"I cannot believe his nerve." Damon expressed angrily regarding Stefan, "Did you have any idea about Katherine?" Elena shook her head and buried herself further into Damon's neck. Damon kissed her forehead. "It's okay. It seems like we were both deceived by our siblings."
"Katherine spoke to me earlier this week about doing what it takes to win the Crown." Elena had no idea that she could have meant marrying Damon's brother in order to be second in line for Queen. "I have no idea how our parents are going to react when they hear about this. I hope the scandal won't kill them. They're going to hate me!"
"I'm King. I'll be announcing our marriage first obviously and the country, I know, will assume that I got to choose my bride prior to Stefan, even though in this case it's completely true. Aren't you glad I never went on a date with your sister?" Elena lifted her head up to release a breathy chuckle in his ear.
"Definitely, I don't want to share you, ever," Elena paused, suddenly remembering Elizabeth's existence. "Have you spoken to her highness about me?" Elena asked nervously. Damon nodded.
"I actually spoke to her earlier this morning. She got a little heated, but she understands that this relationship is going to be a give and take and to be respectful. I apologize that I can't give you the honor of being my first bride, Elena. I love you. And it's Elizabeth. We're going to be part of the same family, we might as well put aside the formalities. "He leaned down and kissed Elena lightly on the lips. Elena closed her eyes and took her time reopening them; bringing her back to earth from the kiss. As soon as Damon ditched Stefan in the hallway he went downstairs to pull Elena back up to her bedroom chambers to talk to her.
Damon lay back on the bed and gestured for Elena to cuddle. Elena smiled before grabbing a small decorative pillow to smack him in the face.
"Ahh!" Damon shielded himself too late resulting in a smack to the face. "You know, attacking the King is a death sentence, Elena. I wouldn't want you to lose your pretty little head before we get married." Damon chuckled pulling on her arms causing her to fall on the bed next to him.
"Damon! I just put on this dress for the day, it's going to get messed up before the big announcement! Besides, you keep forgetting that you have to go tell Caroline." Lying beside him with her hands on his chest, Elena leaned her head forward to give him another slow kiss. The second she tried to pull away, he leaned his head up and held the back of her head with his hand, stopping her from pulling away. Elena fell into a fit of giggles before shoving Damon up and out of her bed. "Damon…" She teased him, pulling him towards her with the collar of his shirt. "You want to marry me, right?" She smiled. Damon nodded rolled his head on her shoulders, trying to stay. "That means you need to tell Caroline we're getting married before the announcement in a couple of hours." Damon shrugged.
"Alright. I'm going to go to Caroline's bedroom," He stood six inches in front of her, draping his arms around her neck and pulling her close. "You get even prettier, if that's possible, and get ready for the announcement. Then we announce, you marry me, we have a ton of babies and live happily ever after." Elena laughed with Damon before shaking her head.
"Can you imagine what would happen to me if I were to have a ton of babies?!" Damon shrugged.
"You'd get more practice and become the perfect mother?" Damon left one more peck on her lips and skipped out the door. Since he finally made it official that Elena was going to be his, he couldn't keep his hands off of her. Damon stopped awkwardly outside of Caroline's door. Taking a deep breath, and knocking on the door, they opened to reveal Caroline's maidens who parted immediately to let him in.
"Your highness," Caroline curtsied with a small smile. After seeing the most of the royal family and the Petrova sisters in the hallway this morning, she had a sinking feeling ever since that she would be returning to her country without a marriage. Fortunately enough to her, their countries were already allies and therefore not much was affected by the lack of marriage, but Caroline found it incredibly odd that nobody was freaking out as much as she was that the two Petrova sisters were about to marry brothers. Katherine shamelessly announced her marriage to the rest of the girls while they were walking down to breakfast together, and she could tell by the way Damon stood by Elena that she had been chosen. "If you're here to tell me that you've chosen to marry Elena, I understand and respect your decision." Damon smiled.
"Thank you for understanding, Caroline. You really are a wonderful woman, I just don't think that I'm necessarily the right suitor for you. Thank you." Caroline smiled and nodded.
"I'm going to head down to the courts to prepare the announcement." Caroline curtsied again as Damon left the room. Caroline usually was not the type to just sit back and let people roll all over her or beat her in anyway, but in this situation she was going to pass. She considered it a win to not get involved with what was obviously an impending messy situation. Two sisters getting married to two brothers was not about to do anybody any favors.
A floor above where Caroline was pondering the absurdity of it all, Anne was silently approaching Elizabeth's bedroom chambers without Bonnie by her side. Approaching the doors, she slipped in without knocking or alerting anybody else of her presence.
"Elizabeth, its Anne." She closed the doors behind her and turned to Elizabeth, sitting on her balcony in the sun and drinking her tea.
"Your highness," Anne waved her hand in Elizabeth's direction indicating that she stay seated and forget the curtsey. Anne took the seat next to Elizabeth and waited for the maiden to finish pouring her cup of tea before speaking to Elizabeth after she had left the room.
