I've read so much fanfiction I can't remember what's cannon and what's not. Maybe this is a sign I should re read the books again… Oh well ;) Hope you enjoy this chapter, please review!
"So, have you ever been to New Asia before?" Nicoletta asked me, I don't know why. For seventeen years I could barely afford a trip to the other side of town, never mind the other side of the world, and for the past two I had barely had time to leave the palace. It seems strange, you can apparently either have time, or money. Not both – and some people have neither.
"No. Have you?" She laughed.
"But, of course! But then again I have been princess for a very long time! I'm sure you'll charm them like you did your king." I laughed at that.
"I insulted Maxon the first time we met and attacked him the second. I don't think I should try those techniques on the Emperor and Empress of New Asia."
"No, probably not. How about you get them to give you money so that some rebels can overthrow your government. They would probably like that!" She teased.
"Ok, I think we have discovered that my charms should not be what we pin our hopes for peace and a new alliance on."
"Hey, worked on me. And whatever you did to that boy, it worked. He dotes on you, still. It's as if he's still hoping to woo you or something."
"Ok, you've had far too much wine. I'm cutting you off." I covered her glass with my hand as a butler made to refill her sixth empty glass of white wine.
"You're no fun!" She pouted.
"I need to go and speak to your parents for a bit, but I'll catch you later?"
"That makes you sound so old. Such a shame you didn't get time to enjoy being a princess." She winked and then walked off.
We had thrown an elaborate party for the Italians coming which had put them in great spirits, they did like a good party after all. Although Nicoletta was the future Queen of Italy, her parents were the current rulers and Nic wouldn't have any real power until she was married and her parents allowed them to rule. As such, Maxon and I needed to speak to Isabella and Antonio in order to stand any chance of the alliance we needed.
Maxon was already stood with the regal king and queen. I could feel the fear from across the room and so carefully walked over and slipped my hand in his. Instantly, I felt his confidence increase.
"May I introduce my lovely wife, America?" It was strange to be presented like this but that's what happened to royals, I suppose.
"Queen Isabella, King Antonio, pleasure to meet you both at last." I curtseyed.
"I was just telling our guests about our plans to dissolve the castes."
"It's a wonderful plan. When do you propose to start?
"We were actually hoping to merge the sevens and eights in the new year and the rest is to follow over the next ten years or so." I explained.
"It is great to see that you too are already working to change things that have been stagnant for as long as anyone can remember." Antonio smiled. "Our daughter is very taken with you, with the pair of you. And my wife and I have been talking, Nicki will soon be queen and we need to trust her decisions. We would like to discuss an alliance between our countries if you are free tomorrow morning before we leave."
"Of course." Maxon answered, calm and strong.
We danced a few times after that, I danced three times with Maxon, twice with Antonio, and then once with a drunk Nicoletta, before we all headed off to our respective bedrooms. I went through to the nursery to check on Shalom and found him sound asleep in his cot. I kissed his head lightly and he stretched his little hand out but didn't wake.
I walked back through to the bedroom and found Maxon fast asleep on top of the bed, still dressed in his suit from the party. I decided to change into my nightdress in the bathroom quickly before I went to bed. I came back through and found him still asleep. Whilst a large part of me didn't want to disturb him, a larger part of me wanted to make sure he was comfortable. Therefore, I carefully removed his jacket and belt – causing him to stir but not wake and then took a blanket from the cupboard. I covered him in the blanket and then crawled onto the bed myself, underneath the blanket and embraced him. Even in his sleep (or at most his semi-conscious state) he rolled slightly more onto his right side and embraced me back.
We both woke up at the same moment as one of the maids threw open the curtains of the room at about seven o' clock.
"Your meeting with the Italians is at eight o' clock in the throne room. We have prepared a table and chairs to accommodate you all and breakfast shall be served during the meeting." A butler told us from the door. "Good morning, Your Majesties." He nodded and then he and the maid left the room again.
"Come on, we have to get up." I said softly, to which there was no reply. "Max, come on." I hit him lightly.
"Ten more minutes." He muttered into his pillow.
"Well, I'm getting up now. I'll be back in ten minutes to drag you out of bed, I swear." I dressed in a light green day dress that stopped just above my ankles and when I came back through to the bedroom Maxon was no longer there.
"Grab me a tie, would you darling?" He called from his dressing room. I opened his drawer and rifled through his great number of silk ties until I found one that was the same shade of green as my dress with a diagonal white stripe. I walked into his changing room and found him dressed in his suit just waiting for a tie. "Give me a hand?" He asked and I began to carefully tie it in a perfect knot around his neck.
"I know you've been doing this pretty much since you were born and yet you always make me do it." I laughed. It was true, he'd even made me learn how to tie a tie so that I could do it.
When I had finished he slipped his arms around my waist and leaned down to kiss me. His hands slowly moved round so that they were both on my stomach.
"I can't believe there's another Schreave in here. A little baby America." He whispered.
"Or a Maxon." I corrected. "Shalom could have a little brother or sister."
"Or both." Maxon said, kissing me again. "Shalom is going to have more brothers and sisters than he knows what to do with." I rolled my eyes.
"Speaking of Shalom, I'm going to go and check on him." Maxon took my hand and we walked through to the nursery where our son was still sleeping soundly. He stirred a little as we walked over to him and opened his big blue eyes. He seemed to smile when he saw us and I picked him up.
Shalom had grown so much since he was born, it was hard to remember the tiny babe when he was born now.
"Your Majesties?" We both looked up from his mesmerising eyes to see Aspen stood at the door. "King Antonio, Queen Isabella, and Princess Nicoletta are ready and waiting in the throne room."
"Ok." I looked back down at my son, kissed him on the forehead and then placed him bac in his cot. "Would you ask Marlee to come watch Shalom while we're in the meeting?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Oh, and Aspen. I've told you several times not to call me that – you've known me since we were children!" I laughed. "It's bad enough when strangers do it."
"See you later, Queen Mer." He grinned and walked out of the room.
The meeting went well. In fact, it was barely a formal meeting and much more of an informal chat with old friends. We laughed, ate and then – finally – ended with the signing of a document by both Maxon and Antonio that signified the beginning of a strong alliance including better trade agreements and a promise to help whenever it is called upon.
After the signing, the family left to head back to Italy and so we said goodbye. A formal handshake from Maxon to both the king and the queen, and a kiss on each cheek from me to Isabella, a curtsey to the king, and a hug to Nicoletta.
The palace seemed much quieter after the loud, fun-loving, Italians had left but it didn't mean that Maxon and I had any less to do. We headed back upstairs to our large study together to begin planning for our own trip to New Asia.
Sorry it's a little later than I had planned but at least it's here. I'm doing my best not to disappear like I have before but please review and I'll see you all soon – Chescaannie x