Before The Worst
Chapter Twenty Five
Glitch knocked on Azkadellia's door at ten the next morning. There was a muffled thumping from inside and he frowned.
"Princess? The Nikan family are here." There was no reply and Glitch put his hand on the door handle. "Azkadellia?"
Opening the door tentatively, Glitch peered inside. Azkadellia was wrapped in a dressing gown, staring miserably at various dresses that lay scattered around the room, draped over chairs and tables, and piled on the floor. She looked up at him and turned away, but not before he saw tears threatening her dark eyes.
"What's the matter?" He asked concernedly, closing the door behind him. She shook her head, clutching at her robe, fingers shaking.
"I… I can't… I don't know what to wear." She whispered. "Everything is wrong. I don't know what to wear that won't remind them of…"
Her hand went to her forehead as she trembled. Glitch moved forward and turned her to face him and she let him hold her gently.
"Oh, Azkadee…" He murmured as she clung to him. "It's going to be hard, first time around. But once they see you, once they get to know you… they're going to understand that you're not what they thought."
She sniffed and he lifted her chin with a finger, smiling.
"Now, why don't you put on that sky blue gown with the white lace and come downstairs?" He turned to leave but she caught his hand, staying him. Without a word she slid her arms around his neck and kissed him softly, sweetly.
"I don't know what I'd do without you." She whispered.
"It would take you a lot longer to get dressed." He replied, smiling as he made for the door.
~*~
Baron Nikan was a portly man with a thick white moustache and an infectious smile. His wife was an attractive woman with dark hair swept back into a chignon and they were accompanied by their two children, Marisa; a young woman of nineteen annuals and their son Rex, who was twenty-eight annuals.
DG entered the sitting room first and greeted them cheerfully.
"It's so good of you to meet with us, Highness." Baroness Nikan said, curtseying graciously. DG smiled.
"Oh, please. Thank you for coming, it's wonderful to meet people who live in the O.Z. I'll call for some refreshments."
As she rang the bell the family sat, looking excited at being granted an audience with the first heir. DG spoke quietly with the servant who appeared before taking a seat.
"Lord Ambrose tells me that you're residents on the Gillikin border." She said conversationally and the baron nodded.
"Yes, although we only recently returned to our home… we were forced to seek refuge with Gillikin neighbours during the Witch's reign." He explained. "We were taken in by a dear friend who gave us work in exchange for a home and food."
DG listened intently as he spoke and nodded.
"I'm glad you are finally able to be at home." She said, "There have been too many people who have been torn from their lives, even an annual on from the Eclipse."
"We were fortunate; we were able to stay together." Baroness Nikan replied, looking at her children with the same love DG saw in her own mother's eyes. The baroness met her gaze and smiled faintly. "As someone who has been reunited with their family, I'm sure you understand."
"I do." DG confirmed. "My family has suffered, as so many have. But at least we are together now and I hope that by being together, we can unite other families."
Two servants arrived, carrying trays of drinks and food. DG thanked them before turning back to her guests, offering them refreshments. As they sipped fruit juice and tea, DG asked how long they were staying in Central City.
"For the winter season, we wanted to stay until the wedding." Baroness Nikan replied, accepting a small sandwich from the plate. DG smiled.
"That long?"
"Well, your wedding is going to be the speaking point of every social occasion from now until the coronation!" Baron Nikan chortled. DG couldn't help laughing as she set the plate down.
"Ah yes. The wedding that I'm already having nightmares about!" She joked and they all smiled. Marisa spoke nervously.
"Are you excited about it?"
"Excited… yes." DG nodded, "Just stressed as well. Fortunately my mother and sister seem to be organising most of it, I don't know what I'd do without them."
"We were hoping to see your fiancé, nobody seems to know very much about him!" The Baron said hopefully and DG smiled, knowing how much Cain would love being the centre of gossip.
