Chapter Twenty-Five

Evennia pretended not to notice Devona approaching swiftly. The lady monk kept her head down as if fascinated by her food, afraid that seeming too eager to talk might be a tip-off.

"Evennia, may I speak with you?" Devona asked, trying to sound casual, but the monk could almost feel the panic radiating off the warrior.

Evennia dropped her eating utensils casually, then finally looked up at the warrior before dabbing her lower lip with her napkin and pretending to swallow a bite of food. "Of course you can. Please, sit down…" She said, motioning to the dining chair across from her.

Devona nearly melted onto the padded chair, her shoulders slumped in defeat. 'Poor girl…' Evennia thought, 'She's losing a battle that isn't even being fought…'

"I need to know something you might know." Devona said.

"Very well, what is it you desire to know?"

Devona stared at her shoes as if they were the most intriguing thing in the room. "I heard a rumor… that Queen Salma was being forced to marry…"

"Well, I wouldn't say 'forced'…" Evennia answered, "She is queen after all. But the Lionguard apparently seems intent on reestablishing the royal line. King Coran was apparently the name that frequently came up, but I don't know if the Lionguard knew of his previous bonding."

"So, it is more than rumor…" Devona said with a forlorn sigh.

Devona looked so pained that Evennia almost cracked. She didn't want to hurt her warrior friend… but perhaps Yuu was right, and that all this was for her own good. This game that Devona was playing with her own mind couldn't continue.

"Yes, it is quite a serious issue. But I think it's a moot point. King Coran is already engaged to you, and I can't imagine Queen Salma would be so improper as to proposition an already bonded man."

Devona again sighed. "I… might have told your queen… that… my bonding to Coran was… mostly for appearances…"

"And why did you say that?" Evennia asked. "Are you really not at all interested?"

"It's… complicated. I just… Dwayna save me, I don't know… I just know I can't be queen."

"Why not?"

"I said it's complicated."

"Well, I suspect if you don't simplify things rather fast, you'll be too late." Evennia remarked, pointing across the dining table where Coran was engaged in what appeared to be very light-hearted conversation. At the moment, they seemed to be examining tattoos…

Like a masochist, Devona was drawn to the conversation. "Coran…" She began, but then realized she had no idea just what she was supposed to say.

"Oh, hello, Devona dear!" Coran chirped. "I'm sorry if I've been neglecting you. Queen Salma and I were analyzing the differences in the icons between Kryta and Ascalon. It's really quite impressive how little has changed between the two kingdoms' faiths."

"Yes… it is truly amazing how much Coran and I have in common." Salma replied. "It is truly relieving to be able to share worries with someone who can understand. The duties of a monarch can be so overwhelming… especially when you have no real preparation for the role."

Of course Coran could understand. It made so much sense… a lot more sense than some trashy warrior who would be afraid of the very responsibility that the two monarchs were forced to assume for the good of both kingdoms.

She couldn't stay… she had to leave before she completely broke down.

Of course, the sight of Devona dashing out of the meeting hall like her dress was on fire probably wasn't exactly an inconspicuous way to exit.

She found herself in the "Ice Garden", a beautiful and intricate courtyard in Thunderhead Keep, formed of various ice sculptures that served not just as pieces, but as the terrain as well; bridges, dividers… all of it, textured and/or colored to create a wintry kaleidoscope.

But at this point, Devona wasn't there to admire the scenery… she just wanted to disappear, to rid herself of all this silly feminine angst. Grenth take it all, why was her life resembling a cheap romance story?

"Is this going to happen every time a moderately attractive woman comes within shouting distance?" Coran asked, causing Devona to freeze in shock.

"How…" She began to say, but she was choked off by a insulting wimpy sob. What in the cursed depths of the Underworld was going on with her?

"Well, you weren't exactly subtle in your retreat." Coran said, pointing back towards the Keep interior. "It was rather easy to trace your path just by asking the retainers in the halls where a crying human female had run off to."

"I wasn't crying." Devona retorted. "I… just needed some air."

"Sure you did. You needed air so badly that you had to sprint outside." Coran said with a wry grin. "What was it really about?

Devona groaned forlornly, "I just… couldn't bear to see Salma clinging all over you."

Coran's eyebrows furrowed. "Clinging all over me? What are you talking about?"

"I heard from Yuu… that Salma was looking to marry you. Reuniting the human kingdoms and all that."

Coran then laughed. "I'm going to have to have a talk with Yuu about spreading nasty rumors."

"Then… it's not true?" Devona said, trying and failing not to sound overly hopeful.

"Not in the slightest. The scars of the Guild Wars still run deep. The people of Kryta would never accept an Ascalonian king… and in contrast, do you think anybody in the Conclave would accept a Krytan for queen?"

Coran sighed as Devona shook her head. "All right, I can't keep doing this."

