(Okay... real quick author's note! This is the third installment to a Triology... that doesn't have a name. Anyways, if you are just starting to read fanficts or my fanficts, I would highly recommend you go back and read Connected and Kingdom of my Heart first! It'll keep things from getting confusing in this story ;) Laterz!)
It was a bright, sunshiny day. A gentle breeze ruffled the leaves on the trees.
It was the perfect day for a balloon ride. They had been flying for quite awhile and was now preparing for the infamous spill landing.
Corinne sighed as she watched the ground come closer "Someday, you should really figure out how to land this thing."
"As you wish, Your Highness." Louis answered teasingly.
Corinne rolled her eyes but couldn't quite hide the smile that crept across her face.
About six months ago, Louis had been thought dead, thanks to a now incarcerated Count Draco Sournois, who had been planning on taking the throne.
But Louis had written a will, making Corinne the queen. After a long argument, they had agreed that Corinne would go through some training, complements of Sournois, and see if she proved worthy in the end.
Well, to make a long story short, Sournois ended up arrested and Louis returned to France after Corinne had been crowned. But she had tweaked with the papers so that Louis could take the throne back if he should come back alive. And he did.
But, ever since then Louis had been teasing her by calling her 'Your Highness' and 'Your Majesty' and whatnot.
Corinne pulled herself out of the reverie and noticed that she had been messing with the ring she had found when she'd thought Louis was dead. A piece of paper with a marriage proposal had been in the ring box with it. And an inscription on the inside read: My Musketeer, My Queen, My love.
Louis hadn't asked her to marry him. But she still wore the ring. She just couldn't bring herself to take it off.
"Brace for landing." Louis said from where he was attempting to steer the thing.
A moment later, the basket scraped bottom and... stayed upright.
Corinne let out a slow breath of air "I can't believe it. You..." but she was suddenly cut off as the balloon overturned and sent them tumbling to the ground "Never mind." she laughed.
"I have got to find a way to fix that." Louis chuckled.
"Nah. Makes it fun." She pushed herself back to her feet then watched Louis get up "Let me guess, you'll send Treville to get it."
"Naturally." he held his hand out to her "Shall we?"
She easily slid her hand into his and they started back towards the castle together.
"You know, Treville still talks about how well you handled all that torture Sournois put you through." He smiled down at her "You made a great queen."
She chuckled "I was queen for like... thirty minutes."
"Or maybe you always were."
She looked up at him curiously "What does that mean?"
"Why don't you just tell her? Or ask her?" his brain screamed, instead he looked down at her and smiled "I need to talk to you when you get back from town patrol, okay?"
"Okay." she grinned "Is it important?"
A mischievous glint came to his eyes "Isn't it always?" then he spun her around and pulled her into his arms.
She raised an eyebrow "You know I hate dancing."
He just winked at her "I know." then, the moment quickly turned into one of their regular inopportune dance sessions. It happened quite often and just about anywhere. Balloon, throne room, court yard. Even on the stairs.
But Louis couldn't seem to help himself and Corinne did enjoy it even though she would never admit it. She found herself mentally thanking Nicholas for his dance lessons often.
"You're late." Renee said with a false scowl.
"Blame Louis." Corinne answered as she jumped into her sadde.
"You know," Aramina grinned "You can always refuse his dance offers."
Corinne stared at her "How...?"
Viveca snorted "How could we not know?" she rolled her eyes "You two dance everywhere and anytime."
"Do not." Corinne retorted.
"Yeah-huh." Renee smirked "We can be cleaning and he'll just walk over, grab you hand and spin you right into his arms and you're gone."
Corinne knew her face was turning red as she leaned forward to adjust her horse's bridle.
"It's okay, Corinne." Aramina said with a smile "We all love watching you." she lowered her voice "Even Treville smiles when he sees you two."
That didn't help the heat that was already crawling up her cheeks.
"But honestly," Rene said as she turned her horse towards the stable entrance "When is he going to ask you to marry him."
"I was just about to ask that myself." Viveca added.
