So, I have some good news and some not so good news. The good news is I have another chapter for all of you. The bad news unless I'm super quick at writing the next chapter you aren't going to get another update from me for a while because I'm going away next week and it's in the middle of nowhere so there's no chance there will be internet there. I know it's taken a while for this chapter and I apologise. I realised as I was writing it I was trying to fit too much in so instead I decided to break it up a bit so you wouldn't suffer from information overload like me. Thank you for all your awesome reviews about the last chapter. Obviously, I was a little reluctant to post it because I thought I may have gone a little too far but I've been planning it for a while so I didn't really want to leave it out. I'm sorry to all those who like Elise but know that like most characters she did not die in vain. Enjoy this next chapter and try to savour it a bit because it may be another week till you see another one. Keep your awesome reviews coming, you guys are amazing :)

I wake to find my wounds on my back dressed and the pain numbed slightly, but it still hummed in the back of my mind like a bee buzzing around your head, reminding you it was there and primed to cause you pain. My eye, from where the King had struck me, was swollen and difficult to open but manageable. The cheek underneath was tender and throbbed slightly but its pain registered lower than that emanating from my back. What startled me most however, were my unfamiliar surroundings. Opening my eyes I realised immediately, I wasn't in my own room. I was completely disorientated, panic rushing through my body until my eyes landed upon the photos around the door to the balcony. I felt relief at being able to place where I was, however, it was washed away quickly when a flash of Elise in front of my own balcony door swamped my vision. All pain ceased to exist as I remembered the horror scene.

My breathing was short and my heart was beating fast as I tried to fight off the next wave of panic. I needed to think of something else, anything else to free my mind of this living nightmare. Silent tears ran down my face as I was consumed by a feeling of hopelessness. The feeling covered me, clingy to my skin and refusing to let me go.

How could this have happened? I knew the Palace was unsafe but I never believed this was possible. Suddenly, someone appeared at my side and grabbed my hand. I let out a scream so loud and piercing I was surprised the windows didn't shatter. I wrenched my hand from theirs and tried to launch myself from the bed. Instead, I found myself tangled in the covers on the opposite side on the bed.

'Miss, it's me Mary, please you need to calm down. You're safe now. It's-' She was cut off by the doors to the room suddenly slamming open only causing the fear coursing through my body to increase its circulation. I returned to my attempts at untangling my limbs from the bed covers with renewed fervour, desperate to get away.

'What's going on in here?' A man yelled from across the room. 'Is there an intruder?' He demanded.

'No, it's Lady America, I can't calm her…' I didn't hear the rest of the conversation as the terror finally rendered the world around me into a single fuzzy mess of sounds and colours.

At last, I escaped my bindings and despite the pain flaring in my back I crawled into the corner of the room and rocked myself as visions of Elise and the King flashed through my mind. I shut my eyes tight but they continued to play across the backs of my eyelids. I wrapped myself in a tight ball aggravating the pain in my back but if that was on my mind then I could push other thoughts and images from it.

I'm not sure how long I sat there before someone appeared before me. I didn't realise they were there until they hesitantly reached out a hand and gently placed it on my forearm. I recoiled immediately opening my eyes in alarm to find Maxon crouched in front of me, pain etched into every feature of his face.

'America, I'm here.' He whispered, his hand still hovering in the air above where I had been. I stared at him for a long time before I had calmed myself enough to nod at him in acknowledgement. I watched as he dropped his arm and looked at me cautiously, afraid to reach for me again. Taking a steadying breath I released the tight hold I had of my body and crawled over to where Maxon was crouching. He watched my every move until I was close enough that he could pull me into his arms. He was hesitant at first but he quickly tightened his hold on me in our awkward embrace. Letting me go he slumped back against the side of the bed and I eagerly crawled into his lap seeking his comfort.

'Shhh, it's going to be fine my love, I'm here now.' He continued to murmur words of comfort into my hair as he cradled me in his arms.

'Maxon, I'm so sacred.' I whispered after several minutes of silence.

'I know my darling, but for now you're safe. I promise you America, I will protect you with my last breath.'

'Maxon-' I was cut off when a sharp knock came at the door. I stiffened in Maxon's hold and I felt him tense underneath me as the door swung open. Maxon quickly shifted me from his lap and stood to greet the intruder.

