Hello again! Welcome back to my Cinderella story! Where we last left off, Kol was detailing some of his plan to take over Mystic Falls. But in this chapter I'm introducing the other half of the plot and its characters. Please read and leave a review!
Disclaimer: Julie Plec owns the characters and places from the Vampire Diaries and The Originals.
Chapter Five
(Meanwhile, in another part of the kingdom…)
"Prince Jeremy, slow down! I can't keep up!"
Hoof beats thundered through the forest as two horses swiftly ran amongst the trees. Two young men were atop them, laughing and shouting happily.
Well one of them anyway.
The brown-haired man known as Jeremy, rode his white horse while laughing loudly, turning his head to search for his friend behind him. "Well Matt, you'd better hurry up! I keep telling you my horse is faster but you never listen! Right Valerie?"
Valerie neighed happily in response. Her eyes gleamed mischievously, causing her to flatten her ears and gallop faster through the forest. Holding on tight to the reins, the prince felt the change in speed, letting out another joyful shout. The wind rippled through his brown coat and the white long-sleeved shirt underneath, chilling his skin.
Behind them, the blonde-haired man known as Matt wearing a black shirt of similar fashion and a silver vest, attempted to keep up. Unfortunately he wasn't as skilled a horseman as the prince, so he fell behind easily.
Cursing under his breath for never being able to keep up, Matt urged his grey horse faster. "Come on Isobel. Let's go girl!"
Their surroundings blurred around them, both picking up the pace while leaping over streams and underbrush. Each time Matt would close in on Jeremy, the prince would kick Valerie's sides so he was always ahead. Sometimes branches would be in the way, but Jeremy ducked just barely so it hit Matt in the face.
Matt began to get frustrated at his master and friend. Clenching his teeth in determination, he squeezed Isobel's sides harder, veering off to the side where Jeremy lost sight of him.
Nearing a large waterfall, Valerie neighed and stopped suddenly. This confused Jeremy who patted her neck, leaning to stare at the small river that was easy to cross. She had always jumped it before with no problem. He chuckled, thinking she was trying to be funny.
"Okay, come on Val. Quit messing around." Jeremy dug in his heels, trying to get her to move.
Shaking her head, Valerie dug her hooves in the dirt, not moving an inch. Her nostrils flared as her ears flattened while she looked around the river warily.
Jeremy began to grow tired of her fooling around so he kicked her sides once more in an effort to get Valerie to jump. "Don't tell me you've gotten scared now."
A loud shout came from the waterfall beside them, causing both horse and rider to perk up just in time to see a shadow from inside the falling water running really fast.
Crash!
A blur of gray and blonde crashed through the water, leaping over Jeremy and Val, landing safely on the other side. Water droplets rained down on the surprised prince when he turned to see Matt on top of Isobel, a cheeky smirk on the soldier's face.
"I guess this means I win?"
The sun began to set on Jeremy and Matt while the two made their way along the wooded path home. They rode beside each other, talking and making jokes while birds flew up in the trees, getting ready to roost.
Shades of red and gold light filtered through the leaves, glinting in Jeremy's eyes as he ran his hand through his hair. Matt stared at his friend, his expression transforming from smiles to his mouth forming a small frown.
"Do you think this'll last forever?" he asked, "You, me, all the fun we have? I know you're the prince, so I understand the responsibility you have and what your parent's expectations are." Lifting his hand, he scratched the nape of his neck. "I'm just hoping it doesn't come too soon ya know? So you can at least have fun before the ol' ball and chain." Matt breathed a laugh at the last part.
Jeremy, however, was lost in thought at the mention of his parents. They, well his mother, had been pressuring him on finding a woman who would be a suitable match. His father had enough on his plate, ruling the kingdom and all, while Elena had put herself in charge of searching for her son's future wife. It was driving the young prince up the wall.
It was those days Jeremy thanked the heavens for Matt, who would interject before his mother's insufferable nagging made him lose his mind. In those moments, the soldier would tell Elena her son needed fresh air and some sunlight to help his thought process.
