AN: I do not own TVD or TO or The Princess Diaries.
I tried for days to come up with a different name for the morning talk show, but I couldn't come up with anything better than the original. Eggs with Elsie has the perfect ring to it.
Elena took a bite out of her toast and turned up the volume on the television. She remembered her grandma explaining how this was the show for celebrity gossip in Bulgaria. And Elena would be the first to admit that she tabloid gossip was one of her guilty pleasures; especially when the gossip was about her. The blond woman's tinny voice flowed from the speakers.
"Welcome back to 'Eggs with Elsie'. I'm Elsie Kentworthy, and today's special topic is Princess Elena."
"Good morning," a soft voice trilled from the doorway. "How are you?"
Elena jumped before muting the television and turning to address the two young women, in grey uniforms, with an apologetic smile.
"So, sorry," she jumped to her feet, "I thought I was alone."
"No, Miss." The second woman smiled brightly. "I'm April, if it pleases your highness." April dropped into a short curtsy.
"And I'm Anna," the first woman dropped into an identical curtsy, "at your service."
"April and Anna?" She motioned between both of them to make sure she had the right name for the right woman. "I'm Elena." She introduced herself with a smile that fell slightly when they curtsied again. "Please," she waved her hand gently, "don't curtsy like that."
Her dismissive gesture was misinterpreted. Instead of ceasing to curtsy the two women started asking how she would like them to curtsy, and demonstrating each pose.
"No, no, no," Elena tried to stop them, "I didn't mean, like, you know…" She trailed off when they started another round of curtsies with renewed energy. "I didn't mean it…" she continued to babble for a few seconds until she was saved by the arrival of her grandmother's secretary.
"The queen bids you good morning, Princess. She's in session with Parliament."
"Okay," Elena smiled in relief.
"I see you've met your ladies maids," Charlotte gestured to the curtsying duo with her free hand.
"Yes," Elena nodded, "I have, um…" she leaned forward to whisper in Charlotte's ear, "How do you turn off the curtsies?"
Charlotte gave Elena a bright smile before, turning to the maids and, telling them to get back to their chores in a kind voice. She turned back to Elena.
"Her Majesty will meet you in one hour in the throne room." Charlotte looked around the room when Elena nodded and stifled a small yawn. "I'm sorry your suite isn't ready yet, but you are welcome to stay her…"
"Oh no, it's fine." Elena couldn't deny to herself that she was a little bored, and in desperate need of something to do. She tilted her head slightly and held out her hands when an idea formed in her mind. "Can I go exploring," she tried not to sound too much like a child on Christmas morning, "and look around the palace a little bit?"
"Of course, Princess," Charlotte nodded with a smile, "this is your home. You are welcome to go anywhere you choose." She looked down as her tablet chimed indicating that a new message had dropped in her inbox.
"Just don't forget to be in the throne room in one hour," Charlotte reminded her as she hastened out of the room.
Elena strolled through the gilded halls of the palace slowly. She took in the many oil paintings of her ancestors spaced at even intervals along the walls. There was a larger space between two portraits. As Elena drew closer she realized that the woman in the paintings looked nearly identical to her. She smiled at the family resemblance before noticing a narrow set of stairs between the portraits.
The stairs were made of the same stone as the walls, and were invisible until she was standing beside them. Elena spun slowly on her heel to make sure nobody was watching her before skipping up the stairs. It wasn't a secret passage, but it was still pretty cool.
At the top of the stairs she found a handle that opened a door into a tiny room. Mosaics covered the floor and walls. The center piece of the room was a marble bust on a raised platform.
Elena approached slowly. She ran her hand over the man's head, she jumped back when the bust moved and a mechanical clicking sounded to her left. The wall popped open revealing a secret passage.
She took a moment to marvel at the awesomeness of the situation before running inside with a squeal. She ran along a narrow corridor, and up a flight of stairs. She only slowed when she heard voices flowing through a golden vent in the wall.
"The Parliament of Bulgaria is in session," a man's voice bellowed in the cavernous room. "The Prime Minister Lockwood is presiding."
"Viscount Mabrey," the prime minister adjusted his powdered wig, and banged his gavel, "you have the floor."
"Thank you," a distinguished middle-aged man stood from his place and moved to the lowest level of the room. He began to pace along the floor slowly, he looked down at his feet and spoke in a gentle tone.
"As we all know, the 21st birthday of an heir to the Bulgarian throne is a matter of great public significance. It signifies that this young person is eligible to assume the crown."
Several men nodded solemnly. A large man waved his hand to interrupt with an exasperated expression.
"We are all very much aware of this," he sighed impatiently. "The queen has already made it known to us that the Princess Elena intends to learn more at her side before assuming the throne."
The Viscount raised his head to level the members of parliament with a self-assured stare.
