Title: Untitled
Authors: Domino and Anne
Email: zahfat@yahoo.com and
partypooh@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Not ours…
A/N: Alternate Universe
Summary: A fairytale, in the kingdom of Antarra, a prince, a bodyguard, a Ball…
Chapter 7
Maria tilted her head skywards, looking at the sun through the green blanket
above her and Max. A ride in the forest behind the palace was exactly what she
had needed. Looking around her at the savage beauty she was amazed to think that
she was still in the middle of Antarra’s largest city.
“Amazing isn’t it.” Max broke through her thoughts.
Maria nodded in agreement. “It’s strange to think that we’re still in Thera.
Real life just seems so far away.”
“That’s part of the reason this park isn’t open for the public. It’s one of the
few places the Royal families can escape their duties and have a moment to their
selves.” Max explained. “You won’t believe how much time, King Tebram spends
here sometimes.”
Maria laughed. “I can imagine.”
They rode on in a comfortable silence.
“So how are you settling in at the palace?” Max inquired as he steered his horse
around a fallen branch.
Maria shook her head. “No, let’s not talk about me for a change. I feel like
these past two days my name has already been on too many lips. Tell me about
you, Max.”
The inquisitive glint in her green eyes reminded Max so much of his Grasa, her
Grasa as well, he thought that like her he wouldn’t be able to deny Maria much.
“Hmm where to start?”
“Have you always lived here in Thera?” Maria helped him on the way.
Max nodded. “Yes, I’m an Evander after all, most of our family doesn’t stray far
from the capital. But I haven’t lived at the palace all my life though, we have
our own, Evantui Palace.”
As Max described his family and parental house to her, a smile played around
Maria’s lips. He was talking so reverently and with so much passion that it was
hard not be impressed.
“It must be a very special place.” Maria commented.
“It is to us, almost our entire family was born in that house or has lived in
it.” Max shook his head. “I’m sorry, you must be bored to death now. Listening
to someone jabbing on about an old building.”
“No, it’s great to hear someone talk with so much passion about their roots.”
Maria wondered how it must feel to be part of such an old loving family. “So
you’ve know the Royal family all your life?.”
“I grew up with them. You should have seen Michael as a kid, running around the
palace halls, getting into mischief.” Max laughed at the childhood memories.
“And now he’s about to be King.”
Listening to Max tell her stories about his childhood and the things Michael,
Isabel and him did, Maria genuinely smiled. Images of a young Michael running
around the palace garden were flashing in front of her eyes. He must have looked
cute with that spiky hair of him and that grin two inches away from a smirk.
~*~
It was already late in the morning when Maria and Max rode into the barn. A
young boy entered as Max was dismantling his horse.
“Lord Evander, your presence is requested in the blue room.”
“Okay, tell them I’ll be there in a minute.” Max cast Maria an apologetic look.
“It’s fine, Max. I’ll take care of the horses.” Maria waved him out. “Thanks
again for the ride, maybe we can do it again some time.”
“It’d be my pleasure, Maria. And thank you.” Max followed the page boy out.
After taking of the horses’ pack, Maria started rubbing them down singing softly
to pass the time, as someone walked in behind her.
Without turning around she said. “What brings you here, Milord?”
With a smile Michael walked towards her, patting the palomino. “Did you have a
nice ride?”
“Yes, I did thank you. Is there something you wanted?” Maria turned to look at
him.
In a very uncharacteristic move, Michael shrugged. “I saw you ride in and I just
wanted to make sure that you are okay with this. I’m fully aware that my family
can sometimes be a little overly persuasive.”
“It is my job to protect.” Maria answered leaning into him to make sure that no
unwanted ears heard, touched by the genuine concern in his eyes. “But I’m fine,
thank you.”
“That’s good than.” Michael brushed a stray hair behind her ear, his fingertips
touching her cheek. “Well I better let you be then.”
Maria watched him walk out liking the way Michael had looked at her just moments
before, a sparkle lightened in her eyes.
