Zaffera's Pov
It's been a few months since I've settled in Kingdom as Queen. The days have been fairly lonely as I've requested Mother to reside at Arrow for a bit longer so I could get used to the new lifestyle alone. I had to because I knew that she would have micromanaged any move of mine and since we have been on better terms at the moment I didn't want that to suffer as a result of our new dynamic.
Some days are tough. Really tough.
Ginn has no longer importunated Arrow, especially Fenyang, as far as I am aware which makes all of this all worth it deep down. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself until it will be so automatic I'll believe it. I just wish he had left me alone too.
"You look beautiful Zaf, as you do always." Speaks he walking into my office with a grin plastered on face as it has been he's usual at least once a week for the past months, just to mark his existence. "You need somone by your side to remind you of that every waking moment of yours." He attempts to kiss the back of my hand which I instinctively draw away from him in a disgusted fashion. He thinks he's new kind flattery will erase his past behaviour but I won't fall for any of it.
"I already know that so do not worry yourself I don't need a yes man to remind me of it, thanks." I say sarcastically, obviously visually fed up with all of this. No matter how many times I've pushed him away he's kept persisting. Perhaps in the hopes I will eventually break and fall victim to his tactics.
"You need me Zaf, you can't be Queen and lead a Kingdom on your own... You need a partner."
I pack off some essentials materials as I methodolically think about how to best phrase what I'm going to say next.
"My Mother managed this Kingdom alone for years, I'm sure I can do the same. And for your interest, I don't need a partner... understood." I mark the word 'don't' and finish with a synthetic grin at the end, leaving my office and heading for my quiet space.
I grab one of the lamps attached to the wall to guide me as I walk down the stairscase towards the Castle's cave. When the light seeps through again I know that I'm close to destination.
A majestic green-eyed black cat comes purring before me.
"You always seem to arrive at the right time Sigmund", I say crouching forward and stroking him behind his ears which makes him pur even louder as he rocks his head following the movement of my hand. He begins twirling around me so I take a seat by my usual corner and feed him some canned fish I have ready with me anytime I come down here.
Sigmund has been my rock in helping me not go insane at Ginn or spiral from the otherwise constant solitude. In a way the two of us are quite similar in the fact that we are both lonely and in need of a friend.
My little moment of joy is crushed by the sound of knocking. The cave leads to an area not far from the Castle's gate which is convinient in situations like this when someone arrives. I sadly goodbye my furred companion and quickly rush back to the main hall to attend the visitor.
"Queen, someone is here to see you." announces the guard. I dismiss him and to my surprise I familiar figure, that isn't Ginn for once, makes an appearance.
"Father." I say with monotone not knowing what to feel. My heart is suddenly struggling to keep a regular pase as my heartbeat skyrockets in an instant and my breath becomes shallow. "What are you doing here!" I manage to exclaim between each panting.
I can't read his face. The room feels to be closing in but finally he speaks a word. "I'm back."
Fighting back tears and the urge to yell at him with all my might I say "Oh", as composed as possible. I start pacing around the room to calm down and halt not far from him. "You can't just walts in and out of my life as you like."
"I know... I'm truly sorry but I want to rectify what can still be fixed. Which I know isn't a lot." A shy smile creeps on the side of his cheek.
"Father..." falling victim to my emotions I finally embrace the man I call Father for the first time in a while as flares of anger and sad bitterness ignite. "It's not going to be easy... I am glad you are here though."
The room is invested in a comfortable silent for a moment or two until I speak my mind with the question I've always wondered the answer to.
"Why did you leave?"
"I... I was never intending to cause harm but things got unbearable. I realised that I wasn't fit for the continuous wars and fights. And though I never wanted to leave you or your mother's side, I had to leave this environment at all costs."
I fix my gaze at the pavement as he explains himself. My brain still unable to metabolise the current events. I nod silently as though I'm listening and before departing I ask him for some time which he grants in understanding.
Now I'm lying in bed confused. Should I give him another chance? Only because he apologised doesn't mean he deserves forgiveness, but certainly it's the right step towards the right direction.
At the end I conclude that I will give him a trial period in which I'll try to cast my hurt aside and try to pick up from where we left. Afterall I have always wanted him back and it seems so pretentious and naive to squander this opportunity.
As my thoughts quieten down I drift away in a deep sleep and in my following concious thought it's the morning.