"It was not the Princess Elena to whom I was referring," he smiled tightly. The Viscount turned around and began to pace the room as he gave a long winded history lesson about the bloodline of King Chevalier, a man who had ruled during the 18th century.
He was interrupted in the middle by an older man who had fallen asleep. The man jerked awake to answer the phone, only to hang it up when nobody was on the other line. The man tapped his cane against the floor and beckoning them to proceed in an imperious voice.
The Viscount continued. He started to tap his hand on the table as he came to a close.
"As of November of last year, another Bulgarian of the royal bloodline became eligible to assume the throne."
"What?" The prime minister sat up straighter in his chair and eyed the Viscount suspiciously.
"My nephew," he explained with a grin, "Lord Mikaelson."
"I beg your pardon," the queen leaned forward in her seat to stare at him.
"My nephew's mother was my wife's sister," he continued, as if this would justify his words. "Therefore, your Majesty, I am pleased to say that my nephew is ready to take his rightful place: as Bulgaria's king."
The queen was silent for a moment before her mouth snapped open. Her head shook from side to side as she replied.
"Shut up!"
"I beg your pardon," the viscount stared as if he hadn't heard her right.
The Prime Minister diffused the situation quickly by explaining that the queen had merely been conveying her surprise.
"Isn't the princess," a nasal voice interjected, "first in line to ascend the throne?"
"Not yet," the large man waved his finger. He offered the queen an apologetic frown as he explained. "Bulgarian law dictates that a princess must marry before she can take the throne."
"We've never enforced that!" Jenna rose to her feet and addressed the members of parliament in an attempt to reason with their common sense. "A man doesn't have to marry to be king; why should a woman? This is the 21st century," she declared loudly, "my granddaughter should be given the same rights as any man."
A sound echoed through the cavernous room causing the members of parliament to turn their heads in search of its source. Their attention was regained by the old man taping his cane loudly against the floor. He rose to his feet.
"Bulgaria shall have no queen, lest she be bound in matrimony."
"Lord Palimore?" The queen frowned at one of the most powerful men in the country.
"That is the law," Lord Palimore continued, "it has been this way for the past 300 years. Princess Elena is not qualified to rule as she is unmarried." He glanced around at the other members of Parliament before returning his gaze to the queen. "Forgive me, your Majesty. Not all of us are convinced that the princess is the right choice to rule out great nation."
"Gentleman," the prime minister called the assembled body of men together again, "I suggest we allow the Princess one year, during which time she must marry, or she forfeits her claim to the crown to Lord Mikaelson."
The queen objected as the members of Parliament all clamoured to say that a year was too long. They suggested a variety of time frames, but Lard Palimore overruled them all.
"The princess shall have 30 days to find a husband."
Elena paced the length of the throne room. Her heavy footfalls and circular motion were starting to make her grandmother dizzy.
Elena had been reeling since she stumbled from the secret passage. She started ranting and rambling while waving her hands wildly around in the air.
"How can they do this? How can they expect me to fall in love and get married in 30 days?" She drew in gulping breaths and raked her fingers through her dark hair.
"It's like a trick," her eyes widened in realization, "to get me to have an arranged marriage. That's the only option isn't it? An arranged marriage is my only choice."
Elena clenched her fists and spun in a tight circle.
"What kind of person agrees to an arranged marriage?" She stopped suddenly and faced her grandmother. A crimson stain covered her cheeks. "You agreed to an arranged marriage."
"I did," Jenna smiled gently. "It turned out well. He became my best friend; we were very fond of each other." She gazed up at the portrait of John that hung in the throne room.
"That's great, grandma," Elena crossed her arms and shrugged, "but I dream of love, not… fondness."
"I know," Jenna sighed. "You don't have to do. You don't have to be queen, Elena."
"It's not fair," Elena fought back a sob. Her eyes sought out the portrait of her own father, and the words of a letter from long ago returned to her mind: "Courage is not the absence of fear," she whispered, "but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear."
Elena looked around the room at her family; this was her birthright, and she would fight for her chance.
"There are over 600 years of Petrova's on these walls." She fixed the space beside her dad's portrait with a determined stare. "I will be there next to my father. I want my chance to make a difference as a ruler."
"Spoken like a true queen," Jenna stepped forward to rest a hand on her granddaughters shoulder.
Viscount Mabrey looked up from his paper to regard his nephew. He had just finished explaining the events of the morning.
"You my boy," he gestured with a jovial grin, "are a true-born Bulgarian. You should be our king."
"I agree," he plucked a couple of darts from the board, "but how can we make it happen."
"Give me one of your arrows," the viscount stood and held out his hand. "I am going to show you a trick that I learned from an old philosopher." He waved the arrow in his hand, "I can make this dart hit the bullseye every time."
