Hello people, and welcome back! So, I'm sorry that this may be a bit late, but I had a bunch of work to do over the weekend. Mostly yard work because everything froze over after some rain, and it ended up breaking a ton of branches. Then again, it might not be late, depending on how fast I can type.

So, I had somebody question Howard's logic from last chapter. How would Luxa marrying benefit the humans? Well, it's quite simple. In the underland, they need good leadership to survive. Who she marries is extremely important. While she could just rule by herself, the people would never accept that. Also, the people may not accept Gregor, and overlander, as a king.

Disclaimer: Too lazy to write this right now. . .

Well, enough of that! I'll see you guys later!

Bis später!

-Tytonic

Gregor and the War of Severance

Chapter 7: Sinister

Gregor turned around and looked Howard in the eyes. "Howard, you say that our love will kill her. You are mistaken. When it comes down to it, I believe that it will save her."

And with that, Gregor turned, and walked away without another word.

-O-

As Gregor walked into Luxa's room, he let out a sigh of relief. He knew that he was going to have to talk to Howard eventually, but he hadn't expected to so soon. Of course, he knew that part of what Howard said was true. His relationship with Luxa was going to cause immense amounts of trouble, and plenty of difficulty. He was ready for it though.

Using his own sigh, he took in an image of the room. It was very similar to his, albeit a bit more suited to Luxa's taste. What had he expected, though?

Noting where Luxa was, he walked towards a doorway, and entered the room. While she had her own room, it could be called an apartment. It had several rooms. Luxa happened to be in her bedroom at the moment.

Gregor took some extra time to make sure she was not changing. It would be extremely rude to walk in on her while she was. Especially since she was a queen.

As he pushed his way through the curtains, he was met with a pleasant sight. One which echolocation could not fully capture. Luxa was siting on her bed, knees up to her chest, with her arms around them. He could tell that she had bathed too. While on the battlefield, he had seen some blood on her. Clearly, that blood was gone now. He also noticed her hair for the first time. While it had been bundled up before for the battle, it was now flowing freely. It went all of the way down her back, and brushed the bed beneath her. In all honesty, Gregor liked her hair this way the most. She was also dressed in more casual clothing. Well, as casual as royalty can get.

Luxa looked up from the wall as she noticed Gregor for the first time. She began to smile, and this alone almost took Gregor off of his feet.

Luxa patted the spot next to her lightly, and scooted over to make a little more space. Gregor moved over to her and sat down without hesitation. A silence soon followed. However, it was a comfortable silence.

Of course, Gregor decided to be the one to break the ice. "So. . . It's been a very long time, Luxa."

"Yes, it has. . . Four years. I-I wish I could say that it fells like it was only yesterday. I cannot, though. It feels like it was more than four years ago." She responded.

"Four years too long, if you ask me." Gregor said. "So, how are things? Aside from the war, I mean. . ."

"Currently, there is little else. It is good to have you back, though. When you left. . . I was not happy. I. . . I found things difficult. I found it difficult to find happiness in things I used to, and things felt too. . . bland. With you around, things were always different. Better. As queen, I must work almost all day every day. When you were around, that was different. There was always something interesting going on." She said.

This made Gregor smile. "Yes, Howard told me already. It makes me happy, knowing that, even after such traumatic experiences, you were able to go on for the good of your people."

Luxa paused. "You have already spoken to Howard?" She waited for Gregor to nod in response. "I suppose he gave you a lecture about how we cannot be together, did he not? I must speak with him later, then. I have already talked to him about it, and asked him not to bring it up with you."

"Don't worry about it, Luxa. I expected it." Gregor replied. "I gave him a little speech. Yeah, it may have been a little cheesy and cliché, but I think it really got the point across."

Luxa tensed. "I hope that you were polite about it, Gregor. Howard. . . he is not well as of now."

"Pardon?"

"You may have noticed, but York was not here to greet us. Stellovet was there in his place." Gregor's heart sank. "Gregor, York was killed helping me escape Regalia."

