Starting time: 7:53 Pm E.S.T. I'm sure this was long awaited! I give you Gluxa! Well not yet. We need to get through some stuff first. I would like to thank the acad—Never mind. I'll keep this short so:
Disclaimer: I don't own the Underland Chronicles. Including, but not limited to, characters, places, songs, etc.
"Oh shit." Gregor mumbled, probably a bit too loud on account of everybody's eyes on him. Ripred will pay for this, he irritably thought. All of the sudden his shirt felt tighter out of fear and embarrassment, and he probably would have soiled his clothes if Vikus had not stood up.
"Welcome, warrior." Vikus nodded, though his clipped tone seethed with irritation, "Start the music, this is a celebratory day for our queen. We shall celebrate in the presence of the warrior as well!" He nodded towards the large band that were awkwardly looking around. They started back up, but the first few notes were off key or too late.
Slowly, Gregor emerged, sisters and crawlers flanking him. In order to hold together what little confidence he had, he raised his hands to smooth out the wrinkles in the front of the grey shirt. Boots ran off with the crawlers, and met up with another group of crawlers. Over the loud music, Gregor could have sword he heard, "Temp!" Followed by a squeal of excitement. Lizzie followed Ripred like a lost puppy as he went to go converse with a group of gnawers. Gregor felt a gaze burning into the side of his head while his eyes followed his sisters worriedly.
Turning, Gregor locked gazes with probably the most beautiful person in the room. As if somebody else was controlling his body, he walked through a crowd of dancing and eating people. Gregor almost knocked over a flier, who in turn almost knocked over a woman holding a fancy drink. He would not break eye contact with the light purple eyes he had longed to see for many years. Carefully, he stepped onto the elevated platform where the lower classed royal family was seated. Stellovet, Howard, and the twins shot him mixed looks. Though Howard's gaze was cold, and sharp.
Gregor heeded the family no attention, and continued up the steps that led towards the main royal family. Miravet, Vikus, Hazard, Nerissa, and the queen all sat there at a large rectangular table. In the center was her majesty herself, with cousins on either side, and Vikus and her great aunt flanking them. Hazard seemed more content about eating what looked like green tinted noodles, and Nerissa was muttering things until Gregor approached, then she started giggling loudly, but other than that the family remained silent. Gregor didn't know what made him do it, but he loyally kneeled onto one knee, and lowered his head to the ground. His body stopped shaking, and his fists were squeezed shut.
"Rise, Gregor the Overlander." It was Vikus who spoke, and the music died once more. Gregor looked up, and hesitantly pushed himself off the ground before brushing off his clothes. He looked at her, but he no longer held the queen's gaze, everybody was focused on Vikus.
Gregor silently begged her to look at him, her gaze softened, but her jaw was still clenched.
She parted her lips, and Gregor hoped that she would say something, but instead she let out a whistle, and moments later a wave of golden hefted her up. Gregor's heart sank as she flew off into the darkness. He opened his mouth to say something to Vikus, but the old man raised his hand to stop him.
"Euripedes," He called to the grey bat, causing the flier to look his way, auditories alert, "Assist the warrior in retrieving our runaway queen please." Vikus sighed, as if this were a normal thing. Based off the bat's reaction; it was. Euripedes nodded once, and fluttered silently over to Gregor. The warrior swiftly climbed onto him, and cast a glance in the crowd to search for his sisters. Boots was still getting rides from a group of at least ten crawlers, and Lizzie was with a group of nibblers.
"This is normal?" Gregor leaned his stomach against the bat's back to avoid getting too much of the air in his face and ears. His hair was no concern to him; he had been cutting it shorter for years now.
"Third time this week alone." If bats could sigh, Euripedes just did while he spoke. To add effect the flier shook his head from left to right as well. "Luckily she hides in the same place almost every time."
"Almost?" Gregor asked, unsure.
"Sometimes she hides where Ares, your past bond, once lived, and sometimes she hides out under the palace." The greying bat paused, "Though this time she is in Ares' small cavern."
If Gregor's chest didn't feel like it was exploding, he would have sighed, but for now he remain silent. Within minutes, the outline of the opening came in to view. Deep down, the light of a single torch flickered just barely.
"Wait outside." Gregor whispered, "I doubt I'll need backup." To this Euripedes nodded, and settled down in a dip in the stone floor.
With his right arm touching the side of the wall for balance, Gregor tapped every once in a while instead of clicking his tongue. The entrance soon widened into a room, and before Gregor could even open his mouth to say something to the two forms sitting in the dark, one of them rose.
Gregor hardly had enough time to react to the attack, just barely ducking down low enough so that the fully extended form of Aurora could fly over him. The flier did manage to nick the top of his left ear, causing a thin trail of blood to slowly swell down the side of his face. He heard an angry murmur from behind him, and slowly raised his hands while turning around. The golden bat then settled, and shoved past him to sit back next to the other form in the dark. Gregor heard a few whispers before any word was actually spoken.
"Go away, Overlander." The voice of the queen finally said, and she just barely stifled a sob and shudder. Gregor ignored her and took a step closer.
"Leave, Overlander." Aurora warned, agitation spiking in her voice. With the echolocation, Gregor could just barely see the bat's wing blanketing the queen in a hug.
"No." Gregor said flatly, taking a large step forward, and sitting down loudly. In the dark, he could see them both flinch at the sound, but paid no attention. He did however notice the bubble of blood filling his ear, but only tilted his head to the left slightly so the blood would not travel into his eardrum. There were more whispers as if, and Gregor thought he distinctly heard 'As you wish.' Before Gregor could say anything else, Aurora lifted off and flew out of the cave. He assumed the queen was riding her, but still saw the other form huddled together in the dark, her once white dress now surely covered in dirt.
"Why do you come here?" The voice was muffled from her hand covering her mouth to soften the sobs.
"Since when do you run away from birthday parties?" Gregor responded, as if his intentions weren't already clear. The answer came after a few moments of silence.
"Where did you get those clothes?" The question shot back. Gregor smirked slightly.
"Why do you look so beautiful?" Gregor scooted a bit closer. The cavern was silent, as Gregor expected it would be. He took this time to look around at the walls before speaking again.
"You know, it may be strange, but in the Overland 'hello' or 'hey' is a proper greeting, not running away." Gregor leaned back a bit, luckily finding a cavern wall behind him to support him. In the faint light from the torch stationed on the other side of the wall, he could just barely make out her pale legs.
With each moment, his heart throbbed in his chest, but after a few moments Gregor stretched out his legs to let his feet bask in the dim light of the flickering torch.
She must have seen this because less than ten seconds later Gregor could see and hear her shuffling towards him. Within moments, Gregor was crushed from the side by two arms around him in a hug. Without delay he did the same. It took a while for anybody to say anything, as if holding each other was enough to last them a long time.
"Hello, Gregor, it has been too long." She spoke softly now, only the faintest of her sobs showing through her voice.
"Too long indeed, Luxa, far too long."