So like three years ago I guess I started this fic and have totally forgotten about it until now, and that is only because Rider Arya Svit-kona reviewed it (yay). So anyways I read it over and realized how utterly horrible it was and have changed practically everything about it. I like to think that my writing has improved, and I know that my knowledge of history has so this is going to be as historically accurate as I can make it. I have decided that it will take place in and Alternate Universe, but in the late 19th century (I love late-Victorian fashion, my fave year is 1885 thus that is what this will be!) PLEASE REVIEW if you like it, because evidently I am only motivated to write if I have god things said about my stories…lol.
Disclaimer: Alright, so instead of me writing a big paragraph on everything that I own and what I don't, how about on the very rare chance that someone decided to sue me…I OWN NOTHING…you can have it all!
Why Did it Have to be You?
Prologue
It was seven o'clock in the morning on a fine summer's day. The birds were chirping away a beautiful, melodic song and a slight breeze was wafting through the sweet, perfumed air; the entire kingdom of Crina smelled of roses and lilacs, which it was covered in. The entire kingdom seemed to be at peace on this seemingly perfect July morning. Outside of the royal palace it was a picturesque scene of blue, snow covered mountains and happy, singing peasants at work in the fields. Inside the palace, however, it was a different matter.
In the royal nursery there was a small, angelically beautiful child. She had long, wavy red hair and enchanting emerald greens eyes, which, when she was inclined to feel a very strong emotion, had the tendency to almost glow; this was such moment. The royal nurse was attempting to feed the little princess, but she was failing in utter distress. Anything that went in front of the fiery redhead was on the wall faster than the poor nurse could avoid contact with it. After a few minutes of this the only thing left in the room which was not covered in porridge and mashed berries was the little princess herself, in fact she was practically spotless. Once every morsel of food in front of the little terror had been hurled in every direction available to her, her eyes glowed and she ceased.
"Thank the Lord," said Nurse Mailey, crossing herself and sitting down in a partially berry-covered chair.
"Well, it would appear that you have everything under control," laughed a soft voice from the doorway.
Nurse Mailey whipped around to see a beautiful young woman standing in the doorway with a large smile on her delicate features. She was the new, enchanting wife of King Charles of Crina, Queen Ivy. Ivy giggled and gracefully walked over to the now sleeping child. She picked her up and snuggled her against her cheek.
"And how is my little angel this morning?" she said as she noticed that the little princess had woken up. She kissed her on the forehead and smiled. "I can see that you have been quite busy darling."
"Mommy, can I have some ice-cream now," begged Princess Lily Ivy Evans. Once she saw the look on her mother's face that practically said 'and…" she added a "Please!" and sent a magnificent pair of puppy-dog eyes her way.
"Yes of course darling, what ever you want. Run along with Nanny Mailey to the kitchen and she will have someone bring you some," said Queen Ivy.
Lily smiled with triumph and ran out of the nursery with Nanny Mailey fast behind her. As she passed through the doorway Lily tripped on her long, white, muslin dress, but after crying and receiving a comforting kiss from her mother, she got back up and ran out of the room.
"Now I need not tell you that this room is to be the epitome of cleanliness when I return, do I?" said Queen Ivy to the three maids in the nursery. "Besides the fact that it never should have been this filthy to begin with, as you know the King and Queen of Arreis are to arrive tomorrow. As they have a child, they will be in use of the nursery and it would be an abomination should it be in this state when they arrive. I trust that everything will be satisfactory by this afternoon, right?" said Ivy. The maids nodded and curtsied to Queen Ivy and she left them alone to clean up the Princess's mess.
"Ya' know Franny, I'd actually 'ate to be 'er. If that li'l spore is like that as a child, imagine 'ow she'll be as a teen."
All of the maids despised the spoiled little princess, and they less than liked the queen for allowing her to be as such. It was not as though she was a bad person, just a very indulgent mother. Queen Ivy was still a young woman, no older than 20. She had married the King of Crina when she was 16 and she had had Lily one year later, the very day that her husband had died. Ivy had placed her daughter in the care of Nanny Mailey as she was now expected to run the country until Lily was old enough, or until she married. When she did have time to see her daughter, she doted on her in the hopes that by spoiling her she could replace the void of a mother and a father.
The next day the queen rose from her chambers early. She had her ladies dress her in one of her finest gowns, a royal purple, satin gown which brought out her brown eyes, and she had them dress her rich brown hair in an elaborate, impressive style. She walked all over the palace to personally inspect that all was perfect for the royals of Arreis. By the time that the queen had finished her inspection of the palace she entered her personal parlor, expecting to see her daughter ready for the day, but instead found that there was no one there, save the servants.