"Wouldn't that make Howard the leader here then?" Gregor asked.

Luxa shook her head. "Normally, yes. However, he declined the position, and it was passed on to Stellovet."

Gregor realized with a jolt that that was bad. Luxa continued. "It is not good. While she has no choice but to help me, due to her peoples opinion, she does not wish to. Several times she has attempted to blackmail me, and on several occasions I have overheard her talking. From what I have gathered, it is possible that, should we win this war, I will have an unfortunate "accident" and she will take over as queen."

"Don't worry about it Luxa. I won't let that happen. I doubt she has the guts to do such a thing anyway, especially since I am around." He said confidently.

"Yes. . . Enough of this depressing topic. So, how have you been, Gregor?" Luxa said.

"Good, not good, it's debatable. For a while, I did not fit in at my new school. I still don't, really, but I have made a few friends, like Gage and Lillie." He responded.

"Gage and Lillie. . . They seem like good friends. They were worried about you." Luxa said. "And that girl, Lillie. . . she is rather pretty, is she not? I. . . I am glad that you found somebody to help you forget about me. . . I. . . I am very sorry, having to bring you down here again. You deserve peace more than any of us."

Gregor turned to Luxa. "Luxa. . . No. Don't think like that. One, I do NOT think of Lillie like that. She is just a friend. And two, don't be sorry. I. . . I don't belong in the overland anymore. I feel more at home here than I ever did in the overland."

Luxa turned away, blushing. Well, her entire body flushed red due to her skin. "I-I am sorry for assuming such things, Gregor."

Gregor smiled. "Don't worry about it. Oh, and just so you know, Lillie and Gage are crazy for each other. They are in love, but neither of them realize that the other likes them back. It's kind of entertaining to watch. I could break the ice for them, but I'll let them work it out on their own. It's better that way."

Luxa smiled at this. "It reminds me of us a little."

"How so?"

"Well. . . Before we kissed for the first time, I began to like you. I believe that it was when we danced at Hazard's party that I began to like you. And, well. . . I figured, due to a few things I observed, that you liked me for some time before we kissed. . . We both liked each other, but didn't admit it." Luxa responded.

Gregor chuckled. "That's interesting. It was when we danced that I began to like you too."

Luxa pondered this for a few moments before laughing as well.

Gregor noticed that Luxa was beginning to sound weary. He could tell from her voice, and the bags under her eyes, that she had not slept in some time.

Gregor was bout to ask her about it when he felt something on his shoulder. He didn't need to look to tell that it was Luxa. He could hear her soft breaths as she drifted off to sleep.

He sat and listened for a few minutes before deciding to leave. She wasn't going to sleep very well sitting up, so he moved her to her pillow, and draped her sheets over her. He noticed that she snuggled underneath the sheets a little more.

She must have been chilly. She could have just told me.

As Gregor exited her room, he passed a guard who wasn't there before. The guard hardly spared him a glance.

Almost immediately after that, he was met by a servant.

"Warrior, Lady Stellovet has requested to speak with you. If you may, follow me."

Gregor was immediately suspicious. He wondered why Stellovet would want to speak with him. As he followed the servant, he noticed an increase in the amount of guards. He figured that it was because he was approaching her room.

All too soon, the servant paused, and motioned towards a door, before walking away.

Gregor gulped. He had a very bad feeling about this.

As he pushed through the curtains, his worries were confirmed. Stellovet was sitting on a couch, reading a book. However, when she looked up at him, he could see it in her eyes. He could see something dark, something sinister.

This is bad. Very bad.

And that's a wrap on it! Okay, so it's shorter than I wanted, but I'm really running out of time here. Stuff to do, places to be, crap like that. So, tell me what you guys think! I know not much happened, but there should be some action next chapter.

See you guys later!

Question: What is Stellovet going to do/say?

Until next time,

-Tytonic