Sweet Moments Vanish
Rifiuto: Non Miriena
Summary: With a new ruler taking the throne, comes a new dawn. A former missing princess, who's own family is growing out of the ashes of a fallen dynasty. And a family secret comes back to wreak havoc. Will she accept it, or let it destroy her family before it's even begun? 3rd in the Fliaanian Royals series.
A/N: So this story actually takes place right after Traper's assassination. It follows Trism and Elphaba's coronation and the beginning of their family. Written: 2005, actually. Found: 2017. - Licia
1929
She allowed the maid to finish with her hair before waving the young girl away. Once the maid was gone, she stood, going to her husband, who was standing at the window, lost in thought. Silently, she slid an arm through his, resting her head against his shoulder.
"I don't know that I'm ready for this, Fabala. My father was a great king, he was loved by all of the Vinkus. I don't know that I'll be able to live up to him-"
"You aren't meant to live up to your father, Tris." She replied, turning him to face her. "Yes, your father was a great king, but that doesn't mean you won't be. You have just as much potential if not more to become as great a king or greater than your father was. You need to be willing to give yourself that chance, my love."
He sighed, bringing her hands up to kiss the knuckles. "Fabala, I know you're empress of Fliaan, but... say you'll be my consort, please, I... I don't know that-"
She rested a finger against his lips. "You are not playing this game alone, my darling." She cradled his cheek, kissing him softly. His arms slid around her waist, pulling her to him; the kiss deepened, and she slid an arm around his neck.
They had been through so much in the last year- a hastily arranged marriage, the heartbreak of a miscarriage, the assassination of the Vinkun king, not to mention that she had been missing for ten years- the only surviving Kauri of the last Fliaanian dynasty, the House of Thropp, found by a prince turned con artist and returned to take her place as empress, presiding over Parliament in her home country- and still, somehow, managed to slowly carve their own path in life. But this... this was new.
With King Traper's assassination in November of nineteen-twenty-eight, and the oldest son, Fiyero, having disappeared not long after restoring Elphaba to her rightful place, the throne fell to the youngest son, Trism. The prince had married Elphaba, who had been briefly married to his brother, until he had walked away after she'd regained her memory and what was left of her family.
It had gone from an arranged marriage to a love match in a matter of a few weeks; it was evident to all who saw them that the young Vinkun prince and his Fliaanian empress were deeply, passionately in love. Similar to Frexpar and Melena Thropp- Elpahba's parents- or Locasta and Traper Tigelaar- Trism's parents- before them, their marriage was started by arrangement, and built on love; it was clear, that their love would build an empire, continue a dynasty, unlike the Thropps before them. Elphaba knew what was said about her beloved parents; that their love had ended an empire, and she was determined not to follow in their footsteps.
She loved her husband, but she would not allow that love to cloud her judgement, to make her weak, or repeat her parents' mistakes. She would not allow her family to face the firing squad, as she, her parents and siblings had that horrendous night nearly eleven years earlier. Fliaan deserved a strong ruler, even if she was only empress in name only, and a strong ruler she would be. Just as Trism would be a strong ruler in the Vinkus.
As the only surviving immediate family member of what was once one of the strongest, oldest dynasties in Oz, Elphaba held all the cards. The other royal houses bowed to her, as they had her mother before her; they would not undermine her position or her authority, nor would they undermine Trism's, for he had her on his side. In this very entwined, intermarried, royal game of Chess, she was the strongest, most important piece, and everyone knew it. Trism may bow to her, but he did so knowing that they needed to work together to win. They knew and understood their standing in this game; something his brother had never understood or been able to accept.
As long as they worked together, they would never lose.
He pulled away, resting his forehead to hers, taking a few moments to catch his breath. "Oh, how I want you, my love."
She giggled, as he pulled away, softly locking the bedroom door. "Trism, we can't. Your coronation is in a few hours-"
"Our coronation, my love." He replied, returning to her and scooping her into his arms.
"Even so, what would everyone think?" He rested his forehead to hers.
"I thought you didn't care what others think of you, Fabala." She swallowed softly.
"I don't. But what would Locasta say?"
He laid her down gently on the bed. "That we are not the first couple to steal a bit of pleasure hours before accepting the throne." He kissed her neck. "My parents did the same, only an hour before the ceremony started. We have six hours before the ceremony." He whispered, and she laughed softly, reaching up to brush her fingers through his hair.
"But will we really need six hours, my love?" He kissed her deeply, gently scraping his teeth along her lower lip in response.
"Only if you want them." He replied, voice husky, and she swallowed, feeling the heat begin to pool in her stomach.
"I don't want them, I want you." She whispered, and he kissed her, sliding a hand beneath the skirt of her dress and up her thigh.
A soft knock on the door caused Elphaba to look up from threading an earring in. Without a word, Trism opened it, to find Locasta on the other side. "Are you two ready?" She stopped, taking in the sight of her son and daughter-in-law. "Oh, you look beautiful, both of you." The couple blushed.
Dressed in royal military blues, Trism reminded Locasta of her husband, gone only three months now. When had my little boy grown up so? She kissed him gently on the cheek, before turning to his wife. Yes, Elphaba was certainly a better match for Trism than Fiyero.
The young Fliaanian empress was dressed not in the court dress she wore for her own coronation, but in a gown of the Vinkun court. Though similar in cut and style to the coronation gown she had worn when she took the throne, there were marginal differences between the Fliaanians and the Vinkuns. The gown cinched in at the waist, and unlike the open sleeves that hung down in Fliaanian gowns, the sleeves of this gown were off the shoulder and slightly puffed. The sweetheart bodice exposed a little of her bosom, and the skirt flared out, just barely brushing the floor. The color was a soft gold with a design of sapphire threads- the colors of the Vinkus- and there was no train. Her long hair was pulled back out of her face, and pinned on the sides; it hung down her back in waves of raven silk. A simple necklace hung around her neck- the Star Sapphire, as it was known, worn by every Vinkun queen on the day of her and husband's coronation, from the time of Trism I, the man who had started the Tigelaar dynasty back in the fourteen-hundreds. The necklace had been a gift from him to his wife, Billina, on the day of their coronation.
"Oh, my darlings, you truly do look lovely. Are you ready?" The couple shared a glance, and after a moment, Trism held out an arm, which Elphaba took. Due to it being her son's coronation, Locasta had forgone her black mourning in favor of a soft gold and white gown. With a nod, she followed the couple out of the room and down the stairs. The coronation would actually take place at Ozure Isles, the palace where court resided, though the Tigelaars preferred to stay at Kiamo Ko.