Chapter #2

A Year Later

Little Emily Clarice Valiant was thriving in her current sole year of life. Already walking, Emily was a mischievous little ball of energy. She had her daddy wrapped around her finger and she and everyone else knew it.

A pair of cold blue eyes glared at the happy baby, and the proud papa who was behind her every little step everyday.

Her daddy was very overprotective of his baby girl, his last gift given to him by his late wife. King Max felt that Emily was his last link to Julia, and therefore would protect her with his life and do everything in his power to keep her safe as long as he was still alive and breathing. He loved both Elizabeth and Nikolas, his two eldest children. However, they were beyond infancy and not as fragile as their little sister.

One day the pair of cold eyes watched as the baby plopped herself on the stone floor and began to try and put her little fist into her mouth, while a bear lay at her feet. Emily soon forgot about her fist and picked up the bear and realized she could make it dance. Laughing happily, she soon held it close. The baby's father breathed a sigh of relief; finally being able to sit and maybe catch up on reading his scrolls after seeing his youngest was all right for the moment.

Hearing the playful sounds of his baby daughter was music to the King's, or any father's ears. Only taking a few more glances at her, the King for the most part was now well involved in reading his scrolls.

Silently, the pair of icy blue eyes emerged from the shadows. "The brat" or what she was forced to refer to as her little sister saw her and toddled over, wanting to be played with probably. She dragged her teddy bear with her and held it up innocently to Elizabeth with a wide smile.

With the King was still engrossed in his scrolls, an angry Princess Elizabeth made a scary face to "the brat." At first Liz didn't think it fazed her, but she soon saw Emily's eyes fill with tears, her chubby face took on a sad look and her lower lip begin to tremble.

Holding her toy close, Emily started to wail. The King was instantly at her side, picking her up and rocking her in an attempt to dry her tears and retain the peace that had prevailed for too short of a time. He hadn't yet noticed his eldest to Elizabeth's impatience. With his infant daughter still crying and at a loss of what to do, he called in the nanny.

"Paige! Paige! Come in here please." The King called as Liz tried as a second plan to get his attention by tugging at his robe. The King didn't notice it, nor feel a tug as he turned around without a word when he heard the door open.

"Princess Elizabeth, there you are. You know you mustn't run off like that though I can't count how many times I've told you that. I was worried sick. Yes, your majesty what is it?' Paige asked rushing to the King's side, while the King's son Nikolas came in quietly behind and now stood next to his older sister.

"Paige, I cannot get Emily to stop crying. I'm not sure what upset her." The King said, worried and deeply concerned.

"I'll take her. Come little Princess. Let's go see what you need." Paige said as she scurried off the screaming child in her arms. The screams echoed off the walls down the hall.

"Father, wait!" Elizabeth called as her father was about to rush off and follow.

"Yes dear, what is it? I'm quite busy right now with your sister. Weren't you coloring before? And Nikolas my dear son is your equestrian lesson over already?" The King asked.

"Yes father it is." Nikolas replied.

"Daddy!" Elizabeth said exasperated, while her brother rolled his eyes at her impatience.

"Yes Elizabeth, I heard you. What is it?" The King said, a headache forming because he couldn't bear to hear the cries of his youngest child added to that the complaining of his eldest.

"When can you play with me?" Liz asked, and after a slight nudge from her brother, she added "Okay, so when can you play with me and Nikolas?"

"Later, when your sister is taking her nap but until then I'm a bit busy. I must attend to her right now." The King said as he rushed out of the room. Before he fully left however, he popped his head back into the room. "Isn't it time for your studies? Go into the library children. Your tutor is probably waiting." The King then ran off to find the nanny and his daughter.

"He ALWAYS does this!" Elizabeth stomped. "Ever since the brat was born, living in the castle has been unbearable!"

Nikolas rolled his eyes again. 'There she goes again, ever so overdramatic; Emily's our sister for goodness sake! Show her a little respect Liz. Just accept that she's apart of our family and she's not going anywhere anything soon.' Nikolas thought.

"Elizabeth, the only one who's making this castle unbearable is you. Besides Emily's a baby. She doesn't know any better just as you and I didn't as infants. She's our sister–"

"She's a brat!" Elizabeth disagreed

"Don't let father hear you speak of her like that. You know how he is; remember what he did last time you said that." Nickolas

"She is still always stealing our time away from Father. I know you hate it, just admit it Nikolas."

"I'm not happy about it, but it's no reason to hate our sister, and I also know that will change when she grows up. Anyway I'm not making our tutor wait. I'll see you there." Nikolas said, tired of his sister's rants as he made his way toward the library.

Months passed and still King Max continually fussed over baby Emily, while he tried to give attention and time to his eldest daughter and only son as well.

One day King Max finally had a rare moment of peace. With King Max sitting by the fireplace in the study, baby Emily fast asleep curled up on his chest, in the comfort of her daddy's warmth and love. Max smiled as he observed his sleeping daughter. "Exactly like Julia when she slept. You're perfect." He whispered to the child.

