AN: So we are finally at 30 chapters and I can't believe it! This is longer than I could ever predict it and I wouldn't cahange it for the world. With this, the chapter!
Chapter Thirty
Monday, November Eighteenth
Louis woke up to an alarm clock he doesn't remember setting and wallpaper he's certain his room doesn't have. It takes him a minute, but he remembers that he isn't at home. He's in Zuni and is going to meet Anna's family.
There is no maid, no butler, no servant here to tell him the time or remind him that he's supposed to be dressed formally for the day. Louis relishes in the aloneness before Anna knocks on the door.
He opens the door, not realizing he's nowhere near ready for the day.
Anna asks, "You ready?"
Louis laughs before closing back the door. He quickly gets ready, throwing on a white and black tee shirt with light wash jeans and a brown jacket. Anna told him not to dress too formally yesterday.
In all honesty, Louis doesn't know what to expect. He knows that Anna lives and works on her family farm. He knows that they aren't like other farmers, being a family business which makes them fours instead of sevens. He knows about Kile Beckham and their relationship. He knows that she wasn't really good friends with any of the selected and that she is one of the prettiest and wise girls Louis has ever met.
Other than that, Louis doesn't know anything about her.
He walks out of the room with his shoes in hand. He sees Anna by the door. She's wearing overalls and a long sleeve, striped shirt with a pair of workboots. It's an outfit he's never seen on her, but he can tell that it's more natural to her than the dresses and heels the palace has forced her to wear.
"Ready to go?" Anna asks, she has a backpack of her things, things to take to the family she's left behind for Louis and the selection.
Louis quickly slips on his shoes, "Are you driving?"
Anna nods, "You have nothing to worry about."
As they leave the hotel room, guards walk behind them, officially having their post move. Louis tosses Anna the keys to their rental car and she starts driving. Louis plays music, remembering Anna had requested jazz music the night before. He isn't the biggest fan, but since she's planned the day around him, it's the least he can do.
The guards are following them in a similar car; Anna leads them out of the downtown area and past the suburbs into the farms and ranches of Santa Fe. Louis will admit, he's enjoying himself so far. The music is nice and the scenery is pretty. The car is mostly silent. Anna likes her focus while driving.
They pull up to a large farm, the edges of the place lined with trees on 3 of the four sides. Anna parks beside a bright red pickup truck. The guards park beside her.
"So who all should be here?" Louis asks. He adjusts his shirt collar, nerves slowly rose in him.
Anna turns to him, "My parents and siblings, only."
"Tabitha and Samuel are your siblings right?"
"Yes."
"What about your parent's names?"
"I'd stick to calling them Mr. and Mrs. Marque," Anna laughs, "They like the respect."
"Alright." Louis rubs his hand on his pant leg and opens the door, "I'm ready."
"I hope so," Anna remarks, opening the other door, "They're waiting on the porch."
Louis turns to look at a redhead couple. They're sitting in rocking chairs. He wonders how long they have been waiting for the pair.
Anna grabs Louis hand, but Louis moves it so they are arm-in-arm.
Before Mr. Marque can bow to Louis, he lets out a hand, "Mr. Marque, thank you for having me."
He gives a slight nod while his wife interjects, standing beside her husband now, "The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness."
"Please," he extends the hand once shaking Mr. Marque's to Mrs. Marque, "Call me Louis."
"And call my husband and I, William and Jessica." She turns around, leading the four into a hug. Louis hears a car pull up, but doesn't worry about it. It's most likely Samuel, Anna's older brother.
Anna looks back at the car, her face pales, but she shakes her head. She's just paranoid.
As they step inside, Louis realizes it's the epitome of the christian countryside that Charlie used to laugh about. It's Louis turn to shake his head; he can't afford to think about Charlie right now. This time is about Anna and her family.
Another redhead runs towards Anna. He quickly detangles from her side, worried about getting knocked over by the hug. Her hair is long like Anna's, though, it's in a ponytail. Anna doesn't wear ponytails at the palace. She wears the occasional bun, but her hair is almost always down.
Louis couldn't imagine Anna in a ponytail. He couldn't imagine her living in a stereotypical house like this. He couldn't imagine everything in the file. Louis knows there isn't much he knows about her, but that's what this trip is for: realizing if Anna could really be a queen to Illéa.
"Tabitha!" "Anna!" The screams are in sync. The smile on Anna's face widens further than he's ever seen it.
"Oh I've missed you Anna!"
"I've missed you more!"
"Unlikely."
"Now listen here一"
"Girls." Their father commands the room. Louis would remark it's gentler than how his father does it, more paternal than patriarchal; he starts to regret going to see the selected's family, especially if he's just going to be reminded of his family over and over again. William Marque continues, "let's head to the dining room, breakfast is being served."
Anna grabs Louis hand. Tabitha tells them not to eat without her as she runs outside. William and Jessica don't try to stop her and Anna laughs at her sister's antics.
