The glowing crystals that denoted day and night in Haven sent light down across the underground citadel, bringing light to all the rooms of the great palace which stood in the centre. It lit up one room in particular, one room with two inhabitants. Artemis Fowl II stretched his arms out from where they had been curled around a warm body next to his own. The body yawned and awoke, and opened her hazel eyes, which looked up at him. He leaned down to her, and pressed his lips to hers gently.

"I am going to get dressed, and to talk to your siblings. You should do the same." She nodded sleepily, and curled her arms around his neck, bringing her lips to his.

"No." She said. "Stay with me a little longer."

"Very well, but only a little." He replied.

Queen Lily Frond and King Regulus Frond II walked down the hall swiftly with their advisor, Antarius. They opened the door to the quarters of the Surface Lord, and saw him at a desk, typing on a laptop. He looked up as they walked in, and the hulking bodyguard walked out from behind a partition.

"Good morning." He addressed them.

"Good morning." The three replied, in unison.

"We have come to talk about your decision." Antarius said. Artemis nodded.

"Indeed." He said. "I have made my decision."

"What is it?" The long, red-haired Princess Lily asked, sharply. At that moment, Holly walked out from behind the partition. Her hazel eyes sparkled, and she was wearing a small, white shift dress. She walked up behind Artemis, and Butler, the bodyguard, let her pass. She walked up to him, and put her arms around him from behind. Her eyes seemed to challenge her sister. Lily inhaled a sharp breath. "Holly…" She said.

"Princess Holly!" Antarius exclaimed. "Lord Fowl, do not listen to anything this traitor has to…"

"Enough!" Artemis said, sharply. "I have made my decision, and you are not to oppose it!"

"Very well." Lily bowed her head, silently, but she was fuming. Regulus remained silent.

"My decision is this." He continued. "King Regulus will remain upon the throne, and his sister…" With this, both Holly and Lily drew a breath of silent tension. "Princess Holly…" With this Lily burst out in an outraged cry

"That traitor is unacceptable…" She started.

"Enough!" Artemis cut her off once more, his blue eyes flaming with fury. "Do be quiet, Princess Lily. As I was saying, Princess, or should I say Queen Holly, will rule alongside her brother." Holly smirked, and ran her hands gently down the Surface Lord's back. With this, Lily turned on her heel and stormed out. "I have also decided that Holly and Regulus shall be wed." With this, Holly stopped smiling, and moved away from Artemis.

"What?!" She protested. Regulus looked horrified. "I shall not marry a child! Artemis, you cannot do this!"

"Thankyou, King Regulus, Antarius, you may leave. Queen Holly, you may stay." He ignored her protestations, until the king and his advisor had left. He then turned to the red haired elf.

"Please, Artemis, do not do this!" She asked him.

"I have just made you a queen." The young man pointed out.

"Thankyou." She mumbled. "But this… this marriage proposal is… is…" She shook her head in disgust.

"Royal incest between brother and sister in Egypt is not uncommon." He said. "To keep the bloodline pure." He walked over to her, and gently put his arms around her waist. She uncrossed her arms, and put them around his neck, however her eyes were still unsure. "However distasteful it may be."

"I know that it is for my country, and I know that this is my duty, but I would much prefer it if I could have my own choice of a noble husband." She reasoned. He let go of her waist and gripped her shoulders gently.

"If you are to rule a country, you must not only act like a queen, you must think like a queen. At the moment, you are behaving like a little girl, and that is not how a queen should behave." He said. "The only reason for this is to keep the power evenly spread. Your brother's supporters cannot oppose you, if you are wed to him."

"Very well." Holly finally gave in. "But Artemis, I do not like this. There is an army in a cavern on the outskirts of the city, and it is loyal to Lily, and her alone."

"Do not worry about it." He replied. "My forces can easily take care of it. I brought a small army with me, just in case."

The great horns rung throughout the city, summoning all to the great throne room of the palace for the crowning. Lord Artemis was present, and he stood to the side. He wore the formal clothing of the Surface Lord, a black suit and tie. As the crowds gathered in the hall, the queen and king walked out. Princess Holly was dressed in a decorative golden dress, covered with jewels sown into the material and golden necklace. She wore a large headdress of gold, which was fashioned to look like wings covering her head. Her ears were adorned with golden caps. Her brother walk out too, and he wore a long, golden cape with golden jewellery. Holly raised a hand, and the hall fell silent, and Artemis began to speak.

"Fey of Haven, we are gathered here today for the crowning of Princess Holly." He announced to the crowds. A young servant brought a box forward. It held the royal instruments. Artemis picked them up out of the velvet lined box. The royal instruments were a purple and white striped hook, and a golden blade. Holly crossed her arms, and the tools were placed in her hands, crossed over with the hook in front of the sword in an X shape. "I crown you Queen Holly of the Haven throne."

"I swear to complete my duty as the Queen of Haven and Atlantis." Holly said. Artemis reached up and touched a finger to each of her cheeks and to her forehead, completing the ritual. A cheer went up, and the gongs sounded once more. As the crowds began to mingle, Princess Lily met the eyes of the boy king. She nodded slowly, and began to make her way across the room, to the door. Regulus stood, silently, and followed. Further away, Holly and Artemis were talking to Antarius, the advisor. Artemis smirked, and Antarius flinched away from him."

"Antarius." He addressed the advisor. "To thank you for all your hard work as Advisor to the somewhat misguided Princess, we have decided to reward you with a special duty." He said. Antarius looked excited. "We have decided to let you be the one to tell the armies to stand down, now that the King and Queen are to be wed." Immediately, Antarius's piggy eyes began to look shifty. "You may leave now. Butler will escort you out." As soon as Antarius and Butler disappeared into the crowds, Holly turned to Artemis.

"My lord, this is not wise. Antarius will simply tell the soldiers to storm the castle." She said. He nodded.

"Follow me. I want to show you something." He took her hand and led her away, out to the halls. Outside, they stopped behind a corner and peered around it. Holly first saw the advisor, Antarius, then Butler, who raised something metallic. A gun. Holly turned her head away and buried it in Artemis's chest. She didn't want to watch. She heard a loud gunshot, and a cry, then a thump as a body hit the flagstones. His hand rubbed soothing circles in her back. "I do apologise." He murmured to her. "But that was necessary."