Slightly annoyed at Nanny Maileys tardiness with her daughter, Queen Ivy made her way down to the nursery. She then found an exasperated Nanny, still attempting to get the dozing princess to wake up.
"Darling," said the queen as she shook her daughter ever so slightly. "You must get up now."
"No," mumbled Lily and she went back to sleep.
Ivy let her child sleep as she would, but instructed the maids to get her ready as he did so. She left her daughter in their care and went to eat a quick breakfast.
The maids undressed and bathed Lily and then proceeded to dress the sleeping princess. It was unbelievable how the child managed to sleep whilst all of this was occurring, yet she did not wake even for a moment. The dress that they placed on her was a beautiful, pea-green, silk dress, with a high waistline and a full skirt. Her long, wavy red hair was left down and unadorned, save for a headband of pearls.
Once Lily was ready, Nanny Mailey brought her downstairs to her mother and held her while the Queen looked over a few papers.
"You Highness, would you prefer to receive the Royals of Arreis outside or inside?" said the old butler, Seisk.
"Oh outside I should think, it would seem so very formal to receive them inside, and Harold and Maude are such dear friends."
Not even ten minutes later a servant informed the queen that the caravan of carriages belonging to the King and Queen of Arreis had been spotted and that they were within a few moments of arriving.
"Oh good, they are here," said Ivy. Ivy made her way outside and was followed by the chancellors and high lords of the court, a few servants and her daughter.
A few moments later, the coach containing the royal family arrived and a footman descended from his perch and opened the door. The first to step out was a very tall, older man. He had short grey hair, which was starting to bald on the top of his head and a stout figure; he looked to be around 50. He held out his hand and a pale, delicate hand grasped it from inside the carriage; a shorter, thinner woman descended. She had long black hair streaked with grey and pale, soft skin. Finally there came a small boy, around ten years old. He had short blonde hair and grey eyes and looked very much like his father.
"Welcome my friends!" Ivy exclaimed and rushed over to her friends.
"Thank you your highness," said the king, smiling down upon his niece.
"It is my pleasure uncle, please come inside. I have had a brunch prepared and we can talk," she said.
King Harold nodded and ushered his wife and son and Ivy and Lily in and then turned to follow them. They made their way into the Palace and then Ivy invited them up to her personal parlor for a more "intimate chat" as she had said. Lily and the little prince, James, were invited to join them as well.
The parlor was a lovely, quaint room. The walls were covered in cream and gold silk and the carpet was a rich, soft cream. There were gilt chairs and sofas around a lovely little coffee table and on the east wall were large, elaborate windows that let in the morning sun. Ivy sat on a chaise lounge with Lily beside her. King Harold sat on a winged chair while his wife and son sat on a sofa opposite to Ivy's chaise.
"Uncle, how have you been?" said Ivy with a warm smile. "It has been entirely too long since I last saw you! I must have been little James's age; why he was just a baby when I left. You have grown into such a young man sir."
"Thank you ma'am," said James, doing a practiced bow.
"Such a gentleman," she giggled. "And this is your cousin, Lily," said Ivy, ushering the little imp hiding among her skirts forwards.
Lily gingerly stepped forwards, sucking her thumb the whole way. She did a very wobbly curtsy while James returned it with another bow. Lily quickly returned to her mother while James did to his.
The adults looked upon this moment with warm, amused smiles.
"Well, as the children have now been acquainted, perhaps they would prefer to get away from us adults," said Ivy. "Nanny Mailey," she said turning to the wall at which the nanny was standing by, "Would you please take the children out to the gardens perhaps."
Nanny Mailey picked up the little princess and ushered a reluctant James out of the room. They went down to the royal gardens and Nanny Mailey left them to play on an open space of grass while she sat a few feet away with a book.
"Hello, I'm Lily; I'm three…who are you?"
James looked at this little spore and crossed his arms. He made sure to stand up straight so that he was over two feet taller than her.
"I'm James Harold Potter, Crowned prince of Arreis, I'm 12," he said.
"You don't look twelve," said Lily. "I'm bored, let's play a game."
"I'm not playing with you," said James.
"Why not?"
"Because you're little…and you're a girl!"
"So, you're just a boy!"
"But boys are better than girls."
"Says who?!"
"Me, and I'm a boy so I am right!"
