A/N: Here's chapter 2. I hope you enjoy. Big thanks to everyone who reviewed.
I do not own The Princess and the Frog.
The Glory of Love
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"Port of Iola. All ashore who's going ashore!" A deep voice boomed throughout the ship. Tiana sighed, and gazed out the port hole. The smell of the sea was making her nauseous again, but at least the motion had stopped. She could hear the blares of ship horns and the squawk of gulls outside, along with the shouts of sailors and dock workers in the Maldonian language. Her stomach felt like lead. In a matter of moments, she would see the land of Maldonia for the first time. She didn't speak the language, save for a few phrases, and had little understanding of it's culture or heritage. She knew only the little things Naveen had told her. Why hadn't she studied? She'd been spending the voyage relaxing (when she wasn't busy upchucking) at Naveen's insistance, when she should have been doing something productive. She silently cursed her husband and his carefree ways.
Naveen walked into the room, dressed in his royal best; ivory coat with gold trim and blue sash, and grabbed a suitcase. He looked at his melancholy wife for a moment before asking, "Tiana, are you ready?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," she said, getting to her feet. She smoothed out her green dress, and snatched up another case. "Is someone coming for the rest of our stuff?"
"Yes, I made arrangements for our belongings to be delivered to the castle. They will be there by the time we arrive this evening."
"Tonight? It isn't that far, is it?" she asked, surprised. She knew that the capital, Calkirii was on the other side of the country, but Naveen constantly mentioned that Maldonia was small, and it was only nine in the morning now.
"We are not going straight to the castle," he said, looking at her as though that should have been obvious.
"Naveen, your parents will be expecting us..."
"And they will see us tonight. You worry too much, it is not becoming for a Princess." She rolled her eyes, and stalked out of the room and down the hallway. He ran to join her, finally catching up to her as she reached the door to the deck.
"Did you ever consider that you're worrying too little? You just got back in your parent's good graces, don't you think it's a little early to be goofing off?"
"I never gave my parents a time to expect us, just that we would be arriving today. We will find someone to take us to Zulima, and catch the ferry to Calkirii. It is easy, I did it all the time in my youth."
"Fine, I'll trust you, but only because I have no idea what I'm doing here. Once I'm more acquainted with the country, you don't get to organize our schedule again," she said, continuing across the lower deck, towards the gangway.
He reached out and grabbed her arm to stop her before she could start down the ramp off the ship. She turned to face him, not sure what he wanted. "What's wrong?"
"I want to carry you down."
"What? No!"
"Why not? he asked with a pout.
"I don't want your people's first sight of me to be me being carried like an invalid."
"But Tiana..." He moaned.
"No!" she said firmly. He groaned, but relented, instead offering his arm to her, which she took.
"Very well, but tonight, I shall carry you around the castle to my heart's content. No matter how much you object," he whispered into her ear as they descended to the pier.
They were immediately greeted by a swarm of people, bowing and curtsying, chattering away in Maldonian. Naveen was grinning, shaking hands and kissing the cheeks of their well wishers. Their joy was infectious, and soon Tiana was smiling too.
"De Schaze, de schaze!" he said laughing as he fought his way through the crowd, dragging Tiana along with him. She couldn't stop laughing as they passed through the enthusiastic mob of natives.
"And you were worried people wouldn't like you," Naveen laughed as they finally got free. "It is like I told you, no? You worry too much."
"I stand by my anxiety," she snapped, but she her grin gave her true feelings away. She was relieved that she had been welcomed so warmly thus far.
"Well let's go. I will find someone to take us to Zulima, and then..."
But he was cut off by a loud, excited squeal of "NAVEEN!!!" The next thing he knew, something small had collided full force with his midriff. He looked down and into a familiar pair of shining golden eyes.
"Avram!" He exclaimed, scooping the small boy up. He laughed and threw his arms around his big brother's neck.
"Vie Naveen, Tiana," Naveen's mother, Queen Padma said, running to catch up to her youngest son. She grabbed Tiana's hand and shook it. "It is wonderful to see you again, Tiana. Welcome to Maldonia!"
"De schaze, your Majesty," Tiana said pulling away from her. Naveen put his brother down and kissed his mother's cheek.
"Maji, I did not know you would be here!" He exclaimed. "Is Papa here as well?"
"No, he had session with Parliament this morning. He says he'll see you at dinner tonight," the older woman said. "Have you made arrangements to have your things brought to Calkirii?"
"Of course I did, Maji. They are supposed to arrive at the castle this afternoon," Naveen said, putting his arm around Tiana's waist and leading her away from the pier. His mother and brother followed them.
"Naveen, where are you going? I have a car waiting to take us to Mette..." Padma called after him.
Naveen screwed up his face, and turned to his mother. "Maji, I was going to try to get a ride to Zulima..."