"He should be joining us, no doubt he's been caught up with something. Oh…" The door was opening but it was not Cain but Azkadellia and Glitch. The Nikan family rose, bowing to the princess.
DG saw Glitch's hand on the small of her sister's back, guiding her into the room. Obviously Azkadellia had been less than happy about the gathering, but she nodded to the family politely.
"Baron, Baroness, you know my sister Azkadellia, and our good friend, Lord Ambrose." DG introduced them as they sat. Azkadellia was wringing her hands nervously in front of her. The Baron seemed unsure of what to say, but his son, Rex, smiled at Azkadellia.
"I'm glad to see you looking so well, highness." He said quietly. His dark hair fell into his eyes as he looked at her. Azkadellia met his eyes and then gave a miniscule smile.
"Rex Nikon…"
"You know each other?" DG asked curiously. Azkadellia looked at her and smiled.
"When we were quite young, the three of us played together one summer at the Nikan's home. You were only four annuals, I was nine and Rex was eleven."
"I didn't think you would remember that." Baroness Nikon said in surprise. "It was such a long time ago."
"I remember Princess DorothiGale deciding that she wanted to explore the manor and ended up locking us in the tower by accident." Rex commented and DG rolled her eyes.
"That sounds like something I'd do." She commented lightly, but Rex's eyes were back on Azkadellia. Glitch was watching his gaze with a slight frown. Azkadellia smiled again, glancing at her sister.
"We got in terrible trouble, as we usually did." She said and DG met her sister's eyes. There was a quiet distress between the princesses until Azkadellia spoke again.
"I suppose we're lucky that we were able to get each other out of trouble most of the time." She said quietly.
DG repressed the urge to hug her sister, looking at Glitch instead.
"I don't suppose you know where Cain is? He knows he's supposed to be here?"
"I believe he was going over the security for the parade with the CCP." Glitch replied, still looking suspiciously at Rex. DG rolled her eyes and was about to ask that he go and find him when the man in question entered the room, nodding at the guests.
"Sorry to be late." He said by way of explanation before sitting on the arm of DG's chair. She looked at him pointedly.
"Security problem?" She asked dryly and he arched an eyebrow.
"There won't be."
"Hmm." She looked unhappy, but introduced him to their guests.
A pleasant hour passed until the Baron announced that they should be on their way. DG rose to say goodbye, insisting that they would meet again soon. Rex kissed DG's hand, shook Cain's and then turned to Azkadellia, who had relaxed noticeably as the time had gone on. He smiled handsomely before kissing the back of her hand.
"It has been wonderful to see you again, princess." He said softly. "I hope to meet you again soon."
"And I, you." Azkadellia replied. Glitch stood a few feet away, watching the exchange unhappily. As the Nikans left, DG turned to her sister and pulled her into a hug.
"Az, that was great." She smiled. Azkadellia laughed softly.
"It went well, didn't it?" She said, smiling. Glitch huffed and went to sit down. DG sat beside Cain and stretched her arms.
"How many more visitors have we got today?"
"That's all for today, but there are two lots tomorrow and three more the day after. Then it's parade day." Glitch said, recalling the schedule. DG groaned, burying her head in Cain's shoulder.
"Why do they want to see me so badly?" She moaned and Azkadellia smiled.
"I heard that they're hoping you'll reform the Royal Court. There hasn't been one in a long time, even Mother didn't have one."
"What's a Royal Court?" DG asked curiously.
"A select few men and women chosen by the Queen and Consort. They're something of an entourage, ladies-in-waiting and that sort of thing." Glitch explained and DG pulled a face.
"Ew. No thank you. What would I do with ladies-in-waiting?"
"They're more like personal assistants than anything." Azkadellia said, "They'd help organise your social calendar, keep you up to date on important events and gossip. In return they'd hope for social standing, well arranged marriages and so on."
"Arranged marriages?"
DG stared at her sister in shock.
"What in god's name do they want me to arrange their marriages for?" She said in disgust. Azkadellia sighed.
