The Princess and the President's Son

Chapter 5

The Princess and the President Son

Twenty years have passed and Collin, Michael and Alexandra’s firstborn son, is now king when we again look through the window of Buckingham Palace.
A ten-year-old girl was sitting in a sunlit room reading a book under the watchful eye of a young woman. After reading the last page the girl rose and approached her.
“All finished Miss Henderson,” she said. The young woman smiled.
“Well done Your Highness,” she said. She called the girl Your Highness because she is Branwen Alexandra Elizabeth Grace, the eldest daughter of King Collin of England, and his wife Queen Arista. Because she is the firstborn Alexandra, as everyone calls her, is next in line to inherit the throne from her father, because she only has a younger sister named Allison Kristine Rosemary Jane. Collin, who became King when she was eight, has been training her for the role she would one day assume. He tries to give her as much of a normal life as possible. Instead of having a governess, as was the royal tradition, she attended Riddlesworth Hall as a youngster. At 14 she was enrolled at West Heath, the most exclusive girls school in London. He hired Julie Henderson as a private tutor. She came to the princess’s dormitory room each day to refresh or further explain the concepts that had been taught that day in her general classroom. The King protects his daughter from the press as much as he can, but they still get their pictures.
Suddenly, the King himself came into the room. Julie curtsied but the little princess ran to him with a glad cry.
“Daddy!” she squealed. The King dropped to his knees and held out his arms. The princess was soon caught in a warm embrace.
“Hello Alex,” he said gently. He turned to Julie.
“I’m sorry Julie, I hope I’m not disturbing anything,” he apologized.
“Not at all Your Majesty,” Julie said with a smile. She turned to the princess. “That will be all for today Your Highness,” she said. After she was free the King took his daughter’s hand and led her through the halls to the office of the headmistress.
When they entered the office the headmistress rose and curtsied.
“Your Majesty, what can I do for you?” she asked. The King smiled.
“I’m signing Alex out until next term. Julie will help her keep up with her studies at home. The headmistress nodded and Collin signed the necessary forms. Mrs. Weston sent a maid to retrieve Branwen’s personal belongings from her room. When this was done her father took her hand again and led her through the huge oak doors of the main entrance to the waiting car.
Once they were outside the princess looked up at him with curiosity in her bright blue eyes. It wasn’t every day that Daddy came to get her from school. He seemed to understand the look and smiled.
“I have someone I want you to meet. The President of the United States is here and he brought his son to meet you.” Branwen cringed; the idea of meeting a boy was totally disgusting.
“Daddy, he’s a boy I’ll be board,” she insisted. The King smiled.
“It won’t be so bad, besides you don’t want to sit there and listen to two old men discuss affairs of state do you? You’ll get enough of that when you’re older.
When they had reached Buckingham Palace Kandi, the princess’s lady in waiting, took her to help her change out of her school uniform. She changed her into her favorite play dress, a pink checked cotton. She brushed out and repinned her hair. After this was done she led the pretty little princess to her father. When he saw her Collin smiled and kissed her hand then he took it in his own.
“Come now, you mustn’t keep him waiting,” he said. As he spoke he led her to the rose garden. Two people rose to meet them when they entered.
“Peter!” the King exclaimed. The two men shook hands warmly. Peter turned to the little boy who stood quietly beside him. He had dark wavy hair, deep chocolate eyes and a beautiful even smile. Branwen decided that he might not be so bad after all. Peter was speaking again.
“This is my son John and this must be your Alexandra.”
“Yes, this is my eldest daughter,” Collin said with a smile. “Alex, this is President Peter Davis and his son John.”
“Hello Mr. President,” Branwen said softly. Peter dropped to one knee and kissed her hand, little dreaming what the future held for this beautiful girl and his son.
“How are you young lady? It’s a pleasure to finally meet you; your Daddy has told us so much about you that we feel like we know you already.” He turned to his son. “Why don’t you two run along and play?” he suggested. John reluctantly agreed and so the children went to play in the playground, and that was the start of a lifelong friendship.
