Chapter 2
Sages POV

Here we go my lovelies <3 

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《

"And this is the throne room. The treaty will be happening here." I explain, gesturing through the grand open doors into the giant room with tall windows and a cathedral ceiling. 

"Beautiful" Ivar whispers under his breath as his gray eyes glaze over the room. 

I smile, leading him away, down the hall. There were only a few rooms in the castle he needed to see. We had just left our first stop after he arrived, the kitchen. Now we made our way to his room where he would be staying, then we would head outside to the grounds around the castle. 

Arriving at the room I open the door for him. He struts inside, gazing around the large, high roofed room. It was completely open, with a fireplace and couch on the left, a table in front of the door and a bed to the right in front of the wall of windows. A door in the back led to a small room for changing and bathing. It was a guest room, only about half the size of the royal chambers, but it was nonetheless grand. 

"Wow...this is your guest room?" He asks, glancing over his shoulder at me. 

"Yes, it is." I answer, fiddling with the ruffles of my dress. 

"It's as big as my father's room back home." He admits, walking over to stand in front of the windows. 

I take the moment to take him in even more than the first meeting. The cowlick that settled perfectly on his middle forehead swished and bopped at he moved, the rest of his hair so impeccable it didn't move an inch, even in the wind. His dress was fascinating, no wrinkles ever appearing on the crimson fabric. The formal attire reminded me of a soldier getting ready for a ceremony, everything perfect down to the shine on the buttons. His face was set in a hard expression, but Ina way the accentuated his features. You've heard of "ruggedly handsome" but he is the complete opposite. The same way woman always say they "like a man in uniform" His cheekbones were set high on his face, his jaw strong but narrow, a beak nose perched effortlessly in the middle of his face. His teeth were so white and straight they could be plastic. His eyes were strong but held a layer of emotion behind. His impeccable pale skin seemed to glow under the sunlight. And those dang eyebrows! 

"You're staring." He says in a low, growly voice that wasn't quite teasing but yet wasn't warning. 

"Oh! Uh...sorry." I stutter, not quite knowing how to get out of the awkward situation. 

"Ha! It's quite alright. Not to be...arrogant? But I've always had people staring at me. And not just for my looks." He turns, hands folded neatly behind his back as he smiles that perfect smile. "I'm used to it." 

"Well um...the stables! Y-yeah, let's go there shall we?" Ivar so isn't my type, yet whenever he looks at me I can't help getting flustered, or when he smiles at me I can't stop my breath catching in my throat. 

"That would be lovely." He says warmly, walking up to me. He outstretched a hand, motioning for me to lead the way. 

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《

"Alright! Next week at high sun it is." I say loudly for all the room to hear. We had just spent the last hour arranging the treaty signing after we negotiated terms over the last two days. New Eladea was fortunate to get out easy and not have to give up anything, basically just promise not to attack first. 

All the court members stood and collected their various papers and belongings to leave, Ren and Liam included. Ivar, who had stood up next to me, turns my way. I stand as well, looking at him. 

"You're, majesty?" He asks. 

"Please, Sage." I replied. He nods, though I know he's not going to listen to me. 

"Would you be so kind as to take a walk with me into the lower town? I was meaning to make my way down there the past few days but have been so busy with the treaty. And plus, I need pretty guide to make sure I don't get lost." He smiles confidently, though I see a tinge of pink seeping into his cheeks and ears. I myself get flustered over the flirtatious comment. Though with all the court members watching, I couldn't refuse. 

"Of course, Prince Ivar." I say formally. 

"Meet you at the front stairs in half an hour." He replies over his shoulder as he makes his way to leave, his right hand man trailing behind. I feel Liam bump me in the shoulder and giving me "the look" before walking to exit as well. 

"Ma'am?" A voice sounds behind me. I jump, as I thought I was alone. I turn around to see one of my advisors leading a group of half a dozen nobles. 

