I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who is still reading this. I know there aren't a lot of you, but I really appreciate all of you.
And I want to give a special shout out to Demi Brackensick for taking the time to leave reviews- you're awesome!
The morning after the ball, Gaston and Helga joined the Queen for breakfast. They had been invited to stay in the castle- in separate rooms- and were woken up early by one of the servants. While Gaston still had clothes at the castle, Helga had nothing appropriate to wear, so the Queen provided her with a gown that looked completely ridiculous on her. He couldn't keep a straight face when he saw her, but he managed to get it together before they met his mother in the dining hall.
Breakfast had been mostly awkward, with no one saying anything. But, as they were finishing the meal, Gaston finally spoke up.
"Mother, Helga and I are engaged."
The Queen didn't look up from her plate as she carefully cut her food. "I see." She took a bite and said nothing further.
Helga glanced over at Gaston and he shrugged. Helga pressed pursed her lips. "Your Majesty, I-"
The Queen looked up at her. "Tell me something, Miss..." She paused. "I never did learn your family name."
"Sinclair-Jones, Your Majesty."
The Queen set down her silverware and folded her hands. "What makes you think you are worthy of my son and my kingdom, Miss Sinclair-Jones?"
"My mother is the sea goddess, Calypso, and my father-"
"Your parents' titles are hardly your accomplishments. Wouldn't you agree, Miss Sinclair-Jones?"
Gaston watched Helga, waiting for her to respond. He could step in to help her, but he enjoyed watching her flounder.
"Yes, Your Majesty. But, I am a princess," she finally replied.
Queen Grimhilde nodded once. "That's not a terrible start. However, being born into a royal family instead of a peasant family is something you lucked into, not something you accomplished."
"I'm a wealthy and prosperous sailor with many allies forged in respect and adoration, as well as fear. When I marry Prince Gaston, my allies will become Corona's allies, as well. Among those allies are my powerful mother and immortal father." Helga gave the queen a too- sweet smile. "I respect the way you have ruled this kingdom, Your Majesty. However, I know I am more than capable of taking your place."
Gaston choked on his breakfast. He downed his water as his mother glared at Helga.
"No one is taking my place, my dear. You can spin things all you want to make yourself sound more important than you really are, but I know you are nothing more than a pirate. I can certainly understand why my son is physically attracted to you. However... everyone at this table knows that's all there is between you and he will never make you his queen." Queen Grimhilde placed her hands on the table and stood. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think you have wasted enough of my time."
"Mother, I am marrying Helga," Gaston stated. "I am the only heir and true ruler of this kingdom and who I marry is my decision. We came to you out of respect, but you have no power over me and no say in my decisions. Helga Sinclair-Jones is the future queen of this kingdom."
Queen Grimhilde looked at her son with a bored expression, as if he was a child begging for the umpteenth time for a puppy. "Gaston, I am your mother; I brought you into this world and I know you. It's true you are the rightful ruler of this kingdom and the throne is yours if you want it; however, I know it's not what you want. I don't know what all of this is about..." The Queen gestured between Gaston and Helga. "...But, I suggest you sort it out. Once you're king, Gaston, death is the only way out."
X X X
After breakfast, Helga followed Gaston back to his room. She was saying something, but he was ignoring her.
Everything was laid out in front of Gaston. The throne was his, all he had to do was take it. He could marry Helga and his mom wouldn't stop him. In fact, he wasn't receiving any real resistance from his mother.
Because she knew he didn't want any of this.
He didn't want to be king. And he sure as hell didn't want to be married.
Gaston went along with Helga's plan because he needed safe passage back to Corona so he could get his ship. Now that he was back, he no longer needed her and had no reason to try to appease her.
No, that wasn't true. He had one reason: if he backed out, Davy Jones would be hunting him the moment he set sail again.
Gaston stormed into his room, slamming the door in Helga's face. She cursed him and flung open the door, following him in. She closed the door behind her and crossed her arms over her chest.
"That was too easy," Helga said. "Why is she just handing the crown over to you?"
"Because she has to. I am the rightful ruler," Gaston told her.
"If that were true, she wouldn't have been able to take the crown from you in the first place."
"She was able to because I didn't want it. I let her take it."
"Then let's move forward with our wedding and your coronation."
Gaston shook his head. "The Damned will be here any day. I need to prepare my kingdom for the attack. Everything else has to wait."
Helga let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh, for God's sake, Gaston; they're just bloody pirates!"
Gaston smirked at her. "Exactly, Helga: bloody. Every one of them is a killer; don't underestimate them."
"You're overestimating them."
"Am I? They managed to defeat your father."
"With help."
"Do you honestly believe they're going to show up here, knowing they'll be up against my soldiers, without help?"
"Who would help them?"
"Offhand, I'd say Agrabah's soldiers."
Helga gaped at him. "What?"
"One of the crew members is the princess of Agrabah. If Meg was smart- and she is- she'd use Jasmine to get her soldiers to fight alongside them."
Helga scoffed. "There is no way the Sultan would send his army to aid pirates."
Gaston arched an eyebrow at her. "You are going to make a lousy Queen of Corona, do you know that?" Helga narrowed her eyes at him. "Agrabah is Corona's greatest enemy. The two kingdoms have been feuding for generations. It would actually be incredibly easy for Jasmine to convince her father to attack us." Gaston shook his head in frustration. "Do you even know who Corona's greatest ally is?"
Helga stared him down before admitting, "No I don't."
Gaston barked out a mocking, disbelieving laugh. "It's Atlantis. You know... my former fiancee's kingdom; the kingdom right on the other side of our border. Or did you not even know Atlantis is next to Corona?" Helga didn't say anything. "Before I go make preparations, let me give you a quick education on one of our laws. If there are two rules- a king and a queen- and one of them dies, the surviving ruler is not allowed to engage in any sort of romantic relationship or courtship or get married for a full year after their spouse's passing. Which means, if you somehow succeed in killing me once we're married and you've gotten everything you want from me, you will be ruling this kingdom alone for a year. And if you don't know what you're doing, you will be forced to step down and the next in succession will take your place. In this case, it would go back to my mother. My mother may be cold and vain, but she is a good ruler and the people love her. It would not be hard for her to convince the people you are unfit to rule."
Helga smirked at him. "Then my first act as queen will be to abolish the law that states the people have a say in their monarchy."
Gaston smirked at her. "If a ruler became the ruler through marriage and not blood, they have to be on the throne for a decade before they can change or abolish any existing laws."
"That's absurd."
"It's to protect the kingdom. You think you're the first person to try to con their way onto the throne with ill intent?" Gaston walked over to the bookcase on the other side of the room. He pulled out a leather-bound book and dropped it in Helga's hands. "We both know you plan to kill me after we're married, so if I were you, I'd learn as much about Corona as possible or my people are going to tear you apart."