Crowned

Chapter 6

Gabby woke up with love in her heart. She smiled so wide that her face hurt. The sun shone through her big window and onto her face. It made her hair look blond even though it was brown. She took a deep breath and recalled the events from earlier that morning. Nathan kissed me! She thought. She whipped off the covers of the bed and ran to the window. She opened it up and looked out. There he was, Nathan. He looked up at her, with his dirty gardening gloves. He smiled and winked at her, and she laughed. She closed the window and ran to her dresser. Normally she would call in Sky to help her decide what to wear, but this was different. She put on a gray and pink summer dress that ended at her knees. She pulled her hair back in a bun and stuck a flower barrette in it. She added some lip gloss to her lips and placed her feet in gray Keds. She walked out of her room, feeling great. She was going to visit Nathan and wanted to look good. She walked out and saw Gracie. Gracie stared at her.
"Whoa."
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just, you look cute." Gracie said nicely.
"Thanks." Gabby sprinted down the long hall down the steps on the palace. Sheila was making a bed in one of the guest rooms and saw her.
"Gabriella, hold on." She yelled down to her. Gabby turned around and walked back up to her.
"Sheila. Call me Gabby." She said. Sheila rolled her eyes.
"That's the name you were given. Anyway, Gracie!" She called. Gracie joined them with her hands by her sides. Sheila didn't look at them. Both girls shared another look. Just then, all of the events that happened the day before flooded Gracie and Gabby's minds. Their mother was dying, and there was nothing they could do about it. Gracie held back tears, but the ones that escaped her eyes she wiped with the sleeve of her nightgown quickly.
"Your mother has asked for you both to meet her in the common room." Sheila said. She continued to tuck in the sheets of the bed.
"More bad news?" Gabby asked.

Sheila turned to her and shrugged.

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After the girls were forced to go their rooms to change into the same red dresses with the same tiaras, they walked down to the common room to meet with their mother. The queen was waiting for them in a large chair, that was decorated with lace. She wore a white dress with diamonds on it. She had a glimmering smile on with guards around her and two other men that the twins had never seen before.
"Hello girls." Queen Patricia said.
The girls curtsied.
"I've have called you here today, to tell you about some important news." She explained. It was completely silent in the room.
"I know that it was a hard day yesterday, and I'm sorry, but I want you to know that it's going to be okay." She hugged them and stroked their hair. The twins smiled and closed their eyes.
Their mother pulled away but kept her dainty hands to their shoulders.
"You two are so beautiful and talented. And sixteen!" She added. They all celebrated for a moment.
"And now that one of you will become queen soon, I have decided to..." She paused and coughed.
"To... arrange marriages for you." She smiled.
Their jaws dropped.
"What?" Gabby yelled. "We're only sixteen!"
"I know it's sudden, but you need a partner to help you. Running a kingdom is hard with only one person. Trust me, I know." She looked down. Gracie stared wide-eyed at the men behind her mother. One of them was really tall, probably six feet, she thought. With brown hair and green eyes that were the same color as pears. And the other one was shorter with blond hair and brown eyes. The tall one stepped forward and bowed.
Queen Patricia pointed to him.
"This is Prince Timothy of Liverpool." He stepped forward and kissed Gracie's hand.
"Hello, Gracie." He said with the lowest voice Gracie had ever heard.
"Um...hello." She curtsied. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't make eye contact. His green eyes seemed like they were looking right through her. She looked over at Gabby, who looked furious.
"Mother! I do not need to marry anyone! I can do this on my own. Or with somebody else..." She looked out the window towards the gardens. Queen Patricia scowled.
"Gabriella Eleanor Richards! That is incredibly disrespectful to our guest, and your new husband." She looked at the Prince and announced that his name was Prince Andrew. The queen guided Gracie's hand to Prince Andrew's, and they awkwardly held it. Gabby kept looking out the window.
"Alright. Now that you four have met, I'll give you some time to get to know each other. Gracie and Timothy, go to the library. Gabby and Andrew, go to the gardens." Queen Patricia said. Gabby turned as white as a ghost. Nathan. She wiped her sweaty palms on her dress and ran out of the room.
"Gabriella!" The queen shouted. Although it was more of a louder whisper because the queen tried to be quiet and reserved at all times. The guards in the room ran after her. Within seconds, Gabby was grabbed by both arms and carried back to the common room.
She struggled to get free, but she couldn't. Their grip was too tight. Her mother shook her head. "I'm disappointed in you, Gabby. Prince Timothy and Prince Andrew, follow me please. I'll show you around the palace." She sighed and walked out of the room. One guard followed her out to protect her. Prince Andrew looked hurt and embarrassed. He tucked a piece of his hair behind his big ears.
"I did not mean to make you mad, princess Gabriella." He bowed and walked slowly out of the room. Prince Timothy followed him out.