Hi, so here is another story from me, my first for this fandom that i discovered I loved after watching the movie.

I am going to keep this short and sweet-I am including the songs here, I am not great with spelling and grammar and I am planning to make this about twenty chapters long.

There is going to be some swearing-it wouldn't be a story without that from me so if that offends you stop now.

I tend to do a mass update of my stories all at once so please keep that in mind.

Disclaimer-Nothing is mine.

Please Read and Review.

The Slipper And The Lily

Reworking of the film in which John has a little sister.

Chapter 1-Other People's Houses.

The Prince wants to marry for love. John just wants to see his sister.

It is the lot of a good servant to stand by his master. John knows this and he knows he is more fortunate than most. He was picked to the Master of Arms to the Prince. It's a position most of his fellow workers would give their right hand for. It denies him his choice of wife, the woman he loves but at the same time it gives some freedoms to his sister.

It's the lot of a good servant. And he is better off than most. The Prince and he and closer to friends than servant and master. He knows that he is fortunate. But…but now when he trapses through the snow he has to wonder if he was not better off doing his own thing and having the comfort of a warm fire at night.

Carefully he does not give voice to these thoughts. The Prince is in a bad enough mood as it is.

And really John cannot blame him. The lady was….well…hideous.

God Lili is going to laugh herself to sleep over this.

The one good thing about seeing the castle intact is that he knows his sister is safe. Granted he knew that but he would really not put it past his sister to run with matches and set the tapestry alight. Love her he does, indeed she makes up part of his whole world but if a tree was to fall John knows his sister would be nearby with the axe.

Honestly. Keeping her in line is a full time job on it's own.

He tells the Prince this who laughs. The Prince is very fond of Lili, John knows he looks at the two of them and sees what he didn't have as a child, he knows that Lili loves him like her second annoying big brother and that the Prince indulges his sister more than he should.

All above board but still…

Through Caroline he has managed to get Lili a position waiting on the Dowager Queen. Granted she's a Maid of Honour not a full Lady in Waiting but it guarantees her safety and position same as him. A comfortable and respectable match eventually. And as Caroline had pointed out one day when she had been sick to the back teeth of this rule keeping them apart, now he had an excuse to come and visit.

It's been the two of them for so long, Lili was four when their parents both succumbed to disease and ten when he took on his position, that he doesn't remember a time when it was not so. Now ten years later with a nearly fifteen year old sister blossoming at court John is becoming more aware of the dangers than he ever has.

Doesn't help he thinks as he is handed his goblet of wine, that missions like this take him away from his sister who knowing his luck is once again filled with radical thoughts from secret hidden radical newspapers.

Curse his luck.

"I am sorry this took so long" the Prince says standing in front of the fire. "I know you miss Lilibet"

"Oh I don't mind it so much" he lies and the Prince shoots him a look. "And I should remind you her name is Lilianna"

"I know. I call her Lilibet"

"You only add to her belief that she's special"

The Prince laughs and the banging to announce the Lord Chamberlain begins.

John snorts into his wine as the other man comes into the room. Respect the Lord Chamberlain as he must he has to admit the man is ridiculous when it comes to protocol and decorum. Not to mention the man makes heavy weather of everything. Getting him in and out the saddle is a full time occupation.

"Your Royal Highness"

John doesn't snort into his wine with great difficult.

Why does he have a feeling that the Prince is going to sing? Everyone seems to be singing these days.

"Your Royal Father His Majesty the King and your Royal Mother—"

"I know who they are"

John bites his lip. Lilianna though he shouldn't admit to it does a wonderful impression of the Lord Chamberlain that has the Prince in hysterics nine times out of ten and right now he knows she could take this picture and do it justice in a way that will have the three of them howling. He wonders how he can sneak his Caroline away for a report on his sister…when the Prince begins to explain that actually he has not come back married and this entire purpose only served to freeze them both to death.

And really…a bride finding mission in winter! Even John thought it utter madness! Never mind the dangers of opposing kingdoms he was lucky to make it back with all his toes.

He wiggled his feet in his shoes just to check he had all ten.

And then the Prince starts singing.

Like John said before…everyone is suddenly singing.

Any simple peasant is afforded the ability in love. To win or lose. While I of the nobility. Am robbed of the facility to choose.

Any serf or servant can, by natural selection. Elect himself a mate if she's amenable. But due to my high breeding I'm continually acceding. To demands I find increasingly untenable

I wish to know. I demand to know
Why can't I be two people?. Why can't I live two roles?
Why can't one of me perform all the cloying amenities? While the other me, twin brother me. Be a free and happy soul!

Why can't I be two people? Split myself right in half. Then I could satisfy and mollify and pacify and qualify. While the other me would have a helluva healthy laugh! Hah!
The custom of royalty in referring to one's self. Is to naturally employ the royal "we". We are very happy, we are very sad. We are bored and suffer from ennui

For a royal prince there's no such word as "me". It's always "we"
So rightfully I should be two or three. Don't you agree?

John thought it was funny that the Lord Chamberlin tried to interrupt. It didn't work with the Prince on a good day and didn't work when he was singing.