"Whatever for?" the queen demanded, putting her hands on her hips. "I have already arranged transportation for you, why not just use it?"
"I want to show Tiana some sights..."
"So you will show her later. You both settle in, then you may go gallivanting around the island. Now come along, I have things to do later."
"Just give me five minutes Maji, If I can't find someone to take us to Zulima, I'll go with you, Azan?"
"Naveen..." his mother started, but he had already disappeared into the crowd. She gave an exasperated sigh, and threw her hands up in the air. "My dear, you must have the patience of a thousand women to be married to my son!" she said to Tiana.
She nodded, "Yes, sometimes he can be a chore, but his heart's in the right place."
"Perhaps, but his heart will only get him so far in life, no?" the queen snapped. She saw Tiana's loving eyes, and her face softened. "But that is why you are good for him, yes? You keep him, how do you say, in the line."
"Yes, I suppose I do," Tiana said with a shrug. They stood in silence for a few more moments. Little Avram started swinging the hand that was clasped in his mother's. They were starting to attract some odd stares from passersby, and Tiana realized what a sight they must be, the queen, prince and another girl all dressed up and standing around among the crates full of goods and livestock.
"Majencio does regret not coming to greet you. He was very excited when he found out you two were coming," the older woman, "But you understand. The duties of a king."
Tiana smiled and nodded. She saw Naveen come running back towards them. He had his jacket slung over his shoulder, and had unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt.
"Well, I couldn't find a ride to Zulima..."
"What a shame. The car is waiting just over here..." Padma began
"BUT Maji, I found a wonderful fellow who can take us as far as Prazidio. And he says we can probably find a ride to Zulima from there."
"Naveen, you will never make it to Calkirii tonight. Who knows how long you will have to wait in Prazidio?"
Naveen laughed, "Maji, you are as bad as Tiana! We will make it!"
"The ferry from Zulima stops running at sil, you will not make it," Padma insisted.
"We will, you will see. Now if you will excuse us, we must be going, or he will leave without us," Naveen said, steering Tiana away from his mother.
"Can I go with you, Naveen?" Avram asked, wrestling his hand away from his mother's. He ran to his brother's side and latched onto his leg.
"Of course you can! It will give us some time to catch up, eh?" Naveen said enthusiastically. Tiana could tell from the look on the queen's face that she thought very little of that idea. But she could tell that Naveen and little Avram were so keen on it, so she decided to try to intervene.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, we'll take good care of him. He'll be safe with us," she assured the older woman. She looked calmer, though still hesitant, as she looked at her sons eager faces.
"Very well, Naveen I expect you to take good care of him. I do not want a repeat of last time."
"Oh, he was fine!" Naveen exclaimed. "He was with me the whole time!"
"Those pretty ladies taught me how to bluff!" Avram said with a grin. Tiana raised an eyebrow at her husband in response to his brother's statement.
"Tiana, you will watch him?" the queen asked desperately.
"Of course I will," she reassured her mother in law.
"All right. I will see you three tomorrow morning. Abinaza."
"Maji, we will be there tonight!"
"We will see," Padma said, giving her sons a quick peck on the cheek. She ran off down the pier, and disapeared into the crowd. Naveen sighed in relief.
"Shall we go then?" he asked, motioning towards the city. Tiana took Avram's hand and followed Naveen through the crowded streets of Iola. They finally reached a wagon pulled by a pair of horses, a large man with a dark curly beard at the reins.
"Tiana, this is Enio. Enio, a vesto Tiana," Naveen said, introduced them as he lifted Avram into the empty wagon.
"Vie, Prutta Tiana," Enio greeted, kissing her hand. She smiled at the gentlemen as Naveen helped her into the wagon. She sat down beside Avram as Naveen threw their two suitcases in and then jumped up himself. Once he was sitting down, Enio clicked the reins, and they started out of the city, and into the lush, green Maldonian countryside.
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A/N: And that was chapter 2. Naveen's mom seems nervous about leaving her sons unattended, doesn't she?
Just a few notes:
1. I'm making up the Maldonian as I go. As it stands now: De Shaze=Thank you, Vie =an informal greeting, used in daily conversation, Azan= All right, sil= seven, a vesto= this is, Prutta=Princess. Naveen calls his mother Maji, which is hindu for mother.
2. Someone asked when this takes place. Well from what I've heard, the movie takes place in 1926. Figuring for Mardi Gras, that would make it February of 1926. So with that mindset, I'm setting this in late June of 1927.
3. Wow, a lot of people seem to think Tiana's knocked up! At this point, I will neither confirm, nor deny it. But I will say that my mother only gets seasick in the early morning. Just throwing that out there. Not a confirmation, but I'm not denying it either. You'll just have to keep reading and see!
Until next chapter, thank you for reading, and please review.
