Chapter 7 – Factions
The next day, July 23, a few gentlemen and ladies arrived at court for the royal birthdays starting the very next day, the twenty-fourth. With the celebration of events for the royal birthdays, the castle was hustle and bustle getting everything ready for it.
The princesses were very excited for it. Even though, it was Aurora and Murphy's birthdays who were being celebrated with that of their father's, Vaughn got to enjoy some fun with her older sisters.
Sasha, Becky, and Charlotte attended to the princesses like any other day on the twenty-third. It was necessary for them to have a productive day, because the twenty-fourth through the twenty-ninth was when all the festivities for the royal birthdays would take place.
"Do the ladies and gentlemen that have come for the birthday celebrates come because Papa and Mama ask of them?" Vaughn asked.
Vaughn was looking outside the windows of her rooms as she saw many people moving about. Sasha was not too far away. Becky and Charlotte were helping Murphy and Vaughn with their lessons for that day.
"There are two answers I can give you," Sasha said. "Number one, yes, some of the ladies and gentlemen that are here have come because your parents wish them to be here. Number two, others have come because it is a big celebration for the royals, so they know everything will be at top quality. Taking advantage of the king, while not being a loyal subject."
"It is always so shameful with people like that," Becky said as Murphy finished up the last bit of her particular lesson.
"King Hunter knows he has corruption among his lords," Charlotte intervened as Aurora was now done with her lessons. "Papa hears it all the time from him and he sees it himself. They are corrupt but most of them are doing their duties in their parts of property.
"That is also why King Hunter rewards titles and such to loyal courtiers. That is how Seth and Finn got their dukehoods. Two loyal subjects to King Hunter."
"Most definitely," Becky said.
While Sasha, Becky, and Charlotte took care of the princesses that day, Seth and Finn with that of their right hand men—Roman and Dean for Seth and AJ Styles for Finn—met with King Hunter. It was a meeting discussing the matters in Shield and Club. Everything was going well in both cities. However, AJ explained all his dealings in Club. While both Roman and Dean did the same in Shield.
King Hunter was very satisfied with everything.
"Gentlemen, thank you for this meeting," He said. "And your services. You are all dismissed and I wish you all to enjoy the royal birthday celebrations as much as my daughters and I will."
Finn and AJ got up from their seats and bowed to the king. They then left the room. Seth, Roman, and Dean stayed behind.
"Tell me what is happening in Shield with this secret uprising," Hunter said. "I thought we had it eliminated."
"To my knowledge it was," Seth said. "But apparently, it was hidden from us until now once again."
"Is this faction of people still bitter for me executing their former duke?"
"Yes, your grace," Dean said. "I was simply enjoying some time out with my fiancée when I heard some men discussing the former duke and then about the new duke."
"What do they say of Seth?!" Hunter said.
"They are not impressed by him. The last duke was generous toward them with just enough money for them to have a good lifestyle. That was why we had starvation in our good city."
Hunter nodded his head. "Well, do we need to worry about things these next six days or can we all enjoy the royal birthday celebrations?"
"No, your grace," Roman said. "Men are only talking right now. I do not believe there is any planning of anything right now. I hope nothing will be planned out."
"Can we send men to persuade them to stand down and work to get their money's worth?"
"I will do that!" Seth said.
"Do what you must," Hunter said. "You three are dismissed."
Seth, Roman, and Dean bowed to the king and left the room. Once the three were a good distance between the guards standing outside the king's rooms, Seth stopped his comrades.
"Is this as bad as it was when I came to Shield as the Duke?" He whispered.
"Yes!" Dean admitted. "It is!"
"What is going on?"
"I have sent out men a few times to certain places, because this faction is operating in different sections of the city. It is not good."
"Honestly, is it safe in Shield?"
"Not for long," Roman said.
"Do we need to keep Renee and Galina with Joelle here?" Seth asked.
"I wish to keep Galina and Joelle here," Roman said.
"I do with Renee as well," Dean said.
"Very well," Seth replied. "We will figure out how to persuade them to stay later."
"The princesses are going to be able to play with the other children freely, won't they?" Roman asked.
"Yes, why?"
"That's a good way to get Galina and Joelle to stay here. Get Joelle to play with the princesses. Then perhaps they will all befriend one another and want to play together as often as possible. The princesses could ask the king and queen about Joelle staying here. Then hopefully Joelle will beg to stay here. The king and queen would then insist on wanting Joelle to stay. Then Galina would stay behind too."
"Perfect," Seth said. "How about Renee?"
"She has been wanting to meet not just Sasha, but also Becky and Charlotte," Dean commented. "Maybe they'll all get along so good that Renee will want to stay and they want her to stay."
"Brilliant," Seth said. "We will introduce Renee and Sasha later."
"Yes."
"So the three of us will need to return to Shield the day following the Royal Birthdays?" Seth asked.
