Trees faded into a blur as Jaden tore through the undergrowth. He wasn't concerned with the Xelia, but losing Evan would have left a sourness in his soul. That thought alone spurred him on.

He didn't stop until he was at the gateway to the city.

"Last time I was here, Queen held a celebration. Now I'm returning to war." Jaden sighed as he approached the gates. "You, there. Open up."

"Right away, King!"

As soon as the gates had opened enough, he impatiently squeezed himself through. He took in the scene before him. After four days of the war, Talhaven didn't look any worse for wear. There were no destroyed buildings; it appeared the same as when he left. Only the streets were more crowded than he remembered.

He shook his head in aggravation.  Soldiers from both sides slept, some hugging friends or relatives they hadn't seen since Queen had appeared. In contrast to that, multiple piles of dead bodies had grown next to the castle walls.  Jaden was surprised to see the merchants casually sweeping the streets, considering they were at war.

Jaden scanned his eyes over the mountains of dead bodies. Disgust filled him as he felt the futility of war. Does their sacrifice hold meaning?

The gate slammed shut behind him.  The impact echoed, rousing all the slumbering Xelia.  They groggily rubbed the sleep from their eyes as they struggled to get on their feet.  Their level of intoxication preventing them from retrieving their weapons.

Jaden couldn't help but smile while watching the warriors collapse to the ground.  The food merchants were quick to make their rounds, offering food and drink to the defenders and attackers in equal measure.

The merchants are keeping them too drunk to continue, he thought, I'm watching the true heroes of this war right now.

Jaden walked through the streets, taking a bread roll from a merchant as he went. 

"Where can I find Queen?" he asked, liberating a drink from another merchant.

"Oh, King!  How long have you been here?" Jaden stopped him from bowing.

"Just tell me where I can find Queen."

"The throne room, of course, shall I take you there?"

"No need.  Just keep serving drinks."

The merchant smiled and resumed his rounds, forcing drinks into empty hands that were barely able to hold them.

Jaden sipped the liquor from his glass as he walked and choked.  Immediately after that, he took a bite of the bread roll.  He shook his head. How can they drink this?

He pushed open the door to the main palace and entered; the door closed gently behind him.  He raised his gaze as he approached the abandoned throne.  Undeterred, he continued walking until he passed the elegant chair and entered the doorway leading towards the private quarters.  He unconsciously drank from the glass and coughed as the foul liquid filled his mouth.  He placed the half-consumed drink on the floor, abandoning it and finished off the bread to forget the awful flavor.

"What is this about?" a handmaiden approached, only recognizing him when she drew closer. "King!"

"I'm looking for Queen," Jaden replied.

"Right this way." the handmaiden escorted him to Queen's bedroom.

With a sigh, he knocked sharply on the door and pushed it open.  Inside the room, he wasn't sure what he expected to see, but it certainly wasn't what greeted him.

Queen shouted, slamming the door in his face.  "Out! We need to get dressed."

Jaden turned around, resting his back against the door.  His breathing became erratic, his heart raced, and his face turned pink.  He shook his head to expunge the image of Queen, in her nightgown, rushing the door from his memory.

Scuffling noises originated from the other side of the door as the two women scrambled to get dressed. Seconds turned into minutes as he waited at the door.

"Just hurry up, I'm not here to select a bride..." his voice trailed off.  I hope.

Frantic noises filled the room as the two rulers fell into a state of panic. Handmaidens approached, ignoring his presence and entered the room unbidden, the morning routine long drilled into their lives.

The door closed, and a heavy lock clicked into place.  Jaden waited patiently outside, the noise from before ceased.

Queen and Princess stared hopefully at the women in their hour of need.  With a nod and a clap, the head handmaiden galvanized the small workforce into action.  In a flurry of movement, extravagant gowns appeared seemingly from nowhere as the women set about their tasks. 

Princess and Queen were stripped and dressed in a matter of minutes.  Princess couldn't see the gown, but she enjoyed the silky feel on her skin.  Queen wore a red gown that matched her hair and complimented her eyes.

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The handmaidens circled Queen and Princess, tending to their hair and makeup, primping their appearance as much as Xelianly possible. The final touch, a spray of perfume. The women backed away to inspect their handiwork and then filed along the wall.

"Are you sure about this, Queen?" Princess glanced over at her rival, unfolding a paper fan and partially hid her face adding an air of mystery.

"It would be an empty victory otherwise," Queen stated as she stuffed padding under her dress.

"You think that will fool him?" Princess's ears twitched at the ruffling noises, and she laughed lightly.

Queen stopped momentarily and considered her rival's comment, but opted to complete her task in the end.  When she was satisfied, she smirked in delight.

Unlocking and opening the door, she flashed a charming smile at Jaden as she beckoned him into the room.