Suddenly a look of shock appeared on her face as realization dawned on Maria.
She’d just broken one of the sacred rules of the Royal Guard, never fall for a
job. And here she was falling head over heels for Michael, Crown prince of
Antarra. Hell falling, she’d already crashed and burned.
This was bad. This was very bad. She had to stop. Immediately. She looked up
again, directly into his eyes and it was then she knew. There was nothing she
could do. Except call in reinforcements.
~*~
Maria looked at him once, a sparing glance, a desperate glance before he lost
sight of her eyes as she continued to pace. He was getting dizzy watching her.
“Okay I need to know what the problem is before I can help you fix it,” Kyle
said in a slow patient voice as if he was talking to a child. She didn’t call
him on it, too distracted to even notice it.
“I can't do this, Kyle. I just can't,” his best friend said, her voice soft. If
he wasn’t so worried about her he would have laughed at the mere suggestion that
the girl that was the best agent in the business, considered of having nerves of
steel and known for her calmness in the worst situations was in such a state.
“What can't you do, Maria?” he asked. She had summoned him here a while ago, and
still he was no closer to figuring out the problem.
“This whole thing. The ball, the act, everything.”
“Of course you can, its just another job, Ria. Just another job. Remember.
You’re good at undercover.”
“I am not a princess, Kyle, and everyone is behaving as if I am. Like I am some
lost princess and they have to …”
“Have to what?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that this isn’t me. And … Isabel and the Queen and
Tess and the King, it’s all a little strange. I don’t know Kyle but they all are
behaving like they are…”
“What? Maria, you need to be a little more specific,” Kyle said a little
exasperatedly. This was ridiculous. She needed to finish a sentence.
“I don’t know. Dammit. Its like everyone knows some secret that I don’t know.
And every time Isabel or the King or Queen treats me like…” she trailed off.
“You’re doing it again, and let me tell you it is getting really annoying.
Treats you like what?”
“Like a daughter. They’re treating me like family, alright. And now every one in
the castle is doing it, because they are. And all these rumours started, and he
is so not helping them,” she finished of in a rush.
“Okay. So we have what two problems, one – they’re being too nice to you,” Kyle
stated, sarcasm evident in his tone.
“You know that’s not true, Kyle. Do take me seriously,” she cut in and gave him
a glare to emphasize her words.
“Okay, okay…what rumours. If it’s about you and Michael. Aren’t we supposed to
have those. Makes the cover real, etc.” Kyle asked the question, although he had
a feeling he already knew the answer.
“No, not those rumours. I was supposed to be his lady friend. He has lots of
those. I was supposed to be the latest in a line. It wasn’t supposed to be
serious,” she said. And Kyle noticed a little tinge of annoyance in her voice
when she spoke of the other girls. He waited for her to clarify, wanting to hear
her admit it.
“These are worse. They’re saying…we are…” she let her train of thought go again.
“What? You’re what?” he asked impatiently.
“You know…the Therans they think that because of the Ballina and the way we ummm…
the way we met…you know.” Very few people would have made sense of that, except
someone that knew her well. Kyle did. He knew her very well. And he knew she
wasn’t going to say it out aloud.
“Oh…those rumours. I don’t know what I was thinking,” he said, his tone slightly
mocking.
“Kyle!”
“I know, Maria. But we can't stop those. They’re mixed with a legend, and it’s
just a coincidence that it’s the time of the Ballina and fresh in everyone’s
minds. This is just a job, remember. You’ve done it lots of times. Protect the
target and soon it will all be over, I guarantee it,” Kyle said, his voice
reassuring, sure and confident. He kept his thoughts and doubts hidden. She
didn’t need to hear them.
“I don’t think so, Kyle. It…it isn't just another job. I did something really
stupid, Kyle, something really silly – I think…I think I fell for him, I broke
the first rule of undercover work, Kyle – I fell for the job.” She buried her
face in her hands, and only looked up when she heard Kyle laughing.
“What? What the hell is so funny?” she demanded from her best friend. Here she
was selling her soul, admitting something she didn't think she would ever admit
and he was laughing like a hyena.
