CH 25 : 4 Years later
A young woman stood staring at a neatly made bed in a cleaned, empty room. A calendar surrounded by several stacks of papers and letters, rested next to an almost filled luggage bag. She gently brushed her long, platinum blonde hair one last time before placing it into the bag. Then, the calendar and stacks of papers. She stopped to glance at the letters.
"To Lily," each letter began. Lily had accumulated hundreds of letters, but she kept the most important and packed them in her bag. She received letters from the little hatter, Clara, who was her very best friend, and Charlie who would often say hello in her letters. There were several from her mother, of course, but then there were William's letters.
William had written to her every day since the moment she left. On the top of the stack was the first letter he had sent, given to her by Clara on the day of her departure. Lily could only imagine what the young man looked like now. She was never able to return for Christmas that first year. Instead, her mother had travelled to visit her instead. But even her mother's visits became less frequent.
"Princess," Holly stepped through the doorway into Lily's room. The woman smiled at the Princess with such love and respect, "Are you ready to go home?"
The thought of home brought a small smile to the young face, "Very much so." Another person stepped from behind Holly wearing a sleek, fancy suite. Lily's smile disappeared, "Frederick."
"Princess," he flashed a charming smile as he approached her. "May I?" Fredrick picked up her bag and offered his arm to escort her. Lily locked arms with the young man and walked with him while Holly followed from behind.
As Lily walked, she hoped and prayed William would not hate her when the finally met again.
"Hurry up! I don't want to miss being there when Lily gets back!" Clara yelled outside a small cottage.
"Clara, we better hurry if we want to be there to greet her," Tarrant Hightopp called from the carriage with his wife sitting next to him.
Charlie fumbled through the doorway of the cottage with a bag in one hand and his hat in the other. "Someone needs to check on William. I think he's having a meltdown," he smirked and placed his back in the Hightopp's carriage.
Clara rolled her eyes and stormed through the door and up the stairs into a small room. There, she found William constantly straightening out his suit, ruffling his hair, and then combing it again. She stood in the bedroom doorway and watched the young man amusingly. William noticed Clara in the mirror and turned around.
"How do I look?" he asked nervously. "You think she'll be happy to see me?" William continued to fix his suite. Clara stepped forward and brushed his shoulders.
"Lily will be very happy to see you," Clara smiled. "I mean, you two wrote each other almost every day," she teased, causing him to smile. "Now, come on. As the Princess' best friends, we can't be late."
Marmoreal was the most lively it had been in years. All of the citizens were preparing for their beloved Princess' return home. The Kingdom of Marmoreal was draped in colorful decorations and filled with music. They had missed the littler girl that would run and greet everyone with a cheerful smile and joy filled laugh. But most of all, they missed seeing their beloved White Queen happy.
"Your majesty," the maids rushed up to their queen and quickly bowed, "the table is broken in the ball room."
Mirana, as calm as ever, simply smiled, "Simply take one of the tables from the dining room. I'm sure no one will notice." The maids nodded and hurried off. As they disappeared, worry began to cover the Queen's face.
"You don't look so good," Chessure appeared with a mischievous grin.
"I just want to be sure that this party is ready by the time she gets here," Mirana said as she walked down the halls, examining everyone frantically setting everything up.
"No," the cat knowingly said, following the White Queen, "Something else."
Mirana sighed quietly and whispered, "I'm worried about Lily. I don't know how much she's changed… it's been three years since I've seen her now. She's 17," The Cheshire Cat floated around, flicking his tail back and forth. She curiously turned to the cat, "You've visited her, what has become my little Lily?"
Chessure shook his head, "I went to visit Lily, but it was not Lily who I visited." Mirana frowned at the cat's words and sadly looked away. "But," he floated upside down in front of the Queen's face, "We all know our Lily can't be kept a prisoner forever."
With that last comment, the cat slowly vanished with a huge grin on his face.
There was a sudden loud clash and an echoing of glass down the hall that made Mirana flinch. With a quiet sigh, she forced a calm and gentle smile to go scope out the crash.
"There it is!" Clara exclaimed from the window of the carriage. Her parents both chuckled at their excited teenage daughter. The carriage came to a halt and Clara pushed past both of the boys, stepping on Charlie's foot as she scrambled out.
"Clara!" Charlie rolled his eyes. Both her parents shook their heads and lifted their shoulders.
Well…It has been a long time," William said a little nervously, with a slight sparkle in his eyes at the thought of Lily. "She's just excited."
