A Royal’s Court

Welcome Home

{Diamond’s P.O.V}

It’s been over 3 years since I’ve been home, but it feels like centuries. I’ve missed it. I miss walking through the gardens and smelling my flowers. I miss seeing the kingdom as I’d look over the balcony. I miss my dear brothers and sisters, especially Damon. I’ve even missed mother’s constant fussing. I’ve been away with my aunt learning how to be a “proper lady”. I didn’t think it was fair. I don’t see why I had to leave to learn how to curtsy and use little spoons. I roll my eyes at the thought. I smile as I remember how the castle use to be. Then frown at how different things will be when I return. Oh father. How could you leave us so soon. My eyes begin to fill with tears and I begin to sniffle.

“Are you alright back there Princess?” Asked my driver from the front of the carriage.

“I’m quite well. I’m finally going home after so long I- I’m overwhelmed,” I responded. He must’ve head my silent cries.

“I lost my father when I was about your age. Still hurts me till this day. But, I know he lives on through me. And well, that’s just enough to get me through,” he said to me. I looked out the carriage window. We should be arriving at an Inn soon. There, I will meet up with Ellehcim guards and my brother to be escorted back to the castle. I clear my throat.

“How much further until we reach the Inn?” I asked.

“Bout an hour your majesty. Shouldn’t be long now,” he replied. I pull a book out of my bag and began to read to pass time. Soon, I’ll be back home with my family. Most of them anyways. I was sad that my ladies wouldn’t be able to join me at the castle yet. I feel my eyes get heavy and begin to doze off.

*An hour later*

I wake up to the sound of the carriage coming to a stop.

“Woah,” the driver said to the horses. I look out the window and see 8 men in red and black. Ellehcim guards. I look further and see a tall man with dark brown skin, a full beard, and long locs wearing a cloak of fine silk with the Ellehcim royal crest. I struggled to make out his face at first, but the more I looked at him the more I was able to recognize him. It was my brother, Damon. The driver jumped down and opened the door for me. He helped me down the carriage stairs and bowed. I reached in my coin sack and took out 5 gold pieces.

“Thank you for what you said earlier. And thank you for making sure I arrived here safely,” I said to the man giving him the coins.

“You are most certainly welcome your majesty. And thank you! This will feed my family for months!” He smiled and took my hand in both of his. “Long live the Princess,” he said. He gave my hand a small squeeze before hopping back on his carriage and riding off. I began to walk towards the group of men. When I got a few feet away the group of men bowed and greeted me.

“Welcome home your majesty,” they all said on unison. I nodded my head towards them. My brother came up to me. We looked at each other for a moment, studying each other. Then we started to smile and laughter soon followed. He picked me up and spun me around.

“Careful Damon I might actually think you missed me,” I said gleefully.

“That’s because I have baby sister,”

“And I you! And please do not call me your baby sister I’m only a month younger than you!” Me and Damon did not have the same mother, only father. He was our father’s mistress, Hannah’s son. Although we were the same age he was always treated differently. Only provided some of the luxuries the rest of us had. He was a bastard, but I didn’t care. He is my favorite brother and I love him dearly.

“You’ll always be my baby sister in my eyes,” he responded pinching my cheek. I smacked his hand away.

“I thought you lied in your letters, it turns out you do have a beard,” I said tugging on it. The last time I saw him his face was as smooth as a baby. “I remember you were quite the prankster in our youth,” I said playfully.

“Well things change sister. And look at you! Your hair is longer,” he said ruffling it up. Then he took my crown off of my head.

“Damon it took me hours to get my hair to look like this! And give that back!”

“Really? I couldn’t tell the difference, and what this?,” he said holding my crown in the air.

“Oh you little-,” I began to jump to try to each my crown but it was no use.

“You’ve gotten taller too,” I said annoyed. I use to be taller, things have changed indeed.

“Well you were never that tall to begin with,” he teased. He placed my crown back on my head.

“There good as new!” He said laughing.

“It’s not funny you really did ruin my hair,” I pouted. I turned my head and noticed that some of the guards were laughing as well.

“Would any of you like to fix it?” I questioned them.

“My hands are not for a lady’s head,”

“I’ve never done hair!”

“I wish I could help you your majesty,” they all said at once. I laughed at how nervous there were.

“It’s good to have you back sister,”

“It’s good to be back brother,” I fixed my dress and rearranged my curls. Thanks a lot Damon.

“Well we better get going before it gets dark. Let’s get you on a horse,” he said. He untied 2 horses from a tree and came back over to me.