'King Frederick?' He asked whilst leaning down to help me to my feet. I leant heavily on his side when I stood and watched as King Frederick walked around the bed to stand in front of us.

'Maxon, I know Lady America is unwell but you need to return to the crisis meeting. Your father…is uncooperative and useless. The loss of your mother has hit him harder than any of us thought it would.' Maxon stiffened beside me at the mention of his mother.

'Queen Amberly is…' I couldn't finish my sentence.

'Sorry, Maxon that was insensitive of me.' King Frederick said looking at Maxon apologetically. 'Yes Lady America, the Queen passed during the attack. They think she had a stroke, her body finally giving way to her disease.' He answered my unfinished question solemnly.

'Your father, thats where he went when he ran from you.' I recalled in disbelief. 'Maxon, I'm so sorry.' I breathed turning to face Maxon. What must he be feeling? His mother was gone. Now, he only had his father but that's too good a word to use for the monster who rules this nation. I watched as under his mask he tried to compose himself. I wrapped a shaky arm around his waist and pulled him to me. He was stiff and unresponsive in my arms until he finally just pushed me away. I looked up to find his familiar cold expression as he turned to face the King.

'You're right Frederick, I need to get back.' His voice was so low and emotionless it sent shards of ice through my heart. King Frederick nodded and then backed out of the room closing the door softly behind him.

'America, I need to get back.' Maxon sighed letting his shield fall slightly.

'I understand.' I nodded, feeling cold from his absence. However, he didn't make any move to the door so I let the silence consume us.

'Maxon?' I asked hesitantly tired of waiting for him to speak. 'Do you want to talk about your mother?' I felt her loss deep in my heart, I may not have known her as well as I wanted to but she was still the mother of the man I loved and now she was gone. Maxon needed to grieve and I knew with all the turmoil he wouldn't have the chance.

'Not now, I can't show weakness, the nation doesn't have time to grieve the loss of their Queen. They invaded America.' My face went pale, my heart stuttering in my chest as his words hit me. Who invaded? Was it the New Asians? What did it mean?

'How bad is it?' I whispered not truly wanting to know the answer.

'Worse than anything we could have ever imagined. They have an entire fleet of ships waiting off the coast near the southern provinces. We are holding off the troops that are already on our soil but if they send in the ones from the ships Illea will be lost. Most of our troops are in New Asia. It was the perfect plan. Not to mention the Southern rebels declared their allegiance to the New Asian's and are on a full scale attack from within our own borders.' Despair covered Maxon's features as he slumped against the post of his bed. It was such a heavy weight to bear for a young boy who had been suffering his entire life.

'How many?'

'Thousands I haven't seen the figures but in any battle they'll out number us ten to one.' I could see Maxon's helplessness written across his face, knowing how much he loved the people of Illea. He just wanted to see Illea prosper and his people safe.

'What can I do?' I asked moving towards him until I was within his grasp but waited for his reaction before closing the rest of the distance between us.

'I just need you to stay here and get better. I need to know you're safe otherwise nothing I do is of any value. You're all I have left, my father…' He trailed off as a strange expression crossed his face. I couldn't read it but it wasn't just hate behind those eyes.

'I can help Maxon, just let me help you carry this burden.' I pleaded staring straight into his brown eyes.

'There's nothing you can do, just please stay here.'

'What about the alliance with Italy?' I asked hopefully.

'They refuse to help unless you are officially at my side, but they have other demands as well. They want the guarantee that we will remove the caste system when the war is over. Then there's some trade agreements which will be easy but how can I promise to completely revolutionise a nation when it's already crumbling.'

'Isn't that the best time to change, when everything is already failing? Obviously we need to do something different otherwise we're going to be overrun anyway.' He nodded looking away from me deep in thought. There was clearly something playing on his mind that he was having trouble dealing with and it was on the tip of his tongue.

'Maxon, what is it?' I asked trying to bring his attention back to me.

'How can I put you in this danger?' He said in a low voice cupping my good cheek in his hand.

'Maxon, I chose this, you haven't forced anything on me.' I tried to placate him but instead I saw anger flash across his face.

'No? If you don't marry me the country will fall. How can you say I'm not forcing you into anything?' He shouted striding away from me in frustration.

'Maxon, stop!' I shouted in frustration. He turned to looked at me, his eyes revealing a lost little boy underneath his adult exterior. He finally let his facade fall revealing his true emotions to me. 'Do you love me?'