William's trance was interrupted as Charlie punched his shoulder, "Sure has been." Charlie teased as he jumped out of the carriage, laughing,
Charlie joined Clara, grasping her hand, as she was running up to the castle doors. Mirana noticed that Charlie and Clara were holding hands and smiled at the two.
"Why… are you two…"
"Yes, they are," Tarrant said as he came up behind them. "I myself am still getting used to it," he said, giving Charlie a threatening look, half serious and half joking.
Charlie nervously cleared his throat and straightened out his suit. Clara's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, "Dad, please!" she huffed.
"Oh, Tarrant, not here!" called Jannet as she came up and grasped her husband's hand.
"Jannet," Mirana warmly greeted with a smile, "How are you?" The White Queen pulled Jannet in for a soft hug.
"We've been very well, thank you," Jannet said. "How have you been?"
"My heart has been waiting for Lily for the past three years…but I've been well."
"It must have been quite lonely," Tarrant said.
Mirana solemnly nodded her head, but quickly brushed the sad away and wore a smile on her face.
"Well, any minute now!" Jannet assured her.
Lily tensely stared out the window of her carriage. She rode with Holly while Duke Murdock, Duchess Roanna, and their son Frederick rode in a separate carriage. She was excited to go home but, also not. Things wouldn't be the same now and she liked remembering home as a happy and fun place.
"Everything will be fine, Lily," Holly gently placed her hand on Lily's hand. "I'm sure they will all understand."
"Not even Mom knows," Lily breathed while her eyes remained fixated out the window. "Do you think they'll be mad with me? I mean…"
"Princess," Holly said gently, "They are your friends. I'm sure they will understand."
Lily solemnly nodded her head, "And Mom?"
"You know just as well as I that no one can predict how the Queen will react when it comes to her daughter."
Holly's comment did not ease her nerves and instead intensified them. Lily's hand tightened around Holly's as the Kingdom of Marmoreal came into view. Lily could hear the drumming of her heart in her chest as the small, white castle grew larger and larger. She closed her eyes as the royal horns filled the air.
"Woah," the carriage came to a halt and the trumpets began to play. For a brief moment, Lily was sure she'd pass out from the lack of oxygen.
"Breathe," Holly gently said as the door began to open. Holly stepped out from the carriage first as cheers began to sing over the symphony of trumpets.
Clara, William, and Charlie stood behind the crowd next to the Hightopps and Mirana. They excitedly awaited the appearance of their Lily. The three teenagers cheered happily.
Frederick stepped out of his carriage and made his way over to Lily's. He waited at the door and held his hand out. A small pale hand emerged from the shadows of the carriage and gently rested in his hand.
"What's he doing?" William's excitement fell as he watched Frederick.
Then, slowly and elegantly, emerged the White Princess. The family and friends gasped as the crowed exploded with more cheers. Their eyes were wide as the young woman locked arms with Frederick, waving and gracefully smiling at the crowd.
Clara took several takes looking at Lily and Mirana. "It's like looking in a mirror! Except, she's way younger," she exclaimed.
Mirana could see the difference in her Lily. Her daughter's smile was not as lively as she once remembered, and her eyes were not sparkling with true happiness. Nonetheless, she was ecstatic to see her daughter.
Lily noticed her family and friends waiting for her and gracefully separated from Frederick. She appeared to glide down the pathway in her long, light pink gown before finally embracing Mirana.
"It is so good to see you and have you home," Mirana lovingly embraced her daughter with a tight hug. "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too," Lily smiled brightly in her mother's embrace. Then, she caught sight of her friends, patiently waiting to greet her. "So much for being a little hatter," Lily teased and embraced her friend.
"Oh Lily, I've missed you," Clara ecstatically hugged her friend. They both giggled at one another. "It's been so quiet and boring around here."
Lily smiled and turned to Charlie and William, "And William and Charlie." Lily smiled at the two young men. They were both strapping young men and grinning happily at her. "I've missed you both as well."
"Thank you for finally being back!" Charlie hugged Lily un-expectantly. She softly giggled at his excitement. "Do you know how hard it is dating this girl," he pointed at Clara, "And not being exciting enough? Those were her words." Charlie happily smiled and stepped aside.
"Hey," William awkwardly smiled. "You look… you look really great," he nervously cleared his throat. "I-um," he rubbed the back of his head.
"I missed you too, Will," Lily said with a sincere smile that brought a grin to the young man's face.
"Your majesty," Chessure appeared, "The party?"
"Ah, thank you," Mirana turned to the announcer. "Please let everyone know the ball will begin."
The guard nodded and held the horn to his mouth, "The White Queen has announced the Ball is to begin now!"