Corinne shrugged as they rode out into sunlight "Who says he's going to?"
Renee reached across the small gap between them and picked up the blond's right hand and pointed the ring at her "That." she shook her head "You've been wearing that thing for six months! Why hasn't he just..."
"Renee!" Corinne hissed "Sh!"
"Yeah, best let the subject drop." Aramina said quietly "We don't want people overhearing."
Corinne chuckled slightly and shook her head. But she had to admit, she was wondering when he was finally going to just ask her. They'd sorta talked about it several times. And by 'sorta' I mean, Louis would bring up the subject of her being queen and whatnot. Well, she'd find out later... hopefully.
It was late by time they got back to their apartment, but Corinne hurriedly took care of her horse and headed for the castle.
"Have fun!" Viveca called after her.
When the blond was out of earshot Renee looked over at the other two and grinned "You think it's this time?"
"It has to be!" Aramina gushed, then she did a giddy little dance "Our friend is gonna marry the king!"
Then they all laughed and headed for their apartment.
Corinne walked into the castle and headed for the throne room where Louis generally was. But she was completely unprepared for what greeted her when she entered the room.
Louis was kneeling on the floor, a small black box in his hand. A girl that was about twenty years old with brown hair let out a happy "YES!" then threw her arms around Louis' neck, almost knocking him over. The glint of a ring on her finger caught Corinne's attention immediately.
Her heart caught in her throat. It couldn't be... But it was. It was all too obvious.
Just then Louis spotted her and smiled brightly "Corinne. I want you to meet..."
She bit her lip then spun around and ran back out the doors and slammed them behind her. She backed up against the doors her hands clasped over her mouth.
"Corinne?" Louis' voice called through the door as he tried to push it open, but she was keeping him from doing so.
She shook her head slightly. She wanted to say she didn't care. That it didn't matter. But her heart was crumbling. And it hurt.
She slowly slid down to the floor and leaned back into the door. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the note that had been left for her in Louis' will:
Dear Corinne
If you are reading this letter, then something must have happened and made you queen before I could do it the right way.
…..
I love you, just in case I never got around to telling you. I love you and I always have.
Just remember, you are now Queen to the people, just as you have always been to me.
She shook his head as she wadded up the letter and tears began to course down her cheeks. She slammed the note down on the floor then pushed herself to her feet and took off running. Where, she didn't know. She just had to go somewhere.
"It's been long enough." Renee mumbled. It had been about three hours since Corinne had headed for the castle "I expected her to be in here jumping up and down by now."
"Patience." Aramina said as she tossed the mail to their rightful owners.
Just then, Corinne came walking in the door. Everyone fell silent as she walked over to her bed and sat down.
The three looked at each other confused. What had happened?
Aramina looked down at an envelope in her hand and held it out to Corinne "For you."
The blond took it without a word and opened it. A very small smile came to her face as she read it.
Dear Corinne's
I know you're probably really busy,
but I wanted you to know that Jeremy, me, Alexa and Ian are getting married in two weeks.
I wish you could be here. It would just make everything so much more... special.
Hope to see you soon
Liana.
Corinne folded the letter back and looked up at her friends "How would you three like to go on trip with me?"
Renee raised a confused eyebrow "A trip?"
"To Liana's wedding." Corinne answered.
"What about our job?" Viveca asked slowly.
"We've been musketeers for three years without taking a vacation. I'm sure Treville won't mind." she swiped a blond lock from her face "Besides I... need to go. Whether you go with me or not."
Aramina smiled "We know what happens when you go somewhere alone. We're coming."
Corinne managed a relieved smile "Thank you." then she turned to start getting ready.
The other three looked at each other and shrugged. Maybe they'd get the story later.
Twenty minutes later, they were riding out of the castle grounds.
Corinne glanced back at the castle for a split second before she shook her head and kicked her horse forward. Only time would tell if she ever came back.
(Okay, I am totally stuck in Twisted Fate. Sorry! I'll update it as I can. I think Smokey went on strike :) Anyhoo... Laterz!)