1DG stood in front of the heavy oak doors. The weight of the doors equaled that of the expectations everyone had for her. She swallowed and took a step closer towards the dark doors. She'd fought off long coats, come face to face with killer papays and survived traveling storms. She was only in her 20s and she was already a legend in the kingdom. However, nothing could prepare her for what was behind that door. She could hardly remember most of her childhood, a piece or two would manage to break through every once in a while, but it was still pretty bleak. Despite all that she'd forgotten, the man behind that door was very vivid to her. The queen had called on him for every event, ball, or tea ever held at the palace. She could remember being fitted for her dresses in tears because of the things that man had said to her. Well over six feet tall, John was by far the scariest man she'd ever met.
"You're going to have to go in eventually." A voice said from a near by chair. DG slowly turned and a smile spread across her face.
"Tutor!" She said happily. She walked over and embraced the man as he stood up. He hugged her back tightly and then pulled away. She hadn't seen him for months and it was good to see a familiar, happy face. "What are you doing here? Helping the wedding brigade?"
"No, sadly I am here to help advice your sister on her crisis. But I do hear that congratulations are in order. I always knew you two would be together." Her tutor eyed the girl. DG looked down at her shoes, her cheeks blushing. "Speaking of which, where is that man? I would hope he was helping with this momentous occasion."
"Hardly. My father has him all over the palace preparing for the event in his own way. I guess I'm stuck choosing cake and invitations myself. "
"Well, I'm almost positive you'll pull it off." He gave her an encouraging smile. DG smiled back and nodded. "I'm off to go educate your sister." He picked up his bag. "Good luck with John." He whispered. DG frowned, wishing she could sit in with Azkadellia instead of having to go plan for the wedding. She sadly watched as Tutor walked away, down the hall towards Azkadellia's room. She took a deep breath and opened the door with a tug on the knob. When the door opened a dozen pair of eyes turned to look at her.
"I'm in hell." She said simply to herself.
"Tutor!" Azkdellia whined. Her tutor sat the book down for the millionth time and rubbed his sore head. This would be harder than he thought.
"Yes Azkadellia?" He moaned.
"What does this," She held up a book entitled: The History of the Outer Zone, "have to do with me becoming a queen?" She threw the book back down and tapped her fingers on the table.
"For the hundredth time, if you don't know the history of your own people, how are you going to rule them?" He asked. Azkadellia sat up in her chair.
"I know the history!! I am the people." Azkadellia pointed herself. "I don't have to learn it. Most of it I caused." She crossed her arms, eyeing her tutor carefully.
"Yes, I know. But there are other things besides history that you have to learn. You need to learn about protocol, and Etiquette, and how to deal with these people you so viciously attacked." Azkadellia glared at her tutor, he'd been hanging out with DG. That biting sarcasm just didn't come out of nowhere. She sighed and waved her hands in the air.
"Fine, fine, I'll cooperate." Her tutor let out a sigh and nodded.
"Thank you. I think we'll call it a day, and I'll give you your homework assignment." Azkadellia sat very still on her chair. Homework assignment? Did she hear him correctly? "One of your most important achievements as a queen is to produce an heir to run the kingdom after your death."
"What a pleasant statement. You should write for the birthday herald." Tutor ignored her remark and continued, his eyes rolling up to look at the ceiling.
"Anyway, you must find someone to marry and produce an heir. You're not going to do so when you do not even leave the palace."
"That nonsense," Azkadellia waved at the air. "I left months ago and traveled to Kansas and then when I got back I went on a trip with Deeg." She nodded her head. "So there you go." She moved to get up, but Tutor stopped her.
"I'm serious. You're homework is to find a guy and date him. Or court him. Which ever word you want to choose." He looked at Azkadellia carefully. "This is a good thing." He picked up his books and made his way towards the door. Azkadellia still sat in the chair, stunned. "I'll see you tomorrow." He gave one look towards the princess, and then quietly left the room.
Later that afternoon DG sat in a window seat. Curled up behind the curtains, it was the perfect hiding place for the young princess. She passed the time until she had to meet Cain, reading a large novel. She could hear the pitter patter of feet as they traveled by, servants keeping the house in pristine order. She was about to step out and get ready, but then a couple voices stopped her.
"Can you believe her?" A young servant asked.
"I know!" A second voice responded. "She has her pick of the entire kingdom and beyond for the right husband and she picks one of the best candidates for a husband." DG smiled to herself. So Cain really was a catch. He was her catch. Before she could enjoy the moment, the other girl spoke up.
"Yes, that bitch. She is a princess for crying out loud. She can get any guy and she gets everything she wants. I don't care that she saved the kingdom, some things should just be left alone." DG's face fell. They hated her. She thought all along that her maids liked her but all this time she'd been hated. She quietly sat her book down and pulled her knees closer to her chest.
"I'll clean up after her and make her bed, but I will not have anything to do with this wedding business. I draw the line." The other woman said. DG could hear her shift the basket she was holding to her other hip. DG felt awful all of a sudden. She really was taking away something good for someone else. She was sure she could find another perfect suitor, a prince or a knight. She listened as they walked away, still going on about the spoiled brat that was herself. She pushed her legs out from behind the curtain and forced herself to stand up, her legs still pretty wobbly. With a heavy heart, she walked down the hallway towards the kitchen. Maybe some sugar would help.