"That is best," Roman said.
"I shall tell the king that I wish to return to Shield to see if I can counter these men. Persuade as he wishes."
"Good thinking, your grace," Dean said out of respect for his Duke of Shield.
Seth nodded his head.
Sasha, Becky, and Charlotte were with the princesses until the evening. They ended up with the king and queen in the evening. Even though, the celebrations for the birthdays would start the next day, that evening was a start off for the next day, the twenty-fourth.
The banquet hall was filled with all kinds of people: men, women, and children. Becky was happy to join Finn with that of AJ and his family. Charlotte with Sami and Ric. And Sasha joined her now fiancé, Seth as well as Dean with his fiancée and Roman with his wife and daughter.
"There's my sweetheart," Seth said at the sight of Sasha.
"Hello," Sasha said with a bright smile.
Seth reached out for her hand. Sasha happily let him take it. He then gently pulled her over to him. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her.
"How are you today?" He asked.
"I am great, thank you. And you?"
"I am great as well. Allow me to introduce you to Dean's fiancée and Roman's wife."
"Yes," Sasha said.
"Dean. Roman," Seth said.
The two looked to Seth and Sasha.
"Hello Sasha," Roman said.
"Hello," Sasha said.
"Allow me to introduce you to my wife, Galina Reigns."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Galina," Sasha said.
"And you as well," Galina replied with a smile.
"And this beautiful little girl here is our daughter, Joelle," Roman said.
"Hello Joelle," Sasha said.
"Hi," Joelle replied with a bright smile.
"How old are you, sweetheart?"
"I am eight, almost nine."
"So you are just a year younger than Princess Aurora and a year older than Princess Murphy."
"That's what Papa says."
"Well, your papa is correct. I should know about the princesses' ages. I am one of their ladies in waiting."
"I would love to meet them," Joelle admitted. "I never have."
"I will personally introduce you to them. Then maybe you all can play and become friends over the course of the Royal Birthdays," Sasha said.
"I would like that very much. Thank you."
"You are welcome," Sasha replied with a smile. She looked over to Dean and Seth.
"This is my fiancée, Renee Young," Dean said.
"It's nice to meet you, Renee," Sasha said.
"The pleasure is all mine," Renee replied.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Someone called. Everyone looked over. It was a page. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you, the king, queen, and the princesses."
Hunter and Stephanie walked into the hall with their daughters right in front of them. The five went over to their table. The princesses took their seats as well as Stephanie. Hunter pulled his chair out and moved in front of him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls," Hunter began. "Tomorrow begins the start of the Royal Birthdays. Tomorrow will be Princess Aurora's birthday. On the twenty-seventh it shall be my birthday. Then the following day on the twenty-eighth, it shall be Princess Murphy's birthday.
"Now the festivities begin tomorrow and last until the twenty-ninth. But tonight, right now, we start the celebrations with a feast. There shall be more feasts the next six days. Do not overwhelm yourselves with food. Enjoy, but enjoy the other festivities.
"Now let us dine, wine, and dance."
Hunter took his seat then.
The fun began.
Sasha talked with Renee and Galina nonstop while they enjoyed themselves in the company of their men and the delicious food. The three enjoyed it. But they took the king's advice and not to overwhelm themselves.
Seth, Dean, and Roman were happy as their sweethearts talked. It was a good start for them. Especially when the men wished to return to Shield and take care of the faction that was slowly developing with their ladies safely at court.
"Papa?" Aurora asked as she sat to her father's left.
"Yes, my sweet?" Hunter asked.
"Can my sisters and I dance?"
Hunter smiled. "Yes. Stand, sweetheart." He turned to his right where Vaughn sat. He told her to stand up too. Both she and Aurora were on their feet as their father did.
"What is going on?" Stephanie asked her husband.
"Aurora wishes to dance with her sisters."
"Oh." Stephanie turned to Murphy, who was on her right. Murphy stood up.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hunter called.
Everyone turned to their king. Many quieted down as they did.
Hunter smiled. "Princess Aurora wishes to dance with her sisters. And she shall. I believe all the children shall dance. And they shall. So boys and girls come join the princesses." He turned his attention to his musicians. "Play some lively tunes for the children of my court," He instructed.
One of the musicians spoke. The others nodded their heads. They began to play.
The princesses quickly moved from their parents. Some other children came to dance as well. The princesses were having fun for a moment or two. But they wanted to have fun with their ladies. The three were both able to find their favorite lady. Aurora found Charlotte. Murphy found Becky. And Vaughn found Sasha.
"Dance with me, Sasha," Vaughn said.
"Of course," Sasha said. She quickly got up from her seat and took Vaughn's hand as the two headed out onto the floor to have fun with all the children.
