{"id":2744,"date":"2022-11-26T18:52:41","date_gmt":"2022-11-27T00:52:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2744"},"modified":"2022-11-26T18:52:41","modified_gmt":"2022-11-27T00:52:41","slug":"lucky-luck-part-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2744","title":{"rendered":"Lucky Luck – Part 18"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lucky Luck<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 18 (End)<\/span><\/p>\n

A Lucky Proposal<\/p>\n

Gwen made her way through the palace in search for someone in particular.\u00a0 It had been several days since she had temporally taken over and now it seemed that everyone had settled down into a routine.\u00a0 The city seemed back to normal, and in fact many had thanked her for taking over and asking when she would be officially be taking over.\u00a0 Each time she politely refused to comment, but the pressure and idea of taking over weighted heavily on her mind.\u00a0 She asked herself many times if she could just up and leave allowing someone else to take over.<\/p>\n

Entering the room she spotted her query sitting in the kitchen talking with the cooks, again.\u00a0 Making her way over she noticed the intent look on Zoe\u2019s face as she listened to something the cook was talking about.\u00a0 As Gwen got closer she realized it was a story about her when she was younger even as the cooks looked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you have any better stories?\u201d Gwen asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope,\u201d the cook replied cheerfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWonderful,\u201d Gwen replied switching her attention back to the blonde sitting at the counter watching her back.\u00a0 \u201cSpoiling your appetite?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, waiting for you to join me,\u201d Zoe replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell then, I shouldn\u2019t keep you waiting,\u201d Gwen bantered back leading her away from the kitchen and back to their room.\u00a0 She heard the cook say a tray would be up shortly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, how are things in the Realm?\u201d Zoe asked as they climbed the stairs to the second level.<\/p>\n

\u201cSettling down, the ambassadors have left with warnings and I sent a copy of the message to the Green Empire.\u00a0 They\u2019ll be arguing over that one for a while,\u201d Gwen replied back to her.\u00a0 \u201cYou ready to get moving?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen looked over at Zoe who had a strange look on her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d she finally replied back and Gwen waited for more.\u00a0 \u201cI just think we can do so much more staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The problem she was dealing with herself that when she left, who did she leave in charge considering everyone was looking at her for leadership.\u00a0 Did she actually trust anyone to actually take over when she left?\u00a0 The question bugged her for a while now but didn\u2019t want to say anything to Zoe.<\/p>\n

Gwen started to repeat her mantra of not being leadership material, but knew the only person it seemed to work on was herself.\u00a0 Zoe seemed to know she was trying to fool everyone else and would give her a look.<\/p>\n

They entered the room and sat down as Gwen moved to look out the window at the town below.\u00a0 She saw merchants, guards, customers and citizens all milling about.\u00a0 Things had settled down to allow everyone a normal life again.\u00a0 What would happen when she left?<\/p>\n

She could hand it over to some council made up of merchants and nobles, but she had a feeling they wouldn\u2019t make an effective government either.\u00a0 They already bickered too much between them to be effective in making laws, let alone react to a threat to the Realm.<\/p>\n

She turned to see Dawn walk into the room with a tray of food for them.\u00a0 Zoe told her thanks and the former slave blushed a bit before heading back out.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, she has a crush,\u201d Gwen said to Zoe.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo she doesn\u2019t,\u201d Zoe replied back.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep telling yourself that,\u201d Gwen said with a smile and grabbing a bit to eat and watching the blonde as she ate as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what are you going to do?\u201d Zoe asked a bit later.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Gwen replied having been giving it some thought.\u00a0 \u201cNot sure I completely trust the nobles, nor the merchants, and give them both power they\u2019ll fight over control without someone else to keep them balanced.\u00a0 There is Cilie, but she didn\u2019t seem to want the power either, only revenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can be that leader,\u201d Zoe said.\u00a0 \u201cThe people actually like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s you they like,\u201d Gwen replied watching as Zoe blushed a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think we should stay,\u201d Zoe stated.\u00a0 Gwen looked on at Zoe, who merely looked back at her before continuing on.\u00a0 \u201cWe both know things are running smoother with you here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen rolled her eyes, but understood what Zoe said despite not wanting to.\u00a0 Things were going smoothly at the moment, which brought the question if she left would things remain calm?<\/p>\n

