Love and War

41:Anastasia

Anastasia's POV:
After our amazing 2 weeks in Greece we came back home.

It was now time for my coronation. I was terrified. Jonah told me there's nothing to be worried about, but I was scared they wouldn't want me as their queen.

I straightened out my gown in the mirror and took a deep breath out to relax.

Jonah came up behind me looking handsome and proper. He wore a crisp all black suit and it only made his blue eyes pop. He grabbed my hand and kissed it softly. "You look gorgeous Anastasia. Are you ready?"

"Yes." I said confidently. I stood up straight and channeled my inner queen.

Yes I am.

I am. I'll be fine. If Jonah could do it, so could I.

"Good girl." He said kissing my forehead because I was wearing lipstick. "Let's go."

He grabbed my hand and together we walked to the coronation room. I'd been here not long ago for Jonah's coronation but now it was mine and I don't think I'm ready at all.

I stopped right at the door and sent a panicked expression to Jonah.

I felt the pressure building and my hands were clammy.

He shook his head and cupped my cheeks. "You will make a brilliant and strong queen. If these people don't accept you today they will eventually, when they see everything you are capable of. You are a queen. You don't need that stupid crown or that title. It's just a formality at this point. You. are. a. queen." He repeated the last part slowly and I nodded.

"Okay." I took a deep breath and felt better.

He always knows what to say.

The doors opened and everyone turned to look at me. I walked inside calm and collected. My shoulders squared and my chin up. I wasn't going to let anyone look down at me or think any less of me.

Jonah's words repeated in my mind like a mantra.

You are a queen.

Yes I am.

I stood at the altar and looked at my subjects and at the priest at my side. I gave him a warm smile to which he reciprocated and he started the ceremony.

"Hello citizens of Sura Kingdom. I am glad you are here today to witness the crowning of our new queen." He paused and everyone glanced towards me.

"We have all suffered under the hands on cruel King Santiago. But at last his rule ended and peace has returned to all of our kingdoms. She played a big part in saving us. She killed him herself." It seemed like everyone stopped breathing and my nerves came back full throttle.

Now they probably think I'm some murderer.

Thanks a lot priest.

But to my surprise they all burst into cheers and some were even thanking me.

I relaxed and smiled. The priest smiled too and something in his eyes resembled gratitude.

"She did a lot more than that and for that we thank you. It does not matter that you did not come from a royal background because you've shown us that you are exactly what a queen should be. Young, strong, kind and very courageous."

He clapped his hands along with the crowd too. I smiled and felt like I might just cry. I was overwhelmed with happiness and relief at their acceptance. I realized I should've never been so scared.

After a minute he silenced them with a hand and turned to me to start the questions.

"Do you Anastasia swear to protect the people of Sura Kingdom?"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to put these people's lives over your own?"

"I swear." and I meant it.

"Do you swear to raise your children to be like you? Good enough to rule?"

"I swear."

He nodded and everyone around me stood. He motioned for me to kneel and I did so, struggling a little because of the dress.

"Now we will all send prayers for our future queen to live long, breed many heirs, bring success, health and wealth to our kingdom." Everyone silently sent prayers and I kneeled quietly waiting for them to finish.

I'd pray with them but I don't believe in god. I wonder what they'd say if they knew.

The priest grabbed the gold crown and raised it high for everyone to see. "Now I pronounce you queen of Sura Kingdom!" He placed the crown on my head and helped me stand.

I faced my subjects and they all kneeled around me. I blinked a few times surprised and the priest smiled at me. I glanced at Jonah in the corner of the room and he winked at me before walking to the front of the room and kneeling too. He kneeled at my feet at the bottom of the stairs.

His blue eyes stared through mine and I felt my eyes start to tear up. I love this man.

Some people stared at him surprised but he didn't care.

"All hail Queen Anastasia!" They chanted.

***
I sat at Jonah's desk waiting for him. I sat in his big chair feeling like I'm on top of the world. I even put my feet up on his desk.

He'll be so mad when he sees that.

I laughed to myself.

The door blew open and he strolled inside reading some papers in his hands. He looked up and smiled before rolling his eyes at my feet on the table.

"I might just chop your feet off if you keep doing that." He said grabbing them and pulling me to him while I still sat on the chair.

I smiled up at him since he was towering over me.

"If you do that... I'll chop off something else." I said looking straight ahead of me at the now very noticeable dent in his pants.

His eyes darkened and he looked like he was contemplating taking me on his desk but he cleared his throat and sat across from me instead.

I ignored the disappointment blossoming in my chest.

He sat down continuing to silently read his papers.

"I was only joking don't get angry and give me the silent treatment." I mumbled.

He looked up and handed me the papers. "I was just focused on this. Princess Ivory King Santiago's daughter who is now queen of their kingdom signed the peace treaty so King Santiago's former kingdom is no longer a threat."

I nodded. "Oh okay good. I was worried she'd take after her father."

"So was I but I think she knows what's good for her." He said.

I leaned onto my forearms on the desk. "Why are you over there? Come sit with me here."

He gulped.

Is he nervous?

That thought gave me a new sense of confidence and I smiled.

"I'm sitting here because we are talking about important business things and if I were on such close proximity to you I don't think I'd have been able to focus."

"Well the business talk is over so..."

He smirked and shook his head. "We have dinner with my mother and my brothers in less than 20 minutes."

I stood and slowly came around the desk to where he was. I stood between his legs and placed my hands on his chest. "I can work with that."

He glanced at the clock and stood pushing me to his desk. "5 minutes. No more."

I grinned triumphantly. He rolled my eyes at my grin as our lips met.

It ended up being 20 minutes as usual.

***