AN: I do not own TVD or TO or The Princess Diaries.
The sun bounced off the soft pastels of her room. Elena woke up slowly. Her hand gripped the pillow and pulled it closer to her face. She sighed when she remembered everything that had happened over the last 48 hours. Realizing she had feelings for Elijah, being betrayed by Elijah and the resulting scandal.
Elena rolled onto her back and stared at the canopy covering her bed.
"I'm getting married today." She lay there a few more minutes before reluctantly climbing out of bed.
She stepped around the corner to open the door. Caroline and Rebekah stepped inside.
"How are you feeling?" Rebekah set down her dress bag. "You look great."
"So calm," Caroline stared. She waited for Elena to crack.
"I'm fine," Elena shrugged. "What are you two doing in here?"
"We're here to get you ready," Rebekah emerged from Elena's bathroom with a brush and a curling iron. "That's what best friends are for."
Elena laughed before allowing them to sit her at the vanity.
"What do you think Care?" Rebekah lifted a strand of Elena's dark hair. "Curly or straight? Down or up?"
"She should look sophisticated," Caroline started pulling nail polish from her bag. "How about straight and smooth, a braided bun at the base of her head?"
"Are you two going to spend the whole day talking about me like I'm not here?" Elena pointed to one of the colours Caroline held up.
"That depends," Rebekah pulled the brush through Elena's hair, "are you going to tell us about what really happened at the lake?"
"Nothing happened," Elena winced when she whipped her head around to glare at Rebekah. The movement tugged her hair sharply.
"I'm not talking about that," Rebekah turned her head and started a braid in her dark hair.
"What did you want to happen?" Caroline supplied. She uncapped the nail polish and reached for Elena's hand. "You like him, Elena, or at least you did."
"What was that?" Rebekah bent to watch her in the mirror. "You mumbled, and a princess never mumbles."
"I said, 'I like him'," Elena blushed. "I think I might have loved him," she whispered, "but he was clearly just using me, so…"
"I'm so sorry, Elena," Caroline set down the polish. She and Rebekah wrapped her in a tight hug.
"This is my wedding day," Elena sniffled, "and I refuse to cry on my wedding day. Let's move on to happier topics."
"Okay," Caroline picked up the polish again, "excited for the wedding night? I'm pretty sure your security team won't interfere this time."
"Caroline!"
"What?" Caroline laughed as she applied the light pink polish.
"What are you two talking about?" Rebekah finished the braid and reached for the pins. Her hand froze over the container, "no?" Her mouth popped open in shock. "Seriously?"
"Yeah," Elena blushed.
"Are you nervous?" Rebekah started twisting the braid into a bun.
"Do you want some advice?" Caroline giggled.
"You two are the worst," Elena blinked at the vanity, "but… I'm nervous… so yes."
The girls collapsed in a fit of giggles before launching into an explanation of how everything worked. Elena glared and told them she understood the basic concepts.
"I can't find my gloves," Mabrey strode through the sitting room. He finally spotted them sitting on an end table. "Are you coming?"
"No," Elijah shuffled a deck of cards in his hands, "you go. I think it would be best if I did not attend the wedding."
"Elijah," Mabrey clapped him on the shoulder with a jovial smile, "don't give up so easily. Come to the church, and sweep her off her feet." He opened his hands as if to demonstrate the obvious, "in a week or two she'll be yours."
"No, uncle," Elijah sighed. "It's over, she's going to marry Stefan."
"Ah, you're right, of course," he waved his hands dismissively, "This is a disaster in the making," he referred to the marriage, "I wouldn't want to miss a moment of it."
Elijah slumped back against the couch. His uncle's voice carried in from the door: "I'll try to catch the garter."
He was contemplating turning on the television to watch the footage when Kol stormed in.
"Where the bloody 'ell 'ave you been?" Kol paced in front of him. "I have been looking for you everywhere. I've been calling you every twenty minutes. Imagine my surprise to find you hear, especially after what happened."
"Kol," Elijah stood up and placed a hand on his brother's shoulder to stop his pacing, "what are talking about? What happened?"
"The royal scandal," Kol huffed, "the one you're at the center of."
"Why would you be surprised to find me here?"
"Because he set you up," Kol ran his fingers through his short hair. "I tried to call and warn, but you wouldn't answer the phone."
"He called Elsie Kentworthy?" Elijah's jaw ticked, "why does that not surprise me? I should have known."
"He's up to something too." The brothers turned to see the maid in the entryway. She motioned to Elijah, "he was much too delighted that you weren't going to that wedding?"