Hunter and Stephanie smiled at each other as they watched all the children having fun. They spotted their daughters with each of their ladies. They were happy about that.
"That was so much fun," Murphy said as she stood with her two sisters and her three ladies as the musicians began to play another song.
"Don't tell me you're done already," Charlotte said. "I wish to dance with you now."
"Yay."
"Me with you, Becky," Vaughn said.
Becky laughed.
Sasha smiled as it was just her and Aurora. "Shall we?" Sasha asked.
"Yes," Aurora replied.
Sasha had fun dancing with Aurora this time. She then danced with Murphy after that. She was happy that she got to dance with all three of the princesses. Charlotte, Becky, and the princesses were the same.
"Princesses," Sasha said when they were all off the dance.
"Yes," Aurora said.
"May I introduce Roman Reigns' daughter to you? She is a year younger than you, Aurora. But a year older than you, Murphy. She would love to meet you."
"Yes!"
"Hold on."
Sasha walked away for a moment. Charlotte and Becky were still with the princesses. Sasha walked back over with not just Joelle, but her mother and father.
"Princesses," Roman said as he bowed.
"Hello Sir Roman," Aurora said.
"This is my wife, Galina," Roman said.
"Hello princesses," Galina said as she bowed.
"Nice to meet you," Aurora said. Her sisters agreed.
"And this is my daughter, Joelle," Roman said.
"Hi Joelle!" Aurora exclaimed.
"Hi," Joelle said shyly and with a bow.
"Sasha said you wanted to meet me and my sisters."
"I did."
"Yes, well, I'm Aurora. This is Murphy and this is Vaughn," Aurora said.
"It's nice to meet you all."
"You too," Murphy said.
"Yes," Vaughn said.
"Did you come to court for our birthdays?" Aurora asked.
"Yes," Joelle replied. "I'm normally in Shield with my mama and papa. Unless Papa comes here. Then it is just me and my mama. But I am also with Sir Dean Ambrose's sweetheart as well as my mama."
"That is how it is with us. We don't go a lot of places. All though, we are princesses so we can't really do much."
"You princesses can do a lot," Charlotte said as she was still there with Becky and Sasha. "We just have to be careful when we leave the castle grounds. I know it is unpleasant."
"And now that you know Joelle, all of you can play together the next few days," Sasha said.
"Yeah!" The three princesses and Joelle chorused.
Sasha, Charlotte, Becky, Roman, and Galina all smiled.
The princesses ended up going back to their seats next to their parents. They were happy they had gotten to dance and with their ladies. Everyone continued to dance as well. Charlotte, Becky, and Sasha all went back to their sweethearts when the princesses went back to their parents. Roman insisted on dancing with his daughter.
"Oh, that man steals my heart again and again each day," Galina said to Sasha.
"Yes," Sasha replied with a smile. "Both Roman and Dean melted when they talked about you and Renee when I first met them. It always makes me happy to see two people who love each other so much."
"Me as well. I see it with Dean and Renee. And I have seen it with you and Seth."
"Thank you."
"I am sure that is nice for you. Especially when you watched two of your best friends form romances. All though, I believe the romance between The Duke of Club and Lady Becky is one of the storybooks."
"Yes, that romance started out as friendship and love blossoming as they got older. It was a bit of a emotionally good-bye for the both of them. But when Finn came to the Flair Estate after Ric invited him because of Becky and they saw each other, the love came alive after all the years of being apart. The moment they first saw each other after those few years apart, they had their first kiss."
"Beautiful," Galina said. "What about Charlotte and Sami?"
"They spent a lot of time together the first time he came to visit. But that was because Finn and Becky wanted to be on their own. Something formed between them. Then they would write letters as Becky and Finn did. Plus Sami was accompany Finn when he came to visit Becky. They are each other's sweethearts. Everyone is waiting for when Sami will court Charlotte.
"I believe his friends know when he will. I personally think he wants to wait for things to settle down. Becky and Finn announced their courtship shortly after our arrival here at court. Then Seth and I just began ours a few days ago."
"Yes, and add that with Seth and Finn getting their titles," Galina commented.
"I concur."
"I believe we should join Renee again. She is looking a little bored," Galina commented again.
Sasha looked over. Renee sat their politely while Seth and Dean were talking. "Yes, we should."
Galina smiled. The two went back over to the table.
"Sorry to have left you, Renee," Sasha apologized.
"Oh," Renee said, looking around. "I'm sorry."
Sasha and Galina laughed.
"We are sorry we left," Galina said.
"Oh, thank you," Renee said. She leaned in to whisper, "I was a bit bored."
"I could see it."
Renee laughed.
The three began to talk. They talked and laughed, which made Seth and Dean pleased.
At the end of the night, after the king, queen, and the princesses left the hall and headed to bed, Sasha bid her good nights to Renee, Galina, and Joelle. She then spent some time with Seth before she bid him good night.
