Harsh Reality

It had been six long days since she had sent the letter that she herself had carefully drafted after wasting three letter rolls. Unlike Gyyza, Cetus was a kingdom next-door to Slyve. It took only a day at most to cut the distance between the capitols. 

Mircea had decided to not overthink it. However her heart cried out almost every hour of the day 'What if he denies?' Then what are you going to place your bets on?' All she could do was ignore her heart and proceed with other things that needed her attention in the kingdom.

She had done almost everything she could to distract herself from thinking about it. The council was being a pain in her arse. They didn't know that the attack was initiated by the King of Cetus himself. They were angry and so were the people of Slyve.

People were scared for their safety and there was nothing Mircea could do. She had held a public meeting to promise them it wouldn't happen again. And they believed her, she felt uneasy lying to them however it had to be done, Carsten had said. 

Mircea leaned back on the chair she had herself taken to her balcony so she could relish the starry night that was laying in the vast dark sky. She flipped the last page from the book that Urban had told her to read three weeks ago. The book was all but over. 

Remarkably Mircea had enjoyed the book. The characters in the book did not make her feel lonely on nights like these. This book had a flavor of all that she loved, there was romance, there was a mild thrill but most of all the plot was brilliant. Urban had quite a unique choice. 

It was rather rare that the sky had cleared up, but it was only more of a reason why she should finish off the book tonight. 

It was splendidly perfect. The end of this book and the night. 

Mircea saw that the book had a sequel. How come Urban hadn't said anything about it?

She hadn't seen him around lately. Perhaps it was time they both visited the library. She'd ask him to suggest at least ten more books like these she mused, closing the book in her lap. 

She then closed her eyes and enjoyed the soft breeze that was flowing. It suddenly came to her. The sky had cleared up after days! There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. That would mean the ships would start sailing even if the sky was clear only for a day. Which would mean Urban would set to sail with it. 

Huh

She pondered on the thought for a minute before she rushed to get dressed. It wasn't that she had missed Urban in the last few days, even so she wanted to meet him before he sailed off. She knew very well he was going to settle here but…

"Saints!" She groaned, donning a simple gown and a fur coat on it. 

Everybody had their moments she thought and these were not her brightest as a queen of one of the four prodigious kingdoms of the obscured realms. 

She didn't forget to get the book and two knives before exiting her chambers. The moment she stepped out of her room she was met with a sleepy picture of guards. They are new, she thought. She should talk to the council about not changing her guards every now and then, it was quite a hassle. 

Mircea thought better than waking them up, she was simply going to meet Urban so it wasn't that dangerous. However her subconscious brain called her out on her dumb charades. Just think what the council will do to him if they find out what you have been up to. 

It had her stopping right in her tracks for a second. Things were uncertain be that as it may Urban was a simple man with green-grey eyes who made her days better. She knew she was rushing into this, with him. She knew she shouldn't trust him. At all. She knew she was a queen and he was a witcher. She knew this would take her nowhere but to her doom. 

Yet it all started and ended with him being a guy who made her feel better just by simply being around her. 

Mircea clutched the book in her hands as she contemplated everything. 

There was no guarantee she would be alive by the end of this season. If after everything King Kirill wanted a war she would take her mother's sword to the war and lead the front army herself. And there, it was. Mircea was finally facing reality. 

She wanted to cry but her eyes were dry as they had been when she saw Faustina crouched in the middle of the big crowd, when she discovered her father was dead. 

"Hey, what are you doing here?" The voice was deep and it felt as if it didn't belong here. Mircea followed the sound to glance at its owner. Urban was standing in another one of his infamous velvet coats.

Mircea was startled but her face was a mask of indifference. She tried to smile at him however failed and grimaced instead. "Hey!" She called out in a small voice.

"Okay, you are not happy to see me even if it has been almost nine days since we last met." He chuckles as if he is trying to lighten up her mood. 

"Has it been that long?" Mircea bites inside of her cheeks.

Urban does nothing but nods at her trying to figure her mood out. He stares at her even though it is hard to make out her exact expression. She is sitting in the dark corner of the dimly lit hallway while he is standing three feet away. 

Mircea takes a breath before she pulls herself together and straightens up. 

"I actually was coming to get you." She recalled why she had left her room. 

"Why?" He looked confused, worry etched his rugged face.

Mircea then fanned the book in his face, "I completed this one, I need you to give me it's sequel." Urban's face softened at her reply. Perhaps Mircea was imagining but she saw a hint of pride on his face. She dismissed the thought and handed over the book. 

"How do you know about the sequel?" He mused 

"What is with you and Athos? It's written at the end of it that the author has written a sequel." Mircea shakes her head getting up. Then it clicks her.

"So the weather is awfully nice tonight." She looks out the window she had been sitting on seconds ago.

Urban glances at her perplexed. The weather? He looks out of the window and indeed she is right. However, what has that got to do with their conversation? "I guess?" 

"You can sail back to Gyyza now, tomorrow the ships will resume all trade and you know…" 

"Oh." There is a long pause, then "I will make sure to tell Leigh about that." 

"Yes, he must be missing home more than ever. I cannot imagine what he is going through." Because I don't know what a home is anymore. Mircea continues the sentence in her mind. 

"Yes, I miss Anstice. I wanted to ask you something." 

"Yes?" Mircea meets his eyes 

"Is it okay if Anstice moves her with me?" Urban looks like he is unsure of what she will respond to. But then Mircea smiles warmly at her mention, "Of Course she can." 

"Oh okay, I feel a little better now because that had me worrying sick. I thought it wasn't in your hand." He looked like he spoke more than he had planned on. He seemed like a big dog who had been caught eating something he shouldn't have.

Mircea gazed at him weirdly. "Why would you think that?"

Again there was a long pause before he answered her truthfully. "Well, sometimes it feels as if the council has a hold on you." Her expressions deepened at his confession. She didn't know what to say to him anymore. 

Urban wasn't completely wrong assuming what he did, still he wasn't right. 

"And well, I think I should retire to bed." She got up pulling her coat closer. 

Mircea didn't look back at him. She wanted a distraction from King Kirill and all that was going on and indeed, he had given her a distraction. She didn't know he was capable of hurting her until now. 

Even if there had been some truth in his words this is not what she expected from him. It wasn't that he had said she was being a stupid queen going out of her way to divulge with an outsider like himself but it stung. It stung bad enough to make her realise he was right and she had no time for playful innocent games. 

She realised there was a war brewing and her kingdom needed her more than she WANTED, because she did not need Urban, but, yes, she wanted Urban to be something. It was high time she'd sort out her priority list and Urban didn't belong there. Not even at the bottom of the list.