Well, here it is folks! Reign's sequel is finally here :) I had so much fun writing the first story, that I knew I wouldn't be able to stop from continuing it. I'm so excited to see where this one goes! I hope you guys like it as much as you apparently liked Reign. Your feedback still blows me away!
A quick note to start though, I can't make any promises on an update schedule for this one. I'm going to try to stick to once a week, but that could get more difficult, especially once exams start coming and I get busier. I have a good portion of the first part written, but unlike Reign, I'm posting this before I at least get down the bulk of it. I have a good idea where I want to go but sometimes life happens, so I'd appreciate not being held to the usual schedule.
I hope you guys enjoy! Please, please, please let me know your thoughts, especially in the beginning! I'm hoping to still have a lot of the same readers from Reign but that doesn't mean I don't still like to see everyone's reviews. They're incredibly motivating! Without further ado, here is Sovereign!
The King of Amestris lounged atop the dewy grass of the palace gardens, taking in the much appreciated summer air. After a lengthy winter and a much too short spring, the beauty of the Amestrian lands was finally coming to fruition as the days grew hotter and the sun hung over the kingdom longer. The king was grateful for the pleasant weather. It wasn't often he got to spend his days outside relaxing in the sun and he was prepared to take full advantage.
A content smile graced his face as he watched his young daughter happily approach where he lay out on the grass. He sat up to welcome her as he noticed her hands practically full of her usual flower creations.
"What do you think of these, Papa?" she questioned eagerly as she meticulously arranged all her crafts out before him.
"They're all beautiful, love. You get better and better as the days go on."
Instead of being happy at his praise, the Amestrian princess's eyes narrowed suspiciously in an all too familiar expression. "Lady Helena says you're good at sweet talking the ladies. How can I be sure you're telling the truth?"
The king's face scrunched up in annoyance at that particular jab. "Is that what Helena is teaching you nowadays? How not to trust your father? Come here, you!" He spoke teasingly as he reached for his daughter, who happily giggled and squealed upon being captured and brought to sit in her father's lap, his arms wrapping around her protectively.
"I'll prove to you I'm not lying, then, if that's what you want. Here, this one looks as though it was crafted by the hands of an angel. This one here is too beautiful for even a goddess and, ah, this one could use some work."
"Papa!" Margaret exclaimed, even though she knew he was only joking.
The king laughed. "Alright, alright, it's the prettiest of them all," he said fondly as he placed a loving kiss atop his daughter's head.
A twinkle appeared in the young girl's eyes as she reached for another creation, one she had taken extra care with. "What about this one?"
"Hmm," Roy spoke as he took the flower crown from Margaret and observed it from all sides. "It's unique. I've never seen you use these types of flowers before."
"Do you like it?" she asked, with a hopeful inflection in her voice.
"No, I don't like it," he begun, causing Margaret's face to fall before he snuggled her closer to himself and continued. "I love it."
This earned him another giggle and a content smile from the little princess. She took the crown back from her father and admired her own handiwork. "Good, because I'm planning on making one just like it for Queen Riza when she comes back."
At the princess's words, a soft smile graced the king's face and his eyes took on a faraway look. "I think she'll love it," he spoke fondly.
"Me too." There was silence between the father/daughter pair as they sat together in the middle of the beautiful palace gardens before Margaret spoke up in a small voice. "Hey, Papa?"
"Yes, love?"
"When is Queen Riza coming back?"
Roy couldn't help but let out a long sigh at his daughter's question. It wasn't the first time in the past six months that she'd asked him that and he knew it wouldn't be the last. "Margaret," he began in an admonishing tone. "We've talked about this before. Queen Riza will return when she's ready to. She has a very important job, and she needs to be with her people in Aerugo."
"I know," the princess spoke in a sad tone that tugged at Roy's heart in ways he couldn't put into words. "I just miss her."
Roy couldn't help but smile at this, as he hugged his little girl closer to himself. "I know, Margaret. I do too."
"Your Majesty! A letter just came for you," Sir Breda spoke in an excited voice as he rushed out into the gardens. Roy watched him approach with a curious eye, and took the offered piece of parchment.