Mabrey assumed his stance and took careful aim. He drew back his arm and rushed forward towards the board with a yell. He placed the dart in the center of the board and stood back with chest thrust out proudly.
"That is cheating."
"Precisely."
Jenna glanced up from the documents on her desk to address her housekeeper.
"Lord Mikaelson will be here soon," her nose twisted, "along with his snake of an uncle."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty," Ric strode into the room swiftly. If there had been anyone in his path they would have scrambled to get out of his way. "I know Tyler is the Prime Minister's son and he is interning for the summer because he wants to learn about security," his lips pressed together in a firm line, "but he never leaves my side."
"It won't last long, Alaric," Jenna smiled up at him conspiratorially, "he returns to school in the fall."
"He wants an audience."
"Now?"
"Now."
Jenna nodded once with a tight-lipped smile.
"Tyler," Ric barked with a wave of his hand, "keep it short."
"Tyler," Jenna smiled politely, "I don't believe you've met our housekeeper Mrs. Young, or my ladies maids: Pearl and Elisabeth."
Tyler's head jerked quickly to see the three women."
"I'm doing a background check on Pearl."
"Oh," Jenna laughed, "that's not necessary." She noticed Mrs. Young and Elisabeth take a step back. "Everyone here has the highest clearance," she assured him.
"Of course," Tyler nodded quickly. "Your Majesty?"
"Yes?"
"I would gladly take a bullet for you."
"Oh," Jenna tapped the pen against her desk, "most of the interns don't even want to fetch my tea."
Charlotte chose that moment to inform them that the limo with the viscount and his nephew had arrived at the gates.
Jenna moved through the halls at a brisk pace to reach the entry way. She spoke to Ric as they moved.
"The viscount will not be staying, only the nephew," she pointed to Ric as they entered the entry, "I need you to keep an eye on him at all times, and to protect him… of course."
"No assassination attempts then?" Ric teased. His eyes danced with laughter when the queen shook her head with a small smile.
Elena stood in the entry way. She had bent over at the waist to run her fingers through the underside of her hair to add more body. She snapped up when she realized her grandma and head of security had joined her.
"So," she spun in a slow circle, "how is this for meeting the viscount and his nephew?"
"Appropriate," Jenna nodded her approval as she took in the pink dress and matching jacket. "And pretty."
"Thanks, grandma." Elena turned to the mirror to make final adjustments to her hair. "I still can't believe parliament invited the guy who is trying to steal the throne to stay with us."
"Parliament didn't invite him," Jenna met her eyes in the mirror, "I did."
"Wha…"
"I offered to have him hung by his toes in the courtyard," Ric remarked drily.
"I like Ric's suggestion," Elena followed her grandma to the middle of the room to wait. "Why can't we do that?"
"No," Jenna held up her hand to hold off their protests, "If any mischief is going to occur I want it under my nose."
"And so it shall be," Ric whispered when the voice of Mabrey echoed from the front door.
"It's not very difficult," he spoke with a holier than thou attitude, "you just have to open the door before the passengers die of old age."
Elena felt bad for the poor valet who had the unfortunate luck of being on duty. She heard Charlotte's cheerful voice.
"Hello, I'm here to welcome you."
"Your staff is incompetent."
"I really don't want to be nice to this guy," Elena huffed. "He's rude, and arrogant, and self-centered…"
"Have you ever actually met him?" Jenna shook her head with an amused frown.
"Well, no," Elena chewed on her bottom lip, "but he probably is, grandma. Why now? Why does he, all of a sudden, want to be king?"
"I don't know," Jenna admitted quietly, "but whatever this young man is we will be the very essence of charm, and present ourselves with grace and poise."
Jenna drew Elena to stand up straight beside her as the Viscount Mabrey and Lord Mikaelson were announced.
Elena felt her eyes grow wide when she caught a glimpse of the men entering her home. She cast her eyes to the floor, and fixed her gaze there.
"Your Majesty," Mabrey offered a slick smile, "may I present my nephew: Lord Elijah Mikaelson."
"Elijah," Jenna offered her hand to him, "we are delighted to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is mine, your Majesty," he kissed the back of her hand; the very image of courtly manners. "Thank you so much for inviting me to stay in the palace."
Elena bit the inside of her lip; it was definitely him. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides when her grandma addressed her.
"Elena," Jenna's voice took on a pointed quality, "would you like to welcome our guest?"
Elena clenched her jaw tightly before an idea sparked in her head. A glint entered her eyes as she turned her head to face him at a light angle. She smiled, the very image of grace and poise, as she approached him.
"Lord Elijah." The grin fell from her face when she was close enough. Elena raised her right foot and brought the heel down hard on his toes. She was rewarded with a grunt of pain as she spun on her heel and sailed out of the room.
"She always does that," Elijah smiled around his grimace of pain.
