Sorry for the delay in posting. I'm almost done with the last few chapters of this fic, it's looking to end at 44, including the epilogue, so things will be coming to a head very soon. Sometimes characters take matters into their own hands and I love where these have taken me. Thanks again for the review and the support, we're getting very close to 1000 reviews on ffn and 300 on twcs. Catch you all in a few weeks.
Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 38
From the moment Edward told me of the change in our station, time seemed to speed by.
My first official business was to take over all of Esme's charitable work. Much like the king sat and listened to those who had plights that the state would need to see to; the queen had a list of foundations and institutions, not to mention individuals with needs that granted them special consideration.
Thankfully, Esme had in-depth notes on each person and organization that was currently receiving funds, and what was required to see them continue. Several of the individuals that were making requests were from the peerages run by Lord James, Lord Eleazar, and Lord Riley, which would be brought up when the time was right, but I knew Edward would not want me to strike that particular blow at the moment.
So, on top of the new responsibilities I had as Queen of Masen, I also had a coronation to plan. I was content to see the women who had so spectacularly planned my wedding aid me, but Countess Carmen thought she should attempt to intervene.
"Majesty, I could help you with the planning, something like this should be done with respect to the traditions of the country, and I feel you've not spent enough time here to know all you will need."
Irritated by her mere presence, I snapped. "True, I've only lived here two years, but my knowledge of this country and its customs wouldn't be so poor if the woman sent to tutor me hadn't been so thoroughly lacking. This is the beginning of a new reign for the Cullen line and you may find that things will change as needed. Your place at Court was linked directly to the whim of the monarchs, and as you and your husband seem to enjoy insulting me and undermining me at every turn, a time may come when your status is greatly diminished."
"As the holder of the county seat at Denali, my husband could withdraw his support of your husband, leaving the amount of grain being given to the capital for distribution diminished."
Not about to cower at her threats, I countered, "And Royal troops could flood the border of Denali and make more than grain production difficult."
Seeing that she would not win, Carmen stormed off, much to my enjoyment.
It was later that evening that Edward walked in with Emmett in tow. "Bella, did you threaten Carmen?"
"We were both speaking hypothetically. She told me that I didn't know enough about Masen to plan our coronation, so I reminded her that she was the reason why and that a time might come when they aren't so highly esteemed. She then said Eleazar might withdraw his support and the surplus grain from their county, and I said that Royal troops in the county would cause more issues than grain could fix. I know you feel we need to bide our time but I want nothing more than to see them all put in their place."
"And it will happen shortly, but I need us on the throne first," Edward reminded.
"I will leave you both to discuss the plans for the coming weeks. Have a good evening, Sister," Emmett said as he left the room.
"How are the coronation plans coming?"
"The coronation itself is set, so it is simply a matter of us learning our responses to the head priest and then the creation of our coronation outfits. I've ordered the garments made in the traditional hunter green for you and Prussian blue for me."
Smiling, Edward leaned in. "And the feast?"
"It will be truly decadent; though I wish Esme and Carlisle could be there. I understand why they must remain at your estate, but I still will miss them."
"I do too, Darling, but father needs his time to heal."
Continuing to detail the specifics of our coronation until dinner arrived, Edward and I ate and after some time spent with Antonia, we handed her off to Lucy with Stella hot on her heels.
"Perhaps I should get our daughter a pet?" Edward mused as I shook my head.
"Wait until she is old enough to remember the animal and enjoy it."
With a disappointed look, Edward agreed and then we retired for the night.
The weeks leading up to the coronation were moving quickly and before I even knew it, the day was upon us. Though Edward didn't know it, I'd been cleared for intimacy by the midwife, so tonight after we were officially crowned King and Queen of Masen, we would be able to celebrate privately.
Dressed to the nines and holding a sleeping Antonia in my hands, I exited my rooms to find Edward approaching.
"You look stunning, My Queen," Edward said as his hand slid to the small of my back to guide me out to the main hallway where the stairs led to the entrance of the castle.
We climbed into the open carriage and, as we did on our wedding day, rode to the North Hill where the coronation would take place. The crowds were out in force, cheering as we passed, but the slow climb to the top of the hill due to the people lining the route was much easier with Edward seated beside me.
When we reached the hilltop, Rosalie was there to take charge of Antonia, who would be crowned in her own tiny tiara as the princess of Masen.
The head priest looked to us once we were in place before he began the ceremony. Edward shouldered most of the ceremony, as I'd agreed in our wedding vows to stand by him, so when he accepted the mantle of the crown as King, he was accepting it for me as well. My main job was to sit and look regal while he made the oath and was presented with the symbols of his reign. The sword of justice was slipped into the scabbard he'd worn as part of his outfit, while the scepter of power was placed in his right hand. The final act was for us to drink from the chalice of truth, which we both did before Edward was crowned King and I was crowned Queen.
