"You need to apologize." The door slammed against the wall and Tyrea strode into Melia's chambers, the woman's face contorted in an expression of intense anger. Her black hair flapped behind her as she walked straight up to Melia's desk, her dark eyes enflamed.
"I'm glad to see your time cleaning shuttle engines has curbed your temper." The Empress responded, not looking up from the documents she scribbled on. Hadn't they been in this same position only a day or two ago (the days were blurring together; too many things to do and not enough time to do them all in)? It seemed history liked to repeat itself, especially when it came to sensitive conversations.
"This is completely different. You shouldn't have snapped at Serenity."
There was an anger in her voice that was different from previous outbursts. An anger that Melia had only heard once before, during Camar's coup d'etat. The High Entia looked up at her stepsister with regretful eyes. "You are right. I know that. I knew it in the moments just after I reprimanded her."
"Then apologize." Tyrea growled, taking a seat opposite of Melia and crossing her arms over her chest.
"I will. But I haven't seen her since the morning. I have looked for her, but I don't know where to find her." She tilted her head to the side. "Do you?"
Tyrea pursed her lips. "I have an idea, but she's pretty good at disappearing when she wants to."
"Sounds like someone I know." Melia raised an eyebrow as she refilled her cup of tea and poured one for Tyrea.
"That is my specialty."
"Is it also your specialty to constantly enrage the Commander?"
"It's not my fault that he doesn't know basic flight procedures."
"Teaching the Royal Guard how to do acrobatic stunts in the shuttles is hardly 'basic flight' material. They need to be cleared to learn such maneuvers. And they should be done in the fighter planes only. You know that."
"They need to relax and have some fun. Nothing's happening anymore. There's no one to fight."
"With that, I do not disagree. And I am thankful for it. That does not change the fact that you needn't stir up trouble."
"Duly noted, your Majesty." The Homs Entia rolled her eyes. "Why did you yell at Serenity?"
"She didn't tell you?"
"No. She just...bubbled up in tears and ran away before I could say anything." A concerned expression passed over the usually severe face, but it was gone as fast as it come. Melia felt a tug at her heart and another wave of guilt splashed over her. It had been rash to target Serenity in such a manner. All the young woman wanted to do was help Melia.
"She did nothing wrong."
"I know that."
"I let my emotions get the better of me." Melia took a sip of her tea and place the cup back down on the table top.
"Really? That's surprising. What could break through your rigid exterior?" Tyrea jeered.
Ignoring the slight, the Empress took a breath.
"Dunban and I were...speaking."
"Speaking? That sounds rather mysterious. Did this speaking involve mouth on mouth contact?"
"Don't be vulgar. And no, it did not."
"So what were you speaking about?"
"He was...he was saying something important..."
"...and Serenity interrupted you." Tyrea finished, her eyes alight with understanding. "Ah. That makes sense why you'd be so cruel."
"Cruel is harsh word to use."
"She's like a lamb."
"You need to give her more credit. After all, she fought as much as she could against Camar, lost two fingers, and has said nothing in the manner of a complaint."
"I know, I know. But she is pretty sensitive."
"Perhaps it's not that she's sensitive. It's that you could be more empathetic."
Tyrea shrugged.
"Regardless, I should not have berated out at her. She was only bringing news of your transgressions."
"You know he's a prick as much as I do."
Melia looked at Tyrea sharply but did not immediately respond. It was clear who the Homs Entia referred to: the Commander of the Royal Guard. His reputation preceded him: he was a fairly harsh man, but known to whip his soldiers into shape. It was also a well known fact that the Commander of the Royal Guard had been a loyal servant to both her father and brother. But it was clear that he did not respect her, which obviously created quite a bit of tension.
"Regardless, it happened. Now we must move forward."
"And how are you going to do that?"
"That is a very good question. One I do not have an answer to just yet."
Tyrea sipped her tea. "Did Dunban at least help your transition plans before the untimely interruption?"
