Lumi wondered if the lack of exposure to the sun had any effect on her sight.

She knew it to happen that having too much sun, and the blinding rays, could cause a person to go blind. But now as she went weeks in darkness, her eyes would blink and strain with the effort of seeing what was before her.

It could be that with or without the sun, people eventually lost their way of knowing what was ahead of them.

"It's a new invention I'm working on," Josiah was showing her the small sparks of it, as she stared in fascination. Lumi was beginning to realize that he was a very different male from all the ones she had ever encountered. He stayed inside and read many books. He didn't hunt, nor did he have any desire to do so.

But he was smart. She often hesitated at what she would say next, worried at the way those dark eyes seemed to pick everything she said apart.

They were eyes that missed nothing and took all in. Lumi had always been an open and honest person beforehand, but now she knew it was useless to hide her secrets from him. He could read her and see the truths she held, even the ones she herself did not want to see.

He said them so clearly sometimes, that it would shock her. She was not used to that- usually, she was the one leaving people bewildered.

They both leaned down, staring at the table and the invention it held.

"How does it work?" Lumi asked, a small part of her frightened by the noise the machine made.

"These wires carry the energy that is needed into this," he pointed to the small rock that was glowing. "We get these rocks from the mine."

"And what's this?"

Josiah sighed and stared at the strange box thing. "The source of the energy. But it's too complicated for me to explain it to you. It took me years to make just this...and it only has enough power to light up that little rock," his tone held bitterness in it as his eyes went back to looking at the stone.

"It's amazing," Lumi breathed. She wanted to reach out and touch it, but Josiah had warned her ahead of time not to. She looked up to stare at him. He was still frowning at the items, an unsatisfied look in his eyes.

"You're amazing."

He turned to her, startled by her sudden admission. She could see the light coloring of his cheeks flushing from the compliment as he turned away from her and scoffed.

"It's just a toy."

"It can become something more." She moved closer to him, leaning her head down to catch his eyes.

He turned to stare at her, his gaze narrowing, "I know that. I wouldn't have spent time on it otherwise."

She laughed at his blunt statement.

He quickly changed topics, uncomfortable with the attention he was receiving.

"The wedding is in three months."

He regretted his words almost instantly as he watched the laughter die in her eyes.

She tilted her head, staring up at him. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling, forcing himself to not look back down.

There was an odd silence between them before she spoke, "I need to visit the cities that surround the palace before we have to leave for that."

That made him look down.

"Why?"

She scoffed, "I'm their Queen. They haven't seen me. They should."

"I don't have the time to show you around the Kingdom."

Lumi laughed, "I can go myself."

"You'll need guards," he said.

"Okay," she was back to staring at the invention in front of her. He sighed internally at the awkward silence that now hung between them.

"When I get back..." Lumi looked up and Josiah found that he could not look away from her gaze as she softly smiled towards him, "I think we need to become husband and wife."

He coughed suddenly. She grinned at the way she had unnerved him, but the serious look on his face caused her to hesitate. She met his gaze with her own stare of expectancy as she crossed her arms and looked up.

"You need to trust me, Josiah. I'm your Queen...but more importantly...I'm your wife. I made a vow to you and I won't betray you. No matter what you saw at the winter court or what you think you see now. Enough time has passed."

"Lumi..." he had to cough again. He laughed in between though, the sound wheezing out in exasperation. She took a step closer and he had to raise an eyebrow at the sudden feral grin that was on her face.

"Don't you want me?"

"It's not about desire..." he muttered, trying to find a way out of her words.

She stood on the tip of her toes, her hands pressing to his chest. "Josiah?"

She breathed his name out. He had to blink at the way it sounded. It was a voice he had never heard her use, and he wondered in the back of his mind, if the Winter King had heard this voice. If this was the voice she used with all men in order to trap and ensnare them.

He couldn't help himself. He leaned down, cupping her face in his hands to kiss her. He was taken aback by how she suddenly overwhelmed him. He had intended for it to be a light, gentle kiss.

But she put her arms around his neck, pulling him down more so that her lips could press harder, her tongue could come out and outline his own, and let him taste her. He shivered at the way she felt in his hands. He tried to push away the image of her in another man's arms. Of wondering if this was how she had survived in the winter court, and if this was how she thought she could survive here and now with him.

He had felt pity for the Winter King before. He had felt it in the way she seemed to light up the room and her presence left you feeling a strange hollowness when gone. He had felt pity for the King in thinking what the male must have suffered whenever he had to watch her move in her indecent clothes or as she tilted her head back to laugh. The way light looked heavenly on her skin, but how darkness also held its own beauty.

But now Josiah felt an overwhelming sense of loss as he shivered against the sound of her ragged breathing, drawing up and collecting against him.

