Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or objects; they belong to Fullmetal Alchemist. I do own my idea.
Author's Note: I've been working on this for a long time and I couldn't work on my other stories without finishing this one. I changed the storyline a bit so it's not as cheesy as it used to . For this fic, Amestris is split as different countries.
The young woman waited outside of the occupied room overlooking her home's entryway. She tapped her fingers against the middle of her arm, occasionally cocking her head to the door behind her. There was a huge draft of nervousness roaming around her. No matter what she did, there was no escaping the feeling.
Minutes later, her heels began to cramp because of her standing. Glancing at the emptiness of the open hallway, she rested her back against the railing and sank down to sit. How long were these tests supposed to take? She lifted her knees to her chest and rested her arms on them, then settled her forehead against them. It felt as if the hallway was getting stuffy and hot, and the woman could feel her face growing damp with sweat. The click of the doorknob led to the sound of a creaking door. A tall, slim man poked his head out to see if she was still there, and then stepped out. Her head shot up, bringing her body up as well. The woman smiled, but the man couldn't keep his gaze locked on hers. He shook his head; that is when she knew that it was not the time to smile.
When he opened his mouth, she felt her cheeks grow cold and eyesight fade to a blur.
"Princess Hawkeye, I'm sorry, but your father will not make it. King Hawkeye has the disease that has swept through the North.", the Doctor explained.
"How long does he have left?" Princess Elizabeth Hawkeye ignored the name from which the kingdom knew her by.
The doctor was old and frail, but he looked healthier than her father from when she last saw him. Though, like herself, the man before her was trembling with agony. If the Princess was more of a damsel in distress she would have allowed her knees to give into the pressure in response to the dreaded information. But she was nothing like that thanks to her father, and by the looks of the doctor, he wouldn't last a second of balancing them together.
"He has six months at most; although that man deserved much more. Once again, I'm terribly sorry for the news, but it would do him good if you spoke to him now."
She nodded, wiped her tears with a white cloth that the doctor gave her, and turned the doorknob leading to the king's room. As she proceeded, the back of her dress dragged on the floor as she lifted the front slightly so she wouldn't trip over it. Her back was hurting her from the slouching she did not remember, and her nose had that disgusting damp feeling after sadness. The room was decorated with red, gold, and green her father's and mother's favorite colors. They were hues that comforted her father and gave her strength to face the inevitable. It was too dark to see exactly if she was heading toward her father, but she felt better because it hid the water still resting in her eyes. The other bad part for her is that when she held in emotions for a long time a frown would force its way. Her throat ached with the piercing it was receiving; she tried swallowing it down, but it would come back and claim victory.
The gigantic windows on each side of her father's bed never passed any sunlight due to the location of the room, so he was ensconced in shadow and unidentifiable until she arrived at his side. She stood next to him to find the king with a smile lacking its normal radiance. His long, light brown hair hung loosely, reaching the middle of his chest, and it looked as if it hadn't been brushed for days.
It was honestly more depressing for her than it was for her father; he didn't have to see how much he had changed unless he looked at his reflection. In the last month she noticed he was eating the same amount as a mouse does, picking at the best meals their cooks made in disgust. Usually King Hawkeye gorged any edible object that carried a pleasant smell; the sight did not matter with him. He was reaching the size of a hungry peasant with only a little muscle left to notice. He also might have encountered many restless nights due to his health for his eyes carried bags darkened with a mixture of blue and purple. They were practically mimicking bruises.
"Hello Father."
"Good afternoon Riza."
"How are you feeling?"
"Quite tired actually, though I feel better now that the Doctor is not poking his instruments on me."
Princess Hawkeye sat next to him on the bed, her green dress ruffling at the bottom. She mustered a smile, but it instantly fell back to a frown and that led the King to stare at her cautiously. The room was quieter than a slow flowing river; the only sounds were their breathing. The Princess felt weary of speaking of anything that would remind him of death or talking about the future. Her mind searched through the replies she could make as they erased before she would find one. She intertwined her fingers revealing to her father that she was uneasy, but he threw the matter over his shoulder.
"How was your trip to the village market?" He asked "Was there any trouble that I should know about?"
"A woman from the East kingdom arrived and said she was lost; we sent her back, but a group of men got a hold of her and kill-… Never mind I do not want common problems to burden you." she spoke as her voice became raspy with fatigue.
"They killed her? That is wrong didn't you try stopping them; we are trying to make amends with the East remember?"
"I was unaware until I found her, this all happened when I was visiting the baker. Please I'm having the men who did it work as punishment. Try not to concern yourself with this it's bad for your body."
"Next time there are visitants I want you to escort them to where they want to be, you can't have the people controlling your law. And for God's sake, speak to me as you normally would." The King's back ached as he sat straighter than a needle.
