Ezra's Second Chance

Arrival and a Plan

Ezra and a large group of The Guard stood a few feet back from their King. The boat carrying Queen Margaret and Princess Aria was coming in to dock. The gangplank was lowered and two regal figures appeared. Queen Margaret preferred to travel by sea. She took a private cruise liner any time she could. It had the class of ships like Titanic or Queen Mary, but with all the modern safety and luxury.

The mother and daughter descended the gangplank gracefully followed by a man carrying their immediate luggage. Everything else would be handled later. She dipped her head and extended her hand to the King. He took it, kissed the back of it and smiled warmly. "I am so glad to finally welcome you back. This land is devoid of true beauty without you," he said. His eyes held sincerity and promise. Hers were wary, but not unkind.

Aria stepped forward and curtsied for the King. Ezra was taken aback by her appearance. Gone was the bright-eyed beauty with rosy cheeks and silken, black hair. In her place stood a hollow-eyed woman with wraith-like thinness. Her hair hung flat and dull. He watched as they followed the King and got into his limousine. It was bullet proof. Back at the Palace Ezra shadowed the King, as usual. He picked a man each for Aria and the Queen. They weren't thrilled about it at first, but the security detail was very good at blending into the background. Aria's man was to report to Ezra specifically. He wanted to know everything. He hoped being away from the place her trauma had occurred would help heal her. Even more though, he hoped to get information on who her mate was and possibly for him to reject her. After all, it was the right thing to do if he had no interest in her.

Queen Margaret and Aria were shown to their personal suites and left to freshen up before dinner that night.

"I really can't blow this," the king said when they ere out of earshot of the women.

"No, your majesty," Ezra answered professionally.

"When I lost my mate I didn't have any desire to love again. sure, the Kingdom is stronger with a Queen and I need an heir, but I can name a nephew as an heir. When I met Margaret though... I first admired her, then I grew to really like her. Now though? I am so in love and feel I can't live but half a life without her."

Ezra pondered asking and finally decided to go for it, "what happened between you two?"

The King sighed and sat in a nearby chair. They'd reached a little reading nook in front of giant, floor to ceiling windows. "Sit with me," the King instructed when Ezra took his normal stance near the King. Ezra obliged, but didn't relax for a single second. "I think I started off strong. I romanced her, dated her, like we were young and free. She began to open up to me. But when it came to talking about merging our Kingdoms I acted like I'd be ruling everything first and foremost. All financials would be supt o me. I was acting as if she was a regular princess and not a Queen in her own right. I realized my mistake and tried to back track, but it was too late. She was thoroughly spooked adan left without looking back. I think I was thinking back to my late wife. She was not royalty and had no interest in ruling matters. She wanted to make our house a home, bring my heirs into the world and serve the people. Margaret is not like her. She is a Queen, not a Queen consort. She won't give up her rights nor should she."

"That all makes sense. Let us cross our fingers that this time you can make it all right," Ezra replied. He had his own thoughts, but couldn't voice them to his King. They might be friendly, but they were still King and employee.

"Crossed fingers and toes and whatever else it takes. However, I won't marry her if she is not in love with me, but is too proud to take my help otherwise. I will marry only for love, even if it costs me Margaret."

"I would hope for nothing less, your majesty."

"You are excused for the day, I'll be mostly in my rooms and office until dinner. I will call you if you are needed," the King said as he stood.

"Thank you sir," Ezra answered and left the palace. He went to the garden to gather his thoughts. He walked among the flowers and trees just letting his mind wander. That was, until he rounded a corner and saw Aria sitting alone on a bench. "Where is your security detail?" he asked.

She turned her sad eyes to him, "I told him to leave me alone or I'd get him in serious trouble. He ignored that, so I disappeared for half the day. He was beyond panicked. I told him that if he didn't want that experiment to last long enough for people to notice and cost him his job then he'd give me privacy when I ask for it."

"You know this is all for your own safety."

"If your Palace isn't secure enough to keep me safe then I don't want to be here," she shrugged. When Ezra didn't answer she continued, "but we both know it's because mother thinks I'm too fragile to be left alone. She's wrong. I am a princess, I can weather any storm. It just might take awhile to feel okay again."

Ezra felt a mix of sympathy for her and anger at her mate.

"I'd prefer if you sat instead of standing over me," she said.

Ezra sat beside her on the bench. Suddenly he didn't know what to say. Last they spoke was just the day before she left the palace unannounced. They met at the ball following his swearing in ceremony and ran into each other a couple more times. She was fun, light hearted and beautiful. Her hair was black and long, her skin was pale and her blue eyes were striking. She'd worn a midnight blue dress with glittering stars embroidered throughout. A slit up the side revealed her white leg up mid thigh. Ezra contrasted her with his sun tanned skin, dirty blond hair and gray eyes. He was tall and broad, built like a man who trained hard. What Ezra loved the most about her was her quick whit and her intelligence. A conversation was never dull with her.

"Why did your mother come back?" he asked.

"She claims it was for me, to give me a different atmosphere. But I that she missed the King. She's afraid and so cautious. She won't give up her Kingdom. She's afraid to love again, but the King is special. She loves him, she's just in denial."

"I hope she gives him a fair chance," Ezra said. "He wants to make things right."

Aria turned to him, a sparkle in her eye, "what if we play match maker?" she asked.

"Expalin..." he answered, liking the way she looked.

A small smile graced Aria's lips. "I'd rather stay here indefinitely. There are only good memories here. At home there is the loss of my father and then my mate's betrayal. Mother must marry, she is out of time. She cares for the King, so why not marry him? We just have to help them along..."

Ezra smiled, "I see what you're saying. I'm in. Do you have any ideas?"

"I do. We are supposed to meet the King for dinner tonight. I will say I am too tired from travel and need to just rest, thus sending her on her own. You can give the security detail the night off and stand guard over my room yourself. That will leave them completely alone. Hopefully sparks will begin to fly."

"Sounds absolutely perfect," Ezra answered.

"Now, we need to go to the kitchens and pay the staff a bribe to encourage them to make the dinner extra romantic," Aria said. She stood and pulled Ezra up with her. "Lead the way!"

The King and his visiting Queen would have a candle lit dinner with a rose centerpiece on the table, the finest wine the King had in his stores and a soft violin music in the background.

That night Ezra stood at Aria's door, where her guard would be stationed. She returned from her mothers room and winked at Ezra before disappearing into her room. Hopefully the King would get a step ahead tonight...