DG was standing in the kitchen eating a cookie when she heard foot steps from behind. She'd been waiting all day to hear those footsteps, but now she dreaded the sound. She was about to turn around when she felt his hands on her hips and his body pressed up against her back. She closed her eyes as she felt his lips kiss her bare neck gently, the goose bumps that went up and down her arms chased away any thoughts about a confrontation.
"What is it that makes you always smell so good?" He whispered. DG smiled to herself. "It really is maddening." She could feel Cain's breath on her skin and if it weren't for the fact that her parents would walk in at any moment, she would have thrown him on the island and had her way. She lightly sighed as he felt his fingers inch up under her shirt.
"You really aren't one for rules are you?" DG laughed.
"Who said this is breaking the rules? Unless you sleep in the kitchen, there is nothing wrong with this." Cain said matter of factly.
"Oh come on, you're in a kitchen! People eat in there!" A voice called into the kitchen. Cain groaned into DG's hair, but stayed where he was staying, closely guarding DG.
"Yes Az?" DG yelled back. Azkadellia walked into the kitchen and then started pacing in front of the couple. "Problems?"
"I have to go on a date." Azkadellia said simply. She glared up at Cain when she heard him snort. DG bit her bottom lip and lifted a hand above her head, pushing Cain's face away. Cain pulled his head back but still remained grounded.
"Why a date?" DG asked. Azkadellia sighed.
"Tutor thinks that the main reason for being a queen is getting married and then knocked up." She twirled her fingers up in the air in a whoop dee doo manner. DG frowned.
"Well, he does have a point." DG shrugged. She picked up a cookie and started breaking it apart in her fingers. She looked up at her sister. "I mean unless there is some spell that allows you have an heir without doing the . . . you know. . . then I. . ." DG started to mutter and became nervous. She looked up at the person behind her.
"Cain! Your thoughts on the subject would be great," DG said, her eyes wide and encouraging as she read Cain's face. Cain opened his mouth, and then closed it again. He wasn't about to proceed without caution. He opened it again and started.
"What harm could it really do?" He asked. "Go on a date, find some poor guy, have a million babies with him." Azkadellia's mouth dropped and DG closed her eyes. Really, when he didn't want to be involved, he really didn't want to be involved.
"Ok, you're free to go. I'll find you later." DG said quickly, pushing Cain off her and then back into the kitchen.
"Thank you." Cain whispered and walked out. DG turned back to her sister and offered her a cookie in a peace offering. Azkadellia just stared at her sister.
"Listen Az, I really think-"
"Oh cookies!" A voice interrupted. Both girls groaned, there really was no privacy in the palace. Glitch walked over to the plate and picked up a cookie, Raw closely behind him. Glitch took a bite and chomped loudly looking from one sister to the other.
"Problems?" He asked, mouth full of cookie. Azkadellia was shaking her head when DG opened her mouth.
"Az has to find a date to spawn future kings or queens." She smiled, the more she said it, the more insane is sounded. Azkadellia threw her hands in the air and turned to leave.
"THANKS!" she yelled over her shoulder.
"I think that's a great idea." Glitch chomped. Azkadellia froze, DG looked over at Glitch.
"Did he just say what I think he said?" Azkadellia asked. DG nodded. "What do you mean by that Glitch?" She turned around slowly and walked back towards the island. Glitch looked like a little chipmunk, his cheeks fully puffed out, filled with cookie. He swallowed the cookies and shrugged.
"Well, you complained you couldn't get out and no one would like you. Go on a date, get out of the palace. You may actually have fun." He looked at DG. She nodded in encouragement and her eyes told him to go on.
"Don't think about babies or duty, just have fun. You know what that is, don't you?" He asked. Azkadellia's face frowned; she would have slapped him if he hadn't had a point. Glitch picked up a couple cookies, and then turned to leave the kitchen. He was totally oblivious that he had just entered a serious conversation. Raw grabbed a few as well and gave a look of support towards Azkadellia. She smiled back at him and watched the two of them leave. She closed her eyes and shook her head. She'd figure it out eventually. Her eyes shot open suddenly and she looked over at DG.
"Oh I forgot to ask you about your plans. How's John?" Azkadellia asked, reaching for a cookie.
"Even worse than when we were kids. I thought I was going to have a heart attack." She closed her eyes and shook her head. She drummed her fingers on the table, considering if she should tell her sister about what she heard. "Az," She began. Azkadellia looked over at her sister. DG bit her bottom lip and shook her head.
"Nothing." DG backed down. "So who are you going to ask first?" DG raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Oh, how about Dudley!" DG screamed, her face filling with happiness. Azkadellia threw a cookie at her sister.
"No input from you, oh engaged one. As far as I'm concerned you have no say in which I choose. You already have the hunk." Both girls sat across from each other at the island, laughing and gossiping about boys and dates. Both girls would soon be venturing off down different paths and it would be moments like these that would keep the girls from going crazy.
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