"Yes, he did. That's what I'm examining now."
Tyrea leaned forward and peered at the diagrams splayed across the wooden table top, her eyes scanning the circles and lines with great interest.
"Wow. He put a lot of effort into this."
Melia nodded, thinking to their meeting that morning. She remembered his words, and how they slid across those sensuous lips...
"He must really love you."
"What?!"
"Oh come on. You know that's what he was going to say." Tyrea said, her mouth curved into a sneer as she leaned back once more, leering at Melia over the top of her tea cup.
"No. We don't know that at all." A blush appeared on the Empress' pale cheeks and she took a sip of her tea, avoiding her sister's eyes.
"Well, maybe he'll say it when he sees you all prettied up for your announcement."
Melia shook her head and glanced back to the scattered papers on her desk. This was not a topic she wished to discuss. Her mind was already distracted by the lack of resolution from the morning.
"What do you think of all this? Abdicating?"
"You're not abdicating, Melia. Stop making it sound like the end of the world."
"Alright. But relinquishing control. Does this make me a terrible leader?"
"I think we already covered this."
"My father would never do something like this. Neither would Kallian."
"Probably not. But they also haven't been through what you have. And they haven't seen how the world has changed."
"That doesn't make what I'm doing right."
"Doesn't make it wrong either."
"I just...I am abandoning them." She said, her voice just above a whisper, her stomach dropping out at the sound of the word. The mere thought made her stomach turn and a rush of shame rise within her.
"You're not. In fact, I think many more people will be pleasantly surprised than outraged. Not that anyone doesn't like you right now. Your approval ratings are the highest they've ever been. But you know what I mean." Tyrea poured them each another cup of tea.
"I only hope you're right."
"What did Dunban think?"
"He didn't really say anything on the subject. Only that it was a 'bold move'."
"I bet he's excited. Probably nervous too."
"Why do you think so?"
"Because you'll be almost free and able to do what you want. Which means..." Tyrea wiggled her brows suggestively.
Melia narrowed her eyes. "I don't think he's thinking about that."
"I think he most certainly is. But he's also thinking about the other stuff too. You know, being in love and all of that." Melia flushed a deep red. "I would help you pick out dresses and whatnot but I don't want to. However, Serenity might. If you apologize to her."
"I will."
"When are you making the announcement?"
"By the end of the week."
"That soon?"
"The transition period will be longer than any can anticipate. And I don't think I can sit on this information now that the People's Council and Cabinet. I've already put it in motion by inviting the ambassadors here to share with them these plans."
"If you say so." Tyrea said and rose from her seat. "Don't stay up too late. You need to get your beauty rest!" She winked and strode out of the room.
Melia sighed to herself as she cast her eyes downward once more. Three choices were laid out in front of her, each with their benefits and disadvantages. She had to pick one of these systems of government and soon in order to prepare for the upcoming announcement. It didn't appear to be an easy decision, though she did have a preference of one over the other two. Choosing needed to be a delicate matter; she had to weigh each and every factor before making a final judgement. Rushing it would only lead to potential chaos. But a part of her wanted to make a decision and be done with it. She was so close to letting go, and then she could be free to do pursue her personal projects. Or pursue other things on her mind...
The next day, when Dunban awoke in the morning, dressed, and readied himself, he hoped he would be able to catch Melia for a quick conversation. Not to finish what he was going to say, but to ask for a meeting to say what he needed to say at a later date; at a time when he could have her undivided attention without the possibility of any more interruptions. But he didn't see her at all that day. When he spoke with Serenity on his way out of the Villa that morning, the young woman told him that the Empress was in and out of meetings with the ambassadors, the People's Council, and the Cabinet for the entirety of the day. It seemed that the monarch had made her choice and was prepping them all for the announcement. He was curious to know which it was, but he anticipated he would just have to wait and see. Resigned that he wouldn't yet have a chance to speak with her, the man would wait until all was said and done.