"Is it an important one? This is supposed to be my time off," the king asked with a pointed stare, even though he opened it up expectantly, his arms still around his daughter.
Breda flashed a familiar smirk. "I think it's one you'll appreciate."
And, sure enough, as Roy's eyes read down the page, they promptly widened and a thrilled spark ran through him. He looked back to his friend and court member with a smile. "Well, what do you know, I do appreciate this quite a bit. Go get Havoc, Falman, and Fuery. We have some preparations that need to be made."
"Right away, Your Majesty," Breda answered with a dutiful bow before he rushed off to follow his leader's orders.
Roy turned back to his curious little girl and kissed her on the side of the head. With an apologetic smile, he brought her down from off his lap and made to stand up. "Sorry, Margaret, but it seems I have some important business to settle. We'll have to cut our time together short."
The little princess let out a groan of disappointment. "But why, Papa? We just started playing."
"I know, love, but I think you'll appreciate my going away this time," Roy spoke with an excited smile as he leaned down on one knee to look his young daughter in the eye. "We've just gotten the okay to invite over all of your friends, along with some new ones. And, I think if you ask really nicely, Riza and Winry will make a visit as well."
Immediately the young girl's eyes lit up at her father's words. "Really? They're finally going to get to come back?"
Roy laughed joyously at her enthusiasm. "Yes, it seems so. We have to ask them first, though. Do you want to come with me to write the letter?"
Quickly, the child nodded her head and grabbed her father's hand, pulling him up to stand and dragging him back toward the castle. He laughed continuously as she did this, a weight lifting off shoulders when he thought about the excitement sure to come in the following weeks.
Finally, he would be reunited with his queen.
"Your morning mail has arrived, cousin," Lord Matthew announced as he walked into Riza's private study, a pile of letters in his hands.
"And you've inspected them?" the queen asked, her eyes not straying from the budget reports she was thoroughly engrossed with.
"Of course," Matthew dutifully replied as he began the usual routine. "One from Commander Armstrong in the north, that should be a normal report, one from a Lady Gracia Hughes, I believe you were expecting more news about the child, one from your archery master, probably wondering when your next practice session will be and...ah, one from the King of Amestris."
Riza's eyes, which had been glued to her papers while Matthew named off each successive sender, immediately widened and met his the second the last words had left his mouth. Matthew knew it was coming, and couldn't help the small smirk at the sight of her. Really, if she was trying to keep her blooming relationship with the Amestrian king a secret for the time being, she was doing a rather poor job at making her expressions seem neutral.
"Here you are," he spoke in a self-assured voice as he dropped the pile of letters atop her desk. "All ready for you to read, though I have a strong suspicion of which one you'll go for first."
Realizing that she had been caught seeming too eager, the queen narrowed her eyes at her cousin, which only caused his seemingly ever-present smirk to widen. "You may leave now," she directed coldly, though she knew Matthew could see her irritation for what it was.
And, as expected, he merely shook his head and bid her a good rest of her day before he was out the door, finally leaving her to the letters. Not wanting to give her cousin the satisfaction of knowing he was right, she looked through the other messages that had been sent first (as much as it pained her) and saved Roy's for last.
Once she had finally gotten to it, she inspected the seal with a familiar fondness. The pressed seal holding the parchment together was the same one that hung from around her neck. Absentmindedly, her fingers rested against where she knew the necklace lay beneath the high collar of her dress. She stood from her desk, walked to the open balcony doors, and stepped into the refreshing air of the crisp, summer morning.
Sitting in one of the chairs set out on her balcony, Riza tried to relax herself, even though she knew it was futile to abate her anticipation, before she broke the seal and quickly perused through Roy's familiar scrawl.
The further down the paper she read, the wider her eyes became, and the more excitement she felt. She had been anticipating this for awhile, given that Roy had not left out a single detail of his plans in his previous letters, which, unlike poor Winry, she received quite often. Still, the fact that the time had finally come to put his plans into motion filled Riza with a feeling unlike any other.
Moving quickly back into her study, she rushed through the room and nearly threw open the door in an effort to find the one she knew would be the first person who she should tell the good news.
Finally, she would be reunited with her king.
