AN: I do not own TVD or TO or The Princess Diaries.

Truth be told I have the first 8 chapters of this written, and I will probably have the next 5 by the weekend. The story is following the movie very closely, but I'm planning on going beyond to follow up with ELEJAH after the coronation.

Charlotte disconnected her call with the airline and crossed the length of the ballroom. She was making a beeline for the stairs to share the latest news with the queen and princess. She jumped when she saw a body stretched out across the stairs.

"Princess," Charlotte held a hand to her heart and laughed, "you startled me."

"Shh," Elena slammed her book shut. She motioned with her hands for Charlotte to keep her voice down.

"Stefan's plane just took off," Charlotte leaned forward to whisper. "He said he would call when he gets to Valencia. He says he won't be gone long." She turned her head from side to side as if expecting to see someone lurking in a corner, "Why are we whispering?"

"I'm hiding from my ladies maids," Elena breathed. She shook with a silent laugh when Charlotte shook her head in amusement. "I'm fine, though."

Charlotte nodded before leaving Elena to her reading.

"I'm fine," Elena breathed into the empty room. She opened her book and tried to get lost in the world of Jane Austen, but she couldn't concentrate.

She marked her page and laid the book on her lap before lifting her hand to gaze at the ring. She twisted it from side to side and rocked back against the railing. She drew in a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

Her head popped up when she heard someone approach from under the stairs. She looked up to see Elijah, with his hands in his pockets, whistling a classical tune. He placed one elbow on the banister and motioned to her with his hands. His gaze landed on the ring before seeking her chocolate eyes.

"Are you having second thoughts?" He tilted his head and offered her a small tight smile.

"No," Elena nodded her head forward as she stood, "I was just admiring my ring." She smiled too brightly, "it belonged to Stefan's grandmother. He really is very romantic."

She started to turn to walk up the stairs. She stopped when he made to follow her up.

Elijah stepped onto the stair with her. The space was narrow so they stood close; he was so close that if he were to lift his hand he would brush against her arm.

Elena felt her heart skip a beat when he moved into her personal space. Her eyes flicked from his chest to his arrogant smile, and finally to his bright eyes that glowed amber in the late afternoon light. She took a deep breath before dancing around him and back down the stairs.

""If you'll excuse me," her heels clicked on the tile of the ballroom, "I must go and see to some wedding details."

Her quick pace slowed when she made it halfway up the opposite staircase. She glanced over and realized that Elijah was staring at her, and matching her pace perfectly.

"No," he shook his head with a slight frown. Elijah glanced down at the stairs before looking back to her. He briefly admired the way her hair fell against her face, perfectly framing her tight lipped smile. "You are the one who stomped on me with your big feet?"

"Big feet?" Elena shrieked.

She realized her mistake a moment to late when Anna appeared at the top of the stairs. The maid turned around to call behind her.

"April, I found her!"

Elena felt the first chords of panic plucking at her heart strings. She drew in a quick breath and smiled tightly.

"Anna, I'm not here," she shook her head as the maid continued to frown, but unlike April, Anna quickly took the hint.

Anna flashed Elijah a quick smile before running off in the direction she had come. "It wasn't her," Elena heard Anna call, "it was a ghost." Anna made a few eerie noises as she ran off.

She finished climbing the stairs and met Elijah on the balcony that looked out over the ballroom.

"You danced with my big feet," her voice dropped half an octave. She didn't know how to react to this man who would flirt with her one minute, and try to steal her throne the next.

"Fine," Elijah smirked. He opened his arms and turned his palms up, "call the war-crimes tribunal." His arms fell to his sides, "I'd like to remind you, Elena that we only danced for about a minute." That's it, Elijah. Play it aloof, and whatever you do… don't actually fall for her. He thought he could handle making her fall for him without actually falling for her; it was just a physical attraction between them after all.

"It was more than a minute," Elena turned her head to look out over the ballroom. Her eyes landed on the spot where she had trod on his toes.

"Well," Elijah smirked and offered her a small shrug, "maybe it was a minute and a half."

Elena rolled her eyes and fixed him with a fierce glare. She set her shoulders as her chin tilted up so she could see into his eyes.