Later, in the afternoon, while he was working with Kiefer on an aqueduct improvement plan, a message from her appeared on all holoscreens, interrupting their work. It was a public proclamation stating she would be holding a Town Hall in four days. As his eyes glossed over the bright blue panel, reading the words so exquisitely penned by her hand, he wondered what she was thinking. Was she nervous? Excited? If he knew her as well as he thought, she would be somewhere in between hopeful and apprehensive. If only he could go to her to comfort her, provide any support or encouragement she would need. But it was not his place. Not his place just yet, though he hoped it would be soon enough.
As the sun descended under the horizon the next day, Dunban headed back to the Villa after a long, grueling session of working in the ether furnaces, installing an upgrade. His forehead was dotted with dried sweat and smudges of dirt covered the shirt he wore, but he felt good. The hard work fulfilled his needs for activity; the strain in his muscles reminded him of his journey and the internal strength he possessed. Passing into the Great Hall, the Homs made his way down the center and turned into the right hallway, coming face to face with Melia.
Surprised, he stopped as she met him. "I didn't expect to see you anytime soon."
"How are you?" She smiled at him. That was a good sign.
"Just finished work with Kiefer. How are you? You've been busy."
"Yes. I have informed the Cabinet and the People's Council of the plans."
"How'd they take it?"
"There were many questions. The People's Council believes it's a well thought out idea and makes sense given the current status quo."
"And the Cabinet?"
"They were...reticent."
"Most likely they would rather you stay in power." He gave her a smile.
She nodded in agreement, though her brow was furrowed. "My thoughts exactly. Though Songya was perhaps the only one to agree with the plan after the announcement first settled in. But I need their support to progress forward. I imagine they will be instrumental in the transition."
"It must feel nice though that they wish you weren't leaving."
"I'm not leaving per say. Just stepping back." Although it was a correction, it sounded as though she were saying these words more for herself than for his benefit.
"Right. And you're making the announcement in three days?"
"Mhmm. I hope it is enough time to prepare for the transition and the elections."
"Will you be involved?"
A small part of him hoped she would not. But that was selfish. Obviously, she would still have matters of the state to attend to, even if she were taking a supporting role in the future government.
"No. In order for it to be a purely democratic process, I must not participate in any way."
"That must be a relief." The man had a hard time keeping his own out of his voice.
"It is. Considering our previous experience with elections, I was not eager to organize another." A small glimmer of mischief appeared in her blue eyes. "But you must keep that a secret."
"My lips are sealed." Dunban winked. "Considering your upcoming free-time, would you meet with me after your announcement?"
He saw a slight hesitation in her face and felt his shoulders tense.
"Yes. Yes, I will."
"Alright. I will see you then."
"Have a good rest of your day, Dunban."
He nodded to her and she resumed her course, passing by him and walking towards the center of the Great Hall.
As he watched her walk away, the man became acutely aware that there were eyes on him. Casting a casual glance around, he saw the nearby High Entia turn back to their conversations quickly; but it confirmed his suspicions. They had been watching him. More accurately, they had been watching him and Melia. Why? What did that mean? Crunching his brow together as he considered the meaning behind these actions, Dunban resumed his own route.
"You look gorgeous, Empress."
The young woman stood back, admiring her handiwork in the floor length mirror with her green eyes. She, Melia and Tyrea were in the Empress' secret apartment, inside the walk-in closet. Granted, it was much larger than a closet, essentially the size of her washroom, but there was no other appropriate name to call it. The trappings were extravagant: red curtains hung from each wall, pulled back by a golden rope to reveal shelves upon shelves of previous wardrobe items from past Emperors and Empress'. In the center was a small granite platform situated in front of the floor length mirror, upon which Melia stood at the present moment.