“You do know how to ride don’t you?”

“Better than you most likely,” I teased.

“We’ll see about that,” he lifted me up and helped me get situated.

“Alright men 2 in the back, 2 in the front, and 2 on both sides,” my brother commanded. The men got on their horses and got into position.

“Wow, look at you being all generalish,”

“That’s not a word Dee,” he chuckled.

“Well, I guess we’ll have to turn it into one,”

“Whatever you want your majesty,” I rolled my eyes.

“I told you never to call me that. You are my equal, despite what others say,” I said.

“You know that isn’t true. I may be your brother but we will never be equals. You were born with respect and a title. Me, I had to earn it,” he said with a hint of sadness in his voice. We began to make our way back to the castle. It was quiet for what felt like hours. I felt like I had to say something to break the tension.

“If I were queen, I would give you a title. I’d make you a Duke!” I told my brother.

“A Duke! Would I have land? And my own Dukedom?” He played along.

“You’d have it all brother, it’s what you deserve,” I answered in a sincere tone.

“You’re too good to me sister,” he said. I smiled at him and he smiled back. We carried on in silence. But this time it was a good silence. No tension or awkwardness. Not a Royal and a bastard. Just a brother and a sister. After about another hour of silence he began to ask me questions.

“So how was staying with your aunt Brildy?”

“Absolutely awful. She was so boring. I thought it would never be over,” I replied.

“I bet. She seems....strict,” he looked at me and we both giggled. “It’s a river up ahead we’re going to stop there and water the horses,” my brother said signaling his men to head towards the river. I got off my horse and lead him to the river.

“Drink up,” I said rubbing his neck. While the horses drank we sat near and rested. The closer we got to home the more beautiful my surroundings got.

“I’ve missed this. Just the feeling I get from being around my home,” I turned to my brother. “It’s just as I remembered,” I noticed my brother’s facial expression dropped when I said that. I was about to say something when all of a sudden we heard yelling.

“Ahhhhhhhhh!” It was a group of men running across the river, right towards us.

“Bandits! Arm yourselves!” My brother yelled. The guards drew their swords and got in a fighting stance.

“Charge!” Yelled my brother. My brother and the guards ran towards the bandits. I could hear the clashing and whooshing of swords. Just as I was about to run to safety I felt someone grab my arm. He was strong. He squeezed my arm hard and flung me to the ground, making me hit my head on a rock. He lifted his arm that held his sword.

“Death to the Azure line,” he said to me. I could see hatred in his eyes. Just as he was about to swing his sword, another came down and chopped his arm off.

“Ahhhhhhh!” He cried out in pain falling to his knees.

“That, is for my sister,” Damon looked at me and smiled. “And this is for me,” he swung his blade once more, taking off the bandit’s head. He ran to my side. The attack was quick. And fortunately none of our own was badly hurt. Just a few scratches, but they’ll live.

“Are you alright sister,” he gently placed his thumb where my cut was. I winced.

“Sorry, here let me help,” he took my face in both of his hands and closed his eyes. I know what he was doing. He was healing me.

{Damon’s P.O.V}

I hold her face firmly with both of my hands and close my eyes. I need to concentrate if I want to do this properly. I imagine her wound. The blood and her pain. I open my eyes. Her wound was healing, and quite quickly I might add. I help her to her feet. “Better?” I ask her.

“Very much so,” she says. She began to smile, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her.

“That man, before he- tried to kill me,” she paused. I nodded my head silently pleading for her to continue. “He said death to the Azure line,” could these bandits have known we’d be coming this way?

“What’s wrong Damon?”

“Nothing, we should get back on the road. We’re too exposed,” she squinted her eyes as she looked at me, she knew something was wrong. Before she could say anything I yelled out an order.

“Mount your horses, let’s get back on the road,”

“Yes general,” the guards responded in unison.

We traveled back to the castle in silence, but I could tell she had hundreds of questions for me. I’d get the occasional side eye from her. She was trying to see if I was nervous, if I’d crack under pressure. I refuse to. About half an hour goes by and the castle is in sight. As we got closer a guard yelled from the tower.

“Her Majesty Princess Diamond and General Damon are approaching! Lower the drawbridge!” We waited for the drawbridge to be lowered and continued on. We entered the courtyard and everyone bowed.

“Welcome home Your Majesty,” they all said in unison. My sister waved to her people and gave them nods of approval. Everyone went back to what they were doing. It was a ball tonight and all the servants were scurrying around trying to make last minute preparations. We got off our horses and gave them to nearby stable workers. We walked up the stairs to the castle and entered. I looked over to my sister and could see her eyes filling up with tears.

