
smile as I stood there beside her.
“Your
Grace, the legion facing Eltheener’s western border have begun the march
towards their capital. Your general has informed me that an aerial assault,
weakening their biodome would be the next step. It would weaken their citizens
and allow for easier passage for our troops.” The general stood silently and I
shook my head.
“As
much as an assault on the city’s dome directly, would aid greatly, it would
also weaken our chances at any sort of eventual diplomatic negotiations.” A
voice came from the shadows and a gentleman with long black hair came forward.
His name was Liam and he was one of Elena’s diplomatic council members. Elena
smiled seeing him joining the small circle. The pair had been close, since the
two grew up together in the palace, the children of noble blood. The General
frowned and waved his hand dismissively at Liam.
“Diplomacy
with the Eltheenians? Highly doubtful. Their leader is more hot headed than our
own and half as wise. Do you really think he’ll have anything to do with us
after we’ve barged through his countryside, and razed two of his cities to the
ground?” The laughter in the General Valk’s voice was clear though he still
tried, in vain, to hide it. Elena frowned and Cynthia’s face paled. Clearly she
hadn’t intended for him to do any of the talking, though Liam was an unaccounted
for variable in her original plan. Liam smirked and shook his head.
“You
seem to think that diplomacy has only one face, General Valk. For your
uneducated, war like hind brain, I’ll speak in small words.” A small, but
powerfully poignant smile passed over his features infecting Liam’s eyes.
“Interrogation can come across as diplomacy as long as you don’t break too many
bones. Keep insulting Elena, our queen, and I may show you that darker side,
personally.” The way Liam looked at Valk made him and myself, uncomfortable.
The sheer brilliance of Liam’s blue eyes and venomous personality seemed to culminate
in his stare. He had always been protective of Elena, taking on his current
position to remain close to her. I once theorized that the two were lovers,
while I was away, though the thought seemed to fade as quickly as it sprung up.
In all of Astor, he was the only man that made me feel uneasy; uneasy about my
position in his eyes and uneasy about leaving my wife alone with him. Elena held back a small chuckle, and covered
her mouth, coughing slightly.
“Ok.
Enough. We should head back to the palace before anymore discussion takes
place. Besides, I’m sure your families would like to see you tonight. I’ve had
you all away for weeks, trying the bring morale higher.” Elena smiled and the
group silently agreed, walking off to the airship. I waited for a moment before
following knowing there would be reporters with their vid droids crawling all
over the exit area. For all that it was public knowledge that I was her
husband, it was considered to be a sign of weakness to have me so close to her
at all times. While none of her trusted companions believed this to be such a
thing, the general public seemed to have adopted that unsavory opinion. It hurt
me to a degree to have to be apart from her on a personal level, but on an
official level it made sense. She needed a strong positive image during the
war.
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