The alarm went off ringing through the castle waking America. America groggily opened her eyes, the alarm that was sounded in the Royal suite was much louder that the one which had sounded throughout her stay at the castle during The Selection. Recently the rebel attacks on the castle were frequent yet uneventful, she wondered if it was worth it even making it down to the safe room, the chances of any rebels processing this far into the castle was unlikely to begin with and with their recently poor efforts and the increased numbers of guards in the castle due to the death of King Clarkson and Queen Amberly, there was little to no chance that a rebel would make it to her room.
"Maxon…", America murmured yawning, "Can't we just stay?" she said snuggling further into her pillow. She thought the palace shouldn't have pillows this comfortable if they ever wanted her to leave the bed. There was no reply from Maxon.
"Maxon?" she flung her hand to the other side of the bed looking for his familiar lump, but he was not there, "Damn it" she cursed flinging her legs over the side of the bed and into her slippers. She would have to go to the safe room if Maxon wasn't here. Several times during rebel attacks he had sought out America before getting himself to the safe room, he had only promised not to go looking for her as long as she got herself to the safe room as soon as possible.
Knowing Maxon was probably already worrying she grabbed her gown and proceeded to the entry to the tunnel which would lead to the royal safe room. The secret entry in the Royal suite was one of her favourite entries, although she had not even begun to discover even half of them spread out across the castle. She pulled the book "Proper Etiquette for Royals" out on an angle from the bookcase and pushed the bottom shelf, allowing the bookcase to rotate. After stepping through hole and closing it back up she wrote her name on the paper stapled to the back on the door. Maxon had instructed guards to check the paper and let him know if America had entered the tunnel. America thought this was a waste of time, 99% of the time she would make it to the safe room before a guard noticed her name and delivered that message to the same safe room. Every time America brought this up Maxon looked defeated and told her not to question him. Although it was stupid America realised that she was the only person Maxon had left and allowed for his consistant overly protective measures most of the time.
America half jogged down the dimly lit tunnel stopping before turning the corner to catch her breath. She wanted to make up as much time as possible to avoid Maxon worrying but she still didn't want to appear short of breath. Silvia's voice echoed in her head "always be composed, people will always look to you before they act". After a few moments she rounded the corner walking towards the safe room.
"Princess," The guard out said bowing his head as he entered in the pin. As the door opened he turned to America and whispered "I'm glad you're here, the Prince nearly left to find you"
"Thanks Daly," America smiled as she began the descent into the room.
Maxon was pacing back and forth on the other side of the room, her three maids Mary, Lucy and Danica were sitting on a bed chatting and another person was fast asleep under the covers on the top bunk of another row of beds. On closer inspected she realised it was Adele. How had she not known Adele, Maxon's Aunt, was in the castle? America made a note to get more up to date with the castle's comings and goings. Shaking her head at how out of touch she had been, she slowly walked across the room and placed her hand on Maxon's back.
"America," he sighed in relief, "I didn't see you come in". He pulled her into a hug and America rolled her eyes. Maxon's tie was missing, his buttons on his shirt weren't lined up correctly and his sleeves were pulled up over his forearms. His hair was an absolute mess. To America, Maxon was the most attractive when he looked like this, but she knew better, this was how he looked when he was extremely anxious or worried.
"Let's sit down, okay?", America said leading Maxon to a nearby couch.
"You took forever to get here"
"Yes, I know, I'm sorry" America softly spoke to him giving him a small kiss on the cheek.
"Seriously, Ames", he said pushing her slightly away, "I promised and you promised, I can't just sit here waiting for you forever…. You're…"
"All you have left" America said finishing off his sentence.
The two of them sat in silence. America lent against Maxon's shoulder sleeping while he held her hand tightly in his. The whole room was silent. America's maids had all retreated to their own, beds lying down to sleep, and as usual, if there was any noise from the rebel attack, they were not heard in the safe rooms. It was a slow and silent waiting game.
