I had an idea. Hamilton but like kings and queens. but heres the thing i cant have Eliza be a queen if shes not the oldest child. so theyre her ladies instead.
let me know if i should continue this
washington is Alexanders dad
Betsey slowly climbed the twisty stairs. She looked down behind her. No guards had followed them. They used the secret passage ways. She listened for Alexander. She couldn't hear him. He was probably hiding on her and would jump out at any moment.
"Alex?" She called out as she looked in the empty rooms. The doors were heavy. Betsey jumped and screamed, covering her mouth when Alexander jumped out from behind one of the doors.
"Shh, we're not supposed to be up here", he laughed, gently hitting her arm. Betsey smiled at him. She slowly rubbed where he hit. She didn't want to tell him it hurt. She wanted to be strong like him.
Betsey watched the sunlight shine on his curly, dark hair. She climbed up on the bed to jump on it too. A pillow burst, sending feathers into the air around them.
Alexander grinned as he kept jumping.
Betsey pulled him down when she heard chatting. The guards must be near. She put her finger over her lips. They looked out the window at the view. They could see a tournament taking place. They would be too young to attend.
"When I am older, I am going to win the pink rose for you", Alexander told her. Betsey shrugged.
"Maybe I'll win my own rose", she frowned. Alexander shook his head. That's not the rules.
"You can't. You're not a prince", he argued with her.
"But I'm a queen?", she asked in confusion. Alexander covered her mouth as the guards walked by. They didn't stop the future king and queen of Scotland.
"It doesn't matter because once we're married, I'll be king of Scotland and Dutchland". Alexander whispered to her. She rolled her eyes.
"It's not dutchland. We speak Dutch. Idiot", Betsey corrected him.
"There you two are. The guards are completely useless sometimes. If they can't find two children…" Martha rambled. She grabbed the two children's arms and led them to their individual chambers. Betsey cried at the door. She didn't like being left alone. She had her guards but they never talked to her.
Martha knelt down, giving her a hug.
"I know you miss your mom and your family. It's hard being a Queen sometimes. You are here for the food of your country. You're safer here", Martha hushed her. Alexander smiled, shyly at her. He didn't know what to do when she cried. He never had to leave his mother. Betsey looked past them, into the corridor. Alexander had climbed up onto the window ledge to look out at the tournament.
"Where's my friends?" She asked Martha. She didn't feel as alone when her friends were with her.
"They're your ladies, Elizabeth. They're in their chambers. It's late. It's time to go to sleep, Betsey", Martha brought her over to the bed. Betsey took off her dress, leaving only her under garments. She climbed under the furs to stay warm.
"Goodnight, Martha", Betsey pouted, sitting up in the bed. She laid down when she heard the heavy door lock. Her guards would be outside. There was no way to get by them.
10 years later
Elizabeth carried the bucket of water up to the Covenant. The mud was bouncy below her. She inhaled the clean air of the grassy meadow. The covenant was set up beside a stream. Her morning tasks included fetching water that would be used for breakfast. She smiled at the head mistress, frowning when another nun took the water bucket from her.
"Help me serve breakfast", the headmistress handed her hot containers filled with porridge. Elizabeth nodded, bringing them outside to the table.
"Will you play with me after breakfast, Elizabeth?" Kitty asked her. Kitty was a young girl of 9 years. Her parents had passed and the nuns took her in. Most likely she would become a nun too. Elizabeth nodded.
"Of course, but only for a little time", Elizabeth smiled at her. Everyone helped serve the porridge. They sat and waited for morning prayer to be said.
"Amen", they said in unison.
Kitty started choking. Elizabeth hit her back, trying to help her. Did it go down the wrong way?
"Don't eat the porridge. Throw it away. Throw it away". The other nuns rushed Elizabeth away and inside the church. Elizabeth looked back to the girl. She was coughing up blood.
"Is she okay? What was that?" Elizabeth asked them. She sat down, taking a sip of the wine she was offered.
"It was an attack on your life. You have always had a taster. Since the moment you came to us when you were 10", the headmistress explained. Elizabeth felt sick in her stomach. Why was her taster a child?