Melia examined her appearance in the mirror: her hair was tied up in a bun, bangs swept to the left side of her face. A large mystic dhalia was pinned to the side of her bun, bringing out the turquoise of her eyes. Her eyes were lined with kohl, and a blue and gray paint on her eyelids gave her a smoky eye effect. A slight brushstroke of pink on her cheeks created a rosy blush while contouring the cheek bones that lay beneath. Her lips had a lighter pink shade cast over them, understated to not distract from her eyes, but enough to give the air of elegance. She wore an ivory dress with a small v-neck, its waist scrunched by a lavender rope belt, with the skirt billowing out past her legs to the ground. A robe draped over her shoulders and arms; it was a light green akin to the color found in the Eryth Sea water.
Lips parted, the High Entia took in her appearance. The woman felt both in and out of her skin simultaneously. Though the makeup was applied expertly, it was a little jarring for the Homs Entia. She wasn't used seeing herself in such a manner; her use of makeup on a daily basis was minimal, if at all. But she did enjoy the dramatic quality of her eyeshadow contrasted with the timidity of her lips.
"It's all your doing, Serenity. I would never have come up with such an outfit."
"That's not true. You have a wonderful fashion sense." The young woman said as she twirled one of her curls around her finger, though a smile of pride broke out onto her face.
"Wonderful I believe is an exaggeration." The Empress turned and laid her hands on her assistant's shoulders. Though she had apologized and Serenity had accepted enthusiastically, the High Entian woman was still sensitive to the fact that she had hurt her assistant's feelings. "Thank you for taking the time to help me. I very much appreciate it."
"It was no problem at all! I am so happy you asked for my help. Besides, I think you'll catch many eyes tonight, Empress. Though you may want to be careful of Garrett. He is eager to capture your attention."
Melia grimaced. She only wanted to catch one eye in particular.
"Wow. You're going all out, aren't you?" Tyrea walked in, holding a half eaten cupcake.
Serenity put her hands on her hips and glared in the mirror. "There is nothing wrong with her dressing up for the occasion. In fact, it would be a mistake not to."
"Calm down. I wasn't criticizing."
Serenity sniffed and went to adjust the cinching at the center of Melia's dress.
In the mirror, the Empress cast a confused glance at her stepsister, who shrugged.
"She's mad at me because I told you that she blubbered."
"It's a very embarrassing description. And that's not what I did anyway." Serenity said pointedly as she pulled the belt a little to accentuate the curves of the Empress' bust.
"Serenity, please understand. Tyrea was only concerned for your welfare when she came to me and described how upset I'd made you. I would ask that you would forgive her as she meant no harm, even though she could've chosen her words more carefully."
Out of the corner of her eye, Melia saw a small smile creep onto Serenity's lips as she knelt to straighten the folds of the skirt, though Tyrea would not be able to see the expression in the mirror.
"Anyway. How are you feeling?" Tyrea asked.
"I'm fine."
"That's a lie if I ever heard one."
"I am." But Melia's voice was harder than necessary, which only served to give away her nerves.
"Stop worrying about the people. You can't control them. But I can bet you it won't be as bad as you think. In fact, it probably won't be bad at all." Tyrea stuffed the rest of her cupcake into her mouth.
"I think Tyrea is right." Serenity said, moving away from her subject and folding up a discarded dress and robe. "It is a humbling decision to hand over your power to the people. I think they'll see it that way too and love you more for it."
"I hope you're right." Melia moved towards her jewelry box to pick an appropriate set of earrings and necklace.
"You're worried about something else." Tyrea said from behind her. "Is it Dunban?"
She paused.
"He requested to meet with me afterward."
"That's wonderful!" Serenity clapped her hands together.
"I'm not so sure."
"Why?" Serenity tilted her head to the side in question.
"Why are you worried? You want him. He wants you. That seems to make perfect sense to me." Tyrea shrugged.
Melia turned back to the mirror and began to compare different chandelier earrings with various jewels dangling down streams made up of small diamonds.
"It's not that simple."
"I think it is."
"Well, I'm glad it is so uncomplicated to you."
"Touchy. You are nervous."
