The Boy Across The Bay

Chapter 10

Harry and Ellie made it back to the castle and now Harry was waiting in the family room, waiting for his mother. He was pacing back and forth trying to figure out how he was going to explain everything she witnessed tonight. Or he was royally fucked.

Finally, Eloise found his mother and she was ready to listen to whatever excuse Harry could possibly come up with. She gave him an intimidating look, much like the look Louis gives him. But this one was different.

Harry took a shaky breath as he started to explain. "Okay, so I will start by explaining the whole Eloise and Niall thing. I know about that. Before I explain any further, I know you will not understand what this agreement between Ellie and I exactly is. And I am okay with that, and you need to be too. I am going to be king soon, and that means that I have a complete say in what happens in my kingdom, not you. Okay?" He took a big breath in and out, eyes wide. He shocked himself with what was coming out of his mouth. But it felt good to finally assert himself with his mother, to show him he is capable and responsible, and not a little boy anymore.

Alexandria nods her head to show him she understands and to proceed to explain and help her understand what she just witnessed tonight.

"Eloise and I both love each other. However, we are not in love with each other. So, we came to an agreement. We will still get married, so you do not need to worry yourself about that. However, we will still see different people outside of our marriage. Her and Niall fell in love—and no, I am still not completely okay with it, but she agreed to do the same with me when I find the right person. So, for the time being, she is with Niall in every possible way, aside from marriage. And it will be the same for me." Harry nodded to his mother, and to himself. That was actually a good idea, him and Ellie should do that. It makes perfect sense. Hopefully his mother is supportive of his new plan. His mother sat there in silence, processing what he had just told her. So, he took that as a go ahead to continue. "As for where was I tonight, I was with King Louis Tomlinson of Northern Lincolnshire. And before you give me grief...just hear me out. I have a reason as for why I was there. My whole life you and father have told me how much we are at a silent war with the other side of the bay, especially with the Tomlinsons. But Louis—I mean, King Louis, is the only Tomlinson still alive, his father died a few years ago and he doesn't believe in this whole feud between the kingdoms and our families, neither do I. So, one of my first acts as King of Southern Lincolnshire is to mend the relationship between our families and the kingdoms. Louis agrees. That is why I was over there, I needed to speak with him about how we were going to set this whole plan in motion. And I know you do not like Louis—I mean, King Louis—but you need to give him a chance. Please." At this point Harry's voice started to crack with emotion. His mother's response could make or break whatever it is between him and Louis.

Alexandria sighed and said, "I haven't met him before, so I would like it if you gave us the opportunity to meet one another. That way I know just who exactly my son is getting himself involved with."

Harry smiles at the secret double meaning. "Okay. I can do that." He takes a small pause to think. Then the idea hits him. "A party! A small one, just to have our two families meet and come together to discuss business."

Alexandria agreed but warned him. "Your father is not going to like any part of this stunt of yours, one bit."

"I know, and that is why you need to not tell him and let me do it when everything is ready and it's the perfect time to do so." He told her.

She agreed. "Although I don't fully condone your actions, you are to be king in three days, and I will no longer have control over what you can and cannot do or who you can and cannot affiliate yourself with. For the time being, I am still the queen, and you are still my son. I only want what's best for you and the kingdom. You must understand that." Harry nods. "Alright. Well, it is late, and I am exhausted from running around the kingdom like a headless chicken searching for you. So, I am off to bed. G'night, my dear. See you in the morning."

And with that she left to retire to her chambers.

He did it. He dogged the bullet. But for how much longer.

He knows there's no happy ending for people like him. There never is.

⋯

"How did your date go? I heard from Luther that you pulled out all the stops and had a romantic dinner down by the beach." Zayn asked.

Louis blushed. "It went very well, thanks for asking." He said with a huge grin.

"Well tell me Tommo! Is there going to be a second one?" Zayn pushed.

Louis' grin faltered. "I don't exactly know for certain. We never had the chance to talk about it after we-" He stopped himself, deciding not to disclose every detail of his night with Zayn, for Harry's sake. "We were interrupted when his fiancé came looking for him. Apparently, Harry's mother had caught her kissing Harry's friend. So, they needed to go extinguish the fire she started."

Zayn rolled his eyes. "They aren't even married yet and she's already causing problems." Louis looked at him, tilted his head and raised his eyebrows in slight agreement. "Wait. After you what?" Zayn asked.

"What do you mean?" Louis asked.

"You said you and Harry never had the chance to talk about things after you- and then you stopped and started a new sentence. What did you guys do?" Zayn asked with a curious smirk.

Louis' eyes went wide. "That is between me and Harry, Zayn. It is none of your business."

Zayn looked offended. They tell each other everything. Yes, it took Zayn a while to tell him about Liam, but he still did it. It's only fair Louis told him about what happened between him and Harry. "Lou, c'mon mate. I told you about Liam."

Louis laughed. "Yeah, only after I pestered you for weeks about it, and I've only just gotten his name. You know who Harry is." He shot back at him.

"Okay, but can't you just give me a hint and then leave the rest of to imagination?" Zayn tried to compromise.

"Nope!" Louis said, smirking, putting emphasis on the 'p' at the end of the word.

"Tommo! Mate! Don't do this to me!" Zayn complained. Louis just shook his head.

"Ehum... Sir." Luther said from behind them, standing at the doors to the drawing room, where Zayn and Louis were shooting yet another round of pool and enjoying a drink, talking about their evenings­—or rather not talking about Louis' evening.

Louis turned up to Luther and said, "yes, Luther, what is it?"

"You have a visitor, sir. Shall I send 'em in?" He informed Louis.

Louis nodded.

"Very well," said Luther as he stepped aside revealing Louis' visitor behind him.

"Harry?" Louis asked, the sound of confusion and a hint of worry hidden in his voice.

Standing behind Luther stood Harry, staring at the floor, looking nervous and biting his lip. As soon as he heard Louis' voice, he looks up to Louis, their eyes meet, and Harry's eyes light up. He lets go of his lip and breaks into a smile and says, "Hi."