"Joelle is so happy that she got to meet the princesses," Seth commented.
"That's why I did it," Sasha said. "The princesses also do not get to play with other children much. They really only have each other and then me, Becky, and Charlotte."
"Very true. Joelle doesn't play with a lot of other children either. Plus, with the starvation and the epidemic when I arrived in Shield those weeks ago, neither she, her mother, or Renee went too far from the townhouse. Roman and Dean wished to send them to my new estate outside the city. Renee and Galina refused to leave."
"I believe you are doing just fine as a duke," Sasha complimented.
"I am?" Seth smiled.
"You are letting Roman and Dean stay with their wife and daughter, and fiancée at your townhouse. Then you were going to let them stay at your new estate."
"Well, they are like my brothers. That means Galina, Joelle, and Renee are my family as well. Plus, I would not put any of them out. I will not ask them to leave anyway. And you take note of that now!"
"I would not ask you to put them out when we are married. I understand they are your family. Just as Charlotte, Becky, and Ric are my family. But we will all be each other's family when we are married."
"Yes, we shall," Seth said.
The next day, the fun began for the birthday celebrations. However, on the twenty-sixth, there were two men who needed to see both Dean and Roman as well as their Duke of Shield, Seth. But there was a third man with the two. His name was Luke Gallows. He was one of the three men who served Finn as Dean and Roman served Seth.
The three arrived at about 9 o'clock that morning. Seth with Dean and Roman were upon the early risers of the courtiers. Finn with AJ was as well.
"My lord, Seth Rollins," Someone called.
Seth, Dean, and Roman looked into the direction of the person calling. They saw two men who not only took direction from their duke, but also Dean and Roman.
"Cesaro. Bryan. What are you two doing here?" Seth asked.
Cesaro walked up to Seth and whispered, "We must speak with you, Ambrose, and Reigns, my lord. It has to do with the factions."
Seth nodded his head. He motioned for Dean and Roman to come over.
"What's going on?" Roman asked.
"Cesaro and I have been on the trail of some of the few in the factions," Daniel Bryan said.
"And?" Dean asked.
"We were led to Club," Cesaro said.
"What?!" Seth exclaimed.
"That's why Gallows is here, my lord," Bryan commented. "He and Anderson have been trying to take care of a faction that is uprising in Club. Styles has tried to keep it at bay from Balor."
"They cannot do that any longer."
"My lord, Rollins," Finn said, walking over to Seth and his group of men. "We all need to speak."
"Yes, we do," Seth said.
The two dukes formed a close group to discuss what is happening in their cities with their men.
"Why is there a damn faction uprising in my city!" Finn exclaimed in an angry matter to Gallows and Styles.
"The same reason there is one in Shield, Lord Balor," Cesaro commented. "They wish to be given all the money as they had with their previous duke."
"Anderson and I have been trying to figure out a way to disband this faction and move them along without you having to worry, my duke," Gallows said. "We wished to resolve it so you did not have to worry."
"I have been treating those men fairly since I had been in Club those few weeks. I gave them a fair among of the riches. Then I used it on the less fortunate in Club. I was trying to make it so the city was safe from illness and death. I was trying to save their asses in the process!" Finn said.
"You and I both," Seth commented. "I have done the same in Shield."
"A few of the men within these factions are angry that the king granted you the dukes of their cities. Two very loyal subjects to the king," Bryan said.
"Does this have to do with the king?!" Finn said.
"I believe it does," Cesaro said.
Seth looked at Dean and Roman. They looked back at him. He nodded their heads to them.
"The king knows of the factions trying to up rise in Shield," Dean said.
"What does he say to it?" Finn asked.
"We have told him it is something he does not need to worry about," Roman commented. "We said we would take care of it."
"But yes, it is bad in our city now," Seth said.
"If these factions and uprisings are wanting to get at the king, we need to do something about it right away," Finn said. "They could just be making plans in Club and Shield to take me and Seth down. Then they could meet along the way to get here to the king. And if they come after the king, they will come after the queen and the princesses. And they would also go after anyone else who was in their way to get to all of them."
Finn looked at Seth upon this thought. Seth nodded his head. They both knew if anyone did try to get to the king, the queen, and the princesses, they would go after Sasha and Becky as well as Charlotte. All three of them would do whatever it took to keep those princesses safe.
"The king needs to know the seriousness of these factions and then we all need to do whatever to put them at bay," Seth said. "Because if they do come after the king, queen, and the princesses, the princesses' ladies in waiting would do whatever to protect them and keep them safe."
"Your fiancées," Cesaro commented.
"Yes," Seth said.
"We need to tell the king of these matters," Finn said. "I know it is the Royal Birthdays. But his life as well as the lives of his wife and daughters may be in jeopardy. But that comes with any king."
"But it will not happen to our king!"
