The Paladin (The King Eternal Monarch AU)

Adam

Elizabeth opened her eyes and sat up the minute she awoke. She looked around at her apartments. It was empty. Apparently James had slipped out somewhere in the night when she had fallen asleep. A sprig of wildflowers on her side-table was the only sign that he had been there last night. She couldn't recall when he managed to pluck wildflowers - her memory drew blank.

After brushing teeth and showering, she walked out of her apartments to where Lady Amelia and Lady Emily were already waiting. The Royal Wardrobe had built-in closets in every wall. Elizabeth's eye fell on the rack with the outfits that she could pick for the day. Her jaw dropped. She felt like the five-year old girl who wanted candy and woke up in a candy store.

"Jeans and t-shirt?" She smiled from ear to ear.

"You're on leave, your Majesty," Lady Amelia curtsied.

"I am?" She was amazed.

"It's front page news. The Press Association have gone all out to support your taking some time off for yourself. This is the first day after royal mourning," Lady Emily approached.

"Right," Elizabeth had completely forgotten South's announcement at the end of yesterday's seemingly endless series of burials and thanksgiving services. It seemed like a long time ago especially since she had decided on the spur of the moment after dusk to seek out James in his apartment.

"You seem different today. More upbeat. Feeling better?" Emily remarked blandly.

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed and wondered how much her friend knew.

"We know," Amelia nodded her head solemnly before chuckling.

Elizabeth ignored their tittering and picked out the most tattered pair of jeans she could find on the rack.

"You can't wear this," Emily pulled the tattered jeans out of her hands.

"I'm wearing this," she clutched it as tightly as she could.

"No. You need to look more feminine. What would North think?"

"I wear dresses all the time! I just want to wear this on my day off," she whined.

"Who put this on the rack?" Amelia looked around for someone to blame.

The door to the Royal Wardrobe opened. The three women kept quiet immediately because Lady Michelle sailed in.

"What is this commotion I hear?"

"Her Majesty wanted to wear this," Emily held up the pair of tattered faded-blue jeans.

Lady Michelle just sighed and disapproved with a wave of her hand.

"She can't wear any of these outfits. There's been a change in her schedule."

"I thought she was having the week off," Amelia said.

"I. Have. A. Schedule?" Elizabeth asked indignantly, "On my break?"

"You're not the only one who is upset. East almost exploded when he was told."

"East almost exploded?" Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears. "I. Am. On. A. Break. And if I recall correctly, aba-mama never had anything on his schedule when he was on a break. So, why -"

"Wear this," Lady Michelle handed her a pair of navy trousers and a white lapelled blouse. "Be at the helicopter pad in ten minutes. Your breakfast will be in the helicopter."

She closed her mouth and got dressed. She knew the only way she was going to get information was to get as quickly as possible to the roof of the Palace.