"I have to get to the church," Elijah grabbed his jacket and strode towards the door.
"I'll drive," Kol pulled out his keys.
Elena watched as Caroline glided down the aisle behind Rebekah. They both looked resplendent as visions in pink. She shifted nervously from foot to foot before pushing open the door.
"Ric?" She whispered through the crack in the door.
"Yes?" Ric watched the congregation.
"I just wanted to say, before I do this… I'm sorry you're retiring."
"Who told you that?" He turned his head slightly and caught a glimpse of her through the door.
"The maids know everything," she breathed before shutting the door.
"Princess?" Ric knocked gently on the wood.
"Yes?"
"You should know that Elijah did not set you up at the lake."
Elena felt hope stir in her chest; it made her heart flutter wildly. "Are you sure?"
"The maids know everything."
Charlotte came to stand beside Alaric. "We're ready when she is." She motioned for the doors to open.
Elena gripped her bouquet tightly and started down the aisle. The angelic voices of the choir filled her ears as her feet glided. She could see Stefan smiling gently, at the alter, and her heart dropped into her stomach. An icy chill spread down her spine and slowed her steps. Her feet froze when she was midway down the aisle.
"I…" she panicked when she felt everyone's eyes on her. She cleared her throat and passed off her bouquet to one of the attendees, "I'm going to need a minute…" She spun on her heel and raced from the sanctuary.
Elena froze momentarily when she emerged into the daylight. Camera's flashed in her face as the paparazzi jumped to their feet. She veered off to the left and slipped into a little grotto.
She hunched over in a fetal position and drew in deep shuddering breathes. She blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall and ruin her makeup.
"Oh," Jenna stepped quietly into the grotto, "my dear, Elena." She reached to help the trembling princess to her feet.
"I'm sorry, grandma, I just need a minute," Elena waved her hands wildly while her eyes sought out the church, "I can do this."
"No," Jenna affectionately cupped her cheek, "no."
"I can't do this," moisture flooded Elena's eyes. She fought back the sob.
"I know, darling," Jenna's hazel eyes met Elena's shimmering brown ones. "Listen to me. I made my choice… duty to my country over love… it's what I've always done, it seems. It was forced into me my entire life." Jenna smiled sadly and blinked back a tear. "Now I've lost the only man I've ever truly loved."
A radio chirped behind them. Jenna glanced over her shoulder to find Alaric standing vigil over them.
Jenna reached for her hands and squeezed tightly. "Elena, I want you to make your choices as a woman. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Make your own mistakes, you'll make plenty of them believe me."
Elena laughed and swiped away a few stray tears.
"You have a choice to make here. You can walk back into that church and get married, or you can walk away. Whatever choice you make, let it come from your heart."
Elena sighed. She drew in a deep breath and started back towards the church.
"Excuse me," Elena strode past the security team and started back down the aisle. The angelic voices started to bounce off the ceiling as she cantered down the aisle. The choir gasped for breath when she stopped at Stefan's side.
She took his proffered arm and allowed him to lead her a few steps.
"Wait," she turned to face him, "Stefan," she met his green eyes, "everyone deserves the chance to find true love, right?"
"Yes," he frowned.
"Including us?" She lifted her hand to pass him the ring.
"I … uh…" Stefan shook with a silent laugh. "Thank you… for saving me from doing the proper thing." He chuckled when she laughed quietly. "Now I just have to tell mother."
"I have to tell everyone else."
They wished each other good luck before Elena stepped up to the pulpit.
Elena stared out at the crowd and nibbled her lip before launching into an explanation.
"Welcome," she greeted the assembled congregation. Her eyes scanned the confused faces, "a few moments ago, I realized that the only reason I was getting married was because of a law, and that didn't seem like a good enough reason… so…" she smiled tightly and laughed, "…I won't be getting married today."
Shocked gasps echoed through the cavernous room. Elena waited for them to quiet down before seeking her grandmother in the front row.
"My grandmother has ruled without a man at her side for quite some time now, and…" Elena shrugged, "… I think she rocks at."
A chuckle flowed over the assembled guests.
"And so as the granddaughter of Queen Genevieve and King John… I ask the members of parliament to think about your daughters, your nieces, and sisters, and granddaughters, and yourselves…" her voice grew soft as she continued, "… would you force them to do what you're trying to make me do?"
She saw a few members of parliament nodding their head slightly.
"I believe I will be a great queen." As Elena spoke she realized her words were true. "I understand Bulgaria to be a land that combines the beauty of the past with the best hope of the future. I feel in my heart and soul that I can rule Bulgaria."
