All rights belong to Kiera Cass

Shout out to TheSelection98 for getting 'The Lion King' reference, "I am the prince I can do whatever I want."

PREVIOUSLY...

Written on the wall of the princess door in blood was the words, 'Princess, WERE COMING.'

There was no way that anyone knew I had asked America to marry me, it had only happened a little over an hour ago and we were in this room. I tried to think back to my days over the past week, who I spoke to about designing the ring, who knew I was going to propose, composing the list in my head I realized only one person knew who wasn't my family, knew who I was proposing to and that I planned on doing it soon. Kriss.

Maxon's POV

It felt like hours instead of mere minutes that passed as I sat with America's head in my lap dabbing her with a washcloth before she woke up. I had continued watching the surveillance camera's after she passed out. I watched the guards go around opening safe rooms finding other maids and staff along the way, although they were clearly looking for me. I watched as the maids scrubbed the walls clean of paint and blood, as all the girls and my mother came out of the safe room's main doorway. My mom was sobbing onto one of her maids' shoulder being guided back to her room. I never meant to cause her that much pain and worry about me, deciding I would go and see her first thing after I got out of here.

When America did finally stir in my arms I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding in. I kissed her forehead and slowly helped her up onto her feet handing her a glass of cool water. She drank the whole glass down and I smiled at her, she was fine. Thank god.

Escorting her out of the room was slightly more difficult as I realized as she was still tipsy and she stumbled about. When we got back to the main areas of the palace I was using my arms to support her as we walked. Several guards tried to help me but I was not leaving America alone tonight, not for even a second. I climbed the stairs with her to the 3rd floor as we came around the wall towards my room I saw the doors that soon would lead to her room still had the stain words written even as maids and several guards scrubbed. Seeing that just made the anger I have been holding in arise again. I got the first guard I saw to open the door for me, Aspen.

When he saw that I was nearly carrying America he crossed his arms over his chest. "Aspen, follow me please."

He came into my room behind me and closed the door. "Yes your Majesty, what can I do for you?"

He asked the question but his gaze never left America's as I lifted her into my bed. She turned onto her side cuddling herself deeper into the blankets and burying her head into the pillows as she closed her eyes and passed out. "Oh Aspen, she is just a little drunk, relax she is fine." I went to my desk wrote a quick note and then went into my bathroom, returning with a glass of water and a Tylenol.

"Drunk, we were under attack, nobody could find the both of you, and you were just gone getting her drunk?"

I shook my head at him, I didn't have time for this. "Listen, I need you to go and do something for me. Find my father and tell him I need to see him immediately in my office. After that I want you to come back here and watch over America, can you do that for me?"

"Yes your Majesty."

"Oh for Christ sake, Call me Maxon, no more of this 'your majesty' BS." Go.

He didn't leave though. A realization came across his face and he stood still at the door staring at me.

"What are you still doing here, go."

"Your, I mean Maxon, I can't do that."

"Why the hell not Aspen." My patience was growing thin.

"Because sir, your father, the king, he died during the attack." I looked up at him when those words left his mouth, "He was trying to stop a set of rebels from getting to your mom, he shot two rebels down but before he could get through the safe room door he was shot in the back. I'm Sorry."

Of course my father was dead, the one time I actually needed my father, wanted his guidance and support he was gone. He was dead. I walked swiftly over to Aspen pushing him aside," Stay with her," I pointed at America as I swung the door to my room open before slamming it shut and heading for my mother's room.

I knocked once on the door before opening it just a crack. "Mom," I croaked out as I entered. It was hard to see her, she was lying in a ball on the bed with a pillow tucked around her. "Mom," I repeated as I got closer to her. She seemed to hear that and lifted her head to look at me. Before I could take another step she was out of the bed and I was in her arms, she cried, and cried, and I thanked my lucky stars I had been taught how to comfort a crying women. I brought my mom back to her bed helping her to lie back down. "I can't stay here mom, I have too many things I have to take care of right now, I just needed to let you know I was okay." Tears were running down my face from seeing her cry, she completely broke my heart. While I may have not been a big fan of my father, I knew my mother loved him, and I know he loved her. She was a shell of herself and seeing my mom like that broke me into more pieces than I thought possible.

I remembered my reason for needing my father then and I stood up with a purpose headed downstairs with only one purpose. I needed to find HER.

America's POV

I woke up in Maxon's bed, sitting beside me was a glass of water and a pill with a piece of paper that said

Take the pill it will help with the headache.

I love you,

Maxon

I took the pill and sat up drinking down the water. I was still in my dress and it was dark outside and as I looked around the low lit bedroom I saw Aspen? I blinked a few times and rubbed my eyes, opening them in his direction again, and standing up trying to make sense of why Aspen was in the room watching me sleep. "Aspen, what are you doing in here? Why are you watching me sleep? Where's Maxon?"