Hours later Peter and Collin went to check on them and found them fencing.
“Touché,” Branwen said triumphantly. John stumbled back.
“Hey you’re good,” he said. Peter called to him.
“John, time to go.”
“Do we have to?   I’m having fun,” John pouted. Branwen too was upset.
“We’ll be back,” Peter promised. The two exchanged addresses and were pen pals. Branwen made sure that she answered any of John’s letters or e-mails personally.
As the years passed the correspondence between the two became more frequent. Many times when the princess was missing she could be found in her room, with the door shut, at her writing desk or online typing busily. Collin could see the special bond the two shared. He decided that it was time for her to see Washington.
“Alex, how about you and I take a little trip?” he asked one night at dinner. The princess looked up from her plate, her bright blue eyes fixed on his face.
“Just you and me?” she asked. The King nodded.
“Yes poppet, just Daddy and you.” The princess’s eyes shone with excitement. She loved going places with Daddy. The bond between them was extra special.
“Are we going to Windsor to see Star?” she asked. Star was her pony that she loved more then anything in the world. She liked nothing better then to ride over the rolling hills of Windsor with Collin beside her on his prize stallion Shadow. The King shook his head and smiled at her.
“No darling,” he said slowly. “I’m taking you to Washington D. C.” Alex squealed with delight, because she knew that going to D. C. meant seeing John.
“To see John?” she queried. The King smiled and laughed.
“No, to see the tooth fairy, of course to see John. So what do you say?” The princess jumped up, ran around the table and threw her arms around her father’s neck and that was all the answer he needed.
John was sitting in his room, playing Battleship with his Secret Service agent. Peter popped his head in just in time to hear his son say, “Aw man, you sunk my last star destroyer.” It was all Peter could do to keep a straight face.
“Practicing John?” he asked when there was a break in the action. John was puzzled by the question. Had his father entered him into a Battleship contest?
“For what?” he asked. Peter smiled.
“So you can beat Alex when she comes tomorrow,” he said. John’s head came up. Had he heard right, did his father just say that his best friend was coming?
“Alex is coming?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes, her Dad is coming on a state visit and he said that he’s bringing her along.” He smiled again. “They’re coming tomorrow and will stay for a week.” John was so excited that he found it hard to sleep that night, but sleep finally came.
When RAF One touched down at Andrews Air Force Base the next day the whole First Family was there to meet it. John broke free of his Secret Service agent and ran to the plane. The royal guards were about to reprimand him when they heard the King’s voice calling to him to come aboard.
“Come my son,” he said gently, extending his hand to him. John bowed to the King as he was expected to do. Collin smiled and nodded to the young girl beside him.
“Alex, someone to see you.” The princess stepped into the aisle. John kissed her hand and smiled.
“Hello Alexandra,” he said softly.
“Hello John,” she returned.
“Welcome to Washington.” He took her hand and together they disembarked the plane followed by the King and the royal bodyguard.
It was the first time that Branwen had been to Washington. When they reached the White House John gave her a special tour, which included places never seen by the public, like the oval office. She was intrigued by the history associated with the place and he was happy to answer her questions. Over the next week, while their fathers discussed matters of state, the two children did things together.
“Alex, would you like to tour the Capitol building?” he asked the next day. The princess agreed and John went to get his father. Peter introduced her to several members of Congress and explained the basics of the American political system. He was pleasantly surprised at how quickly she picked up the concepts he was trying to explain.
The next day Jessica took them to the National Zoo. The next few days were spent touring the memorials and the Smithsonian Institute. John told her stories of the American heroes who had lived and died to build and keep America free. The thing that impressed the princess most however was Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for war heroes. As they stood over the eternal flame, which burned over the grave of John’s hero JFK he whispered, “Let us not forget that once there was a spot for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot.” Branwen took his hand and looked up at him. For the first time in her life she saw him as more then a playmate. She realized to her astonishment that he had stolen her heart.