"America?"
"Yes" America whispered back not opening her eyes.
"Where's your guard"
"Mm?"
"The guard outside your room"
"I don't know" she murmured sleepily.
"Did he mention where he was going after he escorted you here?"
"I came myself" America said yawning and moving off Maxon's shoulder to look at him. His brown was furrowed. "Is something wrong?"
"Your guard is supposed to escort you to the safe room"
"I thought I was supposed to get to the safe room as soon as possible" she snapped at him, annoyed at him waking her, "Guard or no guard"
"No," Maxon said thoughtfully, "No, I" he paused, "I told all the guards on our rotation that if I wasn't with you, you were supposed to be escorted here".
America rolled her eyes, "I know the passages like the back of my hand".
"It's not that," Maxon said shaking his head, "It's just in case you come across a rebel, you know, for protection"
"I'm here, Maxon, I'm safe",
"You were also the last one here" Maxon was trying not to get angry, "One of your maids came from the kitchen for god sakes",
America nodded thoughtfully. Ever since Maxon's misunderstanding with Aspen they had both decided never to keep secrets from one another. But at this point in time America knew she couldn't tell Maxon the only reason she was late was that she wanted a few extra minutes sleep.
"Sorry," she smiled softly at him "Next time I won't go searching for my slippers and robe"
"Don't worry my love," he said gleefully pulling her into his lap, "I'll keep you warm". America fell asleep there on the couch in Maxon's arms. She only woke for a moment before falling back asleep, when she heard Maxon talking to Daly about guard schedules and making an order for extra robes and slippers for the safe rooms. America had tried not to laugh, all this just to save a few seconds.
Maxon woke America up a few hours later; no one else remained in the room.
"All safe" he said smiling, America yawned stretching out her arms.
"What time is it?"
"Just after 5"
America rubbed her eyes with her hand yawning again "AM?"
"AM." Maxon echoed
"Take me to bed?"
"My pleasure," Maxon said scooping America up in his arms and walking out of the safe room and out into the main corridor. It was protocol to return to rooms via the main hallways rather than passageways after attack in case any rebels remained in the castle. A far as they could see any evidence of rebels being in the castle had not progressed this far into the castle.
"Why weren't you in bed tonight" America whispered eyes closed.
"Work" Maxon said after some deliberation.
"What for?"
"Consequently, rebel issues"
"Oh,"
Maxon didn't say anything for a while, but as they came closer to their corridor, he continued.
"Apparently, killing my mother and father wasn't enough", he paused again and thinking out loud said "I really miss them"
The thought of Clarkson made America cringe, but she had grown to love Amberly as a mother figure in her short time knowing her and knew only half of the pain Maxon felt. "Me too," she said echoing his thoughts. Clarkson or not, killing the King would appear to be some sort of large victory for the southern rebels, so why were they still attacking the castle.
"You Majesty" Edward, the guard stationed outside said bowing.
"Edward," Maxon said authoritatively, "Were you stationed here before the attack"
"No Sir,"
"Who was here before you"
"No one, sir," Edward said almost petrified by Maxon's tone,
"Someone's at this door at all times" Maxon stated before continuing "Even if it's a dead man"
"Yes sir" Edward said straightening his back.
Maxon pushed open the door and placed America on the bed lying down next to her, still his dishevelled suit.
"Don't you think that was a little dramatic" America said holding in a laugh.
"No", he whispered playfully, "Only the top protection for you, my love" he joked, but America knew he was dead serious. He lifted up the sheets and crawled under, "Sleep, please" he said turning to face America, but she was already asleep.
I haven't written on here in ages. If you have any suggestions for the story or themes you would like to see - let me know. I also struggle coming up with names. Submit suggestions if you like for Guard names and Maxon's staff names. I might also need some new maid names.
Please leave a review good or bad, it's always helpful (even if you dont have an account!) :)
