Chapter 3

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, except the cat I DO own. Everything else belongs to the talking cow, aka HA (However you spell her name)

RATED: MA (For violence, language, and sexuality. (Not sure about lemons yet :/))

"Now that we've discussed it, I really think it is time we tell her."

"She's not going to like leaving her whole life here behind…it will be hard on her…"

"At first it will, but he visits everyday, and all they do is talk and talk, and talk! He's crazy about her, it would be better if we moved her into the castle, and his parents do agree…"

Elizabeth's mother sighed and nodded her head as her husband finished his sentence. "Nathaniel…I'm going to miss our little girl…" she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh my darling, but just think of it as her starting out on a brand new adventure! She'll have fun, and we'll get to see her as often as you wish." Nathaniel reassured his wife, patting her awkwardly on the back with a smile.

"I've always liked taking a ride on my horse, just roaming through the countryside, stopping whenever I want to admire the view and smell the fresh air. I love the mountains, all the wild flowers…" Elizabeth laughed as she sipped her tea. Roy smiled along with her and set his tea cup down.

"I enjoy it a great deal myself. My father isn't the only one who has to do all the running of the kingdom. Once I turned eighteen, he requested that I begin helping him. That way I would get to make a smooth transition once I do become King…it's stressful, I never realized until I actually started. Taking a ride on my horse is very soothing and relaxing." Roy told her, looking out across the Hawkeye's estate with glossy eyes.

"I imagine it as being difficult…there's not just yourself and your family to consider when making important decisions, but a whole country, that's a big weight on your shoulders." Elizabeth said quietly, her amber eyes searching his face as she spoke.

"You're so young, I've never really thought about your age before. I just knew that we were engaged without even meeting one another. Sixteen and yet, you're one of the most compelling and smart women I've ever met, Elizabeth…" Roy said softly, moving closer to her on the small couch. Elizabeth looked away, setting her tea cup down.

"I just…try to understand what others feel…My parents always said I was a good listener. I'm only four years younger than you are. And I'm not as smart and as wise as everyone thinks I am…if I was wise, Roy Mustang, I wouldn't have given my heart over to you so quickly after only meeting you once." Elizabeth said coolly, trying to arrange her feature into an analytical mask.

"Your heart? Are you saying that you have fallen for me so quickly? I've only been coming to your estate every day for two weeks, almost religiously my best friend says. You my darling Elizabeth are very captivating in your conversation." Roy laughed lightly, taking her hands in his. She blushed softly, looking into his eyes.

"I do not wish to have my heart broken. I only want to be a good wife, and perhaps after learning a few things, and trying my best, to be a good Queen…" Elizabeth replied, smiling gently. Roy laughed again, his eyes lighting up as he did so. He felt different around his fiancée, happy and carefree, like he could do anything. There were no words to explain the way this woman made him feel.

All too soon, it was time for him to return to the main city, it was starting to get dark out, near supper time. Elizabeth watched as he got onto his horse, and he grinned at her, a grin that was fast becoming a favorite of hers. The wind blew her golden curls softly across her face and she smelt the sweet scent of the wildflowers from the forest hit her nose.

"I will come back tomorrow, my sweet Elizabeth. Until then, I bid you adieu." Roy said, chuckling at his silly words. Elizabeth smiled and waved him off as his horse began to trot down the drive towards the main road.

"But…I don't think I'm ready…" Elizabeth said, her face creased with an apprehensive worry. Her mother wrapped an arm around her shoulders, smiling softly.

"You are ready. They can give you more than your father and I can right at the moment. You need to start planning your wedding and getting used to being treated as a Queen, Elizabeth. The Queen is going to help you settle into a routine and give you all new hand maidens. You will do wonderful in the Royal Court." Marie told her daughter consolingly, doing her best to convince her daughter that this move was for the better.