He felt pity for the Winter King, and any male who had ever had her. Because just one taste of her lips made Josiah know he would never be able to forget the feeling.

* * *

Lumi spent a month traveling to the various cities of the Galexious Kingdom.

The guards had come to appreciate her flair for the dramatic. Somehow in the time she had been in the Kingdom, the duty of keeping her safe and watching over her had fallen mostly on the guard, Ramus. He was a serious male, who was very no-nonsense. Lumi's way of teasing and ill-humored puns often caught him off balance. She always did the unexpected and he wanted...well... the expected.

His nerves felt very frazzled as their trip soon came to an end. He had forgotten how many times he had to warn the Queen to not wander off, to not go on her own, to not get in random fights with others- or the shocking moment when he had found her after hours of looking- tucked away in the corner of an ally where she had been gambling with a group of men.

In his reports to the King, Ramus made sure to leave all of this out.

He simply wrote the truth when they passed through the major cities and put them behind, The Queen is alive. We are still alive. We are continuing as planned.

Ramus knew the King was probably suspicious. He of all people was someone you could not hope to fool.

Ramus, however, had no idea how to write the actual happenings.

Such as, Today Queen Lumikki greeted the people of Polaris. She was almost late due to the fact that it took two hours to do something to her hair (it was curly and when she came out of the room, it was straight). She wore a gown that made many people question if she was the Queen, but after announcing three times and having the Queen herself say the words, the people were able to greet Queen Lumikki. A minor fight occurred that questioned the Queen's safety, however, the Queen stopped it and reprimanded the subjects involved. Due to this, many people began to cheer and the Queen was removed in response to the overwhelming force of the people of Polaris who wanted to see and talk to her.

Ramus stared at the paper in question before crumbling it in his hands and tossing it aside. He took a new fresh page and wrote The Queen is alive. We are still alive. We are continuing as planned.

Ramus sighed and put his head in his hands. Only one more city left and then they would go home.

* * *

Josiah paced in front of the door. They were two days late from their expected arrival time.

He had received the reports from Ramus- the vague, unhelpful reports- from Ramus, about each completed city they went to. But the rumors were able to reach the castle before their arrival.

It was just as Josiah thought when he heard the praise that had been received.

He had detailed the journey out beforehand. Lumi would only travel to cities he knew would respond favorably to her. There were various factions within the Kingdom and located in cities that even he- the King- had no control over. These were the groups that led daily raids on the North border.

These were the people, who were tired of the darkness.

The ones who wanted to see the sun.

Peace was an option, it was so close that Josiah could almost taste it. Negotiations were happening with the North and he had no doubt they would discuss this with the King and his new Queen when they went on their journey to the Winter Kingdom.

The military power of the North was overwhelming. But the Galexious Kingdom...there was no such thing. There was no formal military- only the King's guards and royal forces.

Josiah continued to pace, glancing up every few minutes out the window to see if there was an approaching light to indicate someone coming.

He sighed. She had not written to him, but then again, he had not written to her either.

It could be the late arrival that had him on edge. But Josiah knew the real reason for why he could not stay still, and why he found himself looking now for her again.

Her whisper came into his ear, snaking its way there to cause him to shake his head as he heard the seduction over and over- so many times tormenting him this past month, "When I get back, I think we need to become husband and wife..."

Josiah let out a deep exhale. He looked up and froze.

There in the distance.

He saw it.

"They're coming." No one heard him as he whispered the words. A nearby servant though echoed his observation as the castle suddenly became alive with the approaching figure.

Soon he was able to hear the sound of the horses. He was able to make out the outline of the carriage in the dark. And he thought he heard it- faint, but still there in the shadows- the sound of her laughter.

The doors opened and the first thing Josiah saw was- a very very tired Ramus.

Josiah had to blink twice at the ragged appearance of the male and the dark shadows under his eyes.

Bloody Hell...what happened to him? Did they get attacked on the way back? Was that why they had been late?

"Ramus?" Josiah took a step forward, as the guard who had always seemed like an iron wall, swayed in a tired way before him.

"My King," He bowed and turned around, a small groan of...frustration? No...Josiah was becoming confused with the scene that was playing out before him.

And then he heard it.

He had to smile with the sound as her laughter rang loud and clear through the open doors.

"Josiah!" She held her hands up in happy excitement, taking Josiah by surprise at the enthusiasm she was showing. His nerves rose to a new level at what her excitement could be about.

Josiah slowly took her in, realizing just how long it had been since he had last seen her. She had done something to her hair- a braided style that seemed to suit the warrior in her. He swallowed, trying to clear his head of any further thoughts as her attire came into view also. He had forgotten about the way she usually dressed.

