Stellar

Chapter Fifteen

Guards welcomed the astronauts with defensive curiosity. Their apprehension disappeared when the familiar brunette took off her helmet. Ana greeted them with a friendly smile and requested to see the king.

She was escorted to his throne room, Iliza and Zuri behind her, and announced before the royal family. The king embraced her immediately, a knowing look upon his violet face as the queen and princess greeted her. Still, he asked for the reason behind her visit, and was all but giddy to hear her news. He went off on a tangent of a royal wedding, children, and the kingdom's prosperity under two rulers. Ana didn't dampen his dreams though. She simply laughed and responded with, "maybe one day".

Because of his hospitable nature, Ashtur hosted a meal of light snacks and the grey liquid Ana knew as Kïsh.  He questions his newest guests, investing himself in Zuri and Iliza's lives at the space station as the talked. The brunette was grateful and relieved at the same time, not surprised that the king seemed to like her comrades.

When the staff came through and collected the plates and leftovers, Ashtur insisted they stay. With careful words, Anastasia respectfully declined his offer, intent on returning to the lavender woman she dreamed of; the woman that gave her a bed to sleep in, taught her the language, and called her etïm.

Accepting her answer with grace, Ashtur offered her transportation to Eris' kingdom. Ana didn't bother discussing her answer with the other women. Without hesistance, the former commander stripped out of her suit and handed it to her girls. She hugged them, thanking the duo for their assistance and friendship, and watched as they were escorted back to the Protagonist. Her heart groaned when they were out of sight, but the brunette pushed past it and followed Ashtur to the carriage.

Promising to return soon, Ana thanked the man for his kindness and took her seat inside. She waved as it moved away, further and further from his kingdom and closer to her.

The journey felt longer than it had been before. Obscure foliage looked as if it repeated itself, as if it were simply a projection and Anastasia hadn't actually gone anywhere. The sky had dimmed quickly, vibrant orange now dull and tinted scarlet. Pale eyelids were becoming heavy, but determination rang like an alarm, urging blue eyes to stay open. Ana stood to the best of her ability, stretching and shaking her limbs, static moving up and down both legs. She willed the journey to be over, was ready to curse the extensive trip until the creatures pulling the carriage began to slow, their trot no longer steady.

She fell back into her seat, calling out to the coachman, "Ufyi lœtap?"

He responded back in the affirmative.

Ana let herself out, thanking the red man before he pulled away. Blue eyes watched him for a moment before looking up at the castle walls, nostalgia washing over her like summer rain. Her heart screamed of home while anticipation burned in her stomach. Almost weightless feet led the brunette up stone stairs, each step making them heavier. Her eyes were trained on the heavy doors, only slightly curious about the lack of guards, but pushing the thought down. She persisted, finally up and standing before closed doors.

She stood there breathing with cement blocks for feet. Just breathing.

The heavy blocks refused to move further, her head in the same mindset despite her heart's longing. Rejection wasn't fueling her fear—it was something strange, a feeling she hadn't come across yet. It was unknown, thrilling and terrifying. So she took another breath. She almost thought someone would burst through the door and take her straight to the queen, but no one came. That was a trope in romance movies, and Ana was just breathing.

When the crisp air had caused a chill in human bones, Ana pushed open the doors, holding her breath until she crossed the threshold. The first thing that caught her eye was a guard posted near the staircase, slightly slumped in posture. Laughing to herself, the former commander approached him, clearing her throat and announcing herself.

"Ana!" He exclaimed, accent thick, "You are here. Does Queen Eris know?"

"Not yet." The brunette embraced the man as she slipped back into their language, familiar with him, but unable to remember his name. "Do you know where she is?"

"Meeting with the council."

"And Tylishemi?"

"Kitchen duty."

Anastasia thanked him and snuck through the rooms, trying not to alert anyone of her presence. The halls were empty, but the kitchen was bustling—men and women were cleaning up after a meal. The scent of savory spices still lingered in the air, making Ana's mouth water.

She saw T on the other side of the room, next to Undiya, scraping the leftovers into containers, most likely being sent out to the shelters in the city. Subtlety wasn't going to get their attention, especially from a distance, so the brunette changed her plan.

Stepping out from the threshold, she called out, "Need any help?"

All eyes were on her, in disbelief and shock. It was soon replaced with cries of elation, loud enough to shatter glass. Undiya and Tylishemi rushed around the excited chaos, nimble legs taking them to their friend. Strong arms were wrapped around the woman, now sandwiched between siblings.

It was glorious. Her heart returned to a steady beat and strings pulled even tighter, speeding up the organ's healing process. It welled in her chest, filling with love and acceptance. Ana would have sworn she was the grinch—her heart had to have grown three sizes.

Squeezing her friends back, Ana chocked out with a smile, "I missed you guys so much."

"We say the same," the red woman murmured, and slowly they all released each other.

The duo started to bombarde her with questions, much like her crew had, to which she promised to answer later. Now, she needed to see her queen.

Worn feet lead her through familiar halls once again until she reached the council room. Ana didn't have the opportunity to see said room when she was here, especially since her time was spent learning and finding a solution to get to the space station. Body, mind, and soul longed to be in that room, to be near Eris—it was like she could feel the monarch was near.

Debating on knocking or barging through, Anastasia chose the middle ground and slowly opened the door. She slid her lithe body between the door and the frame, eyes scanning the room. It was bare walled with an oval table. Aliens of every color were seated around it, but Eris was the only one standing.

A grey dress clung to her, dipping down her chest in a modest V and cinched at the waist. It wasn't as extravagant as her usual garb, but she still looked stunning.

She was in the midst of speaking when gold eyes flickered towards the brunette. Ana offered nothing but a sheepish smile, watching the various emotions cross over the royal's face.

Eris dismisses everyone immediately, and the took the hint. If Ana didn't know any better, she would have left too; the queen's voice left no room for questions.

When the room was empty asides from the women, the brunette stepped around the table and towards the lavender woman. Her heart had already burst out of her, soaring somewhere with pure glee. The familiar scent of the latter filled pale nostrils and intoxicate her, the intensity increasing until it reached its pinnacle. Standing before her love, blue eyes looked up at the woman of her dreams, doe-eyed and grateful.

Still stuck in disbelief, Eris reached out, slender fingers grazing Ana's cheeks. The human leaned into the touch, savoring the affection before pulling the queen closer. Soft lips pressed against each other, and Ana tasted home.

She felt complete.

"I'm home," the brunette whispered when they broke apart, foreheads against the other and slightly breathless.

Golden eyes shimmered, accepting the statement and so much more. "And here is where you will stay."

Fin.