"Elizabeth, I meant it when I said that I respect you as the sole Queen of Pendleton and that you will always keep your place in the Royal family so long as it's what you want. I want to talk to you about Katherine Petrova. She seems like she may be a problem. As you know, Damon is choosing Elena Petrova to be his bride to born an heir and I was okay with that, but Katherine Petrova is now marrying Stefan." Elizabeth nodded, acknowledging this information. The more dramatic of the Petrova sisters had shamelessly paraded her new marriage arrangement with a Salvatore at breakfast completely ignoring the fact that she was about to cause a scandal of unprecedented proportions. "I want you to keep an eye on the Petrova sisters after the weddings as you command the maidens and servants like you've been doing." Elizabeth nodded. This was not something new. Regardless of whether or not Anne had come into her bedroom chambers this morning, she was going to keep a close eye on the Petrova sisters anyway. "Make sure you keep watch on Katherine Petrova. Elena, I think will be a gentle enough soul and I can handle her if she ever steps out of line; which I don't' think she'll do. She's been highly respectful so far of all the members of the Royal family. She's not made a single move to intrude on your role and standing as the Queen of Pendleton. Katherine Petrova, however, seems to be a different story. She morally thought that it was okay to marry Damon's brother. That woman has no sense of boundaries and no sense of right and wrong. Either way, she's not getting an increase in title. She's still going to be a Duchess; perhaps a double duchess of Mystic Falls and Pendleton but a Duchess nonetheless. Promise me that you'll keep an eye on her and wipe her out when you can? I will keep a look out as well." Anne stirred her tea, acting as if discussing another woman's downfall was just a part of daily everyday conversation.
Elizabeth nodded and gave Anne a small smile. Elizabeth would do what was necessary if it ever bothered her enough, to take down Katherine. However, for Elizabeth, the biggest problem was the other Petrova sister. Elena was trying to steal her husband and it would be a cold day in hell before she let that happen.
"Excuse me, Anne, but I have to get ready for the court gathering now." Elizabeth said as politely as possible. Anne nodded and headed towards the door.
"Make sure you don't outshine Elena? Today's her day to announce her new position in the Royal family. We want to welcome her." Elizabeth, thankful that Anne was walking out behind her, rolled her eyes and started getting ready. Perhaps this could be a blessing though, Elizabeth plotted, as her maiden removed her necklace to place rubies around her neck. If Elena was under the impression that she was present to help her fit in, she would rely on her and possibly give her the perfect opportunity to end her for good.
The crowd was fully packed by the time the Royal family prepared to enter the courtroom, with a bright red carpet parting the crowd towards the throne. Katherine and Stefan were standing side by side to the right of the thrones in all their glory. Katherine swayed in her sky blue gown with silver linings. With the brightest and largest diamonds she owned, Katherine gazed across the sea of people who hopefully would one day become her subjects. Sure, she was pissed to be second in line after Elena beat her out for the throne when her intention for coming to Pendleton was entirely to support her, but regardless, Katherine knew she was better at the betrayal game than Elena was. It would only hurt more once she became…What is she, really? Mistress? At minimum, Katherine would be a wife, and soon, legitimate Queen.
The music started playing the crowd's murmurs grew to cheers and laughs. Damon entered first, politely holding Anne's hand. Elizabeth strolled in after, a small and calculated smile on her face. Her classic red gown with gold accents paired perfectly with her red lipstick and styled facial expression. The light, gold crown on her head looked like it was made for her head and gown. The resulting image of Elizabeth sent the crowd into awe.
Elena walked in slightly after Elizabeth in her lightly golden beige gown with gold accents. The crowd's reaction turned to excited whispers and knowing smiles. Stopping at the foot of the thrones, across the carpet from Stefan and Katherine, she gazed up and locked eyes with Damon. He gave her a reassuring smile and nod. Bonnie approached from the side of Anne's throne and cleared her throat before indicating the stop of the music.
"Thank you to our most esteemed guests for gathering here today, his Royal Highness has a few announcements he would like to provide Pendleton." Bonnie pulled back and curtsied in Damon's direction before standing at her post by Anne. Damon stood in front of the crowd and flashed his pearly whites.
"Pendleton. I'm most joyful to announce that Duchess Elena Petrova will become Pendleton's new Royal Lady." Katherine couldn't help but let out a light scoff and laugh as the crowd applauded and cheered. What the hell was a Royal Lady? Katherine turned her head up to exchange a look with Stefan. Stefan knowingly smiled at her. A made up title for a made up bride.
Damon descended the steps to take Elena's hand and lead her up the steps. Elena smiled even though her heart was almost beating its way out of her chest. As he led her up the steps he soothingly stroked her hand. Elena lifted her gaze up to the throne where Anne was flashing her a polite smile and Elizabeth was giving her a look that she just couldn't place. Her mind faltered. Was this the right decision? Would her parents approve of her choice? Would her life with Damon and Elizabeth be full of drama and unrest? But it was too late to think of all of that now. Elena was under the impression that she would be led up the steps and showcased in front of the crowd while standing next to Damon. He stood in front of her with her in his hands and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. The crowd gasped with surprise. The Crown was showing affection and intimacy in front of an official court announcement. Perhaps, this so called Royal Lady held more power over their King already than they knew. He leaned in again, and whispered in Elena's ear.
"I told you it's going to be okay. They know to fear you now." Elena looked up confused.
"Is it a good thing that they fear me?" Elena gazed over the cheering crowd.
"It's the only way subjects know how to follow. You'll learn more about how to lead subjects once we get married, love." Elena smiled and nodded, accepting his explanation for now as she didn't want to draw additional attention to themselves in front of such a large crowd. He lead her towards his throne and sat down and gestured for Elena to stand by his right side; effectively separating Elizabeth from Damon physically. "Additionally," Damon spoke up, "My brother, and your Duke Stefan Salvatore has returned to Pendleton and has an announcement for you as well."
Stefan stepped from the side of the red carpet to the center and cleared his throat. The crowd was now leaning all over each other trying to get a glimpse of the Duke who has long since returned.
"I am honored to inform Pendleton that I will be getting married to none other than Duchess Katherine Petrova." The crowd fell even more silent than before. They glanced in between Stefan, the King, the three women on the thrones and finally at Katherine. The scandal was just too delicious.