The Queen would relent, albeit reluctantly, watching as Matt took Jeremy away from a conversation she thought was very important. Her son would make it up to her though. He always did. If it was Damon in charge, it would be a whole different matter. He wouldn't care who his son chose just so he was married.
Taking a deep breath, Jeremy shook his head. Thoughts about marriage and inheritance plus ruling an entire kingdom made his head spin. He would rather be out hunting or riding around with Matt; anything but sitting with his parents while they planned a future he had no desire to be part of. He didn't know the first thing about ruling!
"Jeremy?"
The sound of Matt's concerned voice shook the prince out of his thoughts. He turned to face his friend, giving him a smile so he wouldn't worry. "Sorry, I was in my head for a bit there."
Slowly nodding but continuing to keep his eyes on the prince, Matt knew something was bothering him. Whenever the King and Queen were mentioned, he noticed how tense Jeremy would get. It wasn't that he didn't love his parents, it was the amount of pressure being put on him currently at the palace that made being outside a more frequent past time. Frequent as in everyday.
It didn't bother Matt because he spent more time with his friend. What nagged him was he thought Jeremy needed to face his fears instead of using the soldier as an excuse not to accept responsibility. Sure he joked about the loss of freedom once the prince found a wife and inherited the throne, but deep down Matt knew it had to be done.
He could still give Jeremy a hard time about it though.
"So once you become King, is it gonna be King Jer? Your Royal Hinnieness?" he laughed. "Oh how about His Majesty, King Broody! You do that you know? The brooding look?"
Jeremy turned to scowl, it instead transforming into a smirk. "I do not!" He noticed Matt raise an eyebrow. "It's just when I'm trying to flirt with the village girls!"
Matt gave the prince a look telling him he wasn't convinced. "Suuurreee. I've got an idea! Why don't you bring a girl from the village back to the castle, say 'Mother? Father? I've found this girl I really like. I'm wondering if you'll give us your blessing?' You don't have to marry a stuffy princess! Problem solved."
This time it was Jeremy's turn not to be convinced. In fact he was surprised Matt would come up with such an idea. "You really think if I brought a girl from the village home, my parents, the King and Queen of Mystic Falls, would accept them? They would laugh her right out of the throne room. Especially my mother."
Jeremy shuddered to think what the Queen might do if he pulled that stunt. His father would think it hilarious, but he knew Elena wouldn't be as amused. He'd get the worst lecture of his life! Then be grounded!
"Speaking of my mother…" gazing up at the sky, the prince noticed it darkening and a few stars twinkling. He swore under his breath and kicked Valerie into a gallop. He had to get back to the castle or else he would be grounded!
"Jeremy! Wait!" Matt shouted, racing after him on Isobel. The soldier chuckled to himself.
Oh to be the prince.
(The castle)
"Where could he be? I told him not to be late!"
Fabric from the hem of Elena's dress rustled along the polished marble floor while she paced back and forth, wringing her long fingers in worry. The maids tried to calm her down but to no avail. It was pitch black outside the large windows making up the throne room, way past time for her son to not be home.
The Queen had warned her son what would happen if he were late. This would be the second grounding in a row, all because Jeremy refused to listen to reason about his future. A future including a wife and becoming King! Elena couldn't understand why the prince was so against the idea, making her worry more, not just for him but for the entire kingdom!
Sitting on the throne behind his wife, her husband, King Damon, sat looking over some documents held by a servant. He was completely ignoring his wife's ranting, mostly about how it was unacceptable behavior for a future king to miss his curfew. What he was more concerned about was what he'd read on one of the papers.
A vampire lord ruling over a village of mainly witches? Now that he had to see for himself!
"Damon are you listening?" he heard Elena ask in a demanding tone.
Looking up from the document, the king's eyes met his wife's. She looked so beautiful when she's mad. He guessed that's why he married her.
