AN: I do not own TVD or TO or The Princess Diaries.
Charlotte sat back in her armchair and turned on the projector with the remote in her hand. A picture of a young man with dark hair and a bit of scruff appeared.
"Baron Lorenzo St. John?"
"No," Jenna shook her head. "Not appropriate. He's a compulsive gambler." She frowned when she remembered the scandal that had occurred a few years back; Lorenzo had lost a fortune in a card game.
Charlotte nodded in agreement before changing the slide. A young man with windswept blond hair and a charismatic smile was next. Elena grinned when she saw it and let out a small shriek.
"I accept," she gushed and reached for Caroline. "I totally accept."
She felt the smile fall from her face as her grandmother and Charlotte laughed.
"Prince William is not eligible," Charlotte explained with a smile, "because he's in line for his own crown."
"If I may interject," Ric sat forward by the slide machine. "If the man is ineligible why is he included in these pictures?"
"I just love to look at him," Charlotte sighed and leaned her chin on her hand.
"Mmm. Me too."
"Your majesty?" Ric arched one eyebrow at Jenna.
"This is Lucas Parker of Paris," Charlotte motioned to a second blond on the screen. "He has no title, but comes from a good family."
"What about the title husband?" Caroline tossed a handful of popcorn into her mouth.
"He's cute," Elena nodded. She could see him beside her with an easy smile on his lips.
"His boyfriend thinks he's very handsome," Ric remarked drily behind the girls.
"Right on," Elena and Caroline nodded in unison while pumping their fists.
"No matter," Jenna waved to Charlotte, "put him on all of our guest lists. He's a divine dancer."
"Does the law explicitly say that she has to marry a man?" Caroline smirked as a glint entered her eye.
"Technically it only says I have to be bound in holy matrimony."
"Nothing gender specific though?"
Jenna shook her head with a small laugh.
"Could you imagine the powerful public, political statement you could make by marrying a woman?" Caroline jumped from her seat and fell on one knee in front of Elena and held one hand over her heart. When she spoke it was with a deep seated passion. "Elena Petrova, will you marry me? We can be badass queens together."
"We are trying to avoid a scandal, Caroline." Jenna pointed out while smiling at her antics.
"I would, Care," Elena laid a hand on her friend's cheek, and smiled with mock sadness, "but I'm not gay, or bi."
"Oh thank goodness," Caroline sat back in her chair with a sigh, "neither am I."
"That's good," Elena laughed, "I don't think your boyfriend would take kindly to the fact that you ran off to a foreign country to get married, and never told him."
"I'd have called to let him know," Caroline mumbled and threw some popcorn at the giggling princess.
"Who's next, Charlotte?" Jenna gracefully changed the subject.
"Sir Wesley Maxfield," Charlotte changed the slide.
Elena frowned when she saw the next picture. She mentally shook her head as she took in the man's advanced age.
"Far too old," Jenna shook her head decisively.
The next picture was of the young prince Henrik who the queen declared as too young. Elena couldn't help but agree. He was followed by a handsome young man.
Malachai Parker was the right age, and had a good title, but Ric informed them that he had been arrested far too many times to be considered a good match for Elena.
"He has severe anger management issues, as well."
"This is getting us nowhere," Jenna sighed. She raked her fingers through her hair. She stood up and began to pace the room. "Elena needs someone titled, someone who can help her rule the country without a giant ego getting in the way."
"That leaves out Damon Salvatore," Ric murmured.
"She needs someone attractive, smart but not arrogant," Jenna gestured with her hands as she talked, "someone with compassion."
Charlotte had been flicking through the slides while the queen spoke.
"Someone like him," Elena pointed to the latest young man to grace their field of vision.
"Yes," Jenna returned to her seat, "someone very much like him. I wonder why I didn't think of him before. Good choice, Elena."
"Stefan Salvatore," Caroline read from the screen, "the duke of Valencia. He's cute."
"He looks … decent," Elena held her folder of names in front of her chest and peered up at the screen. Stefan had kind eyes, and he seemed like a good person based on the information she had been provided.
"He was an Olympic swimmer," Charlotte leaned forward as if delivering gossip around the lunch room table, "he's a pilot. He loves photography, and fixes antique cars."
On Wednesday they went on a picnic. Elena lounged against the picnic basket. If she strained her ears she could just make out the sounds of her grandmother making small talk with Stefan's parents. That insipid talk show host was a little further away being held at bay by Ric and the security team.
Stefan for his part was being a good sport about it. He was polite and smiled while she talked about going to grade school in America. He laughed when she told him about some of the Halloween pranks that she had pulled with Caroline as children. Elena thought he was cute, and kind, a perfect gentleman in the presence of their chaperones, but she felt no spark.
She nodded politely when he asked if she would like to take a stroll along the beach.
They chatted idly as the wind picked up and whipped her ponytail against her neck wildly. He was friendly.
"Here we are at the breezy seashore village of Varna." Elsie's voice chirped loudly enough for Elena to hear. "Our lovers have perfect weather for their first public outing. Along with Stefan's parents Giuseppe and Lily. It must be rather hard to get to know each other this way."
