James sighed in relief at the sound of the heavy wooden door to his own chambers shutting behind him. Here, with only his beloved wife present, he didn't need to worry about behaving like a king. Which was an especially good thing at the moment because he was up to his eyeballs in frustration with even his closest confidantes at court.
"Lily, my love, would it reflect very poorly upon me as sovereign if I had my Man At Arms strung up by his toes?" James fisted his hand in his hair and paused a moment to look out his window into the starry night.
"By his toes? That would be a shame. He's quite a good dancer, you know." Queen Lily looked up from her book, which she had been reading by the light of a candle from their bed. The flame reflected off the golds and deep reds in her hair. James had been given two winters to become accustomed to the sight in front of him, but part of him felt he could never get used to the breathtaking beauty of the woman that he was lucky enough to call his wife. Her smile radiated out and took hold of him. He was smiling back at her as he sat down next to her on the bed and started in on the task of removing his boots.
"Well, it appears that you'll need to find a new partner for country dancing in any case. Your instincts were quite correct on the matter with my cousin, the Princess."
"Ah. Is that the cause for your current anger at Sir Sirius, then? You dislike being proven wrong?" She smirked over at him and James chuckled in spite of himself.
"I'll have you know I am not nearly as petty as your Majesty must think." His tone was teasing as he threw off his second boot and came to lay next to her.
"James." She ruffled his hair, "You once refused to speak with Sir Remus for a whole fortnight because he made commentary upon your hair."
James grabbed her hand from his hair and kissed it. "And I maintain that insulting a kings hair is dangerously close to treason!" He smirked at the eye roll she gave him. "But I digress… I'm angry because Sir Sirius has found it in himself to be honest with the Princess about his love for her but… not about everything." He hesitated. The truth of Sirius's identity was not his to share, even with his most treasured Queen. She knew there were secrets that came with the office of being a king and understood that often times he couldn't share with her, even when in his heart he longed to unburden. Her warm smile always gave him comfort in these moments, nonetheless.
Lily laced her fingers in his as she spoke. "Sometimes we women have ways of knowing things without the benefit of being told. I know that Sir Sirius must feel it very important that this aspect of his true history be kept secret, and I have nothing but respect for your man at arms so I've kept my suspicions to myself for the better part of a year. I feel it's likely that her Grace will come to the same conclusion, given time and perhaps a little clarity of mind. Her eyes are clouded with love at the moment, but… well… you understand."
Lily's words came out so casually that James had to take a moment to adjust to the nature of their actual content. She knew? She'd known for the better part of a year? She was brilliant… Just when he thought he couldn't possibly be any more in love with her she would go and do something like this.
"Lily. Have I mentioned lately that I would be lost without you?" He kissed her hand and pulled her into his embrace. "I still feel woefully unprepared to rule most days but thank you, for being the Queen this kingdom needs. And the woman that I need. Really. Thanks."
"You're right. You'd be lost without me." Lily pressed a kiss to his cheek before settling against his chest. "You'll talk to Sir Sirius tomorrow? He has some decisions to make. They won't be easy, but they'll be much more manageable if the lot of you can talk about them, rather than just staring off into the sunset looking pained about it."
"Well, he does look quite dashing in the sunset lighting when he's being dramatic and self-sacrificing."
"You're making me jealous, your Majesty." Lily pouted.
James nuzzled her neck and chuckled, "Well we can't have that now, can we?"
James was grateful that he needn't wait long to confront Sir Sirius about the issue of his rather annoying tale of tragic romance. After they broke fast, the Princess Marlene was busy taking notes for Lady McGonagall and Sir Sirius was all his. He would try to be a king sovereign and not even threaten to hang his oldest and dearest friend strung up by the toes.
"Where in the hell is your head, Sir?"
"Your Majesty?"
Sir Sirius possessed an annoyingly disarming manner, that James was sure was entirely unintentional. There was no way the knight would make an effort to resemble a confused spaniel pup. But there were times when he did just that. Usually, those were the times when James wanted to chastise him. It was hard to chastise a puppy. Even if the puppy is a full grown knight who also happens to be the best swordsman in the land.
"Do not look at me like that Sirius. You have reduced my cousin the princess to a teary-eyed mess. Do you know what she asked of me last evening? I trust that you are unaware or you would be ashamed to show your face."
Sirius started slowly, probably unconsciously, inching backward, looking more like a puppy than ever. He was, at this point, certain that he'd mishandled something. That much was clear. It was also evident to James, who'd loved this man like a brother for 11 years, that he hadn't the foggiest notion of what he'd done wrong. Perhaps that was the reality of his internal workings. He'd been raised with Walburga as a mother. He probably always thought he'd done something or other wrong.
Remembering that helped James have a little more compassion going forward. He took a deep breath and reached out to Sirius, laying a steadying hand on his shoulder.
"Sirius, it's going to be alright. But you have to be brave. You've always been brave and I don't think you're likely to stop now that you have a very real princess shedding tears over you. You're a true knight. True knights will have always fight the dragon for the Princess. Even if the dragon in your case is your mother…"
"So she told you." Sirius' face had grown cold and sullen.
It took a lot of restraint not to grab the knight by the ear like he might have done as a boy of 12 if they'd gotten into a tiff. He was so thick sometimes, and what was worse he apparently thought James was just as dense.
"You complete dunce! She didn't have to tell me. At least not about you." James poked Sirius in the chest. "I was not aware that the poor girl returned your affections but, no accounting for tastes, is there?"
Sirius' face went from sullen to shocked in less than an instant. "You knew that I was in love with your cousin, and you didn't say anything?"
James rolled his eyes. "Sirius we've been brothers at arm's for long enough I know what to expect of your behavior. These past weeks… probably even Gilderoy Lockhart can see that you've fallen lovesick." James smirked, "Well… if he weren't busy admiring his own reflection, at any rate."
"It's that bad?" Sirius grimaced and hung his head.
"Gilderoy Lockhart?" James couldn't keep the teasing from his voice. "You've seen him. That's what started all this you'll recall."
Sirius rolled his eyes in response. James was glad to see his friend was still present and accounted for underneath all these new and terrifying emotions he seemed to be experiencing. He couldn't help but smile, and Sirius mirrored him in turn. For some reason, he felt compelled to pull his man at arms into a brotherly embrace. This was never going to be easy, but they'd face it together, no matter what.
Then Sirius' face grew solemn, "What did she say to you, James?"
James sighed at remembering Marlene's pleading. "She wanted to renounce her title. She was ready to give it all up for you." James brought his arm back to Sirius' shoulder. "You have to tell her, Sirius. She needs to know the truth about who you are. And what's more, you have choices to make about who you're going to be. There's war brewing at the borders, Sir. If you cannot be Duke of Semprapuria then I am sure I'll find some nobleman up to the task, but it's your birthright. I want you to lead my army when we take it back." James hesitated. His voice nearly shook at the image of any alternative. "I need you by my side, Sirius…"
"And by your side I'll be, your majesty." Sirius nodded reassuringly. Then he sighed and looked away. "Give me time to speak to the Princess. She deserves the truth. You're right. I just… I need to think on it. It's…"
"I know. It's difficult to tell a princess that your mother is a dragon." James chuckled.
Sirius laughed and shook his head.
"Something like that."