I really only had most of my court members for political reasons. To keep alliances with the other two kingdoms, to stop a village from revolting, this noble paid this one for that, this person has a debt to pay, that person saved this person's life. It was all a tiring political dance that I was having a hard time learning the steps to. 

"Yes?" 

"I speak as a representative for ¾ of the court when i say this," He begins. Oh this cannot be good. I think to myself. 

"You have ruled for six years as a solo queen. Us and the majority of the court think that it would be best, to keep appearances, that you were to marry." What?

"W-we aren't saying that the kingdom is not strong with you as leader, not at all, it's just that, it might make the Kingdom appear less vulnerable and more capable if there were to be a man on the throne alongside you." He says. I'm too dumbfounded to even speak. So of course the man takes this as his queue to keep going. 

"Prince Ivar is a perfect specimen. For example, of course." He adds quickly. "He's handsome, has perfect genes and is already royalty. It would also bring our two kingdoms together if you were to make a permanent bond with the ruler of an enemy kingdom." I-is he seriously talking about genes? Heat rises into my cheeks quickly. 

"I am appalled that you would suggest such a thing in such a manner! Have I not made it clear that I will only marry for love and love only? I don't care how weak it makes the kingdom look, I will rule as the Queen, alone until I find someone I deem fit who will rule the country alongside me, and not take over my position. I earned my title through months of battling for my life and losing the ones I loved." I didn't need to specify who I was talking about as a few glanced in the direction of the courtyard where a large statue of Lance was located. 

"I am not about to be insulted by a few of my court members who deem me unfit to rule this country as a sole woman. Those of which know nothing of the struggles and the pain I had to endure to rid this kingdom of its cruel ruler out of the kindness of my own heart!" I advance on the court members and they shrink back. "If our enemies want to attack us because they see a woman ruling this kingdom by herself as weak, then let them. I'd love to see the look on their faces when they find out how wrong they were" I'm looking down at the man now. I debate on whether to spit to prove my point, but that would make my situation even worse so I settle settle staring the man down for a few more seconds before stalking off to meet Ivar on the front steps. 

When I arrived he was already there, standing on the steps patiently gazing at the statue in front of them in the middle of the courtyard. Somehow in that little of time he had changed from his formal attire from the first day he arrived to a casual but nice looking tunic and dark pants, almost the same as mine despite me having a different colored pant and a sword on my waist. It was at that moment in the sunlight I noticed something. At his hairline his dark hair changed. It faded in an almost beautiful blend, making its way from maybe an inch into his hair to where it started. The hair right at the beggining of his hair, where the forehead morphed into his rots, was a bright golden color. But I thought his hair was black? Had he dyed it? Why?

"Who is that statue of? I mean obviously it says his name on the plaque, but who is he to you? He obviously must have been important or else you wouldn't have made this big of a tribute." He comments, not even turning around as I approached.

"Oh, um," I stumbled. What actually was he to me? A friend? No, that isn't enough to describe him. Boyfriend? Too much. Lover? Too many assumptions to that one. "His name was Lance Griffin, as you can see on the plaque. When I was on the quest to dethrone Tempus he uh...he helped me along and...well he sacrificed his life for mine." I answer, chanting the line "don't get emotional" in my head. 

Ivar sees to stiffen at the mention of the former king, but doesn't comment. 

"He must have been very brave." 

"He was." I answer fondly, gazing at the perfectly recreated stone face of my former love. 

"Well then!" I snap myself back to the present. "Shall we?" 

We walked down the crowded streets. It was the early evening on the seventh day of the week, the rest day. So everyone had off work, and those who did have things to do were done by now, meaning everyone was either buying things from the market, socializing or playing with one another, or selling their goods at their stall. Because of the season, the town was bursting with color. Posters advertising products, festivals and events hung from every wall. Colorful Banners hung from strings raised overhead as decoration for the celebrations. The cobblestone streets had recently been cleaned. 