"Alright, what do you think, Mr. Gardner. I think I finally perfected my technique," Winry spoke proudly as she wiped her newly forged blade clean and the royal blacksmith came over to inspect her work.
"Wow, quite impressive, Your Highness. Your skill just gets better and better with each passing day," the older man complimented fondly.
Winry couldn't help the proud smile. "I still have a lot to learn, I'm sure, but I'm pretty pleased with how I've been doing lately."
"You should be. I'll make a talented blacksmith out of you yet."
Winry laughed at her master's statement and began tweaking a few of the last minute details of her sword. As she worked, she didn't notice the figure that came through the door of the castle's workshop, watching her intently.
Mr. Gardner, however, did, and nearly fell over once he recognized who had arrived at his humble shop. "Y-Your Majesty!" he exclaimed with an unrefined bow. "W-what brings you all the way down here?"
Winry turned wide eyes toward where her sister stood in the doorway, her pristine red and purple dress a rather jarring contrast to the grimy workshop and the princess's own casual work clothes.
"I came to see what my sister is always doing down here. You've never shown me any of the work you've completed," Riza spoke calmly, her eyes turning back toward her younger sibling.
"Well, that's because I haven't had anything worth showing yet. But, you did happen to come on a good day," Winry said slyly before reaching behind her to grab her newly crafted sword and presenting it to her sister.
Riza's eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful blade, and she took a step forward to inspect it closely. "Wow, Winry. This craftsmanship is marvelous," she spoke in an awe-filled voice.
"You think so?"
"Oh absolutely. You've learned how to do this much in such a short time?"
Winry nodded and turned a thankful glance toward her master, who simply winked back. "Yes, I have Mr. Gardner to thank for that. And you too, I suppose. If you hadn't suggested I come down here to try out a few things, I'd probably still be bored out of my mind every day."
Riza smiled fondly. "Good. I'm glad you found something you really enjoy."
A teasing look appeared on Winry's face. "Even if it isn't as refined as sewing or painting or all that other princess stuff?"
Riza returned the tease. "Yes, even so. I must admit, I had another reason for coming to visit you down here today."
"Oh?"
Riza smiled slyly and nodded her head. "Yes, I received a letter from the King of Amestris today."
Seeing that the royals were beginning to talk about more personal matters, Mr. Gardner made his way to the outdoor portion of the shop to check on some of his other projects, leaving the sisters alone.
"So?" Winry immediately responded. "You get letters from him all the time. And I'm not allowed to read most of them."
Riza nodded. "Yes, that is usually the case, but I think you'll have a particular interest in this one."
Winry noticed the twinkle in her sister's eyes as she produced the folded piece of parchment from behind her back and handed it to the princess. She took it warily, not having any idea what Riza was so smug about before she read aloud.
"'My Dearest Queen', oh how romantic. 'I just received word that our plans for the trade treaty have been approved by all involved parties.' Trade treaty?" Winry paused to ask.
"Keep reading," her sister directed.
"'The new trade route between Xing and Amestris, and subsequently Aerugo, will be a valuable asset to all our countries, and will encourage even more international solidarity' Goodness, does he sound like this in all your love letters?"
Here, Riza's eyes turned from amused to narrowed in anger. "Keep reading," the queen responded through gritted teeth.
Winry laughed and continued the letter. "'The Emperor of Xing is apparently quite enthusiastic about the plans and has agreed to make the journey to Amestris for the negotiations, and the subsequent celebrations. He is bringing a few members of his family, as well as his personal entourage, and they will stay in the castle for as long as they need to. Emperor Ling expresses his excitement in not only seeing the kingdom, but meeting everyone as well. I believe it will be quite a good time.'" Here Winry paused in her reading and turned curiously toward her sister. "What does any of this have to do with me?"
An exasperated sigh left the normally composed queen. "Gods, Winry, you're almost to the good part. Keep reading," she insisted.