"Ame's calm down, please. Maxon, is downstairs dealing with some things. I was informed to watch over you until he gets back."

I walked right passed him towards the bathroom first getting another glass of water from the tap and rinsing my face before walking right passed Aspen and to the door. He caught on quickly to my plans and grabbed hold of my hand, stopping me from exiting. "Sorry America, I'm under orders not to let you out of the room." He gripped my hand a little tighter, in a way that I used to find comforting. I looked down at our joined hands and saw my ring giving him a dejected look before taking my hand back and walking back over to Maxon's bed flopping down with a huff.

Is this what palace life is always going to be like, A rebel attack every two weeks with me hiding in some room hoping that I'm safe? "Aspen, can you please just go stand outside. I'd like to be alone."

Aspen gave me a slight nod, "I'll just be outside the door Ame's, and I'll try to give you all the privacy I can."

When He shut the door I spent some time just sitting on his bed staring at the floor before I got up and walked around his room, I looked at his pictures for a while. Then I walked back into the bathroom, a bath would be so nice right now I was trapped in this stupid room anyways so I started up the tap adding some vanilla scent into the tub and watching it bubble up before leaving stripping down and hopping in. The warm water helped my tense muscles and I sunk deeper into the water closing my eyes.

I soaked for a while until the water had gone mostly cold and realized I didn't have a robe. I looked around the bathroom and didn't find any towels. So I went into Maxon's massive closet it took forever to find a t-shirt, I put it on thankful it came down long enough to cover me.

I had enough of this hiding out crap though it was past 2am now and I was still alone in Maxon's room. Then of course I found Maxon's robe hanging on the post of his bed I put it on before going to the door, "Aspen, can you please find Maxon and tell him I would like to see him."

"I'll send someone right away, but Ame's - it's late, you should probably try to get some sleep." Then he took in what I was wearing and he looked away quickly then looked back at me and came closer to the crack in the door, "Are you sleeping with him?"

"No Aspen I AM NOT SLEEPING WITH HIM." My voice got louder with the more words coming out of my mouth. "Now go find my fiancé and tell him we need to talk." I slammed the door in his face and walked back to the bed to wait.

Aspen's POV

Did she just say fiancé? She has got to be kidding herself, the selection is still happening otherwise why would the other 3 girls still be here? Wasn't the proposal supposed to happen in front of the whole country on the report? She just slammed a door in my face; things really have changed since we left Carolina.

I found Lucy walking down the hallway towards me from the queen's room, "Hey Lucy, I need your help."

She walked up to me with her bright smile, every time I saw her she was smiling I couldn't help but join her.

"Hey Aspen, what's going on?"

"Well I am assuming you know now that America is in Prince Maxon's room, she asked me to get him, but he told me not to leave my post so I was kind of wondering if you could maybe find him for me and tell him she is requesting him."

"Yeah sure Aspen, anything else?"

"Actually yeah, before you go get Prince Maxon can you stop by Lady America's room and get her some clothes."

"Sure Aspen, I'll send Mary back with some clothes for Lady America while I go get the Prince." She gave me one last smile before turning around and walking down the hall.

Mary was heading my way in under 5 minutes carrying some of America's clothes. I thanked her as she entered Maxon's room and I returned to standing outside of the door.

Lucy's POV

I was walking out of the queen's room with a tray full of dishes that we had tried to get her to eat dinner from. The loss of the king had left her without an appetite. I shut her door silently and noticed that Aspen was standing down the hall. Man was he ever cute, he was strong and smart and brave, the total package. I headed down the hall towards him and he called me over.

I was so excited to talk to him I had to stop myself from skipping down the hall. He ended up only wanting to talk to me about getting Maxon and finding America some clothes. I really like him but I guess it's just like Anne said, he didn't seem to notice me. So I nodded my head and agreed to help before walking away without turning back.

I went back to America's room first Anne and Mary were in there still tidying up from the mess made by the rebels earlier. They really ripped America's room apart this time, her dresses were all slashed, her jewelry and makeup was thrown onto the floor even her bed was stabbed repeatedly with knives all the feathers from the pillows were all over the room.

I went into the closet looking for something that wasn't ruined and found two dresses. The skanky looking one America wanted to wear to get Maxon's attention a few pairs of pants and a long almost sheer nightgown. I gathered all the clothes up in my arms, when I got back out into the main bedroom Mary looked at me and I put some of the clothes into her arms. "Anne, I have been requested to bring some of lady America's clothes upstairs to the prince's room. I need Mary's help carrying it, we will be back as soon as we can."

With that I led Mary out of the bedroom. Once we were slightly down the hall I put all the clothes into Mary's arms as she was trying to balance the dresses, she protested but I had to go find the prince, and I really, really didn't feel like seeing Aspen again right now.