Why can't I be two people? Why can't I play two parts? Why can't one of me endure. The appalling formalities. While the other me, twin brother me. Have a free and happy heart!

If I could be two people. Life would not pass me by. I'd have a chance to pick and choose. I'd have a chance to win or lose. And maybe one of us would have a chance to live…

Before we die!

"Die! Who died?"

The Dowager Queen was in attendance then. John peeped round the Prince too see her sat on the throne. By her side was Caroline her hair tied back under a neat hat looking serene and lovely as always and by her other side looking utterly board was his sister.

Lili looked a lot like he did. Her hair was the colour of a bay pony and being a maid it meant it was loose down her back. Her gown was a light pink that had once he was sure belonged to another Lady in Waiting. When he had protested to Caroline that he would provide for his sister she had pointed out that the girls who served her left families behind and that a lot of them had siblings.

"It's been a while since we have been allowed to play with dolls she had said with her gentle smile. "Let us dress up your sister"

John had never told Lili this, he suspected that his sister's reaction to being a 'doll' would be less than polite.

Either way he took stock of her noticing that she had new earrings.

He caught her eye and she beamed at him, he caught Caroline and he winked. She smirked back as the Prince knelt on the cushion for his father to knight him with an expression that told John he would rather be outside in the cold than being forced to do this.

He stepped to the side bowed smartly to the Dowager Queen who nodded her head at him with a twinkle in the eye and then he stepped closer to his sister.

"Brother"

"Sister"

She looked up at him through her eyelashes. "I wish I could go and hug you"

"As soon as we are out of the court. Your looking well"

"I am" She sighed. "I take it you had a wonderful adventure?"

"I wouldn't call it that"

"More than what I have here" she said sighing. "Just once I wish I could go with you"

John snorted as quietly as he dared.

The Duke of Montague had arrived.

John liked the Duke simply because he was funny. There was never an occasion where the Duke quite by accident made him laugh. His sister thought he was hilarious and to be fair he was far too curious for this world. The Duke had been one of the few people who whenever there was a ball took his sister on the dancefloor simply because it made her smile. He was a great dancer too and he had personally brought three dances to court that made all the girls go gaga. Was he a King…not a chance but he was great fun.

"Cousin!"

"Oh God who let him in!"

The Duke bowed to the Queen and the Dowager and then flashed a wink in his sisters direction. Lili grinned. John sighed. Incurable was his teenage sister. Utterly, utterly incorrigible too boot.

"I have just heard the news…"

"He's happy" John muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

"He thinks that if there is a new Princesses there will be new Ladies"

"Ah"

"He's not picky you know" Lili said quietly. "He's said as much. Just desperate"

"Ah" he said fighting the smirk. "Naturally"

"She was that bad huh?"

John shrugged. Not for him to say really. Lili sighed and the King spoke.

"John?"

"Hmm?"

"Have you noticed that everyone seems to be singing?"

It was short lived the laughter that bubbled up inside of him however as that was the exact moment that the King and Queen burst into song. Lili was about to roll her eyes but John tapped her on the arm and shook his head taking her to the side so they wouldn't be in the way.

Maybe this was a spiritual affliction?

What has love got to do with getting married? Why should love enter into it at all? Love can make you quite emotionally harried when you're married
It's pedantic and romantic falderal.

Find a mate, dear boy, find a mate
Princess Susan, Princess Karen, Princess Kate
Find a mate, dear boy, find a mate
Love will have to wait

What has love got to do with being married? Being married is a problem all it's own. Love is highly overrated and makes marriage complicated
When the bed is elevated to the throne

Find a mate, dear boy, find a mate
Pick the proper princess, prime to propagate
Find a mate, dear boy, find a mate
Love will have to wait
There is many an eligible maiden. Of good family with title of her own. Who would come to us bountif'ly beladen.

With an army that could fortify our throne

"I couldn't have said it better Uncle"

Lili snorted into her hand. John bit his lip. Lady Caroline became very interested in helping the Dowager Queen back to her seat her smile on her face. The King sighed as if the Duke of Montague's continued existence was a burden to him.

What has marriage got to do with being happy? Being married can't compare with being royal. Being royal you engender every luxury and splendor. While a marriage can get overripe and spoil.

Find a mate, dear cousin, set the date. Why procrastinate and stay the hand of fate?. Find a mate, dear cousin, set the date. Happiness can always wait.

"Get him out of here! Get him out of here!"

What has love got to do with getting married. What has bread got to do with wedding cake. We are board of your defiance of connubial alliance. For a line of royal giants is at stake.

Find a mate, dear boy, find a mate. We are growing old and time is growing late. Find a mate, dear boy, find a mate, It's your duty to the state not stay a celibate

Find a mate, find a mate

Find a mate, find a mate.

What has love got to do with getting married?

"We are not prepared to say!"

His sister caught his eye. John found he had to look away. It was very undignified to laugh.

And there you go, the first four chapters here are done-i will hopefully update as we go along.

Next Chapter-Lilianna knows she should be thankful for her life. But she's soon to be fifteen. She wants…well…more.