Turning reluctantly to the message that had turned out to be rather boring, the princess continued. "'As this is a matter of international affairs that involves not only my kingdom, but yours as well, your presence at the negotiation table will, of course, be wholly expected.'" Finally seeming to get where this was going, the princess's eyes widened and her voice took on an excited tone. "'The emperor is expected in three weeks' time and I would appreciate your presence here sooner, if at all possible. As this will be a time to celebrate and make new friends, Winry should also be encouraged to come and you both should consider staying for as long as you like. I look forward to seeing you both immensely.'" Turning her excited eyes toward her sister, she found the queen with a nearly bursting smile. "Are you serious?" she breathlessly asked. "We're going back to Amestris?"
Riza nodded her head and with an almost giddy voice answered, "Yes, we're going back to Amestris."
Letting loose a joyous laugh, Winry ran up to wrap her arms around her sister, not caring about the dirt all over her work clothes staining Riza's fine dress. And, she had a feeling given the enthusiasm with which her sister returned the gesture, that she didn't even care all that much.
Finally pulling back, the sisters exchanged meaningful looks before Winry let out another squeal of excitement. "I have to pack!" she exclaimed before she rushed to where Mr. Gardner was to inform him she would be leaving the shop early today. There was far too much work to be done to prepare for their journey.
And, though the wait nearly killed the overjoyed princess, three days later she and her sister were finally ready to embark for the country where they'd each left a piece of themselves behind. Matthew came to see them off, as well as a few other notable Aerugonian court members.
Walking up to the waiting carriages manned by the guards assigned to accompany them, Riza turned to her right-hand man. "You're sure you don't want to come with us? You could use a little bit of a break."
While Winry busily ran around making sure everyone was ready to go so she could finally get a handle on the immense impatience she was suffering from, Matthew smiled at his queen. "I appreciate you thinking of me, cousin, but I think I'm needed far more here than I would be at the negotiation table in Amestris. I'll leave that to you, O Sovereign Ruler."
Resisting the temptation to roll her eyes at his sarcasm she sighed and answered. "Alright then. I'll let Roy know you send your regards."
"Please do. And you, Your Highness, try not to die of excitement," Matthew posed to the almost vibrating princess as she mounted the carriage.
"I'll see what I can do, but I make no promises," Winry spoke joyfully before she sent her sister an impatient look and entered the carriage. Riza took one last glance at her majestic castle and breathed deeply. The last time she had set out for Amestris she had gone with fear and uncertainty of what she would find when she arrived. And, while there was still plenty of uncertainty this time, the feeling of hope for a new and exciting future was quite the contrast.
She leaned forward to hug her cousin goodbye and gave her sentiments to the rest of the people who had come to see them off. Stealing herself one last time, she gripped the handle to the side of the carriage and entered through the open door to sit at the seat opposite her sister. The carriage driver and guards took their places before the two sisters heard the distinctive snap of the horse whips and the carriage began to rumble out of the castle grounds.
Wringing her hands together, Winry took one last look at the receding view of the castle before turning toward her sister. "I can't believe we're finally going back!"
"Yes, I know, you've said that exact statement probably a hundred times in the last few days," Riza replied teasingly.
"I can't help it! I just can't wait to see everyone."
"See Ed, you mean?" Riza corrected with a smirk.
Winry rolled her eyes. "Well, of course, but I am ready to be reunited with everyone else too. And what about you? Don't try and tell me you aren't ready to see Roy again."
Taking the time to look wistfully out at the scenery slowly passing them by, Riza answered her sister, "Of course I'm ready to see him again, but that doesn't mean I still don't have to remain objective. This isn't a vacation, Winry, at least not for me. A matter of incredible international importance is to be discussed and I have to represent Aerugo well."
Winry couldn't help but sigh at this, putting aside her overwhelming excitement for just a moment. "There you again, making everything about your duty. Just admit that you can't wait to make out with the king and be done with it."
Riza shot a quick glare to her sister, who weathered it like a pro with a sly smile.
The carriage rolled along in silence after that, both sisters looking out the windows with equally convoluted thoughts, wondering just what would happen in Amestris this time around, considering what had happened the last time they were there.
After their party passed through the outer walls of the capital city and began the long, winding journey, Winry finally spoke up, breaking their calm silence.
"Riza, what if Ed proposes to me?" she asked suddenly, not taking her eyes off of the scenery outside their carriage.
Her sister turned toward her with questioning eyes. "What do you mean? Aren't you already engaged?"