The Empress stared at the pair of diamond studs in her palm and proceeded to put them on. Anything more extravagant would be trying too hard. "I apologize. That was unnecessary."
"I don't need an apology, Melia. I need you to think clearly. Well, as clearly as you can."
"Empress, just focus on the announcement. You can worry about Dunban later." Serenity advised, clasping her hands in front of her. "One thing at a time."
"Thank you, Serenity. You always help me focus."
Serenity brightened.
There was a loud ding from the parlor: the grandfather clock. It was signaling what she already knew: it was 16:30, thirty minutes until the announcement. And only a little more until she spoke with Dunban.
A shiver ran down her spine.
"I should go to the auditorium. I do not want to be late." Melia turned to the mirror one last time to make sure no hair was out of place. If she were to give up her kingdom, she wanted to be dressed for the occasion.
She was not giving it up, she reminded herself. She was merely transferring power to the people.
She hoped they would take it.
And she hoped they would not.
The combination of guilt and excitement made her stomach curl. Why had she decided to do this at all? Goosebumps appeared on her arms under her robes and on the back of her neck. She bit her lip. Was she making the right decision? Was this what she truly wanted?
"Are you ready?" Serenity asked, her voice just above a whisper. Her doe eyes watched the Empress thoughtfully.
In reality, she didn't have a choice. There was no going back.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
"Yes."
The Hall buzzed with noise: he could hear excited whispers and curious questions. The High Entia wanted to see their Empress, but there was an air of inquisitiveness that added a small amount of anxiety to the room as well. Listening from his perch on the Mezzanine, Dunban swept his eyes at the floor below. Every seat was filled; both Homs Entia and Entia alike were at this event. It seemed that the lines that had once divided the High Entia were slowly dissolving, which was a relief on a societal level. A divided nation would only plummet into chaos, especially considering what Melia was about to do. And after the past two years, the High Entia as a people deserved the peace that they now lived in.
The auditorium lights flashed and the voices silenced; it was a sign that the meeting would soon begin. Across the stage walked the members of the People's Council, the sounds of their shoes padding on the marley floor echoing throughout the chamber. They took seats in empty chairs positioned on stage right, speaking to each other in low tones and darting their eyes to where they had made their entrance. Adrenaline exploded in his chest; he was nervous for her. Everything she had planned and worked toward these past weeks came down to this moment. Would the High Entia approve of her decision? Or reject her call to action? And what would that mean if they went against her?
That was an alternative he did not want to consider.
The sound of light footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Dunban's eyes widened as he watched Melia walk on stage, glimmering in the limelight. When she came front and center, stopping and looking into the crowd, a rouse of enthusiastic applause greeted her. The man couldn't take his eyes from her; she was beautiful. Not simply in what she wore, but how she presented herself. It was how she thanked them kindly for their support. The warmth that emanated from her was filled with compassion. It wasn't charisma. If he were honest, she would never have that, which was not a bad thing. That was not her style, nor her personality. She would always edge towards a reserved countenance. Nonetheless, she had a glow about her.
He recalled the first Town Hall she had conducted long ago; how she had stood on the stage in her resolute and hard manner, resolved to push forth a message of inspiration but lacked the confidence to do so. She had come so far since then. Now, Melia stood in all her glory, as if there were no spec of fear in her body as she addressed those she served.
It made him wonder if this was truly the right decision for her, giving up her crown.
Finally, the sounds of hands clapping died and silence befell the hall.
The young woman clasped her hands in front of her and she took a breath.
"Good afternoon to you all. I hope I find you well. It has been many days since we all sat together in such an assembly. You may wonder why I have called you all here this afternoon. I know it is the end of the day, and you are ready to return home and rest. And I promise you shall in due time. But what I have to share with you is of the utmost importance. And it requires your voices. I have asked you here today to discuss the future. The future of our race."
Pausing, Melia swept her eyes over the crowd.
