DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of The Royals characters, however I own some original characters that you'll get to know them one by one.
So I can't believe we're supposed to see the finale tomorrow... Time flies :(
This is a new chapter to cheer us all!
To the guest reviewers:
BlueSky: Probably to Danny but we'll find out soon!
Amber: Thank you so much :)
Guest: I know I've told someone this but when?! I've always wanted to write a Brooklyn Nine Nine fanfic but never had the time... :(
ENJOY:
Chapter6_The Speech
"Mother, I…" Liam started but the Queen shushed him and showed him the paper in her hands. Liam frowned and asked: "Is that the speech?" The Queen nodded and gave him a copy of the written speech that they were about to deliver in a few hours.
Liam didn't even look at the paper and whined: "But can't we just say what we feel? There's no need for this fake speech." Helena fought the urge to roll her eyes and tried to reason with her son: "That is a psychological proofed speech. Do you understand how much danger you may put Eleanor in if you say one thing wrong?"
Liam sighed and kept quiet and Queen smiled with victory and said: "Now, go to your room, memorize your part and be back here in time for broadcast." Liam walked away without a word and Helena went back to memorizing her own part.
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Eleanor realized it was the first time she had eaten her food to completion since that day. The talk with Jasper really opened her up and his last words had made her so mad that she didn't even understand what she was chewing.
What the hell 'You did the right thing' meant anyway? Wasn't he upset that she tried to escape? Didn't he, in any sort of way, wanted her to stay? Or did he rather watch her leave? Then why did he catch her?
All the questions circling in her mind was making her tired and angry at the same time and she decided it was time to officially stop thinking about him. She forbid herself to get distracted or confused by him again.
She pushed the tray away a bit and put her head down on her hands and closed her eyes. She pictured her family, doing their every-day routine, and hopefully worrying about her in the middle of everything else.
The world was going mad with the news of her still being missing and the people of Britain wanted a speech from at least one member of the royal family, but so far nothing. Eleanor couldn't help but wonder how could they not have found her yet? Who were these people who kidnapped her? Who was he?
Eleanor silently cursed herself as Jasper's image appeared in front of her closed eyelids. She opened her eyes and exhaled angrily at the thought of him and Danny being so powerful that the whole country couldn't find her.
Who the hell were they?
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There was a hurried knock on her door and Eleanor stopped playing with her lighter and looked up. Jasper walked in, his eyebrows shaped in a frown, and turned on the TV without a word. Eleanor sat up on the bed and wanted to object but her mouth was forced shut at the image of her family on the screen.
The reporter was babbling but Eleanor wasn't even listening. Her eyes were glued on her father who looked broken, Liam who looked like he hadn't gotten a good sleep for days, and her mother who looked as perfect as always, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
The camera focused on the King as he started: "The great nation of Britain, it is with heavy heart that I have to announce, so far, there haven't been any signs of the missing Princess, my daughter, Eleanor." He paused for a quick second and Eleanor took a deep breath as tears were threating to spill on her cheeks.
Simon went on: "And I desperately ask you to pray beside our worried family. And to whoever responsible for this… I've already lost my son. Please, don't take my daughter away as well…" The King was trying to hold himself together but he was failing miserably.
Jasper turned his head around and saw Eleanor who was staring at the TV with tears covering her face. He gulped and turned his attention back to the screen where the camera was focusing on the Queen. She gave a sympathetic smile towards the whole world watching and after a moment, started talking in with a calm tone:
"My daughter is a young lovely woman who loved this country and its people. Eleanor, she thrives for challenges and adventures. She's the kind of girl that doesn't stop until she gets what she wants. And I admire her for this. We all do. And we miss her dearly and wish she was here with us."
Eleanor couldn't stop the sob coming out of her when she heard her mother say those words. Compliments that she'd never heard in her whole lifetime from her. And even though she was sure the whole thing was scripted, there was a part of her that knew her mother was talking from the heart.
The Queen gave yet another perfect smile for the camera and went on: "As the King said, we have already lost one of our children and the domino effect of it is still in effect. We're willing to negotiate and give you what you desire, as long as it's fair. Please, contact us." Eleanor sniffed and wiped a few tears off her face and kept her eyes on her mother and didn't notice how tense Jasper was looking at the Queen.
