A/N: There is a lot going on in this chapter but I hope it all makes sense. Trust me, everything will come together soon. I promise. As always, please R&R. The more reviews I get, the quicker I post updates. Hope you enjoy!


The palace garden was such a lovely place this time of year. Beautiful, deep green vines scaled the side of the wall, the birds sang their songs to the people bustling about and stone paths winded through the flower covered ground. Nothing could be more breathtaking, yet for the young princess of 16, nothing could be more depressing. She was sitting on a cool stone bench that laid with the roses bushes. From this position, she could look up at her father's room. Stephanie knew the truth, she heard the ladies and lords of the court talk of her father's illness. The truth was the king was dying and the princess refused to look away from the window until she knew if her father was going to live or not.

Shane sat in the chair next to his father's bed. He sat with a sheet of paper and quill in hand. The prince was here to write a will for his dying father. The queen had passed two years ago from a fever, one that now seemed to claim the king's life. Every was just about settled, except who was to be named heir to the throne. Shane listened to his fathers shallow breathing as the old king turned to face his only son.

"Stephanie...Stephanie is to be named Queen...Stephanie of House McMahon...first of her name...Ruler of the Three Kingdoms...and protector of the realm." croaked the dying King.

Shane looked appalled, "But father..."

"Write!" King Vince said in a commanding voice.

Shane wrote as his father commanded. He handed Vince the quill and paper, watched him sign his name, roll up the paper, and stamp it with his seal. Shane then took back the paper, which was now rolled up and had a red seal with a lion stamped in the middle. He looked back at Vince, who was slowly closing his eyes.

Out in the garden, the princess continued to look up at her father's bedroom window. Suddenly, she heard someone yell, "The King is dead! The King is dead!"

Stephanie dropped her head and let the tears flow freely.

Prince Shane stepped out of the King's room only to be greeted by one of the council members, "Is the will complete, your grace?"

The man reached for the will but Shane immediately hugged the piece of paper to his chest, "No! The will is to rest with my father. It's what he would have wanted."

"How are we supposed to know who will take the throne, then." The council member asked the prince.

"The will states that I am to be named King of the Three Kingdoms."

"You? But..."

Shane puffed up his chest, "You dare question me?"

The council member shook his head and left quickly to go make preparations for the coronation.

Days later, Stephanie watched on as her brother walked up and stood in front of the throne in the main hall. Red banners adorned the walls with the McMahon crest on them. Sun shone through the stain glass window making it seem as if there were a holy halo over the throne. The knights lined the front of the room, making themselves ready to swear an oath to their new king.

A crown was placed on her brother's head as a priest continued, "I give you King Shane of House McMahon, first of his name, Ruler of the Three Kingdoms, and protector of the realm."

Her brother looked pleased to be on the throne. Stephanie wasn't disappointed that it wasn't her being crowned. She always had a feeling that it would be Shane.

"Will Ser Paul Levesque step forward!" commanded the new King.

A knight stepped forward. His steel-gray armor looked worn and scratched from battle.

"Remove your helmet."

The knight took off his helmet. Something about this man seemed familiar to Stephanie. He had shoulder length hair that was as golden as Shane's crown. He had a slight scar on his face and the stubble of a beard. He bowed to the king when he reached the foot of Shane's feet.

"Ser Paul, I have spoken to my advisors and your captain. Now that I'm king, I can't look after my dear sister as much as it would please me. I name you, her personal guard. Watch over her and protect her if need be."

The princess stepped forward, "I don't need looked after brother. I can handle myself."

Shane gave his sister a stern look, "I am the King! What I say is law."

Stephanie turned on her heels and left the hall with Paul hot on her trail.

"If you don't mind me asking, your grace, what are you doing?"

Stephanie stopped and turned to face the knight, "What did you say to me?"

"Forgive me, your grace." said the knight with a low bow.

Stephanie put a hand on his shoulder, "No, what did you say?"

"I asked what you were doing?"

Stephanie looked upon the face of her newly appointed guard, "What I was doing? I knew I recognized you in the hall."

Paul looked puzzled.

"Don't you remember me? We meet when we were young. You were training in the yard before I..."

"Tackled me."

Stephanie nodded her head as she began to laugh. Finally, she would have an actual friend.