the great war

building the pressure

Summer 2022

Hope and Alec return to Moresnet, they were excited to be home, especially Hope cause that meant she and Alicent will spend all summer together and will have adventures.

The carriage arrived and everyone was ready to welcome the princess and prince home. The door opens and the first one getting out is Alec all bow and then Hope comes out and all bow once again. The children hug their mother and relatives.

The the moment both Hope and Alicent had been waiting for almost a year finally came. They saw each other and hug like if they hadn't seen each other for decades.

-Hi Hope! Said Alicent with a smile on her face and a little blush in her face.

-Hi Ali! I missed you so much i have so much to tell you and i guess you have so much to tell me too. Said Hope with a smile that went ear to ear and her.

Both girls went walking to Hope's chambers and the other ladies were walking 3 steps behind them. We they arrive at her chambers Alicent helped Hope with her dress and her hair will the others helped her with her bath and arrangements and cleaning.

Hope was once again dress like the heir to a throne and not a rich school girl. Alicent and Hope left the chambers while the other ladies stayed doing chores for the princess. They went walking all around the castel and like it was usual, they started judging the other nobel ladies dresses and hair cause that was important for them, Alicent started to tell Hope all the rumors around some ladies in court and about a little crush she developed while Hope was in school.

Hope also told her she had developed a crush as well but that he was a year older than her so it was stupid. Alicent didn't think it was stupid but she also made the reminder that they both need to marry well and that their values are more important than boys.

Like per usual they ended in the godswood until the hour was quite late. After that they went to get ready for the welcome dinner, Hope and Alicent helped each other to look better than any girl in the dining room. Hope put in her best red dress and Alicent on her best blue one. Then they entered the dining room together and sat at the table.

The dinner had Hopes and Alec's favorite foods, from salty to sweet. The three kids enjoyed the dinner and when I y was dessert time Hope took her favorite lemon-chocolate pie, she finished it and ess going for another bit her grandmother stopped her by grabbing her hand so hard she made her feel pain.

-Hope you won't be perfect if you are fat, no one loves a fat princess an non the less a fat queen stop eating like a man. Have I thought you knew nothing? She whispered into Hope's ear.

Hope didn't say a word and she stopped eating and she sat quietly until it was finally over. She left the room alone even though Alicent wanted to go with her, Hope wasn't feeling like it.

Hope asked her other ladies to prepare her for bed and so they did. Then she was all alone in there chamber thinking that she will never be enough and started baiting her nails without noticing when she finally did she started to panic, this will get her in trouble with her grandmother and uncle Otto.

Desperate for some spell that will cover the wounds she inflicted upon her fingers she found a spell were only she'd be able to see them. She did the spell and went to sleep like nothing happened.

-Hope, Hope, Hope! Said Alicent to her sleepy best friend.

-What!? Said Hope with an angry tone.

-It is late, and I brought breakfast, is your favorites.

That put Hope in s good mood but the. She remembered what her grandmother said and she didn't eat all of it, she felt awful by eating any of it but she was hungry and she loves french toast.

-What are we doing today Alicent?

-We are going to the boat festival. We need to wear white dresses and think what we will write on the boats for it to come true. Alicent said with excitement.

Hope smiled at her friend.

Hope and Alec had to go together to the festival and Alicent was their company as the hand of the king's daughter. They arrived at the mermaid sea and toom their respective boats. They started writing what they wanted to come true, after they put the boats sail on the sea and then danced until they're feet almost bleed.

In the following months Hope was half her time with her grandmother and uncle, the other half was for her mom, aunt, brother and of course Alicent.

July 12

The day was gorgeous and quiet, Hope was in her cliff garden with her grandmother Caitlin and uncle Otto.

-Hope you need to stop baiting your nails, you are the princess bit you behave like the most common girl at court! Said her uncle Otto who Hope saw in one way or another as a father figure.

-Sorry, I try to not do it but sometimes...

-Sometimes what!? Sometimes you decide to behave like a stupid little girl and don't stop making yourself ugly and unworthy of our teaching!? Caitlin said with lots of anger.

Hope did not say a word, she said to herself I am a stupid girl.

-So my dear Hope. said her grandmother while gently touching Hope's hair. -Your uncle and I found you 3 possible husband's, one it's the future king of France, the other is the son of Lord Henry Harwood and the other is a King.

Hope looked surprised but pretend to be happy with the news they have just given her, but in her heart she wanted what every girl her age in Mystic Falls has, a normal childhood, and to get marry when she is 20+ years old but she also knew her duty was more important than anything and that she wasn't just any other girl, she was the heir to a throne and she would prove herself worthy of it.

-So which one will I choose grandmother?

-You? Choose your husband? Ooh that's hilarious.

-Hope, sweetie girls don't get to choose their husbands ever, the man does. Which means either your grandfather or me do, and for the looks of it it'll appear that it's up to me the chosing of your husband. Said Otto Stark with a smirk on his face.

Otto knew that he would be the one doing all this for his niece but he always had in mind that Hayley and Freya wouldn't let Hope marry someone they didn't like or that Hope like for that matter. So he had to wait a bit longer to marry off the 6 year old princess.

Later thar afternoon Hope, Alec and Alicent went to the godswood, after all it was their favorite place to be. They read and laugh so much they cried. It was little moments like this one that helped Hope feel lest alone and forget all the pressure that got bigger every day.

She wanted to please everyone, with that little by little every person took pieces of her and she was unhappy but never ever let anyone know. She will forever do what they expect of her. She will be perfect for the kingdom.

Those were happy moments for the 3 of them but life would be harder as the years went by.