Looking at the food she recognized some of her favorites, along with Zoe\u2019s.\u00a0 It made her realize the people in the castle liked her, did she really want to impose someone else who might not feel the same way.<\/p>\n

What would they say if she decided to stay?\u00a0 Giving that some thought, she had a feeling several people would be happy, including Zoe.\u00a0 She jumped slightly when she felt arms encircle her and looked to see that Zoe had moved behind her.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what\u2019s your plan?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI must be going crazy,\u201d Gwen said, feeling Zoe hug her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re being reasonable, and you know what everyone already knows, you\u2019re the best person for the position,\u201d Zoe said putting her chin on Gwen\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re biased,\u201d Gwen replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, just know the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I know you\u2019re not right in the mind,\u201d Gwen said feeling Zoe push her back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a real comedian,\u201d Zoe said as Dawn came walking back into the room along with a surprise, Valerie.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry to disturb you, but she wished to speak with you,\u201d Dawn said with a slight bow.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts all right,\u201d Zoe sad, slipping from where she was over to them as Dawn walked back out leaving them along.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought you had left?\u201d Gwen said, wondering why the merchant was still here.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking out some details for a new trade partner here,\u201d Valerie said.\u00a0 \u201cFigured you might want to hear somethings which I\u2019ve overheard while out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, people screaming for me to leave?\u201d Gwen stated, something she would not be surprised to hear behind her back only to hear a chuckle from Valerie.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, not even close,\u201d she replied back to them as they sat down at the table as Zoe took another bite to eat.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre they celebrating?\u201d Gwen asked, a bit of surprise in her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they are scared,\u201d Valerie replied back to her.\u00a0 Gwen understood that, of course she would be afraid if someone like her took over, but Valerie\u2019s next statement took her by surprise.\u00a0 \u201cThey fear you leaving the position of Queen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen felt glad she was not eating, choking would not look very dignified at the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been trying to tell her that,\u201d Zoe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you saying people actually want me here?\u201d Gwen asked, unsure about it all.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, there is real fear that you\u2019ll leave and put someone else in charge, someone who isn\u2019t listening to others like you are,\u201d Valerie said.<\/p>\n

Gwen thought about saying something else when Dawn returned with Lori and two others.\u00a0 It took Gwen a few seconds to recognize the two men as Hectar and Larras standing there.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmpress,\u201d Hectar said with a grin.\u00a0 \u201cI think my dad might actually be impressed if he saw you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen groaned at that knowing Hectar\u2019s father was one of the most stubborn men she had ever come across.\u00a0 But their appearance made her frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you here?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimple, we\u2019ve been hearing all types of things from the Shadowlnds, and after that sudden call for rebellion and how it died down almost as suddenly, we had to check things out,\u201d Hectar said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd things look very stable, we might open a shop here as well, it appears a great spot for some wares from the Shadowlands,\u201d Larras stated.\u00a0 \u201cSomething we\u2019ve been thinking about for a while now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut with how things were under the previous king, we were unwilling to open anything with such uncertainty around it,\u201d Hactar said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are staying?\u201d Larras said.<\/p>\n

Gwen looked at them all seeing that they were all looking at her, but it was Zoe who\u2019s eyes who she looked at.\u00a0 Her lover was calmly waiting almost as if she already knew the answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I stay you know you\u2019ll probably becoming the queen one day,\u201d Gwen stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I could get used to this,\u201d Zoe finally said.<\/p>\n

Gwen looked over at Dawn who was still in the room.\u00a0 \u201cTell Tinis to assemble everyone, I have an announcement to make, it appears I\u2019ll be staying.\u201d<\/p>\n

She felt Zoe jump slightly in excitement even as the others smiled as Dawn went running from the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI must be crazy,\u201d Gwen finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, just lucky,\u201d Zoe replied.<\/p>\n

The End.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lucky Luck by AJ Marks Part 18 (End) A Lucky Proposal Gwen made her way through the palace in search for someone in particular.\u00a0 It had been several days since she had temporally taken over and now it seemed that everyone had settled down into a routine.\u00a0 The city seemed back to normal, and in […]
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