“We can make it come alive again,” she whispered. He smiled.
“Maybe someday Le’andra, maybe someday,” he agreed. She started in surprise.
“What did you call me?” she asked. John flushed.
“Le’andra,” he repeated. “ It’s a shortened form of Alexandra.”
“I like it,” she said softly. John kissed her hand.
“So do I,” he said tenderly. When the time of departure came Peter and Collin could see that the children didn’t want to leave each other. Peter promised to bring John on his next trip to London.
A year later Peter kept his promise. Now, it was Branwen’s turn to really show off her city. Peter had planned to stay for a week; this realization gave the princess much pleasure. She would have a week to be close to the boy she loved.
The first thing they did was go see the standard tourist attractions of the city such as Big Ben and the Tower of London, but this soon got boring so Collin offered to take then to the Houses of Parliament. John, who was very interested in politics, was very eager to go. Branwen knew more about politics then she cared to, but if this would make John happy she’d go. As they went through the halls Collin carefully explained the British political system. John was a quick student and Collin loved him for it. The last few days were spent at Windsor Castle. It was here that John first learned how to ride.
“Do you want to go riding today?” the princess asked early one morning.
“What?” John asked sleepily. “I don’t know how.”
“Come on,” she coaxed. “It’s fun and Daddy’s coming along; you can ride Shadow, he’s really gentle. John smiled at her.
“OK princess, let me get up and get dressed, I’ll meet you downstairs in fifteen minutes.” Branwen smiled and left.
When John reached the courtyard the King greeted him cheerfully. He introduced him to Shadow, a magnificent black stallion, who was as gentle as a kitten.
“He’s a beauty,” John breathed. Collin smiled and handed him an apple.
“You two need to get to know each other because he’s going to be yours for today.” Soon John was treating the horse as if he were his own. Forever after that whenever Shadow saw John he whinnied happily and nuzzled him for an apple and John always had a special treat for the horse. He was a natural at riding too. Soon, he and Branwen were racing across the grounds. Star was hard put to keep up with him but she did her best. Once when Branwen had slipped from Star’s back John jumped down, helped her to her feet and engaged her in a foot race back to the castle. The princess slipped on a twig and twisted her ankle. John came over and knelt down beside her.
“You OK?” he asked.
“I think so,” she said softly. He laid aside his backpack, which contained their lunch, and in one smooth motion swept her up, into his arms.
“All right?” he asked. She nodded; she liked this, maybe a little too much. He smiled and gently carried her back to the house while a servant stabled the horses.
In February Branwen received a welcome surprise.   Unknown to her Peter and Collin arranged a surprise visit on her 16th birthday, which was on Valentine’s Day. The day finally arrived. The men were standing in the rose garden when Branwen appeared on the arm of her chief bodyguard. The princess had blossomed from a pretty little girl into a stunning young woman. The first thing John noticed was that she carried herself with the grace and poise of a queen, which she was. She was dressed in a soft yellow polyester dress that had a stunning effect. Peter watched John’s face closely and he could tell that he liked what he saw. A few days later he found out how much.
They were alone in the drawing room when John told his father that he wanted to marry the princess. The President was stunned.
“Are you sure son? You’re only sixteen and once you get her father’s permission you two will be engaged and it can’t be broken; it may be five years before you can get married. Are you willing to wait that long?” John nodded. “All right, I’ll ask Collin for you.” Collin agreed to the marriage because he too could see the chemistry between the two, but he told Peter that Branwen would have to be asked formally by John himself.
The night of the princess’s birthday party John was excited and nervous because tonight he would ask her to be his. What would she say? Would she laugh at him or would she hold him close and say yes.” Questions like these were whirling around in his mind as he prepared for the evening. Peter came in to check on him knowing that he might need help. When he saw him he was stunned. John had rented a tux before leaving home on his own accord and Peter thought he looked handsome. As he studied his 16-year-old son he remembered the ten year old that he had brought with him to London six years previously. He had grown into a fine young man indeed.