Lily kicked him in the shins and ran away behind a tree. James ran after her in a fury and for then next hour the two played a ferocious game of tag.
Meanwhile with the adults
After the children had left a new tone took over the parlor. King Harold seemed more stressed and agitated, Queen Maude had a dreadful look of concern upon her soft face and Queen Ivy looked as though she was about to collapse. She lay down upon the chaise and closed her eyes.
"Ivy, why have you called us here so urgently and abruptly?" demanded King Harold. "Ten years of silence and then practically a summons."
"Yes Ivy, please tell us what is going on; something is wrong," said Maude.
"I am dying," said Ivy.
The two royals of Arreis looked shocked. Their eyes widened and Maude's hand flew to her mouth.
"What do you mean?" said Harold. "You are only twenty years old."
"I have the consumption uncle. The doctors had tried to do everything that they can for me, but they say it is only a matter of months, perhaps a year or two if I am lucky," said Ivy with her eyes full of tears. "It is just not fair! I tired of being strong, but I have to for Lily. Whenever she is not around I am just a fit full of emotions! My poor baby never knew her father and now she is never to remember her mother!"
"Oh Ivy! Is there nothing to be done?!" gasped Maude, coming to kneel beside her.
"No. I have know of it ever since Lily was one; we have been trying to cure me ever since, but it has all amounted to nothing. Lily will be left alone," said Ivy.
"No she won't, not while she has us for family," stated Harold.
"Oh uncle, I must admit that this was entirely my hope when I asked you to come visit!" said Ivy with a slight smile. "I know that this is asking a lot of you, as you have your own lives to live, but you are the only family Lily and I have left."
"Do not even worry about it my dear. Lily will always have a place with us," said Maude.
"I have already begun the negotiations with Lord Lasd, my chief advisor, for it has been decided that he shall act as regent of Crina until Lily is either twenty-one or married. She is to be my heir and be a queen in her own right," said Ivy.
"Of course child," said Harold. "Lily will come to live with us; she shall be like our own daughter."
"Oh thank you uncle!" exclaimed Ivy, almost her old, healthy self for a moment. "I am so afraid or Lily while she is growing up. What should happen if some money and power hungry men were to vie for her attention? If she was unknown to their purposes, she may be forever doomed. For this reason I have also been thinking greatly of amiable betrothals for Lily and have come to somewhat of a grand idea. James is not yet betrothed is he?"
"Oh Ivy, what a grand idea!" exclaimed Maude. "Why have I never thought of it before?! The two are perfect for each other, just the right ages; and now they shall be brought up together, as companions!"
"I am so happy that you agree with me. With you two and James to protect her, I can spend my last moments with my daughter with a slight weight off of my shoulders," said Ivy.
So it was decided that the three-year-old Princess Lily Ivy Evans of Crina and the twelve-year-old Prince James Harold Potter of Arreis were to be betrothed. The contract was drawn up then and there and the arrangements for Lily to live with her uncle and aunt were finalized. Ivy had not wanted her daughter to be with her in her last moments, for she did not wish to leave that memory installed in Lily, thus it was decided that after Lily's 4th birthday she would go for a "visit" to her aunt and uncle's while her mother waited to die.
Ivy and the Arreian royals had also decided that neither Lily nor James were to know about their betrothal until Lily was 16, at which time they were to become engaged. They would marry when Lily turned 17 and would thereupon be crowned as the crowned princess of Arreis and the Queen and King Consort of Crina.
That night Lily fell asleep in her mother's arms, completely tuckered out from chasing the taunting, rambunctious prince around for hours. They had played tag and then when Lily decided to kick him again, she ran and hid in a fox burrow, which eventually led into a game of hide and go seek. Lily had never had a more amusing day while James simply wanted to throttle the little beast.
The next morning Lily woke up to find herself in her own room. The palace was in an upheaval and her mother was no where to be seen. You see the Queen did not wake this morning, nor would she ever wake again; she had passed in her sleep, now knowing that her child's future was a safe one. Lily left with her aunt and uncle for Arreis two days later and would not return to her own country for another twelve years.
So….I know, it's late and I'm tired and I just want to upload this so yeah. I promise that if people like this I'll write another chapter (longer and much more fun!) and it will be A LOT better than this. Plus I'm in the middle of drawing pictures of all the character and I will put them on facebook when I'm done…for anyone interested. Yeah I know I'm cool and all…people just wish they were as keen as me! Hahah, lol, but seriously…PLEASE REVIEW