She grinned and laughed slightly.
"I… I love Bulgaria." She shook with a laugh. "Do you think I would be up here in a wedding dress if I didn't?"
This time the chuckle's gave way to laughs.
Elena drew herself up to her full height. "I stand here, ready to take my place as your queen." She smiled brightly at the crowd, "without a husband."
She smiled when the crowd applauded. She heard a few cheers before Viscount Mabrey cut through the cacophony with a jeer.
""Every time…" He stood up and pointed to her violently, "… every time this charming young lady opens her mouth she demonstrates a contempt for all of our customs." He slapped his hands together, "the law clearly states an unmarried woman cannot be queen. Fortunately," he broke out in a gleeful grin, "there is another heir."
"No," a voice echoed from the back of the room, "there is not. I decline. I refuse to be king."
"Your brother then," Mabrey waved him off.
"Leave me out of this," Kol leaned against a pillar and tossed his keys in the air, "I have no desire to be king either."
Elijah smiled at his brother before turning to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is Princess Elena who should have the crown. She's bright, and she is caring." His bottomless brown eyes met hers over the many heads. "And most importantly she has vision. Vision that will take Bulgaria forward, and if the parliament were astute, they would name her queen. Listen to her, she'll lead us into the 21st century."
Elijah smirked when she smiled.
"Besides, think how lovely she'll look on our postage stamp." He could see the slight blush from his place at the back of the room. Elijah turned around and started out of the room. He could hear his uncle following him.
"Lovely on a postage stamp?" Mabrey seethed. "You would look lovely on a postage stamp!" His angry voice echoed in the sanctuary as he stormed after his nephews. "Don't you walk away from me! You have a duty to your country."
Mabrey stopped and smiled at the crowd. "He's very distressed," he grinned before rushing out. His voice could be heard disappearing into the lobby.
"Elijah. Elijah!" Mabrey caught up with him by the front doors. "Elijah I cannot have you giving all, all this up just for a girl." He gasped for breath and approached his nephews. "We can still-"
"No," Elijah raised his hand, "we're finished, uncle."
The door slammed shut behind them as Mabrey was being apprehended by the security team.
Discord had been sown by Mabrey and the Mikaelson's departure. There were grumbles through the crowd about who was next in line.
"Prime Minister?" Elena addressed the coughing man.
"Yes princess?"
"I'd like to make a motion," Elena leaned forward to speak into the microphone. "I move to abolish the marriage law as it applies to present and future queens of Bulgaria." Her eyes roamed over the members of parliament. "Will anyone second my motion?"
"Stare them down," the prime minister whispered. "No, no, softer… softer… good."
Elena was surprised when the first to speak was Lord Palimore.
He stood up and tapped his cane against the floor. "I second the motion." A few gasps emanated from the guests. "It's time we had a new tradition. I like change… I may grow a mustache."
"I think you'd look marvelous with a mustache," a short man whispered.
"Gentleman, please," the prime minister interjected before they could get off topic. "All those in favor of abolishing the marriage rule, say, 'aye.'"
Elena waited tensely. As one by one the members of parliament after another stood up and voiced their approval. The tension left her body when cheers erupted and she realized she had won.
"Congratulations, princess," Lord Palimore smiled. He lifted his cane and motioned in her direction, "if I may say so myself… you rule."
Laughs erupted. Elena glanced behind her and motioned to Tyler. She quietly asked for his microphone and ear piece.
Elena watched from the front as Charlotte handed her grandmother the earpiece.
"Grandma?" Elena waited until she saw Jenna nod. "Just because I didn't get my fairy-tale ending doesn't mean you shouldn't."
"Oh," Jenna's mouth popped open. She turned to Charlotte, "did you hear that?"
"Not it you didn't want me to, ma'am."
"Well," Jenna sighed before taking her own advice and following her own heart, "Alaric?"
"Your majesty," Alaric met her hazel eyes when she stood in front of him.
"Alaric," Jenna smiled shyly, "am I too late… to ask you to accept my hand in marriage?"
A small smirk danced across his lips as he pulled off his ear piece and microphone. "I thought you'd never ask."
He offered her his arm and walked down the aisle.
"I know it was short notice," Jenna giggled, "but you were all dressed."
She smiled at the archbishop. "I would like to take this man as my husband, if you please." Jenna felt her eyes grow wide when the archbishop threw back his head and breathed:
"Finally."
What do you think?
The next chapter will be the coronation. And I'm planning on going beyond it.