“It’s…” he had to stop laughing, but it was so funny, “You said fell for him,”
and as soon as he got the words out, he started laughing again.
She looked confused for a second, and then she started to laugh as well, and
immediately felt a little better.
He smiled. It was good to hear her laugh. Somehow he knew that things were going
to get a lot stranger before long. And while he didn’t want to worry her, or
confuse her…he knew she was right. Everyone was acting like there was a big
secret, and he was an expert at secrets. So was she. If there was something
hidden, she generally knew. It was what made her so good an agent.
He was worried about her. She had gotten a little too involved right from the
beginning, and after the way the two of them met… then again, it took two to
tango - and maybe, just maybe the rumours were true after all. Maybe it would
all work out fine. For all of them. And because it was Maria, the usually
cynical side of him was unexpectedly optimistic.
Kyle’s thoughts and her laughter were interrupted suddenly by the door flinging
open, and in the doorway stood the object of their discussion. Not looking too
happy as he took in the sight before him.
It didn’t occur to the two friends the familiarity of the portrait they
exhibited, sitting on the bed (the Wedding Bed)…Maria leaning against Kyle’s
shoulder, the comfort of years of friendship all in her stance. It occurred to
Michael. And the unfamiliar emotion that rushed through him, as he looked on, as
he heard her laughter made his words harsh.
“What the hell is going on here?” he demanded. The tone was a royal one, a tone
accustomed to getting his way.
Immediately the smile that was so long in coming disappeared. Both men felt the
loss.
“This is my room, last time I checked. I am allowed my privacy, am I not, your
Highness?” the title was said mockingly. She stood up and moved to stand in
front of him, her eyes shooting daggers at his.
He glared right back.
Kyle noticed Isabel and Tess standing behind them, Tess didn’t look too happy
although Isabel seemed fine. He smiled at both of them, aiming his smile more at
Tess – trying to bring back her usual happy expression. It worked. Whatever it
was, his smile reassured her and the expression on her face cleared.
It wasn’t the same for Michael and Maria. He was upset that Kyle was in her
room, and on her bed…he hadn’t even noticed the significance of the bed yet, but
he was mad and he was going to make sure that she knew it. It didn’t occur to
him that the feelings were jealousy. Everyone knew that he never felt jealousy,
so of course it couldn’t be that. Damn, she was beautiful when she was angry.
On her part, the second Michael walked in and yelled she decided it was all his
fault. The rumours, the strange behaviour, the ball, everything. After all she
wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for him. And now he had the nerve to
yell at her best friend. She didn’t think about the fact that he was a prince,
royalty or that they had an audience. And to think she thought she was in love
with him. What was she thinking. She would never be in love with a arrogant jerk
like him, who thought he owned the world. Oh wait a second…he did own the world
– oh Rasaas…she fell in love with a prince. What on earth had she been thinking.
If only he wasn’t so beautiful…
All eyes shifted from Maria to Michael and back again. Time seemed to stand
still as the two stared angrily into each other’s eyes. Neither willing to give
an inch.
Isabel held back the sigh threatening to escape her lips. She knew that Maria
and Kyle were just friends, but she also knew what it had looked like and what
was going through her brother’s head. Jealousy. A life as royalty closed you off
for so many people that you became very protective of those who were able to
pass all those barriers. The fact that Michael was heir to the throne only made
it harder, making him even more protective. And Maria had slipped past those
defences unseeingly.
Isabel smiled at that thought, her mother’s plan was working out fine. Now if
she could only pacify the couple all would be dandy. With a mediating smile she
positioned herself between them. “Michael, I believe you’ve met Kyle, Maria’s
best friend.” She stressed the word friend, adding a very pointed look for good
measure.
Michael looked a bit unsure but continued to glare at Kyle, noticing that
soldier boy’s attention was focused on Tess together with a broad smile.
