Wavering

Queen Elvira tried hard to stop the smile, but she had to wait till she heard the door close. The smile finally took over her face and she sighed in relief. She had risked it for sure, but now that he decided to stay with her, he would not regret it.

Hector walked slowly into his chambers, his head lowered. Why had he chosen to stay with her even when she had just givrn hin the opportunity to go to Lana?

"Hector?"

He raised his head to the voice he knew so well, and until now adored. For some reason, however, as his eyes met hers, he did not feel the euphoria he always did.

"Lana. You are here."

She nodded. "I figured your wife...would not like me being close to you. But I needed to see you."

He nodded, trying hard to loosen up. But he could not quite help it. His attention was still with his wife. He and the queen...they had so many intriguing conversations that a lot of other things had started to seem mediocre to him, including Lana and the throne.

"She would not like it even now. You should go back." He started to walk past her, but she held his arm, her eyes filling.

"You are different, hector. Are you wavering because she is wealthy? Because she is the queen? Because shr has everything?"

Hector swallowed. "I am not wavering. I just do not want to be a rebel." He believed it to an extent.

She watched him. "If you are not, why have you not tried to hold me in your arms like you always want to?"

He sighed. "I am married."

"You had no regard for it that night. You wore her ring on your finger that night and came to me."

"And thenn you conspired against me. You made it look like I had done more than hold you in my arms. You came to my bed unclad so her highness would see you. Not just that, Lana. So many other things. You should have stayed the Lana I knew." He closed his eyes. "I am sorry. I did not mean to say all of that."

Lana watched him in disbelief. "I did it to protect what we had. I did it because I want you back."

He nodded. "I understand. Please go."

"You have indeed wavered. I do not have all the glamour she has to offer. I do not have a crown to make you king or a throne to earn you respect. I am nothing but a slave."

Hector took in a deep breath. "Please leave." He said simply, then gently removed her hand from his. "I an sorry for hurting you. But, please leave."

She painfully bit down on her lip, then turned away, leaving the chambers. She left with the single candle she had carried in, and left him in darkness.

He sat on the edge of the bed, then covered his face. Was he really that kind of person? Had he wavered from Lana because of Queen Elvira's wealth or beauty?

Morning came slowly, and Hector witnessed it on the floor, his eyes wide and reddened from lack of sleep and his own torture.

He brought his legs close to him and wrapped them up with his hand, then balanced his head on his knees.

When the small knock came on the door, he had been expecting it. He made no move to stand up however, but stayed there, still.

"Hector?" Cane Queen Elvira's voice.

He didn't answer it, but somewhere in him, he hoped she would not give up too soon. He hoped she would find him. And she did.

"Hector. Why are you on the floor?" She asked, but without waiting for an answer, bent to his height, setting the breakfast tray on the bed first.

He slowly looked up to her, and she gasped in horror. As if there was something terribly wrong with his face. She cupped his face, like she was treating something precious.

"What happened to you?" She asked, her thumb lightly grazing beneath his eyes.

"Nothing. I had a hard time sleeping last night." He said, his voice low.

"You should have come to me, then. You should have told me about it."

He chuckled. "Lana...she came to me last night."

Queen Elvira said nothing, afraid that if she did, the venom she felt would penetrate her words too.

"She said I was wavering. Because you are wealthy. Because you have a crown and a throne to offer. Because you are royalty. She has nothing. So I was thinking..." His voice trailed off. "I was thinking...is that really how I am?"

She cupped his cheeks harder, her thumbs caressing his face. "What if you are wavering because of that?"

He shook his head. "I do not want to do that. To you...or to myself."

"Then...have you ever thought you were wavering for a different reason? You have still refused the throne. The only thing that has changed is where you sleep."

He finally met her eyes. "Do you really think so?"

She swallowed. It was something she wanted to believe. She wanted to trust that he was warming up to her, especially after that kiss. Even though he does not remember it, for her, It is still everything. She still finds herself reliving that moment and not wanting to snap out of it.

"Yes, I do. I do." She said, reassuring him.

He nodded slowly and she stood up and took the tray, then not minding her dress, sat on the floor with him and crossed her legs under her gown.

"You are..."

"I know. You need to eat for you to be in good shape for the trip later." She said then pushed the tray closer to him.

He nodded. "How long will we be there?"

"A month. I need as much time alone with you as possible."

He found himself almost choking, but said nothing. She caught his expression, and she laughed.

"Anyway, I already brought your clothes for you. Forgive me, but it is a collection of robes that I know you would look astoundingly good in." She said, and just the thought of it made her smile more.

"Thank you, your highness."

She smiled again. "Eat up. I will send a maid to get any other items you might need, while I get ready too."

He nodded again as she left, closing the door softly behind her.

His gaze lingered long after she was gone, and a small smile smoothened out the furrows in his brows.

Peace. That was what she brought with her. And she most often left it behind for him too.