The red dress she wore now was short- scandalously so- going up to mid thigh. Her hair hung loosely down, each step she took letting the strands hit the lower part of her back. The white of her teeth flashed in a startling contrast against the darkness of her skin.

And Josiah felt his chest give a tight sensation at what the sight of her caused to him.

Ramus, however, seemed unaffected.

"Queen Lumikki," he sighed- like an exasperated father Josiah realized."Why did you leave the carriage?"

"There was no reason for me to stay in it?"

"I needed to secure the front door and check with the King upon entrance to ensure-,"

Her laughter interrupted him, "Nothing will happen in my own home, Ramus."

Josiah had to ignore the warm sensation that suddenly came to him at her words of acceptance. Damn her. Damn. Damn. A month away and now this was happening. He was losing his mind just staring at her unable to say a word.

Ramus only sighed. "Your belongings will be taken to your room."

"Thank you, Ramus."

Josiah could not stop his jaw from dropping as Lumi approached the male and embraced him.

"You did a wonderful job keeping me safe on our journey. I know I can be..." she laughed, and Ramus' stone face did not break once in laughter with her, "but thank you."

She pulled back and smiled up at him.

Josiah swore he saw the male blushing under the beard, but Ramus turned away before he could take a step closer to see.

"Of course, my Queen."

Ramus made his way out of the room, not once turning back. Lumi and Josiah were alone. The servants, though eager to see their Queen again, had all suddenly vanished, and Josiah found himself not only cursing her but them also.

"Hello..." She took a step towards him, tilting her head to look up.

He cleared his throat trying to regain his bearings, "the trip went well?"

She smiled, "it did. I love the people. Your people are...they are very nice. Accepting." Her voice grew soft on the last word as she whispered it.

"Our people," he corrected.

Her smile grew.

They stood in front of the other. Josiah felt an awkwardness in the air as they each waited for something to be said. She stepped closer to him and he felt his hands clench at his side to stop himself from making any sudden moves.

"Ummm Josiah?"

A sudden and unexpected thought struck him as he took in her voice.

Was she...was she nervous? Josiah watched her carefully, taking in the way she fidgeted or how she seemed to be tilting her head back and forth. Suddenly though she sighed and closed the distance between them.

He couldn't help himself from smiling. Maybe she had been nervous for a second. But her personality overruled everything in the end.

"Look, are we going to bed or not? Because I've been waiting for a month and-,"

He cut her off with his lips.

He laughed out loud as she suddenly jumped at him, her legs twisting around as her hands tangled in his hair.

He supported her up, wondering vaguely in the back of his mind how he was going to find the strength to carry her all the way to his room. As if reading his thoughts she broke away from him, pressing her forehead to his and whispering, "your study is closer."

God. Josiah almost lost all the strength to stand then.

"Are you sure?"

She paused, pulling back from him with suddenly vulnerable eyes. Josiah had not been expecting that, but he realized that this was something she needed to give him, just as much as he had to give as well.

"Don't you want to?"

Josiah frowned. Her past haunted her eyes as he looked into them.

"Do you?" he whispered.

He thought something in him would break if she said no. He didn't know how he would handle that but still he waited.

She did not outright say yes, and that made him question their choice. But her eyes rose to meet his own. And her lips curved slowly into a lost smile.

He leaned towards her, kissing her before realizing that he was still waiting for her answer.

He pulled back, giving her a questioning look.

She let out a shaky breath.

"I am your Queen?"

Her words were a question for him to answer. He pressed his forehead to her own.

"Yes."

"Am I yours?"

"If you so choose."

He thought she looked very broken in that second. She seemed to stare at him as if he had committed a cruelty to her soul.

"I..." she looked down, and Josiah felt her legs tighten around him. "I don't love you."

Josiah smiled, "well...not yet..."

She gave a watery laugh and he watched as a tear fell from her. Shock ran through him and slowly he turned and began walking them to his study.

"You are safe with me, Lumi." She looked up to meet his fierce gaze as he kissed the top of her head. "I'll keep you safe."

She wrapped herself around him, letting her head rest on his shoulder. He was carrying her now in a different way. Like all the weight had suddenly been transferred to him. All the pain, she was suddenly letting him help in holding.

"Let's go to your room," she whispered in his ear.

He found his path diverting from his original intention. And he wanted to ask her his question again. But Josiah decided he had asked her enough.

Confession: I literally almost forgot today was update day, realized it was, went "oh snap" and then typed this rreeeaalll quick before going "post" (I started a second job today so I am dead ass tired. Forgive me. I cannot even feel my arms.)

I hope everyone is doing okay...long sigh...I am tired...(so tired...*sob*) so excuse any mistakes you find(Did I bother to reread this? No). I'm in the tired mood where I'm flipping tables and screaming at my cat who literally did nothing wrong.