Turning around, Isabel put all her energy in pacifying the other part of the
pair. “Sarisan Maria, we just dropped in to tell you that lunch will be served
shortly. We’ll leave you guys alone now.” With all her might she pushed her
elder brother out of the room before he messed things up even more.
Tess gave her a small nod before also exiting, the same nod Maria had noticed
she gave the Queen when she left the room.
As soon as the door closed behind the trio, Maria gave Kyle a pleading look.
“Please tell me you’ll be at the ball.”
The diminutive pout aimed at him almost broke his resolve. “I’m sorry, Ria, I
have to leave on a mission the day after tomorrow, to find out more about
Khivar’s plans. You know I would come if I could.”
In resignation she plopped back onto the bed.
“Come on. Get ready for lunch. Cheer up and we will fence right after, okay.”
Kyle said to his friend, hoping that a little swordplay would take away some of
the doubts.
“Okay,” she said, half heartedly.
Maria got dressed quickly, before Kyle escorted her down to the dining hall
where the Royal Family and their guests ate. He turned to leave, but just then
the Queen spotted them, her sharp eyes immediately taking in all the emotions
flying around the room. It helped of course, that Isabel had given her head’s up
over what was going on.
The queen looked at her oblivious husband, and swallowed a smile before taking
in Tess’s blush at Kyle's entrance and her son’s obvious displeasure over the
protective arm Kyle had weaved through Maria’s arm. She took in the slightly
nervous look Maria’s expression took when he released her and with mischievous
twinkle in her eye, matched by the one in her daughter’s eyes, she exchanged a
look with Isabel before loudly extending an invitation for Kyle to stay and eat
with them.
Lunch was fraught with emotions. Michael glared at Kyle, who spend the whole
time staring at Tess. Maria pointedly ignored Michael who then proceeded to
flirt with the waitress, while Isabel glared at him. Max and Alex who after
laughing out loud got nudged rather hard in the ribs and kicked in the shin by
Tess and Isabel respectively, shut up and hid their amusement rather
successfully they thought.
It only got worse after that. Eventually Maria got fed up with the waitress
throwing herself at Michael, no concern for decorum and Michael who normally
wouldn’t allow such behaviour in front of his parents but rather upset at Maria
flirted back – it was a recipe for disaster. She excused herself, politely to
the King and Queen, and with a curtsey before any one could say anything, she
had grabbed Kyle’s hand and was walking out.
Frankly Isabel was surprised it hadn’t happened sooner. She turned to give her
brother another quelling glare just in time to see him stand and yell after
Maria, much to the surprise of the servants in the room. Maria, of course
totally ignored him and was out the room before he could move. At which point,
Michael grabbed his glass and threw it in frustration, the sound of glass
shattering echoing in the room.
“I didn’t bring you up to throw royal tantrums,” Deirana’s voice was soft with
reproach, hardly heard over the sound of servants rushing to pick up the broken
pieces. Neither were necessary. Michael was already on the floor, picking up the
pieces, much to the shock and dismay of the servants.
“I broke it. I will fix it,” Michael said firmly to one servant who was
attempting to wrestle a piece of the glass away. He stood up and with an with an
apologetic glance at his parents, “I guess I have a few apologies to make,” he
said, his tone more unsure than any of them had heard before.
His sister took pity on him, and all her anger melted. “Only one,” Isabel said,
“You’d best get to it already,” she gestured to the door.
And with that, the smirk returned and with it the confidence they all recognised
and knew and Michael took of at a run to the wide doors that led out the dining
hall in pursuit of Maria.
“You know, my dear,” the King said, watching his son run out the door, “I
believe you are right. She’s definitely good for him. A good king needs to
recognise when he is wrong, and learn how to fix his mistakes. They cost more
than other people’s. Now Michael is ready to rule. He’s ready to be king.”
And for the millionth time, in the years that she had been married Deirana
thought to herself, how could she had assumed her husband was oblivious? While
he often seemed preoccupied he always saw what was important to see. She turned
and smiled at her beloved, “And she will be Queen.”
The King nodded once, “Yes, she will.”
~*~