"Fine," she mumbled, "it was a minute and a half," she huffed and pushed past him. She felt a chill run down her spine when her shoulder brushed his arm, "but it was also a lie," she turned and pointed an accusing finger at him, "because you didn't tell me who you were, and that you were trying to steal my crown."

"I apologize," Elijah followed her short steps down the hall, "I must have had a lapse in manners. You see, usually when I ask a woman to dance I show her my family tree."

"Oh," Elena shook her head and huffed, "well aren't you just… crafty."

Her eyes darted around quickly when she heard Mrs. Young approaching with April; they were searching for her and headed in their general direction. Elena's eyes lit up when she saw the door of the broom closet. She tugged open the door and motioned for Elijah to step inside.

Elijah's eyes roamed her face to see if she was serious before entering the closet. Elena stepped in beside him. She secured the door and slipped on the light switch.

"Do you want to know what else you were doing while you were doing your little lie dance?" Her eyes roamed his face as she hissed.

"Lie dance?" Elijah held back his chuckle while thinking this woman was hardly fit to rule, she could barely speak.

"That is exactly what you did?" Elena strained to hear the approaching steps of April and Mrs Young.

"What exactly is a lie dance?" Elijah leaned back as far as the narrow space would allow.

"The lie dance is not the point," Elena whispered. "The point is…" She waved her hands and drew in a quick breath when he stepped closer to turn off the lights.

"What is the point?" He tilted his head and breathed quietly. His minty breath fanned across Elena's face making her brain stutter.

She turned the lights back on only to have him turn them off. She decided to let it be and jumped into her tirade.

"I…" She sucked in a breath when she realized how little space separated them. Snap out of it, girl, he's not that attractive. A little voice in the back of her head said that he was.

"The point it that I am on to you," she poked his chest with her finger, "oh boy, am I onto what you are trying to do?"

"And what am I trying to do?" Elijah smiled and pressed closer so that they were flush against each other. He fought the urge to grab her hips and kiss the angry expression from her face.

"I think we both know exactly what it is," Elena's eyes explored his face, flickering quickly between the cocky smirk, and his laughing eyes. A warm feeling flooded her chest when their eyes met.

Elena sprang back when the door was thrust open and the lights turned on. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw Mrs. Young and April.

"Please forgive the intrusion," Mrs. Young gasped, "Your highness, Lord Mikaelson." Mrs. Young turned off the lights and quickly slammed the door shut over Elena's protests.

Elijah bit back his laugh when she laid her forehead against the door before shooting him a glare, and fleeing the closet. This is going to be fun.

Ric strolled beside Jenna in the gardens. He had just received word from the housekeeper who had caught the Princess in a compromising position.

"I'm told Lord Mikaelson is a native Bulgarian." Ric waved back the maids when they crossed over a small bridge. "Recently graduated from Oxford, he's a gourmet cook, plays polo and rugby. And from what I have heard he is quite the ladies' man."

Jenna approached a gazebo and turned to stare at him in shock.

"She was in a closet?"

"With him, yes." Ric nodded.

Jenna looked around the garden before returning her gaze to Ric.

"Do you think she has the makings of a queen?" Jenna had never doubted her granddaughter before, but this was something else. Surely the girl had more sense.

"She's young," Ric mused, "but I have always believed in her."

"The wedding invitations have been sent out." Jenna fretted. She wrung her hands together. "She and Stefan make a fine pair… don't they? Elena is very set on it you know… the wedding… being queen."

"Genevieve… Jenna," Ric took her hands and led her to sit on the edge of the gazebo. He cleared his throat gently before peering into her eyes. "In less than a month you will no longer be queen, and I will no longer be your head of security… I think it's time we bring out friendship out of the shadows."

"Oh," Jenna's mouth formed a small circle as she realized what he was saying, "Alaric, I…"

"Yes," he mistook her shock for joy, "I would kneel if not for the knee replacement."

"Alaric," Jenna smiled sadly, "there is a wedding to plan. Elena … she needs to win over the people in less than 30 days."

"Jenna," Ric took her hands and stroked the knuckles, "perhaps it's time you consider the duty you have to yourself. Elena will be fine," he raised her hands to place a kiss on the back of her hand.

"Oh…"

"Just promise me you will think about it, Please."

"I will," Jenna nodded.

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