"It's time", sister took out a red dress. Elizabeth looked down at her simple, white dress that she had been wearing since she got here. She couldn't exactly call it white now.
She inhaled a deep breath. She couldn't pretend to be normal for much longer. The nuns helped her change into the dress fit for a queen.
She smiled when they bowed to her.
"I don't know if I'm ready", she turned to the headmistress. She held her hands.
"A carriage is here to take you to Scotland. You will marry young Alexander. For both of your countries. You're not just a girl anymore. You're a queen".
Scotland Royal court
Alexander swung his wooden practice sword at John Laurens. He rushed forward at him. John blocked each move with his own sword. It angered Alexander that he couldn't get a hit in. John was always more trained in swordsmanship. He was trained to be a fighter, to win battles.
"Your fiancée is arriving today. When did you last see her?" He asked Alexander. Alexander backed John against a corner. John kicked Alexander down.
"Ugh. What the fuck was that for?" Alexander growled.
"People that are trying to kill you aren't going to play by the rules", John explained, helping him up. Bells rang throughout the castle.
"Speak of the lady", John grinned. Alexander followed him outside. John stood back. He wasn't royal, just a lord's son. He would inherit his fathers titles and lands some day.
"5 years. I haven't seen her in 5 years", Alexander told him as they rushed down the grand staircase.
Alexander joined his father and mother, the queen and king of Scotland. He stood by their side. Queen Elizabeth was helped out of the carriage by a had a red dress on, her brown straight hair falling on her shoulders and resting to the front. A silver crown decorated her hair. She looked around at her surroundings. She looked amazed at the castle. Her ladies rushed to her side.
They bowed to her, getting formalites out of the way before they all gave her a group hug.
"I haven't seen you in so long. Thank you for coming from Holland for me. Angelica, Peggy, Maria I missed you so much", she took each of their hands.
"You're our queen, of course we would come", Angelica smiled at her.
"And our friend", Maria agreed. Peggy nodded towards the king and queen of Scotland.
"We can catch up later", Peggy encouraged her. "Your hair needs brushing". Peggy ran her fingers over it but there was nothing she could do now.
"She's still so young. So is Alexander", Martha commented quietly. George smiled at her.
"They won't be married right away", he laughed at the idea. They would marry when it was best for Scotland.
"How am I supposed to control a girl who is a queen in her own birth right?" Martha remarked.
"By being her friend perhaps?" George suggested. Martha laughed.
"That never works".
Elizabeth talked to her ladies before walking up to greet the king and queen. Alexander met her half way. He wanted to meet her first.
"Your grace", he bowed to her. As is the custom.
She smiled.
"Please call me Elizabeth", she offered. He frowned.
"Not Betsey?" He blurted out. "I'm sorry. Excuse me, Elizabeth?" He corrected himself. Elizabeth smiled back.
"I haven't been called that since I was 10. You're more than welcome to use it", she told him. She looked back up at the castle.
"Has the castle gotten bigger? I guess I have but still. I'm sorry, I'm rambling", she took his hand as he led her to his parents. Her ladies giggled behind her.
"Is that such a surprise? We always were exploring as children." He asked her.
Elizabeth shook her head slightly.
"No. It's not. Your legs were always bigger than mine. I was always chasing after you". He tilted his head slightly to the side.
"Umm. They suit you now", she said awkwardly.
King George and Queen Martha bowed to her. Elizabeth bowed her head slightly. She is a guest in their court. If they were in her court then she would bow.
"You are most welcome here", King George smiled at her. The governess that minded them when they were children escorted Elizabeth and her ladies to Elizabeth's chamber. Elizabeth sat down at the window, stretching her legs.
"You are not here for fun. You are here to work for Queen Elizabeth. Alliances can shift and before they do your job is to keep her head in the game and have her dressed and looking her best at all times. All going well you will not be back on Dutch soil and Elizabeth reigns here", the governess informed them. Elizabeth groaned when she left.
"Please call me Eliza or Betsey. As a Queen I shouldn't shorten my name but I don't like Elizabeth", she laid down on the bed, feeling how comfortable it is.
Angelica nodded.
