I know this is kind of a small chapter but it has been such a long time sense I have posted anything new. Also I have a question to ask of you all. In the next chapter Eddie and Paige will be answering questions from the press and I need some good questions. If there is some questions that you have for Eddie and Paige please send me a PM or review with your question. Thank you so much for your help.
Also the things underlinedare being spoken in Danish.
~morningglory11
Chapter 7: Three Chances
I sit as Ari vibrates in the spot next to her mother. We've been sitting in silence for almost five minutes, waiting for the Queen to speak. I glance again at the adorable girl to the queen's left and smile. She was so excited to properly introduce the two of us. She does not seem to understand the awkward tension in the air and for that I'm grateful.
"Little one be careful. If you keep bouncing so much, you will be bouncing so high we will not be able to get you down off the ceiling." I tried to keep a straight face but the moment her eyes met mine, we both share a smile and a quiet laugh. With this I look back at the queen to find surprise in her eyes. Then a questioning look floods into them as well.
I answer her questioning eyes with a simple reply, "I was always fascinated with the Danish language. I bothered my parents enough about it that they got me a computer software to teach me. I do not know if I am any good but I hope that, with Edvard's help, I will improve". I see a flash of admiration in those same knowing eyes but it quickly passes. In its place, comes resignation.
"I do not like this and I do not like you… yet. But I might as well see what I have to work with," states the queen. She stands and the gestures to the maid in the corner. I glance at Ari and an even bigger smile has taken over her face. She claps her hands silently and skips over to my side. She quietly situates herself against my left arm as her mother takes her seat again and then maid quickly reenters the room with a tea tray. The maid quietly serves three cups of tea and fixes two of them. She easily delivers each of the cups to the royals and then glances at me.
"A small bit of milk and one sugar" I reply with only as much authority as was needed in this situation. She quickly follows my directions and I nod in acknowledgement and turn away. The queen then does the same and the young maid quickly and quietly leaves the room. This was always going to be the hardest part for me. I was raised to say "please" and "thank you" but as the royal, I no longer had the obligation to say such things. I must be polite but not overly kind.
I silently stirred my cup of tea and took a small drink. With a slight nod, I slide back in my seat ever so slightly and I cross my ankles and simply set my saucer on my knee for support. At this point I look up at the queen.
"I am going to give you three chances to impress me. This press conference with Edvard, the opening of the new hospital wing, and the groundbreaking. If you do well at these three events, I will tentatively give you and Edvard my approval. But if anything goes wrong at two of the three events, I will share my concern with whoever I need to in order to prevent your union. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" she asks in a light and almost detached tone.
"Thank you, your Majesty. I understand your concern and will do anything in my power to show you that I can do what will be expected of me as the next ruler of this country" I reply.
Ari gently sets her teacup on the coffee table and I watch as she swings her legs up on the couch next to her. With a tired smile to me, she lays her head on my leg and positions my hand so that my arm is wrapped around her small shoulders. The room remains silent as the Queen and I continue to drink our tea. I glance down a few minutes of awkward silence later, after finishing my tea, to find Ari fast asleep. With as little movement as possible I immediately set my tea cup next two Ari's smaller one on the table. I glance at the queen and bowed my head in respect. I then gently stand with Ari in my arms as I walked back toward her room. On my way I met Eddie. With a kind smile, he removed Ari from my arms and carried her the rest of the way to her bed. Like the night before, I remove her shoes and gently slid her in two her pajamas. She was so excited to see us yesterday and she was up early this morning to help me. She should get a small nap now before her lunch and tutoring.
Eddie silently takes my hand as we leave Ari's room. He silently and gently leads me around the maze of the palace before we arrive at a large set of solid wooden double doors. He brings my hand up to his lips and places the soft kiss on the back of each hand.
He then softly asks, "Are you ready for this? For our new life. After this there is no going back. Heaven forbid we don't work out but you will never live a private life again, either way."
"We will work," I reply with a mocking tone in my voice. "Do not go into anything thinking negatively. And as long as you are sure you want me, I am here. We take every step after these steps together. No more doing anything alone. For either of us." I repeat his question back to him. "Are you ready for this?"
We glance at each other with the same look of love and acceptance in our eyes and Eddie makes a small gesture with his hand toward the man at the door. With a small bow of his head, the doors begin to open. A sliver of light leaks between the doors, and flashes reflect in the inches between the wooden panels. With a deep breath, we both step through the doors, right foot first them one step after another.