Branwen was almost ready. Allison had helped her pick her gown. It was a light pink silk with lace around the bottom of the long sweeping skirt and the edge of the sleeves. Alli had helped her fix her hair; she had left it down and had swept it back with a pearl comb and put a silver tiara in place.
“You look great!” she said admiringly. The princess flushed with pleasure. When she stepped into the hallway John was already there.
“You look wonderful,” he said softly.
“Thank you,” she said, turning pink like an English rose. He smiled and offered her his arm.
“May I have the honor of being your escort Your Highness?” he asked. She smiled, gave him her hand and together they walked into the banquet hall.
“Hello poppet,” her father said gently, kissing her on the cheek. The princess bowed in compliance with protocol. Her father smiled and kissed her hand in return.
John and Branwen were inseparable all night but when it came time for the gifts he disappeared. There was one large box left standing beside the gift table. She started to lift it and Collin stopped her.
“Here darling let me help you with that.” He gently lifted the box and carefully placed it in the middle of the floor.
“Thank you Daddy.” Collin smiled.
“This one’s not from me it’s from the President, Jessica and John.” The princess turned to the President with a smile.
“Thank you Mr. President.” Peter returned her smile.
“Your welcome sweetie, take good care of it. I know you will.” Branwen turned to the box and begun to gently tear the paper. When she lifted the lid she stepped back in surprise; John was in the box holding a small jewelry box in his hand. He stepped from the box, took her left hand in his and walked with her over to her father.
“Your Majesty I respectfully ask for the hand of your daughter Princess Branwen Alexandra Elizabeth Grace, Princess of Wales, in marriage.” Collin looked toward his daughter who stood in shock.
“What do you say Alex, will you promise yourself to him?” The princess looked at him demurely and said, “It’s up to you of course father, but yes.” Collin smiled and gave her other hand to John. “By this act I hereby promise you the hand of my eldest daughter in marriage upon or shortly after her investiture as Princess of Wales, which will take place on the day of her twenty-first birthday.” Branwen smiled at her father.   John kissed her gently and placed a silver bracelet around her wrist.
“Happy Birthday Starlight,” he whispered. The princess smiled up at him and he found her too beautiful to resist; he reached down and kissed her again. She turned to her father her eyes shining like stars.
“Daddy may we go?” she asked. Collin smiled.
“Yes poppet, you can go and do anything you wish within reason,” he told her.
“That goes for you too young man,” Peter warned his son. John turned to him.
“Yes sir,” he agreed. Jessica, Peter’s wife watched them go.
“Peter, they’re only children,” she said softly. Peter smiled.
“Yes, children on the brink of young adulthood, children in love.”
John and Branwen had slipped away alone to one of her favorite spots, a quiet pool at the base of a waterfall. The full moon cast its shadow on the dancing water as it gurgled and spilled playfully over the rocks. John turned to her.
“Le’andra, I love you,” he said softly. He reached out and pulled her close. “Sweetheart, promise me that you’ll wait for me. I’ll come back for you, I promise.” The princess looked up at him with the lights of true love and trust in her eyes.
“Yes John, I promise,” she whispered and they sealed the promise with a kiss. It was the first kiss for either of them so it was very special.
A few days later the princess and the King accompanied Peter, Jessica and John to the Air Force base. As John held her close for one last time he saw she was crying.
“No tears my love, I promise that when I come back it will be to take you with me and that time we’ll be together forever.” He kissed her then. “You’ve been signed and sealed with my kiss,” he said. “Soon you’ll be mine forever. Remember, I love you Branwen Alexandra Elizabeth Grace Windsor,” with that he was gone. The king came up and put his arm around his daughter’s shoulder. She leaned against him as if drawing strength from him. He understood, bent and kissed the top of her head.
“He’ll be back for you Alex my angel, of that I am sure.” It would take several years but Snow White’s prince did return and she was waiting for him.