The Queen turned her head towards her son and the camera slowly moved towards the next King of England. Liam's face was tense and if the camera was angled a bit lower, people could've seen his fists. He stared right into the lens and said:
"My sister… she's a brilliant girl… full of life… full of joy… and she doesn't deserve this… no one does… I'm not asking you to release Eleanor because of money and title… I'm asking you as a worried brother… Please…"
Liam looked down for a moment and when he looked up, Eleanor knew he was speaking to her: "Lenny? If you hear me… we love you… we're thinking about you every second of the day… Stay strong, like I know you are…"
The camera shifted back to the whole family smiling hopefully and then their image was replaced by a few reporters. Eleanor's mouth was wide open but she wasn't making a sound. Tears kept falling down on her face but she wasn't trying to hide or wipe them.
Jasper cautiously walked towards her and went to put a hand on her shoulder that she flinched and stood up yelling: "Don't TOUCH me!" Jasper raised his hands in surrender but Eleanor kept screaming: "GET OUT! I HATE YOU! GET THE FUCK OUT! GO!"
Jasper turned around and quietly walked to the door but Eleanor wasn't finished: "You are a FUCKING psychopath! Why are you doing this to me?" Jasper was closing the door that Eleanor rushed towards it and asked: "What do you want? JUST TELL ME."
She heard the familiar sound of the door getting locked and banged on the door: "WHO ARE YOU?" She kept asking but she knew she wasn't going to get an answer. She eventually got tired and slid down, still whispering: "Who are you?"
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Jasper walked to the kitchen and pulled a cabinet open and grabbed the bottle of Scotch and poured himself a glass and drank it in a heartbeat. He poured his second glass and sat down on the couch, staring at the drink in his hand. Eleanor's screams finally stopped and he sighed tiredly.
Kyle walked in and asked hesitantly: "Everything alright?" Jasper huffed and answered sarcastically: "Fantastic!" Kyle knew he shouldn't mess with Jasper when he was angry so he kept his mouth shut and sat down in front of him. They spent a moment in silence but Jasper knew Kyle couldn't hold his tongue for long and he was right as Kyle sighed and said: "Poor girl…" Jasper shut his eyes and warned: "Don't start."
Kyle ran a hand through his messy hair and pushed: "Don't you think…" Jasper interrupted him harshly: "I don't want to think, Kyle, got it? I'm not in the mood for your stupid ideas." Kyle frowned and said: "Well, thank you big brother. You always know how to give me confidence."
He stood up to leave that Jasper sighed and apologized: "I'm sorry, okay? Sit down." Kyle sat down, pouting a bit, and said: "You didn't need to apologize. I'm used to you being a total dick." Jasper chuckled and said: "You seriously can make laugh anytime and anywhere."
His happiness didn't last long as Eleanor's screams replayed in his mind over and over again. He drank his Scotch and put the glass down on the table. Kyle said: "Promise you won't bite if I say something…" Jasper rolled his eyes and nodded for him to go on.
Kyle started hesitantly: "Why do you… care about her?" Jasper's whole body tensed up when he heard the question and he became defensive: "What the hell are you talking about?" Kyle warned: "You promised J…"
Jasper murmured: "I need another drink…" He went back to the kitchen and Kyle went on: "You called me a million times since I took over Garret's duties, kept asking how she was, if she ate… even if she had nightmares..."
Jasper drank his third glass and answered calmly: "She's my responsibility. If she doesn't eat and dies on me, do you think Danny would leave me alone? He'd kill me." Kyle snorted and answered immediately: "Danny's the one who told Garret he could do…"
Jasper interrupted his brother once more: "I don't want to hear about that anymore. Danny's an idiot and I handled him when I went back to London." Kyle pointed out: "Because you care about her!" Jasper growled angrily and said: "That's bullshit."
Kyle rolled his eyes and after a quick moment of silence, he said playfully: "To be fair, she seems kind of smitten with you as well, bro." Jasper quickly turned his head around but regretted his action when he saw Kyle smile from ear to ear.