The evening carried on with Lily standing attentively with her mother, the Duke and Duchess, and Frederick as they greeted their guests and citizens. Music played in the background and occasionally there would be a dance in which Lily would have to dance with Frederick. She was the Princess, but now she acted as the Princess.
The Ball room was filled with guests in lavished dresses and suits. Crystals and diamonds hung from the ceiling, creating a sparkling atmosphere to math the symphonic orchestra. The room sang with chatter and joy at the sight of their princess with their queen.
"Ah, Princess Lily," a counsel member bowed his head as the Princess nodded. "It's been quite a while since the last time we met."
"Indeed," Lily forced a pleasant smile. She remembered him. He was the man that had ordered for her to be sent away from home, from her mother.
"You have grown into a beautiful princess," he kissed the top of her hand.
"Well," she smirked, "I do take after my mother."
"Indeed," he agreed and continued to greet the next person.
That was how the majority of the night carried on. Lily played along, just as she had been taught. She maintained a royal composure and gracefully greeted everyone who came up to her, just as her mother did.
"I don't like him," William grimaced at Frederick in the corner while surrounded by his friends. He watched closely as Frederick and Lily talked to the guests and other people of importance. Maybe it was jealousy, he thought. "She hasn't even hung out with us."
"She's the princess," Charlie took a sip of his drink and shrugged. "I'm sure once this is all over and everything settles down, it'll be back to normal."
"Easy for you to say," Will mumbled. "You already got the girl."
Clara playfully slapped Will on the shoulder, "Quit moping and have some fun. Lily likes you, we all know it." Another song started, and the guests quickly grabbed a partner to begin dancing. "Come on Charlie," Clara grabbed at Charlie's hand. "Will, why don't you go ask Lily to dance."
William watched Charlie and Clara hurry onto the dance floor where they joined the other pairs. He chugged the rest of his punch and tossed the cup in the trash. Lily wasn't speaking to anyone in particular at the moment. Now was his chance. She stood perfectly next to the Queen. It was intimidating. But he forced himself.
"Princess," William formerly greeted, a smile formed on her face and her eyes brightened, "May I have this dance?" he held out his hand.
"I thought you'd never ask," Lily rested her hand in his as he led her onto the dance floor.
They danced among the other pairs, gracefully encircling the floor with the beat of the smooth music. Many of the dancers stepped outside of the dance floor to watch their princess dance.
"So, how have you been?" Will asked as they danced.
Lily giggled, "That's what you ask? I've been good. I've told you everything in my letters."
"Yes, well…I was just making sure," he nervously smiled. "I've really missed you."
"I've missed you too, Will. A lot," she smiled, but then the joy began to fade. "But there's something I have to tell you."
"Hey, I was hoping that once everything settles down, you might want to grab dinner sometime?" The hope in William's eyes made Lily's heart ache. "If you want, of course. Or all of us can hang out again."
"Will, I would love to, but-"
The music suddenly stopped at the sound of silver tapping on glass. The dancing ceased, and everyone's attention turned to Frederick standing on the stage in front of the orchestra. Lilly's heart sank.
"May I please have your attention, everyone," Frederick began.
Lily rushed to her mother. Charlie, Clara and William noticed their friend's sudden urgency and hurried over to meet her.
"Mom, there's something I didn't tell you," Lily began urgently. Her heart pounded furiously in her chest creating an orchestra of drums in her ears.
"What is it, Lily?" Mirana curiously asked, observing her daughter's sudden uneasiness.
"I'm sure everyone is thrilled that Lily is finally home," Frederick's speech began followed with the guests cheering. "It has been several long years since being back in Marmoreal-"
"Lily, are you alright?" Clara then asked, but Lily said nothing. Her mouth moved, but nothing came out.
Frederick's speech became numb to Lily's ears as she glanced frantically at her friends and mother.
"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you," Lily sadly looked at her mother who was masked with confusion.
"And it is with great joy that I announce the big news that Lily and I are-" Frederick continued.
"Lily?" William breathed.
"Engaged to be married," Frederick raised his glace with a grin and took a sip while the room mixed with cheers and gasps.
There were gasps at the sound of glass shattering on the ground. Mirana stared speechlessly at her daughter, unaware the glass had slipped through her fingers. "Engaged," she managed to breathe through shock.
Lily turned to her friends, unsurprised by their shocked expressions, but she focused on Charlie. His confused, torn face tugged at her heart in so many directions. "Will, I-" she began, but he turned away and hurried out the room. She took off after him.