'What?' He asked in confusion.

'Do you love me?' I repeated calmly.

'Of course, you're the only thing I'm certain of any more.' He answered running his hands through his disheveled hair.

'Then we will be married, just like we planned before we found out about the invasion. It may be sooner than anticipated but we will be together and that is all that matters.'

'America, I don't want you to be forced into this. How could I ever ask that of you? I would be selfish to allow you to follow through with this. Don't you want the fairytale?'

'What are you saying Maxon? Do you want to marry Kriss instead?'

'No, I sent her home after Elise…' He trailed off as the inevitable images of her body flashed across his vision and mine. We were silent for a long time both lost in our own nightmares.

'You're the only one for me America.' He finally said crashing into my thoughts sending Elise from my mind, for now.

'Maxon, I don't want to live without you.' I said earnestly walking gingerly over to him as the pain in my back began to grow. Obviously, whatever had been given to me for the pain was wearing off. I wrapped my arms around him tightly hoping to calm all his worries. He wrapped his arms around me just as tightly and I held in the hiss of pain that wanted to escape my lips. This was more important than any physical pain. 'Besides, who's left for you now? You sent your only other option for a bride home. I guess you're stuck with me.'

'I suppose I'll just have to make do then.' He smiled weakly at me, but it was still a smile. 'I really should go America, they'll be waiting for me.' I nodded sadly and let him step out of my arms. He walked across the room with his shoulders slumped and his feet dragging. I watched him with sadness in my heart wishing I could do something. Suddenly he stopped and turned back to face me with an intense expression on his face. Before I knew it he had cross back over to me and had his lips upon mine, stealing a passionate kiss. After the initial shock of his lips on mine I melted gratefully into him. All too soon his lips left mine as we were both left breathless.

'I needed that before I go back in there.' He breathed tucking a piece of my hair behind me ear. 'Promise me you will not leave this room, America.'

'I promise.' He nodded firmly and then turned and left the room without another word. I walked slowly over to the bed and sat heavily on the soft mattress realising for the first time that I was only in a thin nightgown. Thankfully, it covered my shoulders and fell to my ankles but if I had realised when King Frederick was here I know my face would have changed to the colour of a very ripe tomato.

'Lady America?' I jumped when I heard Anne's sweet voice break into my mini panic attack about decency.

'Yes, sorry girls.' Mary was beside Anne with a worried expression on her face.

'How are you, my Lady?' She asked anxiously.

'I'm fine, Mary. I'm so sorry about before. I was disorientated, I didn't mean to startle you.' I apologised.

'It's fine miss, I'm just glad you're all right now.' I nodded and then noticed that one of my maids was missing.

'Where's Lucy? Is she all right?' I asked in alarm, glancing behind them.

'She was a little shaken after the attack. She's recovering now.' Anne answered solemnly.

'You didn't…you haven't seen my room have you?' I asked nervously hoping no one had to see that.

'No, miss they wouldn't let anyone near it.'

'Good.' I breathed grateful no one would need to experience that sight. I wish I had been as lucky.

'Do you need to go and sit with Lucy? Someone should really be with her.' I asked in concern.

'No, she's going to be fine. A certain guard is making sure she is safe and cared for.' Mary smiled to herself. I knew immediately which guard it was and was glad to hear both of them were fine. I hadn't even had the time to worry about anyone else but I was happy to hear that everyone I loved was safe and looked after. Then it hit me. Marlee. I hoped she was safe in the kitchens. I felt sick to my stomach just thinking about something happening to Marlee and her child.

'Was…was anyone harmed during the attack?' I ask hesitantly.

'Many guards were killed and many more injured but most of the staff made it safely out of harms way.' I let out a breath I wasn't aware I had been holding but I still wanted to ask Maxon later if he could somehow check on my best friend.

'My Lady you are looking a little pale, maybe you should lay back and rest.' Anne suggested moving towards me. I nodded weakly and rolled on my stomach so I wasn't putting any pressure on my wounds.

'Anne, how much do you know about my injuries?' I asked as she repositioned the covers on me.

'Prince Maxon asked us to dress your wounds my lady.' She replied in a low voice. I shut my eyes tightly feeling the shame wash over me. I didn't want anyone to know, not even my family, let alone my maids. The women who had to look at me every day and feel pity for me every time they helped me dress. Why couldn't he have done it like I did for him?

