Chapter 3

Joseph calmly surveyed the massive room, making his greetings short but nonetheless sincere. It seemed the whole country had turned up for free food and champagne, and the air was thick with noise and smoke. Politicians were beginning to mingle as well, being the Parliament session had concluded, and the next round of meetings had yet to begin. The whole palace was beginning to resemble a jungle, thick with creatures of all walks of life.

Spying Lord Fricker leaning unconsciously against a potted miniature pear tree, Joseph radioed for the man to be removed, perhaps taken to a free room if there was one. "Must have had an early start on the festivities," Joseph thought to himself.

He could not bring himself to ask about her. How would it look? It was their wedding day, and they had already lost one another. He had never lost her, never. There were times he wasn't sure where she was, but he had always found her easily. Now he didn't know whether to cry or laugh. Something about this had to be funny. Joseph wished he knew what it was.

Sighing at the massive amount of foreigners, Joseph thought it best to turn on his security mode once again, and head out to the grounds. If he could not be with her, he was bound and determined to keep her safe. Once this whole mess was over, they would have eternity. Although it ran in circles in his mind, it did nothing to comfort him how. Only her presence could do that.

Making her way down the staircase had been much easier. Clarisse glanced across the room with a sigh of disappointment, knowing it was useless to even hope of seeing him in such a crowded room. Spotting her granddaughter, Clarisse quietly slipped in behind her.

"Excuse me, Amelia, I need to speak with you please," Clarisse gently broke the young Princess off from the no doubt boring conversation she had been muddled into. Taking Mia's arm, she pulled her over to the side, away from the huddle of several UN representative.

"Grandma, I have never been happier to see you," Mia whispered above the roar in the room.

"Nor I you, I wanted to apologize for leaving you like that.."

"It's okay grandma. I know you have Joe on your mind. By the way, I saw him just a few minutes ago."

"You saw him? Amelia, where?" Clarisse could hardly contain her excitement, except for the small strain of worry that accompanied it in her voice.

"Here, only a few minutes ago. Grandma, you haven't been able to spend any time with him, have you?" Mia now understood her grandmothers weary tone.

"No, not alone. Not at all after Parliament." Clarisse looked around the room again, hoping upon belief that she would see him.

"I'm sorry, grandma. I truly am, but we have meetings scheduled to start in a matter of minutes now."

"It's not your fault Amelia." Clarisse took a deep breath and put on a happy face, although her insides were ripping apart at his absence. She knew he was near, and keeping her safe, but she wanted and needed him now to be within her reach.

"Shades has instructed us to end the reception early, Your Majesty, Princess," Charlotte informed them as she cut between them. "There is a representative of the terrorists arriving in two hours for the negotiations, and he'd like to have the palace void of any party going on. Also, the middle east nations would like a conference to be held on their behalf immediately."

"The middle eastern states are not nations, they are quarrels with borders. I agree with Shades, make sure the palace is evacuated by all who need not be here," Clarisse quickly replied. "And also Charlotte, arrange for dinner this evening in the state room."

"Yes ma'am."

"Oh grandma, must we have dinner with them also?" Mia couldn't help but whine.

"It is our duty Mia, you know that. Hopefully they won't be here long. To be honest, the more I meet with them, the more I like my dog." Clarisse had not meant it as a joke, but it did stifle a giggle between the three women.

"They are so annoying," Mia added. "Oh look at that!" Mia pointed to an elaborate woman not far across the room. She was running her hands down one of the guards, all the way down, and squeezing to her hearts content, laughing as the guard tried to elude her.

Clearing her throat, Clarisse replied, "Well, politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. Come Mia, we have a meeting to attend."

Taking the fastest ATV he could find, Joseph zoomed across the grounds checking to make sure everyone and everything were in place. Security could not be tightened any more until the guests were cleared, which was to be soon from what he had been told. Joseph drove the path close to the palace gates, bound and determined to keep his new bride safe.

On horseback it usually took about an hour, but today it took him less. Joseph was grateful, as the time alone gave him nothing to think of but her. They were wed this morning, and it was still a slight shock to his soul. Heading back to the palace, Joseph could only dream of seeing his wife, his Queen, his beloved Clarisse.

It was always hard to break up a party early, but today Shades found it very difficult. He was almost to the point of telling them the news, explaining the hazards of staying at the palace. The danger they were in was real, and he was rather afraid of causing a panic among the walls. Enlisting the help of anyone and everyone, the ballroom and adjoining rooms, even the gardens, were cleared of the reception guests. It had taken several hours, but for the most part everything had went smoothly. Seeing he was no longer needed, Joseph resigned himself to finding her.

Finding her had been easy this time. He knew where she was, what she was doing, and who she was with. Only he did not know what was on her mind now. Joseph had joined the two security men beside the doors to the conference room and had taken their place, bound and determined to be there when she exited. Knowing more representatives had arrived, and the situation was critical at this point, Joseph did not foresee looking into her eyes any time soon. Moving across the hall from the doors, Joseph planted himself in a spot where he could admire one of her many portraits that hung throughout the palace. It would have to do for now.

He had steadied himself with the patience of Job, and had held out until the following afternoon when Shades insisted he be replaced. He needed to sleep, and in his bed, not in the hall outside the conference. He was of no use to anyone now, and even he knew that. The only thing that kept him awake was the vision of his Clarisse hanging on the wall, and the idea of seeing her step outside those doors.

People had come and gone, even the Princess had been excused, no doubtfully by the Queen herself, to get some rest. Joseph had watched the doors swing open, and each time he had strained to catch her view, but never could he see to the far end of the table, where the Queen was seated. It had been a long evening, a long night, and a long morning had come and gone. Now Joseph sighed, knowing he needed sleep. When two security men had relieved him, Joseph took another long look at her portrait, and even another at the doors she was behind, and left.