The air was buzzing with excitement and life, as naturally the people were too. Everyone was smiling and laughing. They greeted one another in a cheery tone, conversed with one another happily and laughed without a care in the word. Even the weather seemed to pick up on the mood, a gentle breeze running in between the streets and just the slightest chill in the air that was just enough to warrant long sleeves. The sun, though setting, was bright and the sky was blue, dotted with white puffy balls that drifted across it. 

No one paid much mind to the fact that their queen walked among them. It was a common sight. I would often take walks through the village, whether it was to check up on the townspeople, do some shipping or just take a walk. So it wasn't that much of a surprise surprise people saw me as well as another royal walking along the streets. Although most of them showed a small small of respect, creating an ever so small path through the crowd that way we wouldn't have to be practically shoulder to shoulder like everyone else. 

"This town is wonderful." Ivar leans down to whisper in me ear above the people. His warm breath on the back of my neck made me shutter as another cool breeze stirred and whisked the warmth away. 

"It is, isn't it?" I answer back, turning my head so we were making eye contact. He smiles, straightening so he was standing behind me once more. 

We stop at a vender that had many kinds of beautiful jewelry, all made of shining gems and jewels that glitter in the fading sunlight. A woman stands behind the table, along with a small boy behind her who seemed to be entertaining himself with two pieces of wood. 

"Good evening." I say, nodding to her.

"Madam! What a pleasure it is to see you here at my business. And with a prince no less." She curtsies slightly and nods to the both of us, smiling widely. "What can I get for you?" 

"That necklace there caught my eye." I answer, pointing to a chain with a tiny jewel on the end of it cladded with gold. The gem was a light green, almost pastel, with the tiniest grey flecks in the interior of the translucent jewel. 

"Oh what a wonderful choice! That would bring out your eyes beautifully and make your wonderful olive skin shine." She answers brightly. I hand her a few large golden coins and she turns around, counting for a moment and returns three smaller silver coins of various sizes. She dumps them in my hand along with the necklace. 

"I hope you have a wonderful day, your majesty." She curtsies again, then repeats it, facing Ivar. "His highness." She says. I nod to her, then turn to leave. 

"Wakt." Ivar says abruptly. "That's the wrong change." He turns to the woman. 

"Your queen was generous enough to pay for your product when she could have just as easily taken it for free and you decide to rip her off?! Were you attempting to STEAL from your QUEEN?!!" He ain't quite yelling, but his voice was so loud and authoritative he might as well have been. The woman shrinks back, pulling the boy behind her as practically the whole street goes silent and faces them in shock at the sudden outburst. I race forward, putting a hand on his shoulder. 

"It was just a misunderstanding. A miscalculation is all. I'm sure she had no malicious intent, right? I really don't need the money, I have enough. Here," I go to hand her the coins but when she doesn't bundle I dump them on the table instead, still clutching the necklace. "Keep the change" I say with a quick smile, helping the girl relax some. 

"...Right. I apologize for jumping jumping conclusions." Ivar admits, finally relaxing his tense muscles and unclenching his fists. I nod to everyone around me as I gently guide the man away back towards the castle. It was silent between us for a few bests as we walked away. 

"I'm sorry. I overreacted." He says softly, breaking the silence. 

"It's fine. I know your tense, being in a new kingdom, working on the peace treaty, trying to do good work to impress your father. I get it." I give him a sideways smile. He returns it. Even after I look back forward I can still feel his eyes staring at me. 

He brings his hand up to run it through his hair, and when he brings it back down his fingertips brush the tips of mine. I normally wouldn't think anything of it, except, the scary part is, the tiniest part of me wanted his hand to linger just a moment longer. 

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《
Word count: 2614

Sooo what'd you guys think? A lot of different things happening in this one. Tell me what you think! Maybe your views on Ivar have changed? How you see all the other characters? Predictions for the future? I would love to hear it all!