Antonia was brought forward and the tiny circlet was placed on her head, ending the ceremony with chants of 'long live the king and queen'.
The ride back through the crowds of people seemed to take even longer as we descended the hill, but eventually we were escorted back to our rooms for a chance to freshen up and then join our coronation celebration.
Walking in on Edward's arm, the room dropped into a deep bow and it was at that moment that I realized what had only seemed like a dream until that moment. Edward and I were the king and queen. I was happy Carlisle was still alive, because once he returned to Court we would be leaning on he and Esme in private, but we were the ones making the decisions for Masen. I knew Edward had something planned for his first council session tomorrow; it would likely stir things up if his comments were to be taken at full value.
We took our seats and began the feast, knowing soon there would be dancing that I would just as soon avoid.
The food was delicious, and Edward was sure to lean in and whisper his love often, telling me how proud he was to have me as his queen, and how beautiful I looked. The moment was perfect, but soon we had to leave the head table and open the dancing.
I took my turns with Edward and Emmett, even enjoying my dances with Garrett and his brother, Ben, before I had to move to less savory partners. James was clearly indulging in the wine as his eyes remained on my bosom instead of where it was appropriate, and Lord Riley seemed to be distracted more than anything.
The most shocking turn of events was when Count Eleazar refused to dance with me at all, but thankfully, Baron Sam was there to take my hand and soften the snub.
"It is appalling how some nobles act," he spoke part way through the dance. "They seem to forget that they don't hold the power in the relationship. But you shouldn't fear, Your Majesty, you will always have the loyalty of your Barons."
"Where is Baron Charles? I had noticed that he was missing."
"Baroness Renee is ill. He returned to their home a few days ago but urged his daughters to remain behind until after the coronation. I believe he is trying to secure their futures with the young men that accompanied your brother."
"There is time for that, if they must return home-"
"They will, Majesty. My wife is taking them in the morning. Lord Charles left on horseback to save time. It isn't so dire that two days will make a difference, but her time is dwindling."
"I will need to speak with them before the night is over. Thank you, Sam, for this dance."
"The pleasure was mine, Majesty."
Seeing the girls where they sat at a table with my brother's companions, I offered them my sympathy and reminded them that if needed, I would help them before returning to Edward's side.
We danced for a time, before I urged him to return to our chambers for the night.
With another bow as the room stopped to acknowledge our departure, we made our way to our chambers. Edward stopped by his own room to change, while I had my maids work to strip me before dismissing them. My hair was loose and wild from the style it had been in all day, and the robe Edward had given me when I first arrived was the only article of clothing I wore.
"You cleared the room? Is there something you wanted to discuss?" Edward asked as the doors closed behind him for the night.
"The only thing I want to discuss is how much I've missed my husband."
I watched as his face fell slightly. "Bella, I'm sorry, but with all the stress of taking over for my father I've had less time to spend with you and Antonia. But I promise to be better."
"Edward, no, I didn't mean it like that. I was speaking of how I've missed the intimacy we've been unable to indulge in. But with everything that's passed in the last month, so has the required waiting time." I dropped my robe to reveal myself to my husband.
"Oh, I've missed you, my love," Edward whispered as he closed the distance between us.
His own robe hit the floor and I sighed at the sight of my beautiful husband. In nothing but his britches, I was still in awe of my Edward and the fact that I could call him mine.
"No tears, Bella."
Wiping at my face to feel that a few errant tears had fallen, I stepped into his embrace and felt just how much he loved me. "They're happy tears, Edward. I still have a hard time believing you're mine sometimes."
"Always, My Queen. Now let me love you."
Edward lifted me onto the bed and kicked off his britches, joining me so we could begin a dance we hadn't done for almost half a year.
Edward took his time, kissing and stroking me, building the fire in my body until I was ready for him. Feeling him fill me was too perfect for words. With all that we had lived through in the past few months, I needed this connection. Edward set a rhythm that was unhurried, taking his time with me. I followed his movements, savoring every thrust.
As much as we wanted to draw out the moment, our bodies had other plans and soon we were falling over the edge together. After our bodies relaxed, Edward pulled the blankets up to cover us as I drifted to sleep.
The following morning, I woke to Edward's hands drifting along my spine as he whispered to me. "I need to get dressed so that I can start my day, but I wanted to talk to you first."
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing that won't be handled, but I have a morning council meeting and by the time it is over there will no longer be a council."
"What?"
"I'm dissolving this group of self important men. If I need to hear the opinions of my nobles, I can call a special meeting, but for the everyday running of my kingdom I don't need James and Eleazar telling me everything I'm doing wrong."
"Do you think it is wise to provoke them?"
"Emmett and I know they're not ready to move, anything they were to try now would be too soon after my father's accident for people to accept that it wasn't a larger plot. I will keep you safe, but if you could stay in here until I come and find you, I'd prefer if you weren't in the Great Hall where someone could strike at you in some way for my choice."
