The Beginning of The True Heir | Ongoing

Chapter 2: Never Again

Docking was easy. The plank went down and Abigail stepped out first. She looked so ecstatic to be back.
"Mama! Papa!" She squealed.
"Your parents are here?" I whispered to William.
He chuckled. "Apparently."
"H-how are we going to explain...this?" I gesture to our joint hands.
"By telling them right away." He smiled. "We'll walk out of here together and we'll get the awkwardness over with."
I nodded. "Okay...okay. I can do that. I mean, how hard could it possibly be? Right?"
William laughed at me. "Why are you so nervous?"
"Because I'm publicly announcing that I am in love." I cried out. "T-that I have a weakness to my enemies. That I have an Achilles heel."
"Gwendolyn." He whispered softly and laid both hands on either side of my cheek. "I am not your weakness and never will I be. Together we are strong. We will stand side by side." He laid a kiss on my forehead. "Now come, my parents eagerly await news."
"What?" I gasped. "They knew?"
"Yes, I wrote to them but I never told them if you said yes or no." He laughed.
I rolled my eyes at him and we made our way down the plan hand in hand.
"Oh my stars! Thanks the gods!" His mother squealed. Ariel Montreal. One of the kingdoms greatest mothers. She loved her kids more than anyone needed air to survive.
John Montreal, a loving and doting father. You could understand why their kids turned out the way they did. Because they were amazing and incredible parents.
"Congratulations. To the both of you." John smiled and hugged me tight.
Ariel kissed both my cheeks. "Come." She smiled at us all. "Everyone is waiting for you at the palace."
"Have you been staying there as I requested?" I asked her.
She nodded. "Yes, yes and everyone has been so kind to us all."
I nodded, happy. "That's incredible Mrs Montreal."
She gasped and everyone turned to her. "Oh my dear. You are family now. You must call me Ariel or mother."
"Mother," William sighed. "do not forget that she is Queen and that she is the True Heir." He laid his hand on mine.
Beside me Abigail laughed. "Mothers just excited that you have finally found someone after so many seasons of not."
William looked to me. "I was waiting for the right girl and all those years paid off. I got the greatest girl of all."
I blushed. "You are the biggest cheese of all."
"So, when can we expect wedding bells?" Ariel asked.
William look to his mother, tearing his eyes away from me. "Actually mother, I want Gwendolyn to finish Equites Academy first and also slide into her roll as Queen before adding me into the picture."
John nodded. "Very mature of both of you. I like the sounds of that."
Ariel on the other hand looked like she was about to cry. "I was hoping for grandchildren."
My mouth dropped and I blushed more deeply than I had ever in my life. Was this woman serious? Oh my stars.
"And you will mother. Just a few years delayed." He stroked my hand to calm me.
"Oh look!" Abigail pointed.
We all leaned forward and looked out the window. It was the palace. The large structure that's stood for many, many years. More than I could ever of imagined. The horses continued on, into the palace and to the main gate entrance where it seemed everyone was waiting for us.
All the Nobles stood to one side with their families.
All the servants stood on the other side.
The horse and carriage was stopped in the middle where Chamania stood along with Tristan. Beside her were two dwarves.
I grinned eagerly. Putting her in charge whilst I was gone, was the greatest decision.
The carriage stopped and one by one we stepped out. Everyone else got out first and I was the last one.
Still in my pants and shirt and boots, I knew this was the wrong outfit to wear for my first appearance back. But, it will have to do. William placed his hand back inside and I laid my hand on top, slowly I stepped out. And raised my head to see everyone staring at me. I smiled happily but my eyes were Chamania and Tristan.
She saw me and she squealed. Her delight was immeasurable and we ran to each other clashing right in the middle.
"You must catch me up on everything!" She squealed.
I nodded. "Of course!"
Behind her Tristan was making his was slower and I noticed the smile on his face get brighter as he got closer. I let go of Chamania and ran to Tristan almost knocking him back down. But he held his ground and squeezed my tight.
"You should never leave me for that long ever again." He chuckled quietly whispering it into my ear.
"Never again." I whispered back to him.
When I let go the Montreal's were still behind us and everyone was staring. They were waiting for my news, for my first act as Queen. But now was not the time for it.
"Your grace, come meet your new advisors." Chamania gestured to the dwarves. "This your grace is Geroge." She gestured to the male dwarf who bowed to me. "And this your grace is -"
"Estelle." I whispered smiling at her.
She looked up to me her eyes bright. "You remember me your grace?"
I nodded. "Of course. Of course I remember you. You were one of the first dwarves I had ever met in my life. That day in the village I was with Conri. I am so honoured and touched that you are my new advisor!"
She nodded. "The honour is mine your grace. You saved my life. All our lives and we owe you our lives." She curtsied.
I smiled to them. "No. No dwarves owe me anything because your lives, were yours from the beginning. Not anyone else's."
Tristan cleared his throat and I looked up to everyone staring at me. I turned to everyone and smiled.
"Come my friends and family." I smiled to them all and began walking into the palace.
Beside me I nodded to Hope. She along with Burhan pushed the doors open as we entered. The doors opened to the grand staircase.
"Thank you." I whispered to her and to him. Using my air element to make my words travel to them.
My Queen's guard had been with me all Summer Season. Sometimes I forgot they were there. But I knew they always were and they never left me alone.