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2
I sighed deeply and sat all the way back into the chair, closing my eyes, as a cool wisp of wind came through my window brushing the hair from my cheek.
What should I do about this mutiny issue? It's spreading like a plague all throughout the country. Even the most noble of the council will grow fed up with me if they're not already...
My thoughts grew heavy and coated my mind with thick darkness pulling me deeper and deeper into the darkness, until I gave in and succumbed to sleep.
I awoke in groggy disgruntled fog as I tried to remember if I had dreamed anything, which just hurt my head more, gnarling, contorting and braiding my thoughts into confusing knots that pained my head.
Frustrated, I sighed as a cool breeze drifted through my window, stirring the curtains wildly and causing my pale hair to fall in my face.
I stood up letting the night air envelope me in it's perfumed embrace. I walked to the window and stared up at the night sky in awe. I could smell the rain that was hiding in the smoke gray clouds.
" No moon tonight. Must be evil forces a work." I grinned childishly unknowing the irony that was held in my words.
" You are right Leia." A deep voice answered. My stomach clenched as I turned hoping to see a guard that may have spoken.
I peered into the darkness that shrouded the corners of the room. My gaze stopped. The corner to the right of me. Is that a silhouette of a man?
I managed to find my voice, "I'm giving you three seconds to leave before I call the guards." I said shakily and unsure of what to do.
He stepped out of the shadows. I was astonished, my sharp intake of breath must've said what I was thinking. He was magnificent. His dark hair covered his eyes that were dark as the night itself and he towered over me. He looks like some of the people I have seen in the market, but he is different. When I see him I want to wrap my arms around him and kiss him until he can no longer breathe. What makes him so different? Why does every aspect of him entice me so?
He took a step closer to me. I began to drown in my sea of thoughts.
" One." I said trying my best to mask the panic I was feeling.
"Leia," his voice was a whisper, "please don't call the guards. I need to talk to you about an important matter. It is about your life."
My throat constricted trapping the air I was breathing. I tried to swallow away the fear, but it just brought tears that seared my eyes.
" What are you an assassin? Did someone hire you to kill me? Well get in line. Just about everyone in this country want to kill me." I said trying to avert his gaze.
" I'm not here to kill you Leia, I'm here to warn you about someone who wants to kill you."
I looked at the stone floor. Was it as cold as I was feeling?
" Why would you care? You don't know me"
" You may be right, but I knew your father."
I stared up at his expressionless eyes.
" You did?" I asked skeptically.
He nodded.
My gaze met the ground once again.
" So what? Maybe you did, but still why should my life mean anything to you?" I looked up at him.
" Because, you were the most important thing to your father, and I wouldn't feel right just to stand by and let them kill you." The look he wore on his face made me uncomfortable. It felt like he could see right through me, read my every lingering thought.
I tried to shake the haze that had drifted through my mind.
" Well I appreciate your concern, but it is unneeded, I assure you I can take care of my self without you. Afterall, up until now I've been just fine. Please do go now." I turned and walked back to the window to stare at the night sky, in the long silence that came after I had spoken.
" Why don't you just come with me?" He asked hesitantly. " I'd be more at ease, and that way I'd know you'd be safe." He said as his voice edged closer to me.
My body tensed.
" It's not that simple. This is not my country, it is my fathers. I cannot just leave! God knows what would happen." I said letting my voice soften.
" Leia," he said as he stepped closer to me, turning me around to where I could see him. " this is your life at risk. Your father wouldn't have wanted you to be so foolish as to stay somewhere, where you could wake up dead." He said shaking my shoulders. I felt like a little kid being scolded.
Tears stung my eyes and my weight became to much for my legs to bear. I collapsed on to my knees sobbing. I knew he was right and I couldn't deny it.
" What have I done to make them want me dead? What have I done to them? I have treated them with respect I don't treat them any differently than I treat myself. I have done my best to keep them out of war with Psuldia, but even then they still hate me! I can't do anything right." My shoulders heaved as tears began to stain my cheeks.
He knelt beside me and cupped my face in his hands.
" Listen Leia," His voice gentle and trying to comfort and reassure me, "they want war. They do not like the way Psuldia treats us. You give anyone instant respect even when people don't always deserve it. They see that as ignorance, that is why they don't want you as queen. They want someone who is powerful and knows what to do with that power."
This made me cry even harder.
" Great, now even you're agreeing with them." I sniffed.
He took my elbow and helped me up, " Not the case Leia. You are eighteen and you know little about all the power that comes with being a queen, I personally think you're doing a wonderful job as queen. You look out for your people and don't use them as pawns to use at your every whim." He smiled warmly.
I buried my face into his shoulder and cried. He wrapped his arms around me and rubbed my back.
I almost began laughing.
" And what is your name?"
" Jason." He laughed.
I pulled away from him looked down and smiled.
" Thank you Jason. That is what I have wanted to hear for so long, that I have been doing a good job, whether that is the truth or not, that is irrelevant. It has made me happy so thank you." I smiled as my voice became a soft whisper and a tear trickled down my face. "Thank you."