His daughter became infuriated with the way he argued during his condition, but she kept her tone calm yet flat.
"How could I act normal, Father, when the sickness is taking you? I don't feel comfortable to speak to you of any matters concerning the kingdom if it puts you in this state; it's despairing to know that you will not have a future here."
"Then unlearn what was informed, and treat me how you usually do and maybe listen to what I ask. We can still continue your archery if you like or perhaps if you need time away from me then take your maid, Rebecca, out to the market with you."
"That's my point, my fear is walking in the room, happy and ready to practice our shooting and find you cold like you did with Mother." Tears blocked her vision as she was reminded of her mother.
"I won't let you see me that way; we can always do different things, as long as it slows my sickness."
"You can't slow the ailment it will only hide the effects of it, the disease remains in you. Besides, what will the people think of this?"
King Hawkeye's expression darkened, he knew that no matter how he tried to make the troubles seem less, Riza would take it in a depressing way. He might as well spit it all out.
"My condition shall not be known by them until my passing."
Princess Hawkeye clenched her fist as they immediately produced sweat and warmth due to the tightness. The people should know of everything concerning their leader; because without the laws to abide by destruction will take place.
"Why not?" she said, it seemed that her body forgot of its old feelings.
"Because, dear, if they do then many would be cast down and be far too disheartened to continue work properly. For others, like the men that slaughtered that woman, they will soon realize that you're the next to rule and that makes me anxious."
"How?"
"They are convinced that you as a woman will not have proper control of them and battle for your hand in marriage. Some may try to overthrow us and if they are insane enough, they'll kill us both."
"They wouldn't dare… but… if they did I could handle it."
"You've only seen the best part of them; even with the men killing the poor woman. In a way, I agree with their opinion of you. You can't keep this place in line."
"Well then, if you are afraid of me controlling them then why shouldn't we let them overthrow us? It doesn't seem like you have a plan for the Central kingdom's future." she retorted.
"Speaking of that, I do indeed and I believe it may solve our controversy with the Eastern Kingdom. You remember Prince Solf J. Kimblee correct?"
His daughter nodded; of course she knew of Prince Kimblee. Kimblee was the ruler of the East Amestrian Kingdom, taking his title after his parents died of old age. The man was twenty-five then and currently twenty-nine, not caring to have any heirs to the throne. King Hawkeye kept a friendly relationship with him because he knew that somehow that man would lead to the settling of the feud. The King felt it was his responsibility to repair them; it was Central's fault after all.
The East Kingdom was a place known to look for trouble, but when the time came they would fall before taking a swing. Nearly four decades ago Princess Hawkeye's grandfather controlled Central's land, avoiding any action that would point them to the wrong direction. So when the East was undergoing an invasion from Xing they asked for Central's assistance from their well-built army. Riza's grandfather left them to burn and said that they were the ones who started the trouble so they must wither in the aftermath of destruction. With that, the East held a grudge against Central especially Riza's family. As time passed, the late Queen Hawkeye, formally known as Grumman, required a guard to escort her everywhere, due to the many who tried assassinating her over hatred while Central used the same method to protect from further death. The guard was Riza's father and they found it suitable to have them married when her mother was of age. King Hawkeye swore that he would find a way to make the violence stop between the two countries before he died.
Princess Hawkeye spoke so she could symbolize that she was waiting to listen, "What of him?"
"Elizabeth…" he began, "I want you to marry that man, it will let me rest when the day of my death comes. With your marriage I'll be killing two birds with one stone."
The sound of her full name was threatening to hear, "I understand your ambition to relieve the pains, but I don't think Kimblee is the right man for responsibility. If it was another man you were offering then I would immediately see to it that we're married, but not him."
"I thought you liked that man when you met him? Did you not tell me of something that happened between the two of you?"
"He seems sadistic around his people, there were some merchants passing by spreading words that didn't seem quite complimentary. I can't trust him; the way he looks at his people…humorous…I can tell he only sees them as puppets. Excuse me for my dishonor, father; I reject your request."
"The Prince had all the evidence of being right-minded. …Unless you do have something to tell me about him?"
She lied for the sake of his well-being, "Nothing at all."
"Then you will marry him."
"No, it's pointless to combine the kingdoms when the East is about to take our side."
King Hawkeye became out of breath suddenly and rested his back against the pile of pillows beneath him. Drops of sweat appeared at his hairline and he moved his forearm over his eyes.
His tone pleaded with all its strength, "Please Elizabeth, I want you to do this so I know you are taken care of when I'm gone. Make it my last favor to ask of you."
The Princess stared down at her lap. If the man before her wasn't her father, or sick, she would have punched him.
"Alright, if it is your last, sir."
AN: It was hard making them talk like they would in the medieval-ish era, so I tried my best. Please review and favorite! Let me know if you like the story and let me know of any mistakes.