{Diamond’s P.O.V}

I entered the castle for the first time in 3 years. It was busy, very busy. As people saw me they quickly bowed and went back to their duties. I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. I could feel tears start to form in my eyes. “It’s been too long brother,” I said still taking it all in. I walked over to a pillar and placed my hand over it. As soon as I did it was as if a flood of memories started drowning me. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed it,” I looked at my brother and began to smile. Just then the butler, Jim, who’s been with the family for years entered the room.

“Entering her Majesty Queen Guinevere,” he said in a soft elevated voice. Just then a beautiful women with light brown skin, jet black hair put into a bun, and eyes like pools of honey walked in. She stopped a few feet away from me and looked me up and down. It was the first time seeing my mother in 3 years. Me and Damon bowed and lowered our heads.

“Your majesty,” we both said. I stayed down, with my head lowered. Damon stepped back and tried to get out of her eyesight. With my head still lowered I could hear her heels clicking as she walk closer towards me. When the clicking stop I knew she was very close. She was so close that I could see the bottom of her dress. She lifted my chin with her glove covered hand and smiled.

“After 3 years I’m going to need to more than that,” she lifted her other hand placing that one on my cheek. “Diamond please, must you act so formal with your mother?” I quickly got up. With tears in my eyes I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her as tight as I possibly could.

“Oh mother, I’ve missed you so much,” I cried as I hugged my mother. She reciprocated the hug and gave me a squeeze.

“I guarantee you my dear I’ve missed you far more,” Jim came over with a handkerchief.

“Here you are your majesty,” he said handing me his handkerchief. I wiped my eyes and looked at Jim. I pulled him in for a hug as well. He laughed and hugged me back.

“I’ve missed you as well your majesty,” he said. I pulled away from him and turned towards my mother.

“We have so much to catch up on mother. Wait until I tell you about my studies! Oh and Aunt Hildy,” I said the last part with disgust in my voice.

“I know Hildy is bad but she can’t possibly be the bad,” my mother said with a bit a smock in her voice.

“She the worst,” I told her.

“Jim will be showing you to your new room,” she must have saw a look of confusion on my face because she then said “There was an incident in your old room that needed to be dealt with,” my mother said, her voice trailing off. I could tell something was off but I didn’t want to nag her.

“I guarantee that you’ll absolutely love this room better. I decorated it myself,” she said in a proud voice. “Once you’re all set in your quarters come down to the drawing room, I’ve had your favorite tea and cookies made so we can have a long conversation,” it was if she never changed, she talked the exact same. I hope everything else stays the same. Jim leads me to my new room with Damon tagging along. We go up a few flights and walk down a few halls before we make it to my new room.

“Here we are your majesty,” Jim said as he pulled on two golden knockers which opened two doors. When I entered my mouth dropped. Mother was right, I absolutely loved this room more than the old one. Their was a huge bed and a balcony that had the perfect view of the kingdom. The floors were marble with specs of gold and their was a fireplace right in front of a couch. And to make everything better, their wasn’t one thing in my room that wasn’t white and gold, with little glimpses of gray. I looked over to my bed and noticed my trunks were opened and empty.

“Did someone put my things away for me?” I asked genuinely curious. Just then I heard giggles coming from behind a door. From what I could tell it was a closet. I looked back at Jim and Damon. They put their hands up and shook their head. I turned back to the closet and opened the door. When I opened it two girls came rushing at me squealing.

“Monica? Simone?!” I was so shocked that my heart was beating out of my chest, also they frightened me. They both were very high noblewomen. Monica came from a very rich family and Simone was the daughter of a Duke. “I thought you both said you wouldn’t be able to join me here for another month?”

“And not be here for you during this difficult time?” Asked Simone.

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” said Monica.

I started to tear up again. They saw and both began to hug me again. This time it was longer. Jim waved goodbye and then left the room.

“We put away all of your things for you. And picked you out a coming home outfit,” Simone said cheerfully.

“You girls didn’t have to do that,” I pleaded.

“It’s our honor and our duty,” said Simone.

“Now, let’s get you ready shall we?” She touched the curls in my heads. “My goodness what happened to your hair?” She asked picking at hair.

“My lovely brother decided to give me a new hairdo,” I said sarcastically, setting my gaze upon Damon.

“Don’t look at me, I was just trying to help,” he said innocently. I threw a pillow him.