Mary's POV

I somehow managed to climb all the stairs to the third floor and open the door to the prince's room without spilling the clothes all over the floor. When I entered America was still awake sitting on the bed in the prince's robe staring at the floor. I took in her appearance noticing the small black rings around her eyes from lack of sleep, her hunched over posture, her wet and not brushed hair. She was in the prince's bed, she should look more presentable than this. I rang down to Anne to bring up some toiletries for America so I could fix her hair properly. She seemed to be in a daze and didn't even notice my presence until I was almost beside her.

"Lady America, I have brought you some clothes."

She looked up at me with that and a small smile came unto her face, "Thank you Mary."

"Yes well, how about we get you out of this robe and into something to sleep in? Hmm?"

I made quick work going through all the outfits in my arms, what the heck was Lucy thinking? I found a nightgown among the clothing and placed it on the bed beside America. Tonight not only would I be up readying Lady America's bedroom for her, but I would also have to sew a new dress so she could look at least minimally presentable at breakfast. I put the other two dresses that weren't mangled into the prince's closet when the door opened and Anne was here to help me get America ready for bed.

We brushed her hair until it was silky smooth, applied a little lotion to her legs and arms, before helping America fully into her night gown. We were just excusing ourselves from the room when the door swung open, standing in the doorway was a very dishevelled looking prince, or do I call him King now? No I was pretty sure we had to wait for the coronation before doing that. I curtseyed to prince Maxon before making my exit with Anne following behind me. When we were in the hall the door shut lightly and we saw Lucy was standing against the wall twirling a stray piece of hair around her finger speaking to Aspen and he had a large smile on his face as they spoke. Their conversation ended when she saw us, as she started to stand Aspen trailed a light touch down Lucy's cheek before moving in and kissing her lightly on the lips. When he backed away Lucy looked like she was out of breath. Anne and I exchanged amused glances as we walked down the hall calling for Lucy to follow, and she did but not before giving Aspen a kiss of her own.

Maxon's POV

When I left my mother's room I only had to go down one flight of stairs and a long hallway before I found the door I wanted. It was getting to be late evening but still I got several guards to come along with me. When I reached the door I knocked and waited for a response, when it opened an old maid was standing in the doorway and she curtseyed to me, "Good evening your Majesty, please come in."

I walked into the room followed by two guards and looked around at the trinkets laying on the table as I waited for her to come out of the washroom. The maid who had answered the door came back out of the washroom followed by Kriss who was wearing a short silk negligee, when she saw me her eyes lit up like she had hope that I was here on good terms to see her. She came right up to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders as she leaned in for a quick kiss on the cheek. I pulled back before she got close to me and pushed her arms off of me. "Take her down to the dungeons." I informed my guards. Then I turned around and swiftly walked out of the door, leaving the guards in her room to escort her.

When I was back in the hallway knocked on Elise's bedroom door. I hadn't had a chance to see her or Celeste yet to make sure they were okay after the attack, when the maid opened the door and curtseyed I entered her room to find Celeste was in there as well sitting on the bed chatting. When they both saw me they went to stand, I stopped them and sat at the bottom corner of the bed having a quick chat to make sure they were both okay. They nodded to me and Celeste told me she planned to stay in the room with Elise tonight because she and Elise were to afraid to sleep alone after what they witnessed today. It was obvious they were trying to put on happy faces not to make me think of the day I have been having. After a few extra minutes of conversation I excused myself to go deal with my other problem.

I walked through the mangled hallways downstairs that were still being cleaned by all the personnel in the castle, they were also hanging up black curtains on the walls. These were only put up in times of mourning and it just made my fathers' death all the more real. Several guards were standing outside the doors to the armoury and they bowed as I entered. The room was lined with guns, swords, armor and other weapons. At the other end of the room was another set of doors that led down to the dungeons.

I hated going into the dungeons, they always smelt like mildew and blood. I walked passed the empty stalls to the last one in the back of the room, it was the largest of all the stalls and had several torture devices inside. There was at least 10 guards standing around the stall and outside the room to protect me as I entered.

Kriss was strung up on a wooden pole with her arms above her head in cuffs. Her ankles were also bound to the wall and her legs were spread slightly. As much as I hated her for what she had done I couldn't help taking a second to look over her body in the small fabric that barely covered her. She stood tall, no tears and no embarrassment as she looked me right in the eyes with so much hatred I couldn't believe. That killed any kind of strange desires I was having in that moment and I cleared my throat, "Kriss, are you aware of why you are here?"

She gave a wicked laugh to me before answering, "Because I let the rebels in, because I am one of them, because I wanted to kill your precious America."

