Their Banished Queen

Chapter 2

(Closest image I could find to what I wanted. Just pretend it's dragons on the shoulder and that it's black)

Maeve's P.O.V.

       I missed this. I missed being pampered and wearing dresses and jewelry. But I also just missed Calatia.

"Almost done, Your Highness," Blossom says from behind.

I don't have any ladies-in-waiting. In all honesty, most of my friends growing up were from different kingdoms, so I didn't have many friends at home. So Sebastian created the role of a royal dresser for me instead. She will take care of all my fittings, jewelry, helping me get dressed, and she's not too bad at hair either.

"All done," she says after placing a tiara on top of my head. Looking in the mirror, I feel more myself than I have in a long time.

The fashion here is different than the wolves. With the wolves, the dresses were more traditional with corsets and everything. With the dragons, they feel a little more modern.

The dress I'm wearing is black with a plunging neckline and a slit that goes up dangerously high. It's embellished with gold dragons resting on my shoulders and gold chains draping underneath them.

"Is there anything else you require, Your Highness?," Blossom asks.

"No, that will be all Blossom. Thank you," I say and she scurries out of the room. I'm not alone though, Ash is standing in the corner. Sebastian appointed him as my personal guard.

There's a knock on the door and I say, "You may enter."

Somebody sticks their head in. "Your Highness, your family has arrived."

Suddenly I feel anxious. Mason I've seen several times since my banishment, but I haven't seen mom or Morgan since. "You may bring them up," I say and he disappears quickly.

I fiddle with the rings on my fingers as I wait. It's not even two minutes, but it feels like a lifetime.

"Mama," I breathe as she walks into the room. She looks as beautiful as the day I left. It's not a surprise, considering she hasn't aged, but for a moment it's like I never left.

Before I can react she has me in a tight hug. "My beautiful girl," she strokes my hair. "I missed you more than you could ever know."

My eyes start to get misty and I pull away before I become a blubbering mess. "I know. I missed you the same."

At one point in time, part of me resented my mom for the way father acted. But I realized he would have never let us out from underneath his control. Everything she put up with was for us.

Mason is the next to sweep me up in a quick hug. "I feel bad for Sebastian now that he has to spend forever with you," he says with a big grin.

"Interesting," I nod. "I have somebody who chose me and you haven't even had a girlfriend yet. I guess being the future king doesn't get you everything."

He has the crook of his elbow around my neck in an instant and he uses his other hand to ruffle my hair. I swing my leg so it connects at the back of his knees, causing to fall to the ground.

I can't contain my laughter as mom shakes her head. "Some things never change."

I fix up my hair quickly in the mirror and then I notice Morgan standing behind mom and Mason. I kneel down slowly in front of her.

       "Hi," I say softly, as if she'll run away if I speak too loud.

       She hides behind the skirt of mom's dress and waves. It hurts that she doesn't know me, but it's not her fault. Mason shifts uncomfortably, feeling my sadness.