"I'm sorry honey, were you saying something?" he asked, a smug smile crossing his face. In truth Damon had heard what Elena said about Jeremy, he just chose to ignore it. She was getting herself worked up over nothing. The boy was still young, too young to be tied down in his honest opinion. He didn't dare mention that to his wife though if he still wanted to sleep in the same bed at night.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Elena took a deep breath only to let out an exasperated sigh. She had been talking about her son's future for weeks! It's as if Damon didn't care about what was at stake if Jeremy didn't marry, or worse of all married wrong. What if he married a girl, only for the girl's father to come and conquer them? Everything was riding on this choice!
"You need to be a bit more worried about our son! This is your heir, yet you're letting him not take any of this seriously and run all over you!" The queen ran her fingers through her hair, exasperated. "What's everyone to think when they attend the ball only to find their crown prince not interested in the least about their home? Or worse, you not caring?" She pointed an accusing finger towards Damon. "Our kingdom is going to end in shambles, I just know it!"
Taking a deep breath as he rubbed his forehead, Damon watched his wife almost collapse into tears. Sighing while he rose up from where he was sitting, the king sped over to Elena, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace which she accepted. He ran his fingers through her long brown hair, attempting to make her feel better. Damon's choice was inevitable whenever Elena got like this, much to his chagrin, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Fine. We'll have a ball and I'll make sure Jeremy's not running away like a scared rabbit. The kingdom will see him as their prince and my future heir; but you have to promise me if he doesn't choose a wife by that night, you'll let him make his own choices and give him his space."
Feeling Elena nod against his shoulder, Damon lovingly squeezed her and kissed the top of her head. "I love you."
The queen lifted her face, looking into her husband's eyes while reaching up to stroke his cheek while she ran her fingers through his wild mane of black hair. "I love you too." Elena smiled, kissing his cheek before laying her head against his shoulder.
The flicker of uncertainty in her eyes didn't go unnoticed by Damon however, who held her tighter against him while his hand stroked her back. After a moment of silence, the pair broke apart with the king still holding onto his queen's lower back. Smiling as they gazed into each other's eyes, Damon leaned down.
He was about to kiss her when a loud bang interrupted the moment.
Whirling around to see who would dare interrupt him and his make out session with his wife, the king's icy blue eyes softened at the sight of the two boys he most wanted to see. Matt looked a little worse for wear, but the look of complete embarrassment on Jeremy's face caused the vampire to smirk.
Damon was glad to have such a beautiful wife.
He noticed Elena speed out of his arms over to their son, wrapping Jeremy in a near choking hug. Widening his eyes at how tight his mother's hold was, all the prince could do was smile while rubbing her back. Elena quickly grabbed her son's shoulders, holding him at arm's length as she looked sternly into his eyes.
"You're late. Where were you?"
Jeremy was about to reply before he was interrupted by Elena putting a finger to his lips. "I don't want to hear you've been hunting with Matt when you told us you were out practicing your swordsmanship."
At this point, Jeremy knew a lecture was coming from his mother about how he wasn't where he was supposed to have been and how his lack of training wasn't going to help him when ruling a kingdom. He had heard all of it before, and had been grounded a few times because of it. Trying to explain to her that he needed his freedom before marriage was similar to talking to a wall.
"I was out with Matt, I confess." he replied, putting both hands in the air. "But it wasn't like we weren't helping each other out with much needed skills. Last time, we caught an enormous boar that fed us for three weeks!"
Glancing towards his father, Jeremy's expression pleaded with Damon to help him out. Damon smiled while walking over to his wife and son, putting his arm around Elena's shoulders. "I agree with the boy, he's shown he's a good hunter."
The prince exhaled, nodding his head in agreement with his father. Finally someone in this family could see it! "Thanks Dad, I…"
"However…" the king began, looking his son in the eye with a smile. "What skills he has in hunting, he needs to show in dancing as well."
Jeremy froze at his father's words, his mouth hanging open in shock. Dancing? He couldn't be serious! "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. Did you say dancing?"
Damon chuckled at his son's bewildered expression. "Of course I did! We're hosting a ball so there will be plenty of chances to practice your footwork." He leaned in, rubbing his elbow with Jeremy's while winking. "Especially with the young ladies."
A loud huff was heard from Elena, making her son and husband turn to watch the queen roll her eyes. She stood with crossed arms, giving Damon a pointed stare. "He's going to be a gentleman. Unlike his father."
