A King's Love

Chapter 2 - Prince Charming

Ariana.

We all finish our breakfast and move to the palace gardens. Liam closes my eyes as the guards are about to open the doors that lead to the garden. "Open them" I hear my mother say. 

Liam let goes and I open my eyes and see our entire garden is transformed with decorations. I see a huge banner with "Happy Birthday Princess Ariana” on the stage and a huge cake to the right. There are lots of tables and seating for the guests. and every table is filled with giant centerpieces which look like chandeliers that are covered with pink roses and instead of crystals cupcakes are hanging from them. Everything is so colorful and spectacular. 

"Do you like it baby girl?" my mother asks. I'm still in awe of the transformation which happened overnight. I turn and hug her "Yes mother, this is so pretty, and love it, thank you so much."  

Guests start arriving as I was still admiring the decorations. Soon the party is in full swing. I'm playing hide and seek with my cousins and I'm hiding behind a huge statue and waiting to see if Layla can find me. As I see her coming my way I try to run in the other direction and bump into something. I thought I was going to fall and brace for impact, but it never comes. I open my eyes and I realized I was being held by a very handsome boy who looks like he is a few years older than me. I look into his eyes and realize he has the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen. It's decided I'm going to marry him one day.

"Are you ok? " his question brings me back to reality. 

"I'm sorry, I was just trying to hide from my cousin we are playing hide and seek." as soon as finish Layla comes running "found you!". I hang my head in defeat. 

"Sorry, I guess because of me you lost the game" he smiles at me. I just shrug my shoulders "It's ok, you can make it up to me by marrying me when we grow up." He just looks at me puzzled and I hear my parent's laughter behind us. 

"Looks like they found each other already Thomas." says a man I have never seen before with a smile. 

My father takes my hand and introduces me to the newcomers "Princess, this is King Jonathan, Queen Ruby, and their son Prince Lucian." I offer my hand to the king and say "Your Highness". King Jonathan takes my hand " Happy birthday princess Ariana, I'm pleased to meet you." he let go of my hand and turns to my father and says "She is a remarkable young lady Thomas." I blush a little at the compliment. I turn to Queen Ruby and curtsey and say "Your Highness". She smiles at me "You look, beautiful darling, and happy birthday". I say thank you and runoff with Lyala.

After a few moments guests are seated and lunch is served. I cut the cake as everyone sings happy birthday to me. after few hours guests start to leave and I'm retired to my bedroom as I was tired I told Maria I'm going to sleep early and don't wake me up for dinner. Usually, Maria is very strict about the schedule but looks like today she is ok with bending the rules. 

I change and get into my bed I doze off to sleep before I know it. 

I was woken up by Maria, she looks like she is in a panic she kept saying I need to get up and  I was being summoned to the throne room. I did not understand what was going on. She keeps wiping her eyes I realized she is crying. "What is going on Maria? Why are you crying?" I get off the bed and Maria rushes me to my dressing room and quickly changes me into a gown and rushes me out of my room. I'm still confused about what is happening. I realized it is still dark outside and I halt and turn to Maria "Why are we going to the throne room, Maria? Where are my mother and father Maria?" She just hangs her head and wipes her tears and says "I'm instructed to bring you there Princess. That is all I know" and rushes me to get there faster. 

As I make my way there I realized the guards in the palace are looking sad.  The closer I get I sense something is wrong. As we reach the doors guards open them and we walk into the throne room. I see My grandparents consoling each other. Aunt Lilith was sitting down on the steps that lead to the throne holding her head in her hands braced n her knees and I look up to see who is sitting on the throne and I stumble in my steps as I see my Uncle George and not my father with a grim expression. 

"What is going on Uncle George? Where are my Mother and Father? and why are you sitting there?"  I asked with panic in my voice. He looks at me blankly and says "Your mother and father had been killed a couple of hours ago in an ambush on their way to kingdom Caspian to attend a royal weeding which is happening in a few hours." 

I felt my world shattering around me.