"Tessa, darling, are you all dressed?" my mother came into my room, her long gown even more expensive than usual. Her reddish-brown hair was tied into an elegant bun, not a hair out of place. Her brown eyes were surveying me, strict, as usual.
"Nearly," I struggled to put on my flats while hopping on one foot.
"Tessa," she sighed, closing the door behind her. She was by my side in an instant. "Take those off immediately," Although she did it herself.
"Mother," I mumbled, walking around the room in only my skirt and bra. I still hadn't decided on what shirt to wear; my white blouse with a blazer on top, or, if I wanted to be really sexy, just the blazer. Of course, sexy would be reprimanded in this household.
"Wear your black heels please," she said as she began to walk away. "Did Magda come in to clean your room yet?" she snapped on her way out.
"Yes mother, this is my own doing; I'll put it away myself." I began to put on my white blouse, tucking it into the skirt. "May I change in peace?"
"Hurry it up," she snapped her fingers. "They'll be here within the hour."
I rolled my eyes as she shut the door behind her, walking over to the mirror to survey myself. I slipped on my blouse, running my hand through my thick auburn hair. I dabbed some lipstick onto my lips before applying mascara and eyeliner around my green eyes. Well, I thought, I looked good enough for someone who got ready in less than ten minutes.
I put on my shoes and cleaned my room quickly, not like our guests would come in here anyway, but I figured I might as well do what my mother told me. I made my way through Buckingham palace, giving out polite hellos to the butlers and maids before finally after many minutes, getting to the main entrance, where I was told to meet my parents.
My mother was putting on a fashionable scarf that went well with her dress; she always did enjoy looking more like an old fashioned queen instead of sticking to this day and age. Of course, I supposed that with the guests we were receiving, it was perhaps smart to get a little old fashioned.
My father had his arm wound with hers and had his other arm ready for me. His forest green eyes were bright with the same excitement they always had and his brown hair was casually up in the front. He had a nice amount of scruff, with many laugh lines that outlined his eyes.
"You look beautiful darling." He kissed my cheek as I interlaced our arms together.
"Thanks," I murmured as the doors were opened for us. We were greeted by the soft British air of September, one of the few times we hadn't caught rain all month. It was sunny enough that my father suggested we eat outside with our guests today. So, he had with his helpful men, set up a beautiful table in the gardens right by where the swans went to swim. It was my favorite spot.
"Are we meeting them at the sight?" I asked.
"No," my father walked us to the gates of the palace. "They will be arriving in a few moments."
So much for within the hour, I thought. "Are you nervous?" I asked.
"Not at all," he said happily. "My ancestors always had polite meetings with the Mikaelson's; I do not see how it would be any different."
"That's not what I meant."
Unlike other people brought up in families, my job as a child was not only about getting good grades and having proper ambitions. Even as a royal daughter, I still had one thing that separated me from other people. I had to be understanding of the world that lived within our own—the Supernatural world.
It was said that hundreds upon hundreds of years ago, the Mikaelson's were nearly a royal family themselves. The royal family of Britain had learnt what they were, but surprisingly the Mikaelson family did not do a thing about it. They had never caused a stir in England, and so the family decreed that the Mikaelson's would always have safe passage in England with no one to pursue them regardless of them being vampires. The condition was that every time they returned to England, they had to meet with the royal family.
Needless to say I was a little worried about having a meeting with a few people who drank blood as meals.
"They're here." my father said excitedly.
A black limo was pulling up at the golden gates which opened slowly for our guests. A nearby doorman went over to the car, opening the door and standing next to it, upright, so they could get out of the limo.
The first person to emerge was a beautiful girl. Normally, I was very self-confident about myself. I loved my face, my body, everything about me. I had learnt, through the stages of my awkward adolescence to love myself. Now, being nearly twenty-four, I had grown into the type of person I wanted to be.
The girl however would make any person feel bad about how they looked. Her hair was beautifully blonde, thick, and went in waves, cascading down her back. Her eyes were baby blue and her lips were the perfect size and shape, not to mention her body. This, I knew from the pictures I had studied as a teenager, was Rebekah Mikaelson. She wore a beautiful red dress that had one strap on the shoulder. It was tight and went down to her knees. On anyone else it would have been inappropriate, but on Rebekah, with her appliance of shoes, accessories and hairstyle, made it look impeccably elegant.
The three brothers seemed to all majestically arise from the limo at once. They all wore suits, and they all came around the limo, the youngest brother, whom I recognized as Kol Mikaelson gave an amused look to his sister. Kol's eyes were alight with interest; he was devilishly handsome, with an arrogant smile. This was a man who knew how to get what he wanted I thought.
However, it was the two other brothers whom I knew had the real importance. In the texts I had read, there was always debates on which was the real leader of the clan—Elijah or Klaus. Each, in their own sense, led the families. I always liked to think of them as a team, in a way, neither one could live without the other. I did know however, that in terms of the country of England, it had always been Klaus whom had a higher status.
Both were incredibly attractive, well dressed and groomed, each somewhere between the perfect amount of stubble and barely having any at all. Their hair was quaffed to perfection, but Elijah, like Kol seemed to enjoy having his more up at the front than Klaus.
My father undid himself from us and walked up to them. I noticed that it was Elijah who took the first step forward to greet him.
"King Marcus," Elijah shook his hand, smiling. "It is a pleasure. Thank you for having us."