'Miss, he didn't know what to do, he was lost. He called for us because he wanted to respect you. He was afraid you would think he took advantage of you while you were…unwell. He didn't want to tell us at first but the wounds needed to be dressed. He was outside the entire time, knocking every five minutes to check on you. He wanted to do it for you miss but his respect for you was greater.' I nodded still tasting the bitterness of shame in my mouth. I knew it was a horrible situation but I needed him to do this for me. 'Get some rest miss.' Anne instructed before she and Mary left the room. I was out in seconds my body worn out from the panic attack I had and the struggle of healing my many wounds.

I woke to hear someone shuffling around Maxon's rooms and even in my sleepy haze my body quickly registered the danger. My back was less painful now. I had woken up earlier in pain and Anne had redressed my wounds and given me something to quell some of the sting in my back. Thankfully, it was very effective. So when I sat up quickly in my bed there was still pinching and sharp pains in my back but I was able to keep the cries of pain under wraps better.

'Who's there?' I demanded to the now darkened room. The shadowed figure jumped in alarm and quickly turned to face me. The moonlight caught his features and immediately relief washed through my body.

'Maxon.' I breathed, taking a deep calming breath.

'Sorry, I was trying not to disturb you.' He apologised moving over to my side and sitting on the bed beside me.

'I'm not sure I'll ever be able to sleep through the night again.' I admitted sadly as he took my hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He didn't say anything for a long time, instead both of us lost ourselves in our own thoughts. Mine dark and unsettling and I could only imagine what was running through Maxon's mind.

'What are you thinking?' I asked Maxon quietly not taking my eyes from our intertwined hands.

'I'm thinking about everything.' He sighed in defeat. After a few minutes of silence he spoke again with vulnerability in his every word. 'I miss her, America.'

'Oh Maxon.' I quickly wrapped him in my arms, pulling him down so I could run my hands soothingly through his hair. I held him for what felt like hours waiting for tears that never fell from his sad eyes. I knew he was too broken to cry, too defeated to morn and there was too much responsibility on his shoulders for him to handle. I loved Maxon but he was only human, no one should be expected to deal with this on their own.

'How's your father doing?' I asked reluctantly, and felt guilty immediately as he tensed in my arms.

'I don't want to talk about him.' He ground out pulling away from me, his sadness replaced with a burning anger.

'Maxon, he loved your mother and as much as you want to deny it you need him right now. The country needs the two of you to work together so we can survive this.' He glared at me angrily until it finally gave way to resignation.

'I know.' He sighed but then his face turned fierce again. 'I can never forgive him for what he did, America. What he did to you…' He trailed off with fury in his eyes, gripping my hand a little tighter than comfortable.

'I know Maxon and I would never ask you to but for the sake of the nation you need to get him to work with you to help with the impending invasion.' I watched as he thought this over, his mind working overtime to deal with his fathers frequent and multiple betrayals throughout his life. Maxon was still a little boy who wanted to be loved by his father.

'I don't know what to do America. We're in a holding pattern on every front. We're withstanding everything they've thrown at us so far but we are stretched so thin. We can't pull the troops back fast enough and any kind of retreat from New Asia would result in too many casualties. We have just enough soldiers back here to hold off what they have sent and to quell the added problem of the Southern Rebels. Anymore and we will fall. I need Italy to sign their agreement so we have them and their allies armies to help protect our borders from further invasion and to overcome the destruction within them as well.'

'What's stopping them? I thought they agreed?' I asked in confusion.

'Only if you are by my side. Like I said before unless you are officially my wife they will not agree to anything.'

'Then lets get married tomorrow.' I answered simply.

'That wouldn't be fair to you America. I wanted it to be perfect, for you.' He admitted regretfully.

'Maxon, I know you want me to have my dream wedding but the fate of the nation and thousands of people's lives are at stake here. My only dream is that I can spend the rest of my life with you. I don't care how I get married to you as long as I do.' I cupped his face with both of my hands looking earnestly into his eyes. He nodded reluctantly and I knew he wasn't happy about it. Slowly, I brought his lips to mine and gave him a tender kiss trying to shift the darkness in his eyes. He responded immediately and deepened the kiss wrapping me in his arms and pulling me gently against his chest until there was no room between the two of us. Despite everything that had happened I still felt safe in his arms. I felt that if I was in his arms the world couldn't touch me, my nightmares couldn't haunt me and everything I've ever know isn't crumbling around me.

