Chapter Text
All ceremonies were observed and Avad was finally able to remove the crown from his head.
By the Sun, he never wanted to inherit this. But every day, again and again, he dressed in white, red and gold, walked with his head held high and endured all the rituals associated with his title. Sun King Avad.
The fourteenth ruler of the Radiant Dynasty. Liberator.
Parricide.
Avad closed his eyes, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
Someone from the crowd at the evening service at the Temple of the Sun shouted the word again today. Exactly that day, when Aloy is in town. When Aloy was only three meters away from him. When Aloy twitched, as if she wanted to shout something back to the offender, but she stopped under the sharp look of the king. The eye contact lasted only a brief moment, but this understanding, this longing in the depths of the Eastern warrior's green eyes haunted Avad for the rest of the evening.
Oh, The Sun, this woman will probably never leave his thoughts.
"The Savior of Meridian and her companion, Varl the Brave, are hosted in Olin's house, Your Radiance."
Marad the Sinless entered the royal apartments with a bow and critically surveyed the immaculate room. The spymaster's sharp gaze lingered on the bed. He coughed politely and turned to the king:
"Wasn't there supposed to be a change of ornament yesterday? Your blanket, sire, doesn't fit..."
"Doesn't fit with the girl who tried to make my bed and suddenly found herself half-dressed," - Avad snapped, turning around. "Her dress was so unfortunately parted at the seams. The fourth daughter of Khan Bashar, she entered the service of the Queen Mother. I don't recall Nasadi sending her maids to me. What a nasty surprise, eh, Marad?"
"I dare to say, Your Radiance was not impressed by the beauty of the young Rayla, because of yesterday's rumors about the approach of the red-haired warrior from the Nora tribe to the capital. I guess this event overshadowed all other thoughts. And feelings."
Avad clenched his hands into fists. There were only few people in this world who were allowed to speak so impudently to the king. Avad wanted to yell, to start explaining something completely obvious to Marad, he wanted to drive the servant out of the bedroom. No, not only out of the bedroom, but out of the palace, and even out of the city. He wanted to throw everything to the accursed Shadows and, in the name of the Sun, escape from Meridian himself, but... but Avad did none of this. He only exhaled raggedly and turned away, continuing to undress with some desperate frenzy.
"I wasn't impressed," the king said after a long minute. "By the Sun, this is the last time you are speaking of Aloy in that tone."
"I have immense respect for Aloy of Nora," - said Marad the Sinless without embarrassment, - "she saved Meridian, our country, and the whole world. Thanks to her, the Sundom has a future. And the Sundom needs a strong throne."
He hesitated for a moment, as if plucking up the courage to utter the words that had been pricking his tongue for a long time:
"The king needs a queen. And the place of the Sun-Queen is here in Meridian. Not on the edge of the world."
Avad knew all of this, understood it no worse, even better than Marad. And that made the truth hurt even more.
“Love is not for kings, Avad,” Marad said softly, and for the first time since Jiran's death, Marad sounded like an old friend, like a mentor: “I raised you and know your heart. As a man you don't have to burn Aloy out of your soul. But as a King you shouldn't neglect the traditions of your country either, because the solar throne already belongs to you."
And Marad went away, leaving the king in the semi-darkness of his chambers. Avad stood still for a long time, chained to the spot. His gaze was riveted to the huge window from which the city panorama was opened. Aloy was there - somewhere among the red-tiled roofs. Was she sitting at the table with Varl, or had she already gone to bed? What was she thinking all evening along? Did she go to the window to look at the outlines of the palace?
She was embarrassed by their meeting today. A little annoyed by his hasty proposal. And flattered? Oh, the Sun, she had said that she would like to see both Meridian and Avad again! Her words gave him hope.
But why, in the name of the Sun, was he acting like a foolish young man in love? Why didn't he tell her about the construction of the new Grand Academy? Why didn't he talk about his planned reorganization of the army and the education system? Why didn't he mention a dozen peace agreements with Nora, Oseram, Banuk and even Utaru? No, they talked briefly about Tenakth, about the Embassy, about Marad's attempts to marry the king and the king's stubborn desire to be only with Aloy.
"Well, at least Erend didn't witness my disgrace," Avad muttered, finally forcing himself to move.
In Olin's house at this very moment, Aloy of Nora was sitting at the wide open window and admiring the outlines of the residence of the Kings of the Carja. Her gaze now and then returned to the tower of the king. She scolded herself for embarrassment, for harsh words against Avad. She would like to talk to him longer, to explain herself. She would like him to really understand why she is in such a hurry to the Forbidden West and why she cannot stay. For now, at least.
But maybe Varl is right and she should prepare for the Embassy? Maybe she should give the visor to Avad too? Maybe this heart-rending feeling is worth to be given a chance?
The bright moon kissed the sleeping Meridian.