They get to the dining room. It's definitely smaller than the palace's dining hall, but it's bigger than he expected.
"Why did she set up six plates?" Jessica asks, "she knew Samuel wasn't going to make it."
"He's not coming?" Anna asks.
William replies, "No, Heidi is on bedrest and he wanted to stay beside her for the time being."
"So you all are two people down on the farm?" Anna asks.
Jessica darts into the kitchen and comes back with plates of food, "Only for a short while; when Heidi has the twins, Sam will start coming back in. Your help with the books, even when you're at the palace, is grateful."
"No problem." Anna replies.
"Tabitha!" William's voice raises, but not out of anger, "Get in here!"
Not a moment later, Tabitha runs in, dragging a blond haired man behind her. Louis recognizes him as the man in the file: the man Anna was engaged to and aborted a baby with.
Anna's not expecting him. She tenses up and her face pales. The guy's eyes widen. They're blue, not icy like his or a night sky like Anna's, but the ocean in the middle of the day. He's wearing a polo and khakis with sunglasses hanging in the neckline and brown loafers. His watch is real and expensive. He looks out of place on the Marque Ranch.
"That's why she set up six plates." Jessica Marque comments, setting the plates of food down.
Kile is the first one to speak, "Anna, you look一fantastic."
"Thanks." She replies. There is a slight beat in the conversation, all but Tabitha doesn't see how awkward everything just became. Anna introduces the two, "Louis, meet Kile Beckham. Kile, meet Louis Schreave."
"His Royal Highness, Louis Schreave." Louis extends his hand, but not before slipping his title. Kile shakes it, "Kile Beckham."
"Great!" Tabitha claps her hands once, "Since everyone is here, we can eat."
Instead of going to show Louis around town, like she promised after breakfast, Anna climbs a tree. A freemont cottonwood tree stands tall and music plays from a small speaker.
Anna scales the tree quickly, her outfit making it possible. Louis, who has never climbed a tree in his life, takes a moment to get up there with her. He's quiet, knowing that this is personal for her.
He can tell that she wasn't expecting Kile, neither was anyone else besides Tabitha. Louis isn't supposed to know about Kile, about what went down between the pair. However, he knows. His knowledge puts Anna in a new light, clears the light why she's so wise on heavy issues.
She'd make a good queen. Wise, handles heavy issues well, can keep delicate palace secrets. Louis enjoys her and she is able to get him out of his low periods. Though, something doesn't sit right about making her queen. He can already tell that Anna would be reluctant to leave her family behind in order for the life of a queen.
"First time climbing a tree?" Anna smiles softly as a soft song plays on.
Louis nods, "Yeah actually. I couldn't get away from my nannies to go outside, let alone injure myself."
"You didn't hurt yourself climbing the tree."
"The guards were eying me the entire time." Louis admits, "I could tell that they feared I'd break my neck."
"You'd probably fracture your arm," Anna responds, "nothing too bad."
"You sound like you come from personal experience."
"I do." Anna replies, "I fractured my arm when I was nine and had to be put into a cast."
"How long had you been climbing trees before then."
"Hundreds of times."
"Really?"
Anna nods, "I've climbed every tree on this ranch."
"I can see the fall didn't deter you from tree climbing."
"Yeah." Anna laughs, "Guess I really like trees."
"Which one is your favorite?" Louis asks, "out of the whole farm?"
"This one."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Anna replies, "It's important."
"Why?"
"It's a family thing," Anna answers, "every time one of us breaks a promise, we sit in this tree."
"What promise did you break?"
"Kile." Anna replies, "I promised his family that I'd never associate with him. And, in good faith, I joined the selection, proving that I was over him. I guess after seeing him, I realize I'm not. Which also broke the most important promise, the one I made to myself about never climbing this tree because of him."
"I'm glad you told me."
Anna admits, "Me too."
There is silence between the pair, only soft music, music he'd only associate with Anna, plays.
"I think I have to stay here, stay home." Anna breaks the silence, "I think it's wrong to continue the selection when my heart is not in it."
Louis takes a deep breath, "I get it."
"Would you mind?" Anna clarifies, "If I stayed?"
"You'd be a great leader Anna and I would be happy with you if you became my wife," Louis answers, "but, you also deserve to be happy."
There is a beat of silence before Anna continues, "Thank you for letting me stay. I really appreciate it."
"I have a couple of things to ask of you." Louis tells her, "keep in touch with me, become a leader somehow, and stay happy throughout all of your life, Anna."
"I'll do that." Anna's voice cracks from crying. Louis brings his hand to his face, realizing he's crying as well.
Anna descends the tree and then Louis. The pair pull each other into a hug.
Louis speaks first, "Go and be with Kile."
"Go find love as well," Anna replies, "I'm certain all four of the girls back at the palace would make great queens."
Anna waves him off and Louis heads towards the car, signalling for the guards to leave also. He turns on the GPS and cancels the fancy dinner date he had planned for that night. He needs to head home and make sure all of Anna's stuff gets shipped back to her.