"Nonsense Elijah, the honor and the pleasure is all mine!" he said happily.
Klaus took a step forward then, reaching for the king's hand, who took it willingly. "Your majesty, it's nice to see you again."
"Klaus, is Caroline well?"
"She is, thank you." Klaus bowed his head. "These are my siblings, Kol and Rebekah."
"Of course, of course," he said, greeting both of them. "Come meet my family. This is my wife, Queen Victoria."
Elijah and Klaus stood on each side of my father while Rebekah and Kol brought up the rear. My father went first to my mother, introducing each Mikaelson to her, before moving on to me.
"This is my lovely daughter, Princess Tessa." My father said proudly.
"Hi," I said awkwardly. How do you even react to a thousand year old vampire?
Kol took my hand and kissed it, his eyes glinting like a mad man. "Princess Tessa, it is in an honor."
"Be careful with your flirtations Kol," Rebekah teased. "Your wife would not approve." She bowed to me, and I grinned back.
"Wife?" My father said as Klaus too, kissed my hand lightly. "Are you married now Kol?"
"Yes sir," he smiled. "To the most wonderful and beautiful woman in the entire world."
My father laughed. "I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you there Kol, the two most beautiful women in the world are right here!"
Elijah kissed my hand. "There is no doubt of that, your majesty." He said as he came back up, his brown eyes locking with mine.
"Well," my father said, taking my mother's arm again. "Come along, we have the whole afternoon ready and prepared!"
I noticed Elijah and Klaus exchange a quick look, in which Klaus nodded at his brother. The Hybrid wound his arm with his sister, giving her a reassuring look before they caught up with my parents who had began to walk. They began to talk immediately.
"May I?" Elijah held out his arm for me.
I nodded, used to this kind of treatment. "Of course, Lord Elijah."
Another arm wound itself through mine, and on my right side I found Kol, smiling. "Elijah, don't you remember how to share?" he winked at me.
"Lord Kol," I nodded my head.
Kol chuckled. "Oh, darling we aren't Lords anymore. That time is long and past."
"In England, sir, you are still considered a Lord, at least in terms of the royal family." I pointed out as we began to make our way to the gardens.
"If you say so," Kol laughed again. "I shall not argue with a princess."
"Kol!" Rebekah called from up ahead. "Come here a moment."
"Duty calls." He saluted me mockingly, and walked swiftly to his sister and brother, joining my parents. Elijah and I were only a foot or so behind, but I didn't mind. Whatever business they were discussing I was quite sure I did not need to hear anyway.
"This place never changes," Elijah reminisced as his eyes swept over the fountains. "England has always managed to be the one place that is stable, in this world of constant change."
"I would not know," I said honestly. "I haven't been many places. As for the places I have been to, it was for matters such as these."
"Meetings?" he inquired. "That is dull for a princess. When one travels the world, they should indulge in it."
"My mother is quite old-fashioned, I'm sure you'll see." I grinned. "She thinks the kings and queens back in the olden days had it right. So I didn't really have a normal teenage upbringing."
"Well," he said with a sad smile. "Mothers will be mothers. They often believe they know what is best for their children."
We came to the table then, between two gardens and in front of the swans. My father sat at the head, with my mother on his right hand side, and I on the left—Elijah pulling out the seat for me.
"Lord Klaus," My father rang. "Will you take the other head of the table?"
Klaus smiled and obliged, heading down on the other hand. On his right hand was Elijah, and on his left was Kol, putting Rebekah right next to me. It was slightly uneven, but seeing as we were an odd number, it could not be helped. Although, I saw in my mother's jumping jaw that the uneven number irked her far more than it should.
The food was brought out in minutes, and much to my mother's distaste of course, it was done in all in one serving. It was meat, potatoes, green beans, with the salad in the middle of the table. My father was much more modern than her. If it was up to my mother we would have had a five course lunch followed by dessert.
"So," my father said as the waiter went around pouring the wine. "Klaus, what brings you and your family here to England?"
Klaus took a sip of his wine before setting it down. "We're coming back a while more, to live."
"I see," my father said over his plate. "So this is not just a visit then."
"No, your majesty, it is not," he continued. "We traveled North America for over a hundred years now, and it was time my family and I returned home."
"How many are your family now?" my father began to eat, still speaking very light about the whole thing.
"Including myself and my siblings, we are nine."
"Nine?" my father frowned.
"With the exception Elijah, we have all wed. We brought with us to England, two others whom are not related by blood but are family none the less, Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert."
Rebekah looked to the king. "Damon is the brother of my husband, Stefan."
"Well," my father said with a smile. "Then we shall accommodate you."
"There is no need," Klaus said easily. "We have already bought apartments."
"No no," my father waved his hands. "We will put you in Bagshot Park."
"Your majesty," Klaus bowed his head. "I am flattered but I—"
"We would be honoured," Kol interjected, sending his brother a very subtle look full of hidden secrets. "What kind of people would we be to refuse the king of England?"
Klaus forced a smile to his brother before looking at the king. "I appreciate it."
"Well," my father said. "You are lords, are you not?"
That was when my mother took over. "As lords and a lady, you are all required to attend every royal festivity. The first one being Princess Tessa's twenty fourth birthday in a month's time."
Klaus bowed his head again. "As you wish, my queen."
"Excellent." My father clapped his hands together. "Now, Lady Rebekah, tell me about your husband!"