"W-well, yeah, sort of. But what if he actually proposes. Like we set a date and start planning a wedding." Here Winry's eyes finally found her sister's again and she was surprised to see a sense of fondness in them.
"Then it will be as we always imagined it. Don't tell me you're getting cold feet now?"
An indignant look passed across the princess's face. "Of course I'm not! I can't wait to marry him, it's just...I don't even know if I'm ready," she finished, her voice no louder than a whisper.
Riza's face took on a knowing expression at that. "I'm not entirely convinced anyone is completely ready for marriage, Winry. You and Edward love each other, that much is obvious. You're definitely of age. He has a steady position and would keep you safe, and you have lots of friends in Amestris. You'd be happy, I'm sure of it. What's the point of worrying about whether or not you're ready?"
Here Winry's eyes looked down at her lap. With a small voice, she asked, "So you're okay with it then? Me living in Amestris…you know...permanently."
Riza sighed. "It's not something I'm looking forward to. As happy as I am that you've found someone to spend the rest of your life with, I will always miss you. Not having you in Aerugo would be difficult, to be sure. Those few months we were apart were awful, but in the end it would be worth it. I can tell you won't truly be happy unless you're in Amestris. I've long since accepted that."
"You're sure?"
Riza smiled at her sister. "Yes, Winry, I'm sure."
Smiling back at her, Winry surprised the queen by reaching forward across the space of their carriage and wrapping Riza in a tight embrace.
"Thank you. You have no idea what your support means to me."
Leaning back to affectionately brush a strand of hair out of her sister's face, Riza responded, "You'll always have it. That much I can guarantee."
Locking themselves in one final embrace, the sisters lapsed back into silence and the hours of their journey rolled by. Typically the trip to Amestris took around three days, provided they stopped and camped once the sun went down. The anticipation of their final destination began to grow as each day passed them. Once they were only a few short hours from the capital city, Winry found she couldn't sit still for even a moment.
Her head leaned out the open window of the carriage, as she smelled the fresh Amestrian air and admired the passing green hills that were oh so blessedly familiar. Riza contented herself with reading the book she had been slowly getting through during their trip, but even she couldn't help the growing excitement.
She tried to remain calm for Winry's sake (it wouldn't be very fitting for both royal sisters to nearly lose their minds with the anticipation) but she couldn't help the thrill that would pass up and down her spine with each passing moment. She could almost recognize the green surrounding them now as the capital city lay just ahead. She had been picturing this day and the inevitable reunion with her king almost as soon as he and Ed had rode out of her castle gates. Now, the day had finally come.
"Look! There it is!" Riza's little sister suddenly exclaimed, startling the queen out of her thoughts. Setting down her book and leaning out the window like Winry had done, Riza could just catch the outline of the outer wall. As soon as her eyes found it, her stomach practically flipped, but she did her best to rein in any outward signs of excitement.
Winry, however, had no such restraint and chattered Riza's ear off the whole rest of the way there. The queen had to talk her down multiple times from calling up to their carriage driver to ask him to go faster.
Finally, blessedly, they approached the outer wall and were almost immediately let through. As the familiar sights of the Amestrian village fares passed by them, Winry nervously fidgeted with the crest necklace she hadn't taken off since it had been delicately placed around her neck. Nearly forgetting her own excitement for a moment, Riza fondly watched as her sister's eyes lit up the closer to the castle grounds they got. No matter what happened during this trip, Riza could be sure of at least one thing: experiencing Winry's happiness was unlike any other, and she would do whatever she could to keep it that way. Though, the queen thought with a fond smile, she figured that job would go to Ed as soon as they formally announced their inevitable engagement.
The carriage slowed as the castle walls came into view, and finally the princess sat back in her seat, taking deep, calming breaths to steady herself. Riza had to stop herself from laughing aloud at her.
"Calm down, Winry. We're finally here."
"I know," the princess spoke in a surprisingly steady voice. "I just want everything to be as good as I imagined."
Riza smiled. "I have a feeling it will be."
After speaking these words, both the sister's eyes widened when they felt the carriage come to a distinctive halt. Exchanging one last excited glance, they both waited for their driver to come and open their door.