Elena stopped on the beach and lifted her hand. She heard Elsie gasp delightedly when she and Stefan offered her a wave. The quick movement of her hand was enough to knock Elena's scarf from her neck.
"Oh," Elena squealed. She spun around quickly and chased after the material while it flew away.
"Elena," Stefan laughed calling after her, "wait. A princess should not run for a scarf."
Stefan foot caught in the sand and he tumbled down taking Elena with him. She laughed loudly as they hit the ground.
"I got it," Stefan grinned. He held out the flimsy material dramatically, "your scarf, senorita."
"Why thank you, sir," Elena giggled and wrapped the scarf around her neck. "I think you might be clumsier than me."
On Thursday, Stefan challenged her to a playful game of badminton in the garden. Elena took a tumble when she lunged for the birdie.
She hissed in pain when she sprained her ankle. Caroline stopped the maids from rushing into help. It provided Stefan with the perfect opportunity to bond with her while icing the injury, but still she felt nothing.
On Friday the young couple took a stroll through the palace gardens. Elena managed to wave of Anna and April after the passed over a stone bridge.
She caught a glimpse of Elijah as she did. He sat on a bench reading a book, but glanced up when he heard them approach. His heavy gaze made Elena feel a tad self-conscious. She tucked her hair behind her ears and laughed at a joke Stefan made.
She couldn't explain the disappointment she felt when he stood and hurried from the garden.
On Saturday Stefan sat with Elena beneath a great oak tree just inside the palace gates. Elena's smile felt like it was straining her cheeks, she could see the reporters pressed against the cool metal. She struggled to focus on what Stefan was saying.
"Every marriage in my family for the past 200 years has been arranged…"
"Stefan?" She spoke through clenched teeth and a forced smile.
"Yes?"
"Could you try to talk without moving your lips?" Her eyes flickered between him and the gate. "The… uh… the lip readers have binoculars."
"Here we find our favorite new royal couple, nestled under the castles famous white oak tree." Elena sighed internally. She was really getting sick of Elsie Kentworthy's voice it was far to chipper.
"I have something for you," Stefan turned his back to the gate to face her.
"You didn't have to get me anything," Elena blushed, "my birthday was last week."
Stefan took something from his pocket and sat it in her open palm.
"Here you go, Elena."
"Cool," Elena inspected the present, "film… that's nice."
"Why don't you open it?" Stefan smiled.
She could hear Elsie speculating on the canister as she popped off the lid.
"Oh," Elena breathed when the ring fell into her open palm. It was lovely.
"It was my great-grandmother's engagement ring," Stefan explained. "She and my grandfather were married for 57 years, so I thought it might be lucky for us." He shrugged one shoulder and waited for her response.
Elena's eyes flicked up from the ring to Stefan. She looked into his kind eyes with a smile; thinking she could grow to be very fond of him in time.
"Do I have to put it on myself?"
"No," Stefan laughed and took the ring from her hand, "I can do that."
Small cheers erupted from the gate as the royal engagement was accepted.
On Sunday morning Elena and Stefan stood side by side inside the palace. She let out a nervous breath and offered him a small smile.
"Are you ready?"
"If you are."
She drew in a deep breath before nodding to Charlotte that it was time. They stepped through the open doors onto a balcony to the resounding cheers of the Bulgarian people. They waved gently to the crowd as the engagement was officially announced.
Elena stumbled near the edge of the balcony. She scrambled to catch the vase of flowers before it could fall to the ground. Rather than put it down she held it in her hand and lifted it awkwardly. Stefan noticed her movements and picked up the matching vase before following her back into the palace.
Elijah lounged on the couch in his uncles sitting room.
"I hate to say it," he chuckled softly, "but you were wrong. The princess has managed to find a husband in less than a week."
Mabrey shook his head and laughed without humor.
"Elena can't possibly be happy with the idea of an arranged marriage," he leaned forward to brace his hands on his knees and motioned to Elijah with a small smirk. "Your job, dear boy, is to romance her. Show her a real relationship filled with heat and passion."
"You want me to make her change her mind about Stefan," Elijah rested his elbows on his knees.
"Precisely," Mabrey grinned and sat back to brace his hands behind his neck, "the deadline will pass and the throne will be ours."
Elijah nodded slowly. His gaze cut across the room to land on the portrait of his late father, Lord Mikael.
"Are you sure my father wanted this?" His mouth twisted into a small frown.
"Of course," Mabrey nodded solemnly, "his final words to me were: 'help him, Arthur. One day he could be king'."
"I don't remember him ever saying anything like that to me," Elijah narrowed his eyes.
"You wouldn't," Mabrey tilted his head back to look at the portrait, "you were only a child when he died." He turned back to face Elijah. "He wanted you to have power… and power means never having to say you're sorry."
Reviews are the life's blood of the writer.
What did you think of the potential bachelors?
Also I will likely have a new chapter up for Dealing with the Hybrids in a few days. I just have to type it. I've tried typing directly but I just end up staring at a blank word document for hours; the ideas come much faster when it is pen and paper. Plus this way it get's at least one good edit before hitting the stands.