Jasper turned his back to his little brother but heard him say: "Way to go, J. Scored yourself a Princess!" Jasper whispered: "The Princess…" And then cleared his throat and answered loudly for Kyle to hear: "I haven't scored shit and you better shut your mouth around Danny."
Kyle whined: "I'm not a kid anymore." Jasper came back to the living room and whispered: "Sure act like it…" Kyle huffed and said: "You're not getting any dinner tonight." Jasper chuckled again and asked: "You know I can cook too, right?" Kyle made a face and went to the kitchen to start making dinner.
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Kyle came back with Eleanor's tray, full of untouched food, and gave Jasper a meaningful look. Jasper knew there was no way she'd eat that night and stayed away from her so he wouldn't make her angry again.
Kyle took his mask off and informed Jasper before sitting down next to him: "She's asleep." Jasper nodded and said: "Nice job, by far, Kyle. I knew I could count on you." Kyle widened his eyes and said sarcastically: "It knows how to complement!"
Jasper lightly punched him in the arm and said: "Don't make me take it back!" Kyle went to say something that they both heard loud screams coming from the hallways: "Let me go! Please! Help! Somebody HELP me! JASPER!"
Jasper didn't exactly remember how he reached her room and unlocked the door. He rushed inside and saw her writhing on the bed. She was having a nightmare. Kyle had told him how she had nightmares every night since the incident with Garret.
Jasper rushed to her bedside and tried to shake her awake and called her name: "Eleanor! Eleanor, wake up!" Eleanor finally woke up with a loud gasp and came face to face with Jasper. Jasper did his best to soothe her: "Everything's fine. It was just a nightmare. You're safe."
Eleanor was hardly breathing and couldn't stop shaking so Jasper pulled her into his arms and caressed her hair to calm her down. Eleanor's breathing slowly returned to normal and she wasn't shaking anymore but she didn't pull herself away.
Kyle walked in and announced: "I brought…" But his words were cut short when he saw the scene in front of him. Jasper pushed Eleanor forward uncontrollably and she pulled herself away as fast as she could and wiped the tears off her face.
Kyle, re-masked, gave Eleanor a glass of water and she nodded her head as a 'thank you'. She drank the whole glass and gave it back to Kyle appreciatively. She turned her head towards Jasper and saw that he was observing her every move.
She wanted to push him away, insult him, and more importantly hate him for what he had put her through but she wasn't capable of it. Jasper made it hard for her to ignore or dislike him and he did it once more when he asked worried: "Are you feeling better?"
She nodded her head and even faked a sad smile and said: "I'm getting used to this." Kyle whined uncontrollably: "I'm not! Almost had a heart attack the first night." His tone somehow made Eleanor laugh and it looked like a miracle to Jasper and Kyle himself.
Jasper gave Kyle a look which meant 'leave us alone' and Kyle used every bit of his strength not to smirk at his older brother. After he marched out of the room, Jasper turned to her and asked: "Do you want anything?"
Eleanor shook her head as 'no' but her stomach growled right in time and gave her away. Eleanor almost blushed and Jasper couldn't hide his chuckle. He seemed to think about something and then said: "You know what? Come out to the kitchen and eat something, yeah?"
Eleanor raised her eyebrows and said: "I thought after what happened the last time I was out of the room, you were keeping me here forever." Jasper shrugged and said: "I was planning on it. But we both know I can't do it."
Eleanor frowned at his confusing words but Jasper stood up and said: "You know where the kitchen is." He left her alone so she could maybe change or freshen up and Eleanor planned on doing both things. But she couldn't keep his last words out of her mind when she did so.
Eleanor didn't know what to make of his words but honestly, with her stomach growling more than once, she decided not to read too much into things and made her way out of the room. The last time she was walking out of that room by her own will, things didn't exactly go well.
She just hoped this time she wouldn't disappoint Jasper or herself.
So what did you think about the chapter? Did you like the story being told from Jasper's point of view? How did you feel about Kyle?
And there's a couple of references in the chapter? Anyone figured them out?!
As always, I'd love to hear more from you guys, so leave a review :)
XOXO,
S