"Is Eliza okay?" Peggy asked. She had shortened her name too. Eliza smiled.
"Much better".
Angelica, Peggy and Maria tested out the makeup that they all had.
"I'm going to explore before getting ready", Eliza told them. It had been 5 years since she was in the castle. She wanted to see her old room. There wasn't any small children living here now.
Eliza looked up at the stairs that she chased Alexander up as children. He always could out run her.
She smiled seeing the rocking horse and dolls house that she played with.
"Hello?" She called out when she heard movement in the room she used to sleep in.
A man with shaggy black hair in a beanie opened the door. He smiled at her.
"You're not supposed to be up here. No one is supposed to be up here", he warned her.
"Then why are you here?" She frowned at him. He snorted.
"Your grace. How may we help you?" Alexander's friend asked from behind her. She turned around, smiling at him.
"Your grace?" The man questioned John Laurens. He nodded.
"These were my old chambers. I was just having a look", she gestured towards the window in the room.
"Please accept my sincere apologies, your grace", the man knelt down. Eliza shook her head.
"You did no wrong. I never introduced myself", Eliza told him. She held out her hand to him.
"I am Queen Elizabeth of the Netherlands". He kissed her hand.
"Hercules Mulligan. I am a tailor", Mulligan introduced himself.
"My sweet Betsey. Are you tormenting my friends already?" Alexander asked, coming up behind John. Eliza gave him an innocent smile.
Alexander took her hand as Hercules showed Alexander the flags with the royal symbol on them that he embroidered on. Eliza ran her hands over it. She flipped it over.
"This is fantastic work", she admired it.
"Thank you, your grace". Eliza smiled at him.
"I will see you this evening", she told him before going to find her ladies.
She told them everything that just happened.
"Why is he friends with a tailor?" Peggy frowned. Eliza shrugged.
After dinner Eliza stared at the dance floor. The only person she would be permitted to dance with would be Alexander or the King. She grinned.
"Peggy, dance with me. All of you. Take off your shoes. Dance with me. As she spun her dress lifted into a perfect circle. They laughed as they danced.
"We're overrun by the Dutch", Martha mumbled.
Alexander smiled at them. He notices John Laurens watching them closely.
Eliza caught his eye, giving him butterflies in his stomach.
She looked up, he followed her gaze. White rose petals fell from the ceiling.
Peggy dragged Eliza outside.
"Did you see the look Alexander gave you?" She squealed.
"Yes. Although we have been engaged since we were 6. I would hope that there is some love in our marriage." Eliza explained to them. She's grown up all her life with people teaching her that love is réveillant.
Eliza shivered. The spring breeze can have quite a chill.
"It is getting late. I wish to retire to bed. Will you help me?" Eliza yawned. Peggy nodded, leading the way to Eliza's chambers. She helped Eliza get ready for sleeping.
Eliza woke up in the darkness. She called out to her guards but no one answered. Did they fall asleep? She gently opened her door. There were no guards to be seen. Anything could happen to her. So much for this place being safer.
Eliza headed for Alexander's room. She knocked on the door.
He answered, keeping his body in the doorway.
"Betsey?" Alexander sighed. His voice sounded sleepy. He eyed her up and down. She suddenly remembered that she should be more covered up.
"Are you alone? Are you with someone?" Eliza questioned him.
"If you're ever going to be Queen of Scotland you need to understand something. Kings don't answer to their wives!" Alexander told her harshly. She sighed. If?
"You don't want to marry me?" She frowned at him. He slammed the door.
She hesitated, taking a few steps back as she processed his words.
Eliza knocked on Angelica's chambers.
"Can I come in?" Eliza asked.
"I woke up with no guards in my room", Eliza explained. "I went to Alexander and … he isn't sure if the alliance is the best thing for his country. I'm scared". Angelica hugged her until she was calm again.
"If you could tell him one thing what would it be?" Angelica asked as she invited her lie under the blankets with her.
"That I don't need his love. My country doesn't need the alliance, his does. I've built a future in my mind of what we will look like together. Now I lost that hope", Eliza sighed, looking up to the ceiling.
"But I can't say that. Not to the future King".
thanks for reading