Talking to the Moon ✔

-Chapter: Fifty-One-

A month had passed since our encounter with the woman. The desert-people tribal leaders had send a token pledging allegiance to the crown.

The token was the young girl that was under the influence. No one knew who her parents was and the crown had graciously accepted their offer to keep her. She was to be treated as a princess. At first, Qamar had been hesitant but when he met the little girl, she won him over in a matter of hours.

Qamar had also done another thing-- he had stepped down from the throne. He wasn't fit to be a good King, not without being stable. He had also made it clear that he didn't need me anymore. He couldn't live his life being a burden to someone else's. It had been a decision that I had welcomed. I was done with the City and it's people. I loved the royal family but they were not home. I wanted to go bad. I had had enough to affect me a lifetime.

As for Omar, he was the new King now, with the Aqib, Wali, Asad and Laia as his council, which easily meant that I wouldn't be going back to the place that I had called home.

I would be going to someplace different -- I would be going to a house where my mother and father didn't have to struggle to meet ends. A place where if Imad was alive, he would have loved. A place where my father would not have to work odd hours or my mother wouldn't have to argue with milk man.

This was a gift from the Royal Family for the loyalty that we had showed them, for the things that would remain unsaid between us.

I had never imagined my life to change the way it had. Whoever the Voice of the Moon was, she definitely had got one thing right. I had changed. I had grown. It didn't matter whether for better or worse. I had learned that I pave my own path.

"Do you really want to go, Ayah?" Laia asked. I met her gaze with a smile. The week at the Rayt had changed her too. No one talked about it but we could see it. She trained harder every morning and was not as carefree as before. Someone else's life had taken a toll over her body and I could see that.

"It good that she is going," Wali remarked from behind her, "I am tired of being woken up at odd hours for answers."

I smiled at that.

"We will miss you, Ay." Aqib came to me and ruffled my hair. Suddenly, as if an after thought, he pulled me for a hug.

"Thank you for everything. If you need me, ever, make some noise and I will be there." He grinned and winked at me. I grinned in response getting his reference. The night that I had first met the Monarch seemed ages ago.

I moved towards my brother, who was standing stiffly as he looked at me with his handsome eyes.

"Why are you leaving?" He asked me softly.

I have to, I signed to him.

"You don't." He said, "Father and Mama can move to the City."

The change will be too much for them, I answered making up some excuse. I knew he could easily read my lie but he didn't say anything as he wrapped his hand around me. It won't be the last time that I would meet them but it did feel bad seperating. I would be back during Omar's coronation ceremony and Asad would come visit us too often. But it felt odd, I had never lived without my brother.

He had always been around. Even when, I thought I didn't have him. A tear leaked from my eye and I quickly brushed it away. I couldn't have that. I wouldn't cry. I had promised myself that.

"Be good," My brother said to me as he let me go. I nodded and smiled.

Omar stood with Ra'ad looking majestic as ever that made my heart warm in an odd way. I ignored the feeling as I moved towards him.

"He will take care of you." Omar gave me a small smile as he handed me the reins. I took it in surprise. He was willing to give his horse to me?

He read my expression easily, "He will keep me updated."

And to my utter bewilderment, Omar winked. I couldn't help but let out a loud gasp as he did that. Blood rushed on my face and I stared awkwardly at my feet.

"I will miss that." He said softly to me with a low chuckle. I looked away biting my lip as I tried not to smile.

Farther away from the main people stood the Monarch. He was watching us intently, I handed the reins back to Omar and walked towards his brother.

He looked at me with his grey eyes with a slight twinkle similar to that of Omar. It was surprising how similar they were in many ways at yet different. I don't think I would ever be able to completely figure them out but I liked him that way.

"He gives you a horse," Qamar said as I came  near him. In response, I simply raise an eyebrow at him -- an action that I had learned from him.

"I will be fine, Ay." He said with a smile and then gently took my hand, "I have a six year old kid to train and she is far better than you at calming me down."

He smiled, "But I need to say; thank you! Thank you for being so brave, kind and patient. I wouldn't have done that without you. You have been a friend to me at my lowest and I am going to cherish our friendship forever. I can promise you that. My friendship is my gift to you, whenever you need, I will be there for you. You can come to me, you can talk to me. I'll understand. I will."

I smiled again trying to control my emotions . His words had more impact on me than anyone else. Maybe it was because I had invested a lot in him. I had invested myself in him. He was part of me now.

He was my Moon.

I couldn't help but be amused. I could literally talk to the Moon now.

Qamar stared at me confused, maybe trying to figure out why I was so amused at his words. I shook my head in response. He didn't need to know.

"You better leave, Ay." Asad came towards us, "It will be dark soon."

"Does it even matter, boy?" Wali piped in as he always did, "She is going in a carriage like a royal princess with her entourage. It is what the villagers will think. Kids will run behind her carriage."

I smiled at that. It was ages back when I would fight through crowds to get a glimpse of the princesses. Now, I may not be like them but I was no less.

My younger self was mighty pleased with my older self.

"Come on," Asad pulled me towards the carriage and made me sit. Omar and Qamar walked towards me and bid me farewell.

It was strange how many friends I had made. Especially for someone who couldn't speak.

I bid them good-bye too.