He strode into the room and every head immediately turned. I stepped through the door behind him, my head hung low. After turning and leaning against a wall, Adeon distracted by his court, I finally looked up.

The people filling the room were dressed in various clothing, and it didn't seem to matter what they wore. Some wore full gowns, as we did in Noltain. Others wore fighting leathers, or tunics in bright, shimmering colors.

As I stood against the wall, I kept seeing things I'd never have expected. There were children here, laughing in their small groups, playing simple games. Couples dotted the room, some clearly in love with each other, others having heated arguments. A few larger groups of fae were scattered around, smiling, and having fun. I was the only one who looked lonely, who had no one, the only one who was uncomfortable.

Looking around, I finally realized that these fae—these people—were acting exactly like us humans. They ate, drank, laughed, frowned, all exactly like us. The more I saw, the more similarities I saw.

The only true difference was the lady seated on a throne, flanked by a few men on either side of her. They looked like bodyguards, but I could see that they were talking to her and each other, having a good time.

Adeon strode all the way up the edge of the dais, then knelt directly before the lady's feet. She smiled and passed her drink to one of the men beside her. The crown-adorned blonde laid a hand on his shoulder, and he raised his head to her. It seemed they were sharing a conversation, but their lips weren't moving.

Finally, she spoke a single word. Adeon rose from the ground and began conversing with the men surrounding them. The lady looked on them with pride and content, and I saw a sort of hunger in her gaze. I glanced away after a long moment, watching the other festivities again.

I barely noticed myself nodding off, but it wasn't long before my vision blackened and I sagged against the wall behind me.

..-. .- . _ . -. .-..

After what felt like hours, I was shaken awake. I jumped to my feet, drawing the small dagger Adeon had allowed me. I spun to the figure, only to find I had pressed my blade to my only friend's throat. I slowly brought it back to my side, my eyes following its path down, down, until my eyes reached my feet. I stared at them as if they contained the secrets of the universe around us.

He tucked a hand under my chin, raising it until our eyes met, cool blue spheres meeting broken hazel orbs. His gaze was intense, forcing me to stay where I was, forcing me to keep our eyes locked.

We stood there for a long minute. Finally, after a bit longer, he opened his mouth. "Are you sure you're okay? You looked desolate over here, all by yourself. I was tempted to come over, but my queen kept me."

Throughout his slightly accented words, his diamond eyes searched mine. I stepped back, wrenching my chin from his calloused hand. I shook my head, and pasted on a smile, trying to keep it up. "I'm fine. And I'll continue to be fine."

He nodded, letting me walk away. After a moment, he began to move with me, showing me where my room was located.

I closed the door behind me, reveling in the blissful silence and aloneness that filled the space surrounding. I whispered to myself, as quietly as possible, "As fine as anyone can be when they're alone in a new place. Taken from their home. Living with the enemy."

I felt a tear run down my cheek. It splattered on the wood below me, breaking apart so easily. Just like my fragile human heart.

I slid to the ground, flush against the wall. I suddenly felt so, so tired. I felt myself slip off into sleep, lulled by the sound of footsteps slowly striding away from the door next to my head.

__---*---__

This is one part of another story I started only to abandon, about a girl who was given to the Fae as a sacrifice to stop the war between humans and fae, but instead, she rises to become the queen, hence the name (not quite sure how it happened, but it did somehow). I've been thinking of trying to write it again, but I have too many side projects to work on~

679 words of this, whatever this happens to be!

I hope everyone is doing okay :D

-lily the book