"You believe they would strike at me in the Great Hall?"
"Not physically," Edward explained, "but I don't want them to say anything that might upset you. James likes making inappropriate comments to you, and the Denali family has no problem speaking their mind. Just find a way to occupy yourself today and I promise tomorrow everything will be fine."
"You'll come and get me before dinner?" I asked.
"I will, but for now I must leave. Enjoy your day, my wife."
My morning was spent looking over some of the documents on charitable groups that would soon come up for review, while my quiet afternoon was soon interrupted by Rosalie. She came flying into my rooms in a full panic, so much so that the guards hadn't tried to stop her to allow my ladies to announce her.
"Isabella, we must speak at once, it is of the utmost importance," she wheezed out.
"You may all leave us," I told my maids before gesturing towards the library. "We'll have more privacy in here, so you may say whatever it is that has you so worked up."
Once we were in the office, and the door was locked, I turned to my friend where she paced the floor.
"I was supposed to be meeting Emmett for lunch, so I went to his rooms to see what had delayed him when I overheard a conversation between him and the king."
"Rosalie, it isn't wise to be eavesdropping on conversations between the king and prince. Now what specifically did they say that upset you so," I asked, worried for what she had learned.
"Emmett told your husband that Lord Eleazar and Lord James are furious over his loss of status now that the council has been dissolved. But Emmett convinced James that it will work to his advantage when he becomes King. Because the changes will be in place from the previous reign, and he won't look like he's trying to take all the power from those who might oppose him. They were calmly talking about the end of Edward's reign, and it seems that Emmett is a part of this."
Sighing, I gripped her wrist, ceasing her movement as I brought her to the settee to try and reassure her as much as I was able to.
"I know what you heard was very upsetting, but there is reason for all of it."
"But I don't under-" she tried, but I silenced her with a look.
"I will tell you all that I can, but you must let me tell it."
Preparing myself to let her know what we were facing, I turned to her fully and began the sorted story. "Before Carlisle took the throne, there were several families that had some kind of claim to the throne. Many didn't want it, and one couldn't claim it since it was an illegitimate claim, that was James' father. But, if something were to happen to the Cullen family, there is no legitimate claim that is stronger than James', so it is his plan to remove us from the throne.
"Most of what we know was learned from Emmett, as our father told him to get close to the Duke when he arrived. It was why he was in their room the day he yelled at me for interfering with his affairs. We believe that James is the one that placed the illegal lance in your brother's hand, nearly killing King Carlisle, and he has hopes of removing us as well and using his alliance with Genoa to legitimize his reign."
"And Ohi," she whispered.
"What connection does he have with Ohi?" I asked.
"Me," she gasped. "Three nights ago, at your Coronation Ball I danced with him at one point and he requested a moment with me in private. I didn't feel entirely comfortable, but Lady Tanya was with us so I felt it would be all right for a moment. What I didn't know was that Lady Tanya had no problem watching him manhandle me, saying the crudest things before promising to make it possible for us to meet like that in the future."
"What do you mean by manhandle?" I asked, afraid of the answer.
"He pawed at me and kissed me, in a way your brother is too polite to ever try even though we are courting. And saying I should choose a man over the boy I was currently with, because he would know how to make me weak with desire without having to fully remove my dress."
I could see in her eyes that she was trying to keep her composure, as it seemed that Lord James had become even more brazen.
"I am sorry you had to experience that side of James, I've seen glimpses of it too, but he was never so bold as to lay a hand on me.
"James is going to make a play for the throne, and he will likely use you to gain his upper hand. He is dangerous and for your own safety, I think you should return to Ohi and inform your father of your wish to marry Emmett and he can arrange the betrothal without you being in Masen."
Rosalie sat up straight, alarmed by what I was telling her. "You would send me away, when I can be an asset?"
"Rosalie, what you experienced at James' hands is only the beginning of the kind of man he is, I couldn't ask you to put yourself at risk like that just to protect us."
"You aren't asking, I'm offering," she said firmly. "If he believes he has Emmett to help him get inside Edward's head, and he has me for whatever perverse ideas he sees for me in the future, we can use that to help rid the country of him once and for all."
"But what if he makes another move like he did the other night?" I pushed.
"Ohi is stricter in our courting rules, though not as strict as Genoa. I believe he wants me as his queen, because if he doesn't then he'll get nothing from me. But if I can convince him that something could happen in the future, while gaining details of his plan, it might be just what you need."
"Emmett would kill me if I allowed it," I said.
"We aren't asking his permission," she responded.
"All right, as you seem determined to do this I ask one thing, that you never meet with him alone. Set up meetings in places where I can be present in secret."
"Done," she said. "It is time we bring this scoundrel down."