"I suppose you're right. I knew I would have to do this sometime. When do I leave?" Elizabeth asked her mother, holding back the rush of emotions that had started pounding on her heart. She knew that at some point she would have to sacrifice a bit of herself in order to better herself. It's what every woman had to do. Or at least, every woman in her situation.

"You will begin packing tomorrow, and leave the day afterwards. Roy won't be coming back, you will be going to him, and we have already sent word to his parents and him as well. So go on up to your room my dear and get ready for bed." Her mother smiled warmly, letting her daughter go and watch her walk up the staircase towards her room.

'My little girl…all grown up. She'll make a wonderful Queen…a beautiful bride.' Marie thought, a single tear falling down her cheek.

"You act like it's killing you to go two days without seeing her, Roy." Maes said, folding his arms over his chest as he watched his best friend pace back and forth. Roy growled in frustration and continued to pace. It was killing him a little to not see the woman he felt like he had been waiting for all his life. She was quickly becoming a type of escape for him, something more than just a confidant, like Maes was. She understood the words he said, she gave him confidence and ideas, she encouraged him in a way, he supposed, to be more like the regal man his father was.

"You don't understand, Maes. She's different, she gets me…she understands me like you do, and she isn't just infatuated with me like all the other women. She is falling in love with me! And I'm falling in love with her!" Roy blurted out, and then smacked a hand onto his forehead. Maes began laughing, and shook his head.

"So you went and fell in love with her did you now?" he asked Roy, trying hard to stop his laughing fit. Roy cast him a vindictive look and shook his head.

"It's not like I meant for this to happen…it just did Maes. It's like…she's everything…"

"That's the way it's suppose to be, Roy. It probably helps that she's extremely attractive and so pure. Or so I've heard."

"Don't go spreading it around that I'm becoming soft, because so help me God if you do…" Roy muttered, stalking off towards the great hall to await the arrival of his other friends. Maes chuckled lightly and went after him.

"I don't get why we have to meet her, geez. Who gives a crap about Mustang's new toy?"

"You should bite your tongue Brother…"

"Yeah Ed, shut up."

"Why don't all of you shut up?"

Edward Elric was short. And had a nasty temper, there was no way around those two facts, but he had good moral character, and was a valued knight in the King's arsenal. His brother, Alphonse Elric, was also a valued knight of high moral standing, but with softer words, and a sweeter demeanor. Edward was a little rough around the edges, but a good kid nonetheless.

"I think it would be wise, if you were to keep your mouth shut Elric."

"Well, well if it isn't the pompous windbag himself."

"You're just pissy because you have to meet Roy's fiancée instead of chasing after Amaya Mitsu."

"Haha, Edward has a girlfriend."

"Alright that's enough, I can see the carriage coming. She's probably going to be nervous enough without all of you acting like a pack of bumbling baffling baboons." Maes said sharply, causing everyone to stop fighting over Edwards' relationship with Elizabeth's new lady-in-waiting.

Elizabeth's face remained neutral as she got into the carriage bid her parents farewell. Her things had already gone ahead of her in a different carriage, and it would probably be unpacked and put away before she even reached the castle. She tried more often than not to not show any emotion. She didn't want to appear weak in front of others, she had to be strong and she didn't know what else. She looked down as the carriage began to move and heard her mother crying. She had already told them both goodbye and they had promised to come visit soon.

It was only an hour or two to the castle, and she sat alone in the carriage, thinking about everything she would have to do now. It seemed a bit overwhelming, but she would be closer to the man she was falling in love with, and get to meet all of the people he talked about so frequently. She was very keen to meet this "Maes" he spoke so highly of. She let out a deep breath and looked out the window of the swaying carriage, the countryside going by quickly.

'I hope everyone likes me. These are all people I haven't really met before, I need to make a good first impression. I must remember that a key fact is to be warm and kind…' her thoughts trailed off as she began to make a list of things she had to remember when meeting everyone as the carriage continued down the road to her destiny.

A/N: I hope everyone liked this chapter! Review and let me know!