The Twilight Children//The School for Good and Evil

55 ~ Preparation

. : Laura of Villeneuve : .

6 months later

Laura hissed as her mother snagged a hairbrush on a knot in her dark hair. She met her mom's eyes in the mirror, and she gave Laura an apologetic smile.

Laura's eyes moved back to meet her own. In the bright morning light that streamed in through the glass window, the white scar on her jaw that Sebastian had given her years ago-- back during the war on Neverland-- stood out. One of Laura's lady's maids had put rouge on her cheeks and lips, shimmery gold makeup around her eyes, and had been about to start on her hair when her mother arrived. Her mother had taken over the duties of hair and had put the brush down, running her slim wrinkled fingers through Laura's hair, weaving it into a long braid.

 The coronation gown had been specially made by seamstresses all over the fairytale world. It was high-necked, long-sleeved, and consisted of a shockingly tight top and excessively long skirt. It was emerald green, and Laura couldn't stop herself from running her fingers over the golden details that started on the bodice and spread outwards. She still had yet to put on the dramatic cloak that accompanied the gown. It was ancient and normally kept under incredibly careful care. It only came out for coronations.

Laura met her mother's eyes in the mirror and gave her a weak smile. Her mother sighed, resting her chin on Laura's head. Her gentle scent enveloped Laura and calmed her.

"I miss Dad," Laura spoke, her voice quiet. She didn't want to cry, didn't want the guilt that she had been trying to treat to rise again.

Her mother ran a gentle hand through her hair, pulling the braids up to pin them to her head. "I do too, every hour of every day."

After her father's death, and after the war, Laura returned to Villeneuve with the few knights that remained after the battle. They had sworn their loyalty to her-- and despite Laura insisting she didn't need protection-- they travelled with her to the kingdom, determined to protect their new Queen. One knight, who was well-ranked under her father, and now labelled as Laura's personal guard, waited outside the door.

She had told her mother about her father's death, fearing banishment for her inability to keep him safe, but her mother had only held her. They had spent a few days together, in tears, and avoiding the public.

The advisors and people who had been running the kingdom with her father had caused problems. It had taken Laura the better part of a month to convince them of her identity and her right to rule. It had finally taken Merlin blasting the brooch with magic and attacking the walls for them to be convinced of her legitimacy. Laura didn't begrudge them; Camelot was facing similar issues with Tedros and some imposter.

As a result, she was months behind where she should've been in her work. There were taxes to be approved, events to be attended, and bills to sign. The problem was, she couldn't do anything official until she was coronated. So despite the fact she had signed things and stamped others, they wouldn't pass into law until after today. 

Her mother finished pinning her hair and stepped back to admire her handy work. Braids wrapped around her head like a crown of its own, creating an alluring effect. She looked like her grandmother. Laura had seen the painting of her coronation and a similar effect had been done on her grandmother. 

Laura looked powerful.

And then there was the problem of the heir. Her father had no siblings, and any other descendants of her ancestors had long since deceased. She was the last of the Villeneuve line. When she died, Villeneuve's walls would crumble.

Laura still didn't know how she had survived that fall. She only remembered hitting the ground, sudden pain, and then waking up later on a stretcher, her mind and body sore. Somewhere between hitting the ground and waking up her magic had been slightly refilled. Someone had given her enough magic to stay alive. The council hadn't told her who had done it, despite her asking. Merlin had given her a side eye and ignored her. Laura had yet to see other members-- even Sebastian-- since then.

Her mother squeezed her shoulders, before stepping back to let Laura stand. The chair slid back, and she moved to stand in the middle of the drawing-room, slipping into the heels that waited for her. She smiled to herself. She'd be taller than Sebastian.

"You know," Her mom started. Laura sighed. She knew where this was going. "There will be lots of eligible men there."

"Mom," Laura groaned. This had been going on for a while now. "Do we have to have this discussion today? I know that Villeneuve needs an heir, but there are more important things happening today than me getting married and having kids."

Her mother sighed, and smiled, walking towards her. "Dear, of course, I'm worried about succession and heir," She pushed a stray hair back, tucking it into her braids. "But I'm also your mother, and I want you to find happily ever after."

Laura flushed pink. There was no one she could imagine, except for maybe one red-headed prince. Happily ever after was far out of reach.

There was a knock on the door and both women turned to face it. 

"Come in," Laura spoke. 

The head butler opened the door, bowing to them. "Your majesty, it is time."

Laura swallowed, and nodded, letting her mother move to the ceremonial cloak and pull it over her shoulders. Laura watched her mother pin the cloak on, and the handmaidens came in behind the butler to carry it.

"You'll do wonderful," Her mother whispered, pressing a kiss to her head. "I have full faith in you."