"You can't keep doing this?" Devona groused. She's been an emotional wreck for months, and he's the one who can't keep going on with this mess?

Coran grabbed Devona by the hands, and looked into her eyes. When did he become taller than her? "This nonsense cannot continue. If you honestly want to break our bonding, say so right now. I won't bother you further. I won't even demand we stop being friends. But if you do not want to be my wife, I need you to say so."

Devona's mouth opened, but no words came. Her heart just wouldn't let her say what her head knew was for the best…

Another knowing sigh escaped the young king's lips. "Okay… so now we come to the problem you seem unwilling to discuss. The one that seems to keep us in this limbo." When again Devona was silent, he added, "We're not going back inside until you start talking or one of us freezes to death, and I'm afraid to say I'm dressed a little more warmly than you."

"I don't think I could do it… be queen, I mean."

"Why would you think that?" Coran asked.

"You said yourself that Ascalon didn't need to be led by a sword, right? I'm a warrior, not some sort of genius. I wouldn't know what to do…"

"Devona, you don't give yourself enough credit. In my address on King's Watch, I was speaking more of my brother, who was impulsive and bloodthirsty. It would have made for a poor king considering Ascalon's situation. You are neither. You'd be more than capable of following Sslani's instruction if anything were to happen to me. He's already said he'd be willing to take over that duty if I were to fall."

His eyes then narrowed. "That's not all there is to it, is there?"

"How can you do it?" Devona asked. "Make the decisions of a king and not drive yourself crazy? What if you choose wrong? All the people… what if they hate you for the decisions you make? I can't do those things… I'd lose my mind…"

She then felt Coran's arms go around her and wrap her in a warm hug. "Well, the easy answer is that all of your worries seem to be based on me dying. Let me assure you that I don't plan on leaving this mortal coil any time soon, and have many contingencies in place to prevent that."

"But…"

"And even if the unthinkable happens…" Coran interrupted, a finger dropping onto her lips. "Let me tell you a little secret… I don't trust most of the Conclave. Barradin is pretty much a less intelligent version of my father. Darrin, while smart, doesn't have the temperament to be a good king. The others either lack the experience, or the wisdom."

"But…"

"I trust you, Devona, and I've done all I can to help you if disaster occurs. Sslani will be there to aid you in matters of science, and with Mhenlo taking over as High Priest, you'd have someone you are familiar with, and possessing wisdom far beyond his years, also to be of aid."

"But…"

"Have faith in me and in yourself. I need you at my side, for Ascalon…" Then with a sly grin, he added, "and I'll admit for my own selfish purposes…"

"You sound so certain…" Devona remarked, Coran's disarming words serving it's intended purpose. Nonetheless, she found herself remarkably emboldened by Coran's vote of confidence. "All right… I'll play your game for now. Just… try not and get yourself killed, so that all your plans for my reign don't need to be tested."

"So, you will be my queen?"

"Yes, dear Coran. If only to get you to stop talking…" She then pushed up with her toes, and caught his lips with hers.

Meanwhile, neither of the two loves was aware they had an audience.

"That was so romantic." Cynn sighed from her position looking through a hall window at the scene. "Doesn't it make you feel all warm and happy?"

"It makes me relieved." Mhenlo retorted, hoping that Cynn didn't catch the break of his voice. In truth, it made the monk realize the empty part of his heart, something he really didn't want to address… it was too embarrassing.

"You mean, moments like these don't make you wish for that sort of happiness yourself?" Cynn asked. "Do you always have to be so damned cautious and rational? Gods… you'd think having the favor of Balthazar would occasionally grant you some assertiveness…"

Mhenlo's eyes bulged as Cynn grabbed his head, and kissed him. It wasn't a very long one, as it seemed Cynn was as embarrassed about the situation as he, pushing him away as if she had suddenly realized what she was doing. The elementalist grabbed the monk by his collar, and said threateningly, "If you ever tell this to anyone… I will deny it, then kill you in your sleep. Understand?"

"Understood."

"Okay… now get back over here…"

However, one observer didn't see the exchange between Coran and his queen-to-be quite the same way.

It was better this way, Yuu had tried to rationalize. She could never have given Coran what he needed… Grenth take it, was she crying?

"For a woman who just saw her plan succeed, you don't look terribly happy." Aidan asked, his voice an unwelcome presence. She had been so engrossed in her own self pity that she hadn't sensed his approach.

"It's none of your business." Yuu snapped, hastily trying to wipe the moisture from her face.

Aidan was quick to reach the all too logical conclusion. "You… weren't in love with our king yourself, were you?"

"I said it was none of your business!" She shouted, her composure completely abandoning her. "Just leave me alone!" The assassin stomped off bitterly, no longer fighting the tears as they began to fall…

Yuu knew it was for the best… but why was it so hard to accept?