Riza allowed Winry to exit first, needing just a moment to herself. As much as she liked to talk, she knew exactly what her sister meant. She too had hoped and dreamed of this day for so long that for it to be finally here was almost intimidating. She could practically feel Roy's arms wrapping around her in a welcoming hug and the thought nearly froze her. She shook her head to rid herself of such thoughts and regally exited the carriage.
Her eyes immediately found the group that had come to welcome them and she smiled fondly at the familiar faces. Ed was nearly front and center, his eyes wide as he watched Winry run toward him. He looked just as nervous as she knew Winry felt, but there was still an overwhelming sense of love practically rolling off of him. The sight of his princess coming to reunite with him was one Riza knew he wouldn't forget.
And, as Riza slowly approached the group, she watched as Winry nearly leaped into Ed's arms, and with a beaming smile on his face, he picked her up and spun her around. They both laughed joyously and the happiness was nearly infectious.
Just as everyone was fondly watching the pair reunite, Winry leaned back from Ed's embrace with a dazzling smile...before rearing back and punching him brutally in the arm.
Time nearly stopped as the air was sucked out of everyone's lungs. Riza watched as the golden knight let out a huff of pain and almost doubled over, grabbing his arm and heaving wheezing breaths.
Winry's joyfully happy expression had been replaced by one of anger. She placed her hands demandingly on her hips and watched as Ed turned incredulous eyes back to her.
"What the hell was that for?" Riza heard him say.
"For not writing to me, you jerk! You promised me you would and I got, what, maybe two letters from you over six months!"
Riza had to try immensely hard not to roll her eyes at her sister. So that had bugged her more than she let on. It must have also infuriated the princess that Riza received letters from Roy quite frequently, while Ed had neglected that duty almost completely.
"I-I'm sorry, Win," Ed spoke, this time in a much more sheepish tone. "I tried...I really did. But you know I'm no good at putting what I mean into words."
Riza's sister, even after this explanation, didn't seem to be backing down. "Well you should at least have tried! You have more people to think about than yourself, you dummy. If I didn't have the king's reports to go off of, I would've thought something terrible had happened."
Finally standing to his full height as the pain of her initial punch began to fade, Ed looked apologetically at his almost-fiance. "I'm sorry, Win, really. I didn't know it would upset you this much."
The sincerity of his tone caused Winry to take a moment to think about his apology. She also seemed to remember that all of her Amestrian friends were watching the pair with wide eyes. Sheepishly turning her eyes to the ground, she crossed her arms and huffed out, "W-well, just promise you won't do it again."
Taking the pair's make-up as her cue to make her presence known, Riza stepped past where Ed was busily promising to never upset Winry ever again (even though the queen knew that would never happen) to greet her friends.
Rebecca was the first one she found as she wrapped her in a greeting hug. "Well!" the lady exclaimed. "You Aerugonians certainly know how to make an entrance."
This time Riza did allow herself a small roll of her eyes before she shook her head and laughed at the events that had just transpired with her friend. She found Helena next, who also gave her a fond hug before greeting some of the others who had come to welcome them. In the back of her mind, she realized that through the crowd of people, she hadn't yet spotted a distinctive mop of raven-black hair. She told herself that it didn't matter, and that it was probably for the better that they wouldn't reunite in front of everyone, but she couldn't help as her eyes searched for the man she had longed to see for the last six months.
Knowingly picking up on this, Helena asked, "Looking for someone, Your Majesty?"
Freezing in place once she realized she had been caught, the queen turned her eyes to the elder woman. Before she could even respond, Helena was smiling and beginning her explanation. "I'm afraid the king is currently away. We weren't expecting you until tomorrow, so he took the liberty to go off riding with Havoc and Breda."
Riza had to try really hard to squash all her inevitable disappointment at these words. "O-oh. I see," she spoke, attempting to keep her words calm.
She knew Helena could see right through it, of course. While she was sure a good portion of the Amestrians were completely unaware of how far Roy and Riza's relationship had gone, she knew Helena had to be privy to at least part of it. Roy wouldn't have been able to stop himself from telling her at least some of the details. He trusted her enough for it, and, if she thought about it, Riza did too.