I had expected her to play dumb, not to come right out with her confession. The amount of hatred in her words only proved to me that everything I had ever felt towards Kriss was a lie, I had enough, I didn't even want to look at her as I instructed one of the guards to pull her chains a little tighter making her stand on her tip toes as she was pulled further off the ground.

She closed her eyes in pain before reopening them and speaking for the rebels, " We will come back Maxon, we will continue to kill those close to you, we will torture them, we will take away everything you hold dear to you. Go ahead and kill me, I have already had correspondence with the southern rebels, they know everything. They will find your hidden library, they will attack with all the strength they have if I die. You won't know when, you won't know anything, it will just happen and you will be left with nothing." She spat out the last word like poison and I was left standing there looking at the guards in the room who wore sorrowful expressions in my direction.

I looked to Markson one of the heads of the guard, "Keep her here overnight, I want constant observation over her," then I turned back to Kriss, "She will have her full punishment first thing tomorrow." With that I moved to the door and gave one last glance in Kriss' direction before I walked away back to more important matters.

I didn't get far. I had made it just outside the doors to the armoury taking a breath of fresh air when one of America's maid's, Lucy, approached me. "Your Majesty, thank goodness Aspen asked me to find you, it seems America's requesting to see you."

I swallowed and nodded my head, it was time for me to have a very difficult conversation with my future wife. I thanked Lucy and made my way back to my bedroom with her following a good distance behind me. By the time I was on the third floor I must have run my hands through my hair at least 50 times, I could still smell the blood when I breathed and it bothered me to no end. Aspen was standing outside my bedroom door and as I got closer I saw his eyes move to behind me, he was looking at Lucy in an adoring kind of way. Despite all that was happening around me today I couldn't help but be happy for him. I tapped him on the shoulder as I passed, "go for it," was all I said as I passed him and entered my room.

Anne and Mary were standing near the door and they curtseyed to me before maneuvering around me and exiting the room. I looked across the room to America who was just getting into bed, she had showered and changed into a nightgown. Just seeing her made all the stress I was holding evaporate and I walked over to her looking her over with every step I took. She was flawless. She stood back off the bed and I watched as she moved how the gown shimmered and exposed her slightly in the light, it took my breath away.

"God you're beautiful," I said as I got to her. I lifted her into my arms and she wrapped her legs around my waist, kissing me like she hadn't seen me in days. I moved to sit on the bed as we devoured each other for a long while before I pulled back remembering I had things I needed to tell her.

We sat on my bed her curled up at the headboard under the covers while I sat at the bottom of the bed so we could face each other. I couldn't help but think how I never wanted her to leave my bed, how I wish that I had more of an opportunity tonight to sleep with her, to hold her in my arms, to make tonight special for her.

How was I supposed to start this conversation? I stumbled a bit over my words at first before they all came spilling out in one large sentence. I explained that during the rebel attack my father was killed trying to protect my mom. My lips quivered as I regained my composure and continued, telling her about how I knew that Kriss is a rebel, that she was the one in charge of the message left on the door to the princess suite. Why I left Aspen to stand guard at the door, how I had taken Kriss to the dungeons and tomorrow she will be killed in front of the whole country for her treason. I was out of breath as I finished my sentence and my lips quivered thinking of how my tomorrow instead of having good news announcing my engagement I would have to first tell the country that my father was dead and that my first act as sovereign would be to kill one of the women who could have been my wife had this experience gone differently.

America she looked like she was frozen in time, she never blinked or moved a muscle as she sat there with her mouth agape, completely stunned taking in all the information that just spewed out of my mouth.

All of a sudden she moved and was hugging me so tight I could barely breathe. Then she moved back quickly standing up and putting my robe over her and the slippers her maids had brought her ready to get up at any moment to flee out of the room. "Where are the dungeons Maxon?" Tears were falling down her cheeks as she looked over me. I shook my head at her, "I'm sorry Ame's I won't tell you that, not right now, I won't give her the opportunity to clear her name, or to look at you, she already has her sentence. Being the person who killed the king she will pay the ultimate price."

America was giving me a look of pure pain as she collapsed onto the floor, I know she was thinking of Marlee, and how she had been treated probably thinking about seeing Kriss the same way and I was sure she was thinking I was like him, like my dad. "I will show her mercy, she will be killed swiftly and with as little pain that I am allowed to give someone for this act. I will not force you to be there America, you shouldn't have to be put through this again." As I finished the sentence I was sitting down in front of her on the floor lifting her eyes to meet mine. Seeing her like this is what caused me to break down, for everything that happened today. I lifted America's body off the floor laying her back into the bed before following in behind her holding her tightly to my chest as she cried holding onto me as the tears poured out of her eyes. I held her until sleep took over our both our bodies and I drifted into a restless sleep.

...

Okay so that was easy to write. NOT! It is the longest chapter yet though so yeah. :P

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