"DG, it's how things were done before the Witch's reign. It's the role of the Queen to ensure that suitable matches are made, to ensure peace. Even now you'll have to approve betrothals."
DG shook her head, groaning.
"That's ridiculous. Who am I to say who people should marry?" She said, frowning. Azkadellia tilted her head, giving her sister a sad look.
"It sounds odd to you, but it works. A good match can ensure prosperity for both sides of the family and a union of lands."
"And what if they end up miserable?" DG pointed out but Glitch smiled.
"If it turns sour, they can appeal to you. In that case you'd have to arrange a contract for the division of the property arranged in the marriage."
DG considered the situation and then chewed her lip thoughtfully.
"So I'm basically a glorified matchmaker?" She asked, but the three of them looked blankly at her. She shook her head. "Never mind."
"Technically, you'll be responsible for arranging my marriage." Azkadellia said quietly and DG let out a dry laugh.
"Yeah right. Az, you marry whoever the hell you want to." She said firmly and then gave Glitch a wicked grin. "Rex Nikan seemed very keen on you."
Azkadellia flushed, glancing at Glitch who was glaring at DG. DG laughed.
~*~
Azkadellia felt like she spent most of her time in the basement these days. This suited her, happy to pass the hours chatting with Glitch and watching him create fantastic machines with more enthusiasm than she'd ever seen put into anything.
"One and half spanner." He called and she selected the correct tool, passing it to him. He tightened a bolt and then straightened, scratching his head.
"That should do it."
He tossed the spanner to one side and grinned at her.
"Think it'll work?"
"If you made it? Of course." Azkadellia smiled and Glitch laughed.
"You're a flatterer, Azkadee. You're going to be a social butterfly by the end of the season."
"I doubt it." Azkadellia said quietly, picking awkwardly at a nail. "I felt so out of place today."
"They adored you." Glitch said dismissively and then his expression darkened slightly. "Some more than others."
She smiled, biting her lip.
"You mean Rex Nikan?"
"Hmm." Glitch had picked up a cloth and was buffing the surface of the machine. Azkadellia shook her head.
"He was a good friend. We were close as children."
"Hmm."
"Glitch?" He looked up, still disgruntled. Azkadellia stood from her stool and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm glad I have you."
~*~
DG was in a bad mood. It was the morning of the parade and from the minute she'd left her room, there had been two CCP officers following her. She turned on them as they walked down the corridor.
"What are you doing?" They had looked at each other uncertainly.
"Uh, Lord Cain ordered us to guard you until the parade." One said and DG closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Right. Of course he did." She put her hands on her hips. "Where is he?"
"At breakfast."
"OK. Just out of curiosity, you have to protect me if I'm attacked?" They nodded. "What if I attack somebody? What's your stance on that?"
They looked at her, clearly unsure if she was joking or not. DG shook her head, rubbing her forehead.
"Don't worry about it." She muttered, turning to go downstairs.
Cain, Glitch and Azkadellia were in the breakfast room, the Queen and Consort having gone off to various meetings. Cain looked up as DG entered, followed by the two guards.
"Cain, what's with the guards?" She said, not even greeting them. Azkadellia smirked.
"I told you she wouldn't like it."
"Nobody is going to attack me whilst I'm still inside the palace, this is just paranoia gone mad!" DG argued, taking her seat opposite Cain, who was looked resolute.
"If paranoia stops you getting attacked, I'm happy with it." He said, continuing to eat his eggs. DG scowled and reached for the coffeepot.
"You could have asked first." She muttered.
"You would have said no." He pointed out and Azkadellia started laughing. DG threw her sister a glare before turning to Glitch.
"What's happening today?"
"The parade starts at noon, we'll have you and Cain in the carriage by quarter to. Azkadellia, Raw and I will be in the car behind the carriage. The route goes through the centre of Central City and then turns counter clockwise, returning to the palace. It should take just under an hour and once you're back at the palace, we'll broadcast your speech." He eyed her. "Your speech is ready, isn't it?"
