Samantha Pond sat in the sitting room, fiddling with her cup of tea. She loved this set and Princess Eliza knew it. Beautiful teals that were framed by gold. Elegant and not too dainty but not as flowery as other sets that the Queen had possessed. Sam was spending a night at the place. The monarchy was mobilizing early tomorrow for the funeral and a invitation was extended by the princess and princes. To refuse an invitation from royalty, much less the soon to be Queen was practically treason to the crown and rude to her longest friends. She excepted without much thought and that left James annoyed and alone in their flat.
Now, she waited for her hosts and hostess to arrive. Sam admitted that the teal set was her favorite set but she did love the changing colors of the fire opal set laced with silver. She just loved tea sets and tea. Sam doesn't have much time for admiring tea sets or browsing tea shops anymore. She keeps herself busy with hero work.
Sam even dressed for the evening occasion. Soft lace white dress hung off her slim form. Sam wore a knee length, no shoulder dress. She tucked her hair up into a tight bun, allowing soft tresses to frame her heart shaped face. Deep metallic burgundy lip gloss lined her lips, making her pale skin pop. Shimmering rose gold eyeliner lined her eyes with black mascara. Any chance to dress up was a good enough reason for Sam.
The large oak doors creaked open and Samantha jolted out of her thoughts. Eliza glided in, followed by Fredrick and William. Samantha drew to her feet and Eliza walked into her arms. "I'm sorry, Liza." Sam mumbled into Eliza's shoulder as the girl's shoulders shook in silent sobs. "I'm so sorry." Sam noticed the brothers eyeing the elaborate rugs with faint blushes. She beckoned them to the hug. Will and Fred shook their heads and joined in the mass hug. They broke apart and sat by the oak table and tea was poured. Fire light from the old stone fire place cast dancing shadows over the dimly lit room.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Sam asked with a soft hum the trio as she doctored her tea. "The weeks to come?" Deep burgundy eyes traveled over three faces, noting any signs of grief. They lost both parents in one night, a strike many others would never recover from.
"As ready as I'll ever be?" Eliza answered smoothing her night gown. Unlike Sam, the royal siblings opted for night wear for tea which was probably far more expensive that Sam's dress. The princess's fair blonde locks hung down in an unkempt and limp manner. Her green eyes were slightly bloodshot, Eliza would have trouble getting ready in the next eight hours. "How about you? Body guarding the funeral and then my coronation."
"As ready as I'll ever be." Sam responded with a small grin, taking a sip of cooling tea. "There's only so much you can prepare for. Operation Avalon is an excellent plan and I'm honored to play a role."
"If mum were alive..." William began, setting his cup on his saucer. "She would scold us for grieving and tell us to keep marching on."
Fred laughed. "Remember that time when Eliza and Sam were gallivanting in the gardens-?" He started.
Sam snorted into her cup. "Gallivanting?"
Fred threw a cookie at the laughing women. "Yes! And when mum found you, she started to lecture the two of you for two bloody hours!"
"I always aimed to forget that." Sam muttered, taking a bite out of the cookie and chasing the dryness away with tea. "'A proper English lady mustn't play in the dirt.'" Sam mimicked.
"'I thought I'd taught you better! Now you're covered in mud and muck!'" Eliza finished with a small brittle laugh. "'Get inside and in a bath, this instance!'"
"'Wait 'til your father hears about this!'"
Sam's smile slipped away as the four remembered bittersweet memories of the former King and Queen. "I remember when George would take us to one of those arcade pizza places. We'd eat far too much junk food than we should and play to our hearts' content. Then we win toys and go home. Tell Mary that nothing happened and that we went horseback riding." Sam smiled. Fred's hand laced through hers and he offered her a tight, comforting smile. She offered a smile in return.
"To Mum and Dad." Eliza murmured, raising her cup up and Sam and the boys raised theirs, echoing her toast.
"Well, if we're toasting." Fred said. "We'll need something a lot stronger."
Sam stepped out of the sleek black Land Rover after Eliza and smoothed her black and sliver dress down. She tucked a stray strand behind her ear and quickly checked her makeup in the blacked out window. She chose a similar makeup from last night for the funeral. "Arthur, do you copy?" An ear piece in her ear buzzed. Her stomach knotted with nerves, her gaze flitted over each visible member of Operation: Avalon. All of the members were professional heroes like herself or special forces.
Sam kept her eyes trained on the royal trio and answered. "Arthur here, Morgana on her way to chapel." Her eyes flickered over to the trailing figure of Asami Shimizu. Sea foam eyes met hers and Asami nodded. The blue haired woman kept her distance from the royal family but close enough to quickly intervene if need be. Sam couldn't shake the bad feeling in her gut.
A pair arms looped through both of hers. Sam glanced at the queen to be and her brother. "Remember that you're hear to attend this funeral too, Sam." Eliza chided, softly. Not looking directly at Sam and waving to the commonwealth. "Not just to work."
Sam sighed and nodded. "Alright."
"It's Militia!" One voice in the crowd cried, somewhat surprised. Sam beamed a smile and waved the best she could with Eliza and Fred on her arms. "And Nautica!" Sam sweat dropped as hey spotted Asami, she supposed that it was almost certain that the pro heroes on Operation: Avalon. Also a plus, pro heroes were going to attend and on the guest list. Why not have them protect the royalty while they attend? The special forces part of the operation was mostly covert, hiding among the staff.
The crowd was deafening, roses and signs waved high in the air. They were showing there respects for their queen and king. As has the whole country with shrines of sweet smelling candles, flags and bouquets in the past couple of days. Sam followed the trio in through the larger than life doors of the cathedral. Eliza led the way to the front pew, past the colorful assortment of flowers and the shades of black of mourners. They settled in between the royalty. Samantha watched the two black caskets in the front of the altar.
Sam looked up to a statue of a crying angel, with a heaviness in her heart.
Sam stared, blandly out of the window of the Land Rover. The ceremony went by in a blur. Several speakers of government figures and of royalty. Most were devoid of emotion that sucked the life out of Sam. Some made Sam want to cry and never stop. Then some just droned on and on, lulling San to sleep. It was over before Sam registered that it began. Now, a convoy of identical Land Rovers, police cars and a hearse were heading towards the cemetery to put the King and Queen to rest. Something moving caught Samantha's eye further up the road and she turned slightly. Burgundy eyes widened and her head snapped to the opposite side of the Land Rover. Seeing the same as the other side. "Oh, shit!" She breathed, "Everybody! Get down-!" Sam threw herself at Eliza, a shield forming in each hand.