"For thousands of years, the Antiqua Dynasty has guided the High Entian people, and long before that the institution of the monarchy was well established in our society. It is all we have known. And yet, we now live in an age of complete freedom. There is no predestined fate for each and every one of us. Instead, we have been blessed with the opportunity to choose how we wish to live our lives. We have the opportunity to choose which dreams we wish to pursue, heights to aspire to. And so, with this in mind, I believe it is time to give you the power to choose how you wish to be governed."
Silence.
"It is...unconventional. Change is always a terrifying thing at first. But remember how we have changed as a people. We have evolved in such a way that was once unimaginable. It was only three years ago when our civilization was faced with endangerment and the possibility of extinction. Faced with seemingly unconquerable obstacles. At that time, we were still recovering from the trauma of the Holocaust and we had little hope of surviving what came next. But together, we did. Together, we rose up out of the darkness and pulled towards a common goal. And now, we stand here today, together, at peace and enjoying the fruits of our labor. I did not do that. We did that. Every single one of you contributed to restoring the High Entian society. It was a collective effort and should be remembered as such. Thus, I believe this change is necessary to lead us into this new age. I believe that it is time for you to take up what you have not only earned, but what is already yours. I have discussed the particulars with the Cabinet and People's Council. But let me relay them to you now."
And so the Empress described with great care and eloquence what their government would look like. She shared the new system of representation, how laws would be written and passed. In what courts justice would be served. As she came to a close, she said, "This is a difficult decision for myself as well. I am afraid to let go because it has been my charge to guide us all. Nonetheless, I do believe this is the correct course of action. Do not fear; I shall not disappear. I will merely step away so you can choose your destiny. It is my hope that you will find this acceptable. I ask you to now speak your mind, whether or not you deem this a beneficial course of action."
Silence.
Then one person clapped. Then another. And another.
Gradually, the whole room broke out in a roar of applause.
Many stood and began to shout: "Long live the Empress Melia Antiqua!"
The joyous noise filled the air. The sounds of delight and acceptance were exactly those he had hoped for for her. Dunban felt himself smile and his shoulders sag, the tension releasing throughout his body.
Melia smiled as well, and waited for the cheers and chants to die down. After a few more moments, the noise faded out and the Homs Entia spoke once more, gesturing to those figures stage left, who all stood in deference to their Empress. "The members of the People's Council will now share with you the proceedings for the upcoming elections. I shall see you all soon."
With a graceful wave, the High Entian Empress exited stage right, another roar of applause following her out.
As Dunban rushed out of the auditorium, he caught sight of Melia striding through the Great Hall towards the teleporter up to the Villa. Casually, the woman cast a glance over her shoulder. She was barely close enough that he could see the coy smile on her lips that made his heart skip a beat. Turning away, she reached the teleporter and beamed up, disappearing into thin air. Swallowing, he pushed forward, moving at a half run, half walk towards the teleporter. Following her upward, the man materialized in the Villa courtyard, the oranges of the falling sun blinding him momentarily. Blinking away the spots in his eyes, Dunban swiveled his head to the right, but found no trace of her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a blue flash of light and turned his head. The teleporter to the nursery had been activated. It was a private location she had chosen, one in which they had had a similar private moment before. The memory flashed across his mind; being stuck in the nursery with her during the blackout, seeing her only in the moonlight. Even in the obscurity of darkness and light, she had still glowed, irresistible. He remembered how much he had wanted to kiss her then, and once again they had been interrupted. It seemed they were always being interrupted in those early days of their courtship. Nonetheless, he smiled. It was a pleasant memory. But as the man crossed the courtyard, his pulse quickened in anticipation of the words they would soon exchange. Hastily, the Homs pursued, stepped on the teleporter, and transported to the glass box in the sky.
As the landscape of flora materialized before his eyes, Dunban spotted the young woman kneeling by a planter across the room. The lights were dimmed, giving the atmosphere a blue tinted quality. Although he was on the opposite side of the room, he could see the effect the blue had on her appearance, making her look ethereal. His heart thumped in his chest as the Homs walked over to her. When he reached her side, Melia looked up at him with the same soft smile that made his heart melt.
