Ezra
The moment I turned around and my eyes clashed with the bright green ones that stared at me so tenderly, a somber feeling took over me. Around the world I had been seen as the extension of him. One of the greatest rulers to lead a nation.
One of the most ruthless but also the kindest. That was the legacy that he had created for himself. Different to those before us and different to Baba who ruled with a dictatorship. The word was always loosely thrown around to describe him but never cemented.
At first I didn't understand what it took to be a leader until I actually had to pull my weight to help the throne. The effort it took to lead and be in charge of your own cabinet was unlike anything I had ever experienced. If you did not have authority, it was easy to be overthrown and if you showed a lack of authority, it was guaranteed for you to be overthrown. There was no in between.
Cloud and I learned that together through our many great hurdles. Even though they still presented themselves, we now had a neck strong enough to support the crown that rested on our heads.
"Adonis," I breathed his name just like so many did throughout the country. A hushed whisper as if the name alone was a folklore. Everyone was confident it existed but was unsure how and if it was true.
That was who Adonis was now. A name everyone knew but very few had seen in the past six years. The mention of his name brought sorrow and worry. That the once great King had shut himself in his great big palace, guarded by dragons and never allowed himself to be seen.
A shadow within the palace walls that was ever so present.
"Look at you," he smiled and one of the rare times it did meet his eyes. He only reserved that smile for Cloud, his children and myself these days. The greatest honor I experienced whenever I saw him. "You're starting to look like my twin more and more each day."
The corners of my lips stretched on from ear to ear, "thank you. I take great compliment in that."
"He doesn't. He's been fighting everyone in Sweden," Cloud snickered which made Thea laugh.
"He's the only one who can say it and I feel honored," I directed to them which made them laugh louder.
"Being compared to me is being compared to the Greek King Adonis himself. Relish in it with your wild curly hair," Adonis chuckled, instantly warming up the entire room.
"You look great," I smiled, meaning it. Color was returning well to his face and he had gained slight weight. Evidence of his aging only present in the corners of his eyes and the hardened look on his face.
His hair was just as long as mine and wavy. He was blessed with hair that wouldn't break a comb or brush unlike mine.
"Thank you, therapy has been going well for me," he proved that by lifting his left arm up and being able to extend his hand higher than his ear. "The scar tissue is going down well."
"That's amazing. Soon we'll be able to play polo again."
"He's only using it as an excuse so that he doesn't taste my dust," Apollo teased, which made Adonis roll his eyes.
"I can still win playing with my bad arm over you any day," he rolled his eyes. "Congratulations on the engagement. I feel almost offended that I wasn't given a heads up beforehand."
"I apologize. I was afraid that if I spoke of it too soon that I would scare myself out of it," I looked at Thea who blushed perfectly on que. "You know how Thea gets."
"Oh yes, a strong independent Kommos woman who finds marriage to be tedious. She will make an excellent Princess by your side."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Thea giggled as I wrapped my arm around her waist and she melted against my side. "I'm still figuring this whole thing out."
"Well you have time and great mentors who will help you in the transition," Adonis gave her an encouraging smile.
"Baba!" Zekie tugged on Adonis' black trousers and extended his arms up showing he wanted to be picked up.
"Zekie be careful of Baba's shoulder," Cloud cooed as he bent down to pick up the small toddler who slightly pushed away from him and still reached out for Adonis.
"Agapi mou, you're a demanding little thing," Adonis completely ignored Cloud's worry and took Zekie in his arms only wincing slightly.
"When are you due for your next surgery?" I frowned, hating the thought that the best doctors in the world were called to build up Adonis' shoulder after the wedding. The fear was that he wouldn't be able to use his arm again but luckily with metallic plating and new technology his nerves could be recovered as the tissue around it as well.
"I'm exhausted of them," he sighed as we walked to the couches whilst everyone continued on playing with the children. "I can't take being confined to bed rest and the painkillers. I fear if it wasn't for these four I would have lost my mind." He referred to his children.
I pursed my lips together and looked away from him to the window, marveling at the blue tree behind it. "I am only keeping the world at bay so much."
"And you are doing a great job at it as well," he smiled, "you have been a great support to Cloud and I know how much he appreciates it."
"Thank you."
We kept quiet for a little as Zekie braided his fathers hair as he tickled him. He was a spitting image of Adonis, the only new generation of the royal family with dark hair besides Artemis herself.
"Are you planning on visiting Ezekiel? I have a feeling you've been avoiding it."