He reluctantly pulled away from me still cradling me in his arms, resting his chin on my shoulder as he pulled me close again.

'I love you America.' He whispered in my ear, his warm breath disturbing the strands of hair near my face. I just let him hold me in his arms knowing it was what he needed and it was what I needed. I was dreading the moment he would let me go because with the darkness of night came the nightmares. I didn't want to close my eyes again and see their faces haunting me in my sleep.

'I should go.' He whispered making no move to let me go.

'This is your room.' I chuckled pulling back to look at him.

'We aren't married America, it's inappropriate for us to share a bed.' He said a weak smile threatening to pass across his lips but in the end remaining hidden beneath the surface.

'You've done it before, besides it's your bed after all.' I reasoned desperate for him not to leave me alone.

'That was different.'

'How?' I asked desperately.

'I can't stay America.' He repeated as if he were trying to convince himself. When he started to get up my heart began to race as panic swept through my body. He couldn't leave me.

'Please Maxon.' I begged grabbing his hand as he turned for the door. He looked down at me with indecision on his face. 'I need you.' My voice was so low and vulnerable I wasn't even sure if he had heard me. I held my breath as I waited for him to leave. I was dreading the sound of his footsteps retreating from me but the sound never came. He sunk down on the bed beside me again and gave a heavy sigh.

'I'll stay.' He exhaled and a relieved smile spread across my face, knowing I wouldn't need to face my nightmares alone. 'Come on then, lets get some sleep.' I nodded and snuggled back down in Maxon's bed. When I was settled he placed a soft kiss on my forehead and then moved away from the bed.

'I'll be back in a minute.' I nodded and watched as he made his way to the bathroom. He appeared moments later in sleep pants and no shirt. I almost forgot about all my troubles just looking at the man I loved without a shirt. I sat up a little in the bed no even caring that he would know I was trying to get a better look at him. He stopped halfway to the bed when he realised I was staring at him.

'No.' He said and turned back to the bathroom causing a look of confusion to spread across my face. What was he doing? He returned seconds later with a shirt on and I felt the disappointment like a splash of cold water in my face.

'Don't look at me like that America.' He said as he crossed back to the bed.

'What?' I asked defensively, deeply missing Maxon without his shirt on.

'You know what.' He laughed. 'You look at a man like that and no one will be sleeping.'

I felt the deep blush cover my cheeks as he stood beside the other side of his bed with an odd expression on his face.

'This is strange.' He muttered shaking his head before throwing the covers back.

'I hope that's not how you start our wedding night.' I quipped as he sunk into the bed hesitantly. I watched as he delicately laid the covers over him as he tried to come to terms with this new arrangement. It was amusing watching him war with himself over something so trivial. I started shuffling over to him desperate to feel his warmth on my skin but I froze moments later when he turned to look at me in horror.

'What are you doing?'

'Umm…I just…well…' This was harder than I thought it was going to be.

'I think it's best if you stay on that side of the bed.' He breathed looking into my eyes seriously.

'Maxon, please I can't sleep, I never sleep. I need you to hold me.' I lowered my eyes and whispered until my words barely stirred the air between us. I heard Maxon sigh beside me, then his arms were wrapped tightly around me pulling me into his chest. I rested my head against his beating heart and let the rhythm of his heartbeat lull me to sleep. Just as I was about to drift off Maxon whispered in my hair,

'I love you America Singer.' It was the last thing I heard before I fell into a dreamless sleep, Maxon's warmth shielding me from the horrifying images of my nightmares.

So, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and savouedr every last word because I'm almost certain I wont be able to get another one out before I leave. However, you guys can help me between now and then because I don't know whether you've noticed but this story is drawing to a close. I know it's sad and no one is going to miss it more than me which is why I've had another story waiting in the wings to begin when this one ends. It will tell the story of Maxon and America's children, sorry if you didn't realise already but they will eventually be together. I was wondering how many do you think they should have, what are their names? I'm thinking another selection but I want to focus on a Princess who is marrying a prince in another country as well. Personally, I want to write it from the perspective of the royal children only and not the selected girls but let me know. Actually I may even scrap the selection all together and maybe have a little Cinderella moment, who knows. Let me know your thoughts. However, more King Frederick is a guarantee, maybe you can guess which prince I want my Princess to be married to :)