Disclaimer: I don't think I really need to say this … but, no, I do not own the Princess Diaries (book or film), it's characters, or anything in it
Disclaimer:I don't think I really need to say this … but, no, I do not own the Princess Diaries (book or film), it's characters, or anything in it. I make no profit from these stories. I am merely borrowing these characters for fun.
A/N:Okay, so I know that this isn't my usual category for stories (i.e. It's not CSI, POTC or –more recently – tSoM) … but I just couldn't resist writing something about these characters (particularly Joe and Clarisse) … Seeing as this is my first PD story, please bare with me. I'm always open to constructive criticism, but please, no flames as they are a waste of both mine and your time.
A/N2: Also, I should probably warn you that this story doesn't really follow the movie (or book) time line ... basically ... just imagine Clarisse and Joe havent gotten married yet ...
Anyway, I hope you enjoy:
Royal Secrets
It was hard for the 62 year old Queen of Genovia to realise that it had been 42 years to the day since she'd given birth to her first son, Pierre. But it had and, to celebrate the date, the whole palace was busy preparing for the party that would be thrown that evening.
As the queen sat in her study, there was a soft knock on the door and someone walked in.
"Oh, Joseph, it's you" she said with a smile as he appeared.
Smiling back, Joseph noted how odd it was to see Her Majesty sitting at her desk, her phone held between a shoulder and her ear while signing a stack of papers.
"Can you believe this?" she asked motioning to the phone with her free hand "they put me on hold! The Queen!"
Laughing at her exasperated expression, Joseph replied "Well, my dear, if you wish, I can hunt them down and have them hung by their toes in the courtyard"
"Would you?" she asked with a smile
Smiling back, Joe took the phone from her and placed it back on its holder saying "don't worry, Charlotte's got it covered" before she could protest. "Now, Pierre has called and is on his way, everything is set up… you should really go and get ready, your majesty…"
Sighing, Clarisse nodded and left the room with Joseph following closely behind her.
Sitting in her room fully dressed, Clarisse paused her search for the perfect necklace to gaze out the window and the raging storm outside. It was not normal for such a storm to happen in mid-summer, but nowadays, Clarisse had realised, anything was possible.
"Your majesty…" came Joseph's voice from the doorway
"Come in…" she replied looking in the mirror to ensure that her tiara was secure on her head.
"The guests have arrived…are you ready?" he asked stepping into the room and taking a deep breath at the beauty sitting before him.
"Almost…" she replied checking her hair in the mirror as he stepped closer and kissed her hand.
"Beautiful" he stated looking up at her.
Just then, unbeknownst to them, Charlotte, the queen's assistant stepped into the room to find, as she'd gotten used to, her queen and head of security sharing a romantic moment.
Taking a step back so that, were they to look up, they wouldn't see her, she knocked lightly on the door and waited to be invited in.
Standing up and returning to what was deemed an acceptable distance from the Queen, Joseph looked towards the door as Clarisse told whomever had knocked to enter.
"Your majesty…" said Charlotte as she entered with her clipboard in hand "Everyone has arrived except the Prince. And Mia requested that I come and get you so that we can, and I quote, 'get the party started'"
Smiling, Clarisse patted the side of her head once more to make sure her hair was properly set, then stood and, nodding at Joseph who bowed slightly motioning for her to go ahead of him, walked towards the door with Charlotte and Joseph following behind her.
In the ballroom, Mia was taking on the role of the queen greeting all the old, boring members of parliament and keeping an eye on the von Trokens.
"Her Majesty, Queen Clarisse Renaldi" announced one of the guards standing by the doors as two others opened them and Clarisse stepped out with Joseph and Charlotte at either side of her
After a general bow from the crown, Clarisse stepped into the room, the band began to play and the party, as Mia put it, 'got started'.
"finally…" said Nicholas, Mia's husband of six months when he caught her on the dance floor "I can get a dance with my wife…"
Smiling at her former nemesis, Mia allowed herself to be led through the steps of the 'Wango' motioning with her head towards where Queen Clarisse and Joe were dancing.
"Do you think they'll ever own up to it?" he asked her smiling in the direction she had motioned to.
"Meh.." she shrugged "…I guess one day they'll have to… I mean, I don't think there is a single person within the palace who doesn't know about them…"
Suddenly a loud 'bang' was heard and all the lights went out. The room was filled with screams of startled guests before the palace security took control and told everyone to remain calm while the generators kicked in.
"What a storm!" exclaimed Clarisse as she and Joe began dancing again once the lights were back on "Has someone been able to contact Pierre yet?" she asked him
"I'll check, my dear" he said whispering the last part as another dancing couple passed by them before kissing her hand and moving towards where Charlotte and Shades were talking allowing Prime Minister Motaz to take over dancing with the Queen.
"Anything?" Charlotte asked Shades who was listening intently to his ear piece
"Her majesty is getting worried" said Joe as Shades shook his head
"We can't get his cell, there's too much static from the storm…" said Shades
Looking over the other man's shoulder, Joseph watched the woman he loved dancing with Sebastian, smiling and chatting all the while looking more and more concerned "keep trying" he said "if we don't hear from him in the next five minutes, I'll go look for him"
Nodding, shades redialled the number while Joe and Charlotte watched in silence.
After several more failed calls, Joe and Shades decided to go look for the prince themselves and while Shades went off to get the car ready, Joseph went to inform the Queen.
"Your Majesty…" he said, his professional tone not hiding his concern which elicited several glances from some of the guests talking to the Queen.
"Yes?" she asked stepping away from the others
"Shades and I are going out to look for Pierre" before she could voice her concern, he added "I'm sure everything is alright, but seeing as we can't reach his phone, we want to make sure, don't worry…" as he was about to add a 'my dear', they were joined by Mia and Nicholas "…your majesty" he finished
After a nod from the queen who looked all but convinced, he left to join Shades and Clarisse was left with Mia and Nicholas.
"Don't worry, grandma" said Mia placing a hand on the Queen's shoulder knowing her mind was probably jumping to the worst conclusions
"You know Joe will find him…" said Nicholas trying to be supportive as Sebastian who had just joined the group nodded
"This doesn't look good, Joe…" said Shades as they travelled along the road Pierre should have taken
"I know…I know" sighed Joseph noting the frightening resemblance of this night to the night Prince Philippe had died.
TBC
I hope you liked that … there's more if you're interested, just leave me a review and I'll post the next part. Please do review…
Thanks,
CJS-DEPPendent