"Yes sir." She nodded, "I've been practising it all week. What about our parents, are they not coming?"
"No, they're going to wait here and prepare for your first royal broadcast." Glitch said, wiping his mouth and standing. "I'll go and find Raw."
"I've hardly seen him since the ball." DG commented and Glitch nodded.
"He's been busy compromising the trading routes to the Viewer lands."
Cain stood too and walked around the table to kiss the top of DG's head as she chewed her toast.
"I'm just looking out for you, sweetheart." He said quietly before leaving the room. DG rubbed her eyes.
"How am I supposed to be mad at him when he's that gorgeous?" She asked a smiling Azkadellia.
~*~
Cain was by the carriage at half past eleven, examining every inch of it. Jeb stood nearby, grinning at his father.
"Dad, we've checked it five times over. Every inch of the parade route has been inspected and there are three hundred soldiers and officers on duty."
Cain grunted in reply as DG came down the steps at the front door, dressed in a bright blue dress, the Emerald glinting around her neck. She smiled at Jeb, embracing him.
"Is he giving you trouble, Jeb?"
"As always." The young man said, grinning. Cain eyed them, looking resigned.
"I'm just doing my job."
"Your job today is to be future consort." DG said, taking his hand. "Can't you just be that?"
Jeb watched in amusement as his father's stoic expression softened and DG stepped into his embrace.
"Fine." He relented and DG smiled brightly, turning to climb into the carriage, Cain's hands on her waist as he lifted her.
DG turned in her seat, watching as Azkadellia and Glitch climbed into the royal car behind the horse drawn carriage. She could hear the roar of the crowd already, thousands of people from all over the O.Z. gathered for this first public glimpse of the first heir. Cain settled opposite DG in the comfortable seats, so he had his back to the driver and horses.
"Are you ready for this?" DG asked and he smiled, leaning across to clasp her hand.
"Not even slightly. You?"
"Nuh uh." DG shook her head, grinning. "I just feel terrified. Good thing you're here to keep me sane."
"Ready to go?" The driver asked politely and DG swallowed hard, smiling as the gates opening and the carriage lurched forward towards the streets of Central City.
The screams were deafening and DG couldn't help laughing as clouds of confetti descended from the rooftops, people perched on chimneys waving at the carriage. DG looked across at Cain, who had that familiar crooked smile on his face at the ruckus.
"This is insane!" She laughed and he nodded as the carriage moved down the long main street. Cain watched, swelling with pride as she raised a hand, waving at the crowd, who screamed loudly.
DG felt like a celebrity at a red carpet party as she watched people jumping up and down, waving banners and throwing confetti. She turned to look at the other side of the street, waving at the people there and smiling widely.
These people were happy to see her. They were glad to have her as their queen, and they wanted her to be the one who helped heal the O.Z. The thought filled DG with awe and fear, but mostly she felt pride. She wanted so much to help these people who cheered for her and be a queen they would be proud of.
She looked across at Cain, at the man who would be her rock during their reign. Even now he was watching her, solid and certain. A rush of love welled in her and she smiled at him adoringly. She couldn't say anything then and there, he probably wouldn't be able to hear her anyway, but his nod assured her that he knew exactly what she was thinking.
There was a loud noise and DG looked around, laughing as some young men on a rooftop let off some sort of firework that exploded brightly coloured streamers over the parade route. She twisted to the left in her seat to watch as they fell onto the crowd and it was only because she had moved this way, half raised out of her seat that the bullet hit her shoulder and not her head.
Cain watched, frozen to the spot as DG's shoulder exploded in a spray of blood that spattered her pale blue dress, scattering over his own shirt and the force of the blow knocked DG back. Their eyes met for less than a second as she tumbled back and fell from the carriage.
A/N: Dun dun duuuun.
Oh yeah. I'm mean. Leave a review!
Lots of Love
Katie