“Come on enough playing, I want to see how you’ll look in your new dress,” I gave my brother one last playful look and turned to my ladies. Tonight was a big deal. Tonight is an Ellehcim ball. But not just any ball. It was a coming out ball, in my honor. I’ll meet suitors, dance, meet new people, and get to meet many of the people who lead society. What I do tonight will determine my place in society. If I’ll be apart of it, lead it, or if I’ll let it eat me alive.

“Well, I’m going to let you ladies get dressed and fix yourselves up, Heaven knows you need it,” my brother said playfully. This time we all threw pillows at him. He closed the door before any could hit him. “Save me a dance at the ball!” My brother yelled from the other side of the door. I rolled my eyes.

“Come! Come! We’ll have to do something about this head of yours,” Monica grumbled. I sat at my vanity and let her figure out what she was going to do with it. After about 10 minutes of her mumbling and pulling my hair in each direction and me and Simone talking she finally spoke.

“Ok! We’re gonna do an updo, it’ll frame your face perfectly. And tonight is all about you, we need to let the people see you!” She wet my hair and detangled it with her fingers. After that she brushing it, sectioned it, and wrapped my hair around some rod like object.

“I will be right back! I’m going to get some flowers for your hair,” she ran out of the room.

“Let’s get you out of that and into this,” Simone said as she bit her bottom lip. She helped me out of my riding dress and into the new one. She pulled my corset strings but she couldn’t pull them all the way through. Monica came back in with a dozen of roses in a basket.

“Oh for the love of God,” she let out a sigh. “Step aside,” Simone put her hands up and stepped to the side. Monica pulled at the corset a couple of times and finally was able to pull it all the way threw.

“There,” she said smiling proudly. “Now your hair,” she sat me back down and took the robs out of my hair. She took a part of my hair on the side and braided some roses into it. She then put the rest of my hair in a high bun. Monica and Simone stood back and gazed upon me as if they were looking at a fine work of art.

“Wow, you look beautiful Diamond,” said Simone.

“Absolutely stunning,” followed Monica.

“I’ll say,” my mother said standing at the doorway. Her sudden words startled me and my ladies causing us to jump. When they realized who it was they bowed. “You look absolutely beautiful dearest. Sorry dears, I didn’t mean to startle you. When you didn’t come down for tea and cookies I assumed your were with your ladies, I hope that was a nice surprise by the way,” she smiled at me and continued. “I just wanted to make sure you were alright,” she had that look on her face again, but once again I decided not to pry.

“Yes, everything is fine. Though I would like to see for myself if I am really as beautiful as you all are saying,” I walked over to a mirror on the wall. They were right, I was beautiful. Most of my dress was red while the very bottom was block , the Ellehcim colors, with rose designs all over. I slipped on the red slipped that were set out for me and red gloves. I put on my diamond earrings and matching bracelet.

“Excellent choice of jewelry, you can wear these to match it as well,” my mother said pulling out a crown.

“I wore this at my coming out ball,” she gently placed it on my head. “And let’s not forget this,” she took the necklace that was around her neck off and held it out to me. I shook my head.

“Mother I can’t, father- father gave that to you,” I looked at with sadness written on my face. I may have lost my father but she lost her husband.

“Your father would have wanted you to have it,” she gestured for me to turn around and I did. She put the necklace around my neck and fastened it.

“There, now you’re ready,” she said. She stepped back and looked at me once more. Her eyes started to tear up. She pulled a handkerchief out of her bosom and dabbed at her eyes. “You’re going to do wonderful tonight my dear,” she smiled at me. “If only your father were here to see it,” she began frowning. “Your brother was supposed to be here. That boy, never punctual,” she said rolling her eyes. She looked back at me. “I have some things I need to take care of. I’ll be back shortly with Benedict. Stay out of sight. You two make sure she doesn’t leave this room,” my mother said looking at my ladies.

“Yes your majesty,” they responded giving a small bow.

“You know Damon could escort me,” I soon realized I shouldn’t have said that. My mother looked at me, “A bastard? Escort you? A Princess?” She began to laugh. I know my mother disliked Damon but it was no need to treat him with such cruelty, it’s not his fault he’s here. “No,” she then said in a serious tone. “If your father was here then he’d do it but he’s not, Benedict is next in line to the throne so it’s his responsibility,” my mother said. She walked towards the door and placed and hand on the knob. Before leaving the room my mother looked back at me.

“Welcome home, Diamond,” she smiled and exited the room.