"..sent oil prices soaring as explosions rocked Gath's second largest refinery—"
Click.
"…disputes between cattle farms at the border escalating into physical violence at times—"
Click.
"…workers on strike for the third consecutive day at Port Prosperity. Gath officials praised the move by union employees in the southern kingdom—"
Anna True finally turned the television off, the empty black screen a far more welcoming sight than the news footage being aired on the limited stations. Sucks not having cable, she thought, tossing the remote on the coffee table as she sat back in her chair, letting her head fall back on the thick cushion. Gath. Yet another kingdom with a million problems and far too few solutions, and plenty of politicians who rather excelled in the areas of bickering and backstabbing. If only they'd put that energy into actually governing their people full-time. Reminded her a great deal of the monarchy she'd grown up under.
And the family she was once welcomed by…
With a sigh, Anna rose from her chair, going over to the window to gaze at the world outside. There were days when she missed Gilboa terribly—longed to return to her life in the bright, bustling capital of her homeland—but even she couldn't help but admire the beauty of Gath's countryside, particularly at night. It was quiet here; peaceful away from the chaos of the border towns, and if she stepped out on her porch and gazed upward, she knew the skies would be filled with stars. Millions of them. It was so beautiful compared to the night skies she'd been used to in Shiloh, which tended to be tainted with far too much light interference to see much of anything. In all honesty, it was one of the things she'd grown to love about this part of the kingdom in her time away—
A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts, and though a part of her was always wary about visitors here, she crossed the room to answer.
Pausing at the door, she asked, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Anna Leigh."
That voice required no further prompting. Undoing the double-locks, she pulled the door wide open and gazed into a pair of troubled blue eyes. Eyes that were clearly on the verge of tears. "Jack," she said softly.
Prince Jack Benjamin—long-time friend and heir to the throne of Gilboa—stepped forward to embrace her without a word, his body wracked by a long, trembling exhale. Feeling her heart clench, Anna responded in kind, her arms wrapping around him as tears of her own threatened to spill from her eyes. Theirs was a reunion she had feared would never take place, and to have him here, to feel him simply hold her after so much time apart…
"You found me," she whispered, feeling two tears slip down her cheeks.
A harsh, wrenching sob tore from his throat, and her arms automatically tightened around him. Together, they cried, a flood of emotion washing through them as they both released their sorrows, their pain. Fear. Relief. Everything all at once. And despite his reasons for coming here tonight—despite all that they needed to discuss…it was clear that he needed this first.
"I'm here," she breathed, running a soothing hand over his back, "I'm here. It's okay…"
It took some time, but eventually, Jack managed to pull in a shaking breath, becoming more relaxed in her arms as he sighed.