A wide grin made its way to the king's face as he left Jeremy's side to stand with his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I was a gentleman when we first met, remember? In fact I was a saint! You just don't admit it." Damon smiled with his fangs showing, while he kissed Elena's cheek lovingly.
The gesture made the queen pretend to grimace in disgust, until she turned her head and returned the kiss. No matter how irritated Elena got at Damon, she could never stay mad for long. One of the reasons she loved him, she supposed.
Their moment was interrupted for a second time by Jeremy clearing his throat uncomfortably. It always got under his skin how madly in love his parents were. Must be the vampire genes.
For some reason, his parents told him, when Elena was trying to conceive, they summoned a witch from a small village. Jeremy remembered her last name was Bennett. She ended up telling the king and queen they wouldn't have a child, but she could use magic to help them. In turn the spell would leave the baby fully human without any supernatural powers.
Obviously his parents agreed or Jeremy wouldn't be standing in the throne room tonight, looking like he wanted to crawl out of his skin at his parents' display of affection. He hoped it wasn't like this at the ball.
Speaking of ball…
Smirking to himself, the prince knew exactly how to get himself out of this horrible situation. Clearing his throat loudly so Damon and Elena turned their attention towards him, Jeremy hung his head sheepishly with his hands behind his back, shuffling his feet.
This would work. It had to.
"Mom, Dad." he began. "What good is having a ball and inviting all these gorgeous women if I don't know how to dance? It'd be extremely awkward and I would rather not be an embarrassment to us, especially you, mother." He nodded towards Elena.
The Queen merely smiled, stepping behind her son where she began to rub his shoulders. Jeremy felt his body relax, not comprehending what was happening. Hoping she bought his fib, the prince closed his eyes, only to feel Elena's breath tickling his ear when she whispered to him.
"Well I have just the teacher."
Feeling all color drain from his face, Jeremy tried his best to figure out what she meant. A teacher? He was gonna learn dancing? Nothing in the seventeen years he'd been a prince prepared him for what came waltzing through the door across from the one he and Matt entered earlier.
Standing tall in the doorway while his muscles rippled through the fabric of his white ruffled shirt and black pants, was a man a bit older than the King, though not by much. His keen blue eyes searched the room while he rubbed his grizzled jaw, reaching up with the same hand to run his fingers through dirty blonde hair. The ends were flipped up in a feathery style, complementing his sharp jawline that housed perfectly straight teeth.
Jeremy couldn't believe what he was seeing. Alaric, his father's right-hand man, was becoming his dance instructor? He has to be trapped in some sick nightmare! Closing his eyes and using his fingers to pinch himself, the boy opened them to find Alaric still in front of him, wearing a smug grin on his face.
It made Jeremy want to vomit.
"Well, so I see someone needs my expertise on learning the fine art of ballroom dancing." Alaric noted, coming to stand next to the prince and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Not to worry your highness, I'll have him in tip top shape for the ball. No woman will resist him." He winked at Jeremy, giving him a smile.
The prince weakly smiled back, uttering a half-hearted chuckle before turning around to face Elena, his eyes begging his mother to reconsider. The queen merely gave Jeremy a smirk, knowing exactly what she was doing. "There will be one more joining you, Alaric."
One more? Who else would be stupid enough to be dragged into this?
Matt came to stand next to his friend, raising his hand. He gave Jeremy an apologetic glance before clearing his throat. "I'll be joining. To help the young prince."
Matt was going to be joining a dancing lesson? Although Jeremy was curious to see what would happen, he definitely didn't want to learn how to dance. With his best friend there no less.
He jabbed Matt in the side with his elbow. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked through clenched teeth. "Are you trying to humiliate yourself in front of the whole kingdom?"
"I could ask you the same thing. Besides if we both do it, your mom will stop nagging you about your 'princely duties'." Matt replied. "Do you want to go hunting ever again?"
Jeremy considered the soldier's proposal before finally nodding. It'd be just one day of training, he hoped, and one night of the real thing so maybe it wasn't as bad as the prince thought. Then they could go back to hunting.