"I uh," Jenna looked from him to her granddaughters retreating back. "I'm very sorry. I will personally get you some ice." She took off after Elena.
"An accident," Ric stepped towards the viscount. A snickering Tyler helped Elijah to a chair.
"Of course," Mabrey laughed without amusement, "she's training to be Fleminco Dancer."
"Would you mind explaining what that was all about?" Jenna stormed into the kitchen and sat in the chair beside Elena.
"I'm sorry," Elena mumbled around a mouthful of ice cream. "I… uh… I have met Lord Elijah. Mmmhmmm," she nodded her head and picked up more ice cream with her spoon.
"Yep, at the ball. I didn't know who he was," she tilted her head and nodded, "so we… we danced… and I … I flirted." She crossed her arms on the table and buried her head. "I feel so stupid."
"I see," Jenna frowned. She sat up straighter in her chair. "Well, as your queen, I cannot condone that type of behaviour."
Elena looked at her grandma with tears in her eyes.
"As your grandmother I say right on."
Elena laughed softly. She blinked back the tears and picked up her carton of ice cream again.
"Now, if you'll come with me, I have something to show you." Jenna stood and started to turn. She stopped and pointed to the carton of ice cream, "you can leave that here."
Elena looked at the ice cream before setting it down and promising the cooks that she would be back. She hurried to follow her grandma as she led the way through the palace to the third floor. Elena peered around as they walked through halls that she had yet to explore.
"The renovations for your suite are finally finished," Jenna grinned when she stood outside a set of double doors inlaid with a carving of trees. "It should have been ready for when you arrived, but unfortunately we asked your grandfathers cousin to do the bathroom. Long story short: Nepotism belongs in the arts, not in plumbing."
"This is your suite," Jenna pushed open the doors and allowed Elena to enter.
Elena tiptoed inside. She froze when she took in the apartment – because that's what it was, an apartment. The room had been decorated in soft pastels with plush armchairs and couches. Ornate leaves were painted on the walls reminiscent of the forests in Mystic Falls. The crowning glory of the room was the king sized bed.
"This is my room," Elena asked. Her mouth had popped open as she took it all in.
"Yes."
Elena looked around again before taking a small running jump at the bed. She landed in the center with a laugh as she sank into the softness of the pillows. She apologized to the maids with a grin when they informed her that they had just made the bed; she told them not to worry about it.
"There's more," Jenna beckoned with one hand for Elena to follow. She picked up a silver remote and handed it to her granddaughter. "Push the button on the top."
A mural on the wall split apart to reveal the largest walk-in closet Elena had ever seen.
"Is that mine?" Elena breathed. She was vaguely aware of the stupid smile spreading across her face.
"Why don't you go and find out?"
"Okay," she nodded and walked forward in a daze, "I have my own mall."
She peered around slowly taking in the shelves of gorgeous shoes, and the racks of beautiful clothes.
"I'm glad you like it," Jenna smiled from her place in the center of the room. "Try pressing button number 3."
Elena followed her grandma's instructions. She was very impressed with the drawers of sunglasses that popped open beside her. "I love these," she picked up a pair and tried them on. "Grandma?"
"Over here," Jenna called from the other side of the closet. "Now try the combination 626."
Elena peered through the sunglasses at the remote and keyed in the code. Three drawers of jewels opened up. Diamonds, rubies, and emeralds glittered brilliantly. These were overshadowed by opening doors that revealed two beautiful tiaras.
"They're a little… gorgeous." Elena pushed the sunglasses up on her head. She ran a finger along the line of one the necklaces.
"I had a selection of the crown jewels brought up. They are yours to borrow," Jenna explained with a grin, "when the occasion calls for it."
She laid her hand on Elena's elbow and steered her towards the opposite wall.
"I've saved the best for last," Jenna indicated the number to press.
"Oh, wow," Elena felt her smile drop a bit, "they're gorgeous, grandma." Elena turned away from the clothes. Her eyes narrowed in confusion, "a bit of a letdown after the jewels, though."
Elena jumped a foot in the air when fingers landed on her hips. She spun around and shrieked with delight when she saw the blond who had emerged from her closet.
"You're here," she grasped Caroline's arms to make sure she was not a mirage.
"I'm here," Caroline nodded. Her grin threatened to break her face.
"You're in Bulgaria."
"I know."
"You're in my closet."
"Yeah."
"I am so glad to see you," Elena grinned. She tried to get her breathing under control as her grandma exited the closet. "When did your flight get in."
"A little while ago," Caroline pulled her friend into a hug. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Care." Elena pulled back when she remembered her big news. "Oh… by the way, I'm getting married."
"To who?" Caroline's eyes widened in shock.
"I don't know."
Reviews are my bread and butter.
I'm going to finish this story regardless, but I would like to know what people think about it.
Anybody who has not seen The Princess Diaries 2: did you see the twist coming?