"He should be back in a few hours, though, but I'm afraid you'll have to postpone your reunion," Helena spoke, her last words coming out in a much quieter voice, so as not to draw attention. Riza kept her head held high, all the same. She knew the reunion would be well worth the delay.
Before she could assure Helena that she was fine with this change of plans, she heard an excited voice squealing from the castle entrance behind them. She turned curious eyes to the doors and couldn't help the fond smile that passed across her face.
Little Princess Margaret, dressed in a small sleeping gown with a no doubt hastily thrown on cloak over it, ran down the steps, followed not long after by a frantic maid.
"Queen Riza!" the princess exclaimed as she ran to greet the Riza, who smiled and opened her arms, catching her in a tight embrace.
"Margaret," Helena spoke in a reprimanding tone as she watched the pair. "You're supposed to be taking your afternoon nap."
"But how can I do that with Queen Riza here," Margaret exclaimed indignantly, turning slightly in Riza's embrace to address her caretaker.
Riza could only laugh and pull the little girl in tighter as Helena shook her head, resigning herself to the change of plans.
"I missed you," Margaret told her, tugging on a foreign part of Riza's heart.
"And I you, Margaret. I hope you've been good while I've been away," she told the little girl, leaning down to be at eye level with her.
The princess enthusiastically nodded. "Yep! I've been really busy making new crowns. I have a bunch I want to show you."
"And I can't wait to see them. But first, I have something I want to show you," the queen spoke, a twinkle in her eye, as she motioned for one of her attendants to retrieve something from the carriage. She couldn't help but notice as Helena, Rebecca, and even Winry watched her curiously, wondering just what she had planned.
Margaret too looked confused, but her eyes lit up in excitement when the attendant produced an intricately designed wooden box and handed it to the queen. Taking it quickly and presenting it before the little princess, Riza spoke, "This is my way of thanking you for all the pretty things you take the time to make for me and everyone else. It's not as good as what you do, but I hope you'll still like it."
Slowly, the queen opened the top lid of the box to reveal a small, perfectly Margaret-sized jewel halo crown. Nearly everyone who had gathered widened their eyes at the sight, while the little girl's mouth dropped open in excited wonder.
The crown was made of silver and was adorned with jewels of all different colors, all designed to look like tiny flowers. She had seen the way Margaret had lit up when she allowed her to wear her own crown, so she figured the best way to show her thanks was to have one made just her size.
"As I said, it's not as pretty as the ones you make me, but I hope you'll still like it. I made sure it would fit just right this time," Riza spoke as she delicately took the crown from the box and placed it assuredly on the top of Margaret's head.
The poor girl looked like she was about to drop dead in amazement as she turned toward her caretaker in awe.
Helena also seemed rather shocked by the gesture. "Your Majesty. This is quite an elaborate gift."
Standing back to her feet, Riza smiled and reassured the elder woman. "And it's but a small price compared to the love you and everyone else has shown my sister and I. I want her to have it, truly." Leaning in further to speak in a low voice, Riza continued, "And should her father have any issues, I think I'll be able to handle that just fine."
Knowing there was nothing she could do to stop the queen from giving the child such an expensive gift, Helena shook her head and smiled, before turning down to the princess. "What do you tell the queen, Margaret?"
Snapping out of her dazed reverie, the little princess flashed Riza the biggest smile she had ever seen before running forward and wrapping her arms around her legs. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed over and over again, and Riza couldn't help but laugh happily down at her.
"You're very welcome. Now, how about you show me all the things you've made?"
Pulling back with a new determined glint in her eyes, the princess nodded her head, taking care not to jostle her beautiful gift. "Yeah, let's go!"
Taking the small princess's hand, she allowed herself to be led into the castle and toward the gardens, the rest of the party following after them at different speeds. Riza couldn't help but wonder the last time she had been this happy.
And she hadn't even seen her king yet.
Well, thoughts? I originally had Roy and Riza's reunion in this chapter, but I decided to split it up and put it in the next one. So sorry for those of you guys waiting for it, you'll have to go one more chapter ;) Also, for anyone wondering about some unanswered plot points from Reign (like the pond) that's coming up too, so stay tuned!