Sighing deeply, Jeremy turned to see Damon and Elena patiently awaiting his answer. Seeing as how he didn't have a choice in the matter, it was more an agreement to be on his best behavior. Why did he have to be born a prince?
"Fine. I'll learn how to dance and be on my best behavior for your party." The prince hoped he knew what he was getting himself into and that there would be no regrets.
The brightest smile came to his mother's face after hearing her son agree to be a prince for once in his life. Even if it was just for one night, she would take it. Nudging Damon's side, Elena could hardly contain her happiness. "Damon, did you hear him? Did you hear our son?"
Damon glanced down, amused with the fact his wife was getting so excited over Jeremy agreeing to be at the ball. It was adorable, just like her. "Yes I heard him, sweetheart. I think everyone in the room heard him."
Before his mother's excitement could increase, Jeremy coughed, grabbing his parents attention. He smiled, slowly scooting backwards towards the doors Alaric came through. Matt followed suit. "Well, now that that's all settled, I'm incredibly tired and probably gonna go to bed. See you two in the morning."
The doors slammed closed after the prince and the soldier exited, leaving Damon, Elena, and Alaric alone in the throne room. Rubbing the bridge of his nose before letting out a large yawn, Damon turned to face the others.
"Before we turn in ourselves, the ball is in a week. Meaning we need to keep everything on time. What we have now is a guest list, however there needs to be decorations, food, dress code, and music. Everyone from all over the kingdom, including other kingdoms, will be attending so invitations need to be sent out promptly."
Elena interrupted her husband by raising her hand. "I can be in charge of invitations, food, and decoration. Alaric, you first of all help our son, then music and dress code will be your forte."
"No pun intended." Damon added, smirking at his wife, which she returned.
Alaric merely laughed, bowing towards the two rulers. "I'll be of service in any way I can."
"Another thing, Alaric." Damon stared at the duke. "Are your skills still up to par? We're gonna need security if things get out of hand. Our home is going to be filled with vampires from all over the kingdom and then some, so things might get ugly and we need to be prepared for when they do."
Nodding his head, the former hunter turned duke patted his pocket where a small stake was resting. He was always ready for any danger that might befall the king and queen, for there weren't too many shortages of enemies lying in wait. Alaric had men trained as well in case he wasn't enough to protect the royal vampire family. The duke wouldn't let anything slip past him.
"You know I swore and oath to you, your majesty. I promise to protect the royal family at the cost of my own life."
Damon smiled, speeding over to his friend to place his hand on his shoulder while gazing into his eyes. He was always moved by Alaric's dedication to him and Elena, hoping Jeremy would feel the same. It wasn't compulsion making the hunter loyal to the king and queen. Tiny sips of vervain every day since childhood made Alaric immune to the effects. His loyalty was through their friendship and trust in one another and that's all Damon wanted.
"Thank you my friend. That promise will never be forgotten."
Turning from Alaric to face Elena, the king appeared before his wife, taking her hand in his. Elena yawned herself, rubbing one of her eyes before smiling at her husband. "Well, its getting late and we have a lot to do in the morning. Let's all get some rest and then start preparations."
Alaric bowed towards his masters. "As you wish, my lady. I bid you both a good night."
As the duke exited the throne room, Elena turned to Damon with a gleeful smile at how perfectly things were working out. "I can't believe everything's coming together. This night will be spectacular."
Chuckling to himself, Damon leaned in, his lips barely touching his wife's ear. "You know what else is gonna 'come together'?"
A hard punch to the shoulder and a giggle from Elena was all the answer he needed before the king scooped the queen up in his arms. Peppering her face with kisses, he carried her out through the doors towards their bedroom, fully intending neither of them to be able to move tomorrow morning.
The prince is finally introduced! I had Alaric still keep his vampire hunting qualities because I just couldn't see him playing a goofy duke. He's more like a mentor to Jeremy. I'm in vacation this week so I'll have more time to write the next chapter, or chapters, of the story so let me know what you think by review and stay tuned!
~Tatertwig