Jaden scrutinized the door, took note of the room's interior, a royal bedroom.  A glance at their clothes, the hint of perfume, and fate lingering in the shadows, he recognized the trap for what it was.  He opted not to enter.  "Let's talk in the throne room instead."

Queen and Princess hid their disappointment and chased after him.  Queen wasted no time and latched onto his right arm and rested her head on his shoulder.  She sighed softly.  I missed him.

Princess pouted and glared at Queen with her crystal eyes.  Not to be outdone, she grabbed his left hand and wrapped his arm around herself before he could protest.  Two distinct feminine scents, primed with perfume, assaulted him.  Jaden's heart jumped into his throat, and he swallowed it back down.  The sounds of weapons clashing brought him back to why he came.

"Ladies, a little breathing room, please."  Jaden extracted himself from their warm embrace, leaving both of them disappointed once again.  "First off, you need to end this war.  Now."

"We can't stop it, only you can," Queen stated.  "And that is only by choosing either one or both of us."

"What's that about?" Jaden looked from one to the other.

"This isn't the first time we've attacked ourselves, but now that it has started, this will be the last." Princess sighed.  "Our biggest threat has never been the other races, but ourselves, and this wouldn't have happened if not for..."

"If not for?" Jaden pressed, looking from one to the other.

"Me." Queen smirked, "God created me to make this situation happen.

"Princess and I are incapable of coexisting, nor can we kill one another." Queen continued, "That's where you come in."

Jaden shook his head, "You are the god, aren't you?"

"What?" Princess took a step back, "the god made my life a mess?"

"It's what gods do," Jaden sighed and turned to look at Princess, "Have you never wondered why you are incapable of killing Queen, let alone why she bears such a title?"

"I never stood a chance." Princess became crestfallen, strength abandoned her, and she slumped to the floor.

"That's not true," Queen countered.  "There are several possible outcomes; each one is just as likely as the others. You have the same chances I do."

Evan rushed into the hallway, confusion clouding his face as his eyes took in Jaden conversing calmly with Queen and a Xelia he'd never seen before.  He darted at Queen, drawing a light dagger.  Jaden caught him by the cuff around his neck.

"Let me go! She tried to poison me!" Evan shouted.

"Ah right, that happened," Queen shrugged in defeat, her hopes of winning Jaden's favor destroyed from a forgotten source.

Jaden sighed and took the dagger away, "Evan.  Keep your hands clean.  Doling out death and judgment aren't decisions to be made lightly, even less so when it comes to gods."

Evan took his words to heart, the tone in his voice reinforcing the message, the very thought of killing a god shaking him to his core.  When Jaden spoke again, anger had replaced the sadness, "Queen, your role here is over.  I'd rather not stain my own hands in the blood of a god right now."

Queen sighed, a slight mist exited her mouth, and the body fell to the floor like a puppet with cut strings.

"Jaden-" Princess lost her thought when his hand wrapped around hers. I feel comfort and security just from having him hold my hand.

"You need to stop the war," Jaden stated flatly, and dragged Princess to the market district.

"That's your role," she muttered under her breath, her cheeks flushed lightly.  

Jaden swung the door to the castle wide open, pulling Princess outside with him.  You can't escape now.  She smirked as she stood next to him and raised her arms, his hand still firmly grasping hers.  She gave vent to her voice, raising the pitch over the sounds of war for everyone to hear, "King is here!"

Weapons clashed a final time. The din of war faded into silence.  Everyone turned toward the castle and raised their hands overhead, "For the King!"

"Princess," Jaden berated, treating her like a mischievous child.

"Yes, King?" she cowed, but recovered quickly and failed to suppress a lighthearted giggle. 

Fate, is it? Jaden sighed, "Are you prepared for the consequences of your actions?"

"What consequences?" Princess asked.  Unable to resist him, Jaden pulled her arm down and around, forcing her into a twirl.  When her body stopped, Jaden's mouth pressed against hers with his arms wrapped around her.  The soldiers and merchants watching broke into loud cheers and howls.

Her face turned deep pink as her heart raced.  A new sensation grew in her belly and spread throughout her body.  She resisted and pushed him away, despite the hunger deep inside craving for more.  She glared at him to hide her inner desire. "J-just what do you think you're doing?!"

"Isn't this what you wanted, Princess?" he asked, reaching for her hand, their fingers locked together.  He pulled her close once more; he stopped when their faces were close enough that they could feel the other's breath on their face.

"My King," Princess turned her face away and held up her paper fan, hiding both their faces from the onlookers as she turned from pink to red.  The cheering crowd grew louder.

"Shh," moving his free hand to her face, Jaden slid the back of his hand slowly down her cheek and under her chin.  Bringing her face towards him again, she blinked her eyes slowly as he closed the distance.  Electricity jolted through both of them when their lips connected.  Princess closed her eyes; time and place forgotten, she surrendered to the sensation as the noise from her subjects faded from her awareness.