12

Saya suddenly noticed the audience had fallen dead silent. She let go of Wynn and looked around. A couple thousand eyes stared at the two of them, as if they were waiting for a sign or a signal, something to give them permission to show any kind of reaction to the events they just witnessed. Saya caught Wynn's eyes for a second, but she looked away. Wynn let out a deep sigh before stepping outside the booth. The audience's gaze followed her. She took a deep breath and spoke with a slow voice loud enough to overshadow the entire arena.

"The king is dead."

A low rumble of whispers took her words and repeated them one million times.

Saya joined her outside the booth and took her hand in hers. Wynn gave it a squeeze, without looking up.

"Tonight, any candidates for ruler can put their name on the list, tomorrow morning the list will become public. This time tomorrow, you will vote for your new king or queen. The control is in your hands. Make good use of it."

She ended her speech and let go of Saya's hand. She started walking towards the exit of the arena, and Saya followed her. Chaos rose behind them as they walked away.

It was quiet in the tent. Only the rustling of the wind on the canvas outside could be heard. Saya entered after wynn and closed the opening.

They changed clothes in silence and started cleaning up their materials. That's when Wynn spoke up. Her voice was shaky and thin.

"Can I be alone, for a while?"

"Of course, I'll see you later then?"

"Can we…" Wynn trailed off her sentence.

"Can we what?"

"Can we meet at the cliffs tonight? At sundown."

"I'll see you there."

Saya went straight towards the city centre. She wanted to see what the chaos was like. The chaos they left behind. The chaos they caused. She pulled a hood over her head, so she wouldn't be recognised, and looked around in awe. Children ran from home to home, trying to tell their friends the news. Stands and shops stood abandoned, their owners out to listen to the latest news. People had gathered on the streets, talking about what they had or hadn't seen. The wildest stories had formed about the event in barely an hour time. Saya heard a woman dressed in a red skirt say that the king had been thrown down the bleachers, where he was cruelly stabbed to death. A man, standing three meters away from her claimed to have seen Wynn make the king drink a bright red potion, after which he fell to the ground. Another woman vividly told the small group of people that had gathered around her, that the king had been lynched under Wynn's command.

There was one thing all these stories seemed to have in common: Wynn was always painted as the hero, the one who freed the land, and never as the villain, or the murderer.

Saya left the city behind and decided to hide out until the greatest chaos had been dealt with. She walked around the forest for a bit, rested on a tree stump, then walked towards the cliffs. It was far from sundown, and Wynn was not there yet. She sat down on the ground on stared over the valley beneath. It was then that she finally felt like she could breath again.

Time passed quickly and before she knew it, shadows had fallen around her and the fireflies of the valley had come to life again. She suddenly heard a voice behind her.

"Hey"

"Hey, Wynn"

Saya patted on the ground next to her. Wynn sat down and without a warning, she rested her head on Saya's shoulder.

"Where have you been all afternoon?" Saya asked.

"Hiding out." Wynn answered. "I made my way home through the city. I must have been stopped a million times by different people, asking if what they're hearing is true."

"At least they aren't mad about it. You are their hero."

"I guess." She said, fidgeting with her hair. But what if that makes them choose me as queen?"

"Then you'll figure it out. You would be an amazing queen. You can do it."

"Not alone."

"You won't be alone. I'll be there."

Wynn lifted her head. "You will?"

"Of course, where else did you think I was going?"

"Home?"

"Wynn," Saya couldn't help but laugh. "Wynn, I am home."

"Here?"

"No, not here." Saya said. She turned her head and caught Wynn's eyes. She was glad Wynn didn't look away, but instead they looked at each other for at least ten silent seconds before she continued,

"Here, with You."

Wynn smiled, and all trouble of the past had been forgotten. Saya grabbed Wynn's hand and wynn grabbed hers.

For a moment, it was quiet again, and then out of nowhere, Wynn leapt forward and kissed her. A quick kiss, before she pulled back. Saya's eyes were big in surprise before she burst out laughing. Wynn, looking at the ground in suspense of Saya's reaction, seemed to relax a bit.

"Was, eehm, was that okay?"

"Oh come on, you know it is," Saya said, still laughing.

"yeah… I kinda do. Sorry for, you know, before."

But Saya had already forgiven her.

"It's okay, trust me"

"No, really, I'm sorry, It wasn't okay to do that to you. I know I confused you."

"Well," Saya smiled, "Are you saying you want to make it up to me?"

She carefully tucked a loose strand of curly brown hair behind Wynn's ear.

Wynn bent forward, Saya rested her hand on her chin, closed her eyes,

and the kiss Saya had longed for, for so long, finally happened.

The end

Thanks for reading!