"Father?" A quiet voice came from his side. Max looked over to find his son, a curious look on his face. Max put a finger to his lips in indication to remain quiet as to not disturb Emily. Out of all his children, she was definitely the loudest but you couldn't tell it at moments like this, when she was fast asleep. She resembled an angel in slumber.

"What is it my Prince?" The King replied. Nikolas didn't say anything for quite a while as he climbed up on the chair across from his father, as he too observed his sleeping sister. A warm smile crept upon his face. Nikolas realized that his sister isn't nearly as bad as Liz makes her out to be, she never was but Nikolas understood a lot more now. Babies do need a lot of attention and love, and Paige could only do so much.

And it wasn't like they had a mother to further help out. His father was also the king of a large kingdom and a single parent of three children. He did the best he could. For these reasons he wasn't angry at his father like Elizabeth was. Then again Elizabeth hated everything and everyone these days with no apparent reason.

"Nikolas? Did you want something?" The King asked, realizing his son had come in here for some reason, and not just watch his sister. Though Max did appreciate the smile his son presented to his younger sister.

"Oh, yes. Could you help me understand society more? What each person at their station does? The tutor says I'm having trouble with it, and suggested that I ask you." Nikolas said, remembering why he was here.

"Sure son. Why don't you pull up closer and we'll talk." The King suggested as his son did so.

A slamming door soon got their attention. "Dad, can you play with me now?" Elizabeth, who had just marched into the room asked. She hadn't heard the previous exchange between her brother and father but assumed that since he was about to spend time with her brother, her father could spend time with her.

"Not yet dear. Nikolas needs help in his schooling and asked me to explain some things to him unless you would like to join in the discussion." The king suggested.

"No, when you want to play, come get me." Elizabeth said storming off.

"Elizabeth Anne Valiant!" Max hissed and whispered quietly. "You better watch that temper because I won't play with you when you have it. Apologize to me this instant young lady. You don't dare disrespect me or anyone like that."

"Sorry Daddy." Elizabeth said, only half meaning it.

Max wasn't as stupid as Elizabeth thought, he caught that tone. "Up to your chambers, you may leave when you lose your temper and can actually apologize like you mean it. No half apologies will be tolerated." King Max ordered, leaving no room for argument. He hated being rough on his eldest but he was not going to put up with that from his subjects much less one of his daughters.

"Elizabeth." Breathed a breathless Paige. "You must stop running off like that. It's difficult to keep track of you in this big castle."

"Don't worry Paige, she's being punished. She won't run off again and if she does, just bring her to me and I will see what to do with her. Please escort her to her chambers and make sure she stays there until further notice." The King asked.

"Yes, your majesty. Come along Elizabeth." Paige said as she took the princess out of the room, the princess glaring the whole way.

Max rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Now son, where were we? Oh that's right, I was about to explain each person's station to you." He felt Emily stir and then open her eyes. Looking up at her daddy, she almost looked as if she were about to cry, cranky because she wanted to go back to sleep. She didn't though, and turned her head and started to look around the room, soon spotting her brother, her cubby arms reaching out to him.

The King smiled at this scene. "Would you like to hold her, son?" He asked. It was certainly what Emily wanted and it was hard to say no to anything she wanted, especially when she was being quiet and well behaved for an infant.

"No thank you father, I don't want to drop her." He declined but reconsidered as a little frown formed on his little sister's face. "Perhaps I can sit on the floor and she can come to me that way?" Nikolas said, now sitting on the floor. King Max set baby Emily down and she decided to crawl to him. Before settling on his lap though, Emily stopped and was hesitant to go anymore near him. Would he be like her sister with the scary faces?

The young prince had kind brown eyes and a warm smile though as he stuck a hand out to her, as if welcoming her presence. Still uncertain, she studied it. He kept his hand in the air until she took the risk it possessed and inspected it, twirling a little finger around one of his bigger ones.

At first Nikolas didn't know what to think of his sister's behavior then again he was always busy with his studies and hadn't spent a lot of time around her until recently. He was pleasantly surprised when Emily took his hand. King Max had then picked Emily up and placed her in her brother's lap, as if reading the scene's output.

The three family members smiled. Max was glad his two younger children were bonding, and Nikolas was marveled that his sister had taken to him that fast. She placed her head on his chest comfortably and listened to what her father and brother had to say.

Near the end of Max's explanation of social statuses that Nikolas needed, Emily had yawned and fell asleep on her brother's shoulder. While it was all natural to Emily, Nikolas looked like he was going to freak out. 'What do I do now? I can't move myself much less move her. She's too heavy… I don't want to wake her. I'm stuck...' King Max saw the look in Nikolas' eyes and chuckled. He reached down and took the baby from his son, placing her back with him. Emily snuggled and got comfortable again, and was soon in a deep sleep.

Nikolas watched this with fascination. "Nikolas, would you like to help me tuck your sister in?" The King asked.

Nikolas again hesitated at first, new at this big brother thing but in the end replied "Sure father." Nikolas stood up and followed King Max to the nursery.