"This is where I planted the seeds you gave to me. I'm looking forward to seeing how they bloom."
"You'll have to tell me what you think when they do. They came from different climates though."
"That's not a problem. I've planted them in separate pots in order to monitor them. That way, should I detect a problem, I may move them around the nursery, as I have different areas set up for simulating different climates."
"You think of everything."
She rose from her spot, looking upward at him from underneath her lashes. It was enough to ignite the fire within is stomach.
"It is only a necessary preparation. Nursing flowers, as well as general gardening, requires quite a bit of knowledge."
"And a talent for it."
"Perhaps. I think of it more as patience."
"Are you going to spend more time here in the nursery now that you have some free time?"
"Yes, I think so. Especially growing the gardens at Prison Island and in the city. I have thought of approaching Otharon with a project for Colony 6, though I have not yet settled on whether to engage him or not. The ideas I have are large in scope and may require more resources than the Colony has to give."
"You should do it. I'm sure he would be interested." Dunban hesitated. "Sorry, I don't mean to pressure you into anything."
"Don't worry. You are not."
Silence.
"You look very beautiful tonight, Melia."
She blushed, the pink rising in her cheeks, making them rosier than they were. "Thank you."
"Your speech was very good."
"I did my best choosing those words with care."
"By the reaction you received, I'd say you did quite well."
"I only hoped to inspire."
"You already do that."
He meant it to be a factual comment, but the undertone in his voice was unintentionally suggestive. He heard the slight hitch in her breath as she turned away and moved towards the glass wall, setting her sights outward at the setting sun. He joined her, watching the sky fill with yellows and oranges, soon to be overtaken by light and navy blues that would eventually give way to complete darkness.
After a few moments of silence, the Homs faced her, though she continued to watch out the window.
"Melia, I asked you to meet with me because I wanted to continue our conversation from earlier this week."
Nodding, the Empress faced him, a solemness set in her features.
"I won't dance around it any longer. " He said, feeling his hand tremble at his side. "I know my leaving wasn't...for lack of a better word, ideal. I apologize for the pain I caused you. You did not deserve that."
"As you said, your leaving was tied to a different reason. Not one about myself."
"That is true."
"Though it doesn't change what happened."
"Not in the slightest. I thought a lot about it during my travels." His lips creased into a grim line. "And I understand your reluctance to meet with me at all given how everything ended."
She did not respond, waiting for him to continue.
"I know it is not my right to ask you to be open with me. But I will be completely open with you."
Dunban opened his mouth, but the words did not come. His heart was not ready.
Instead, he said, "I have something for you."
From the pocket of his jacket, he produced a stack of parchment, held together with a few pieces of thin rope. The many pages looked worn but sturdy, a tannish yellow slowly changing to a brown.
"This is a record of all of my travels."
Gracefully—as every movement of hers was; it was hypnotic—Melia took the stack from him and looked up into his face, confused. "Are you sure? I would not wish for you to part with all your memories and the vast knowledge you've collected."
"I think you'll understand why I'm giving this to you when you read it."
"Alright. Thank you."
Silence.
"I love you, Melia."
The words were out of his mouth before he knew they had left. The slight whisper of his voice gave it all away: the fear, the vulnerability, the hope. Though the man kept his expression composed in the face of her widened eyes, there was a quiver in his heart that she would reject him outright.
But she did not speak. Instead, an expression fell across her angular face, unreadable due to either her makeup or her practiced ability of dissembling. Or both for that matter. However, it did not detract from the loveliness of her appearance or his desire to kiss her.
"Once you read those, I hope you will let me know how you feel as well."
Taking her hand, he bestowed a gentle kiss on her fair skin. Inwardly, he hoped it would not be his last.
"Goodnight."
And with that, Dunban turned and left, knowing his heart was now in her hands.