Andreamore

34

"Prince, Princess, you have left the palace buzzing like a beehive that has been kicked. What is this place? It's like I almost remember it," Shian says softly as she looks around puzzled.

"The desolate lands, Shian. Lady Lisa restored them to what they were before the wars." Tyler says with no little pride in Lisa's abilities.

"And that forest, that is the sacred forest," Lisa whispers just loud enough for Shian to hear. "There is one that would talk to you. Go on," Lisa says to the hesitant Alicorn.

Shian looks startled at the two in front of her before turning to look at the sacred forest and the unicorn that waits there. "Grandfather." That is all she says before she gallops over to the forest.

"I hate this waiting," Lisa says fretting and pacing. She doesn't like being locked up in Ty's quarters either, but it isn't safe for her outside them. Just one more day until Tyler has his answer, one more day until they know where they will be living.

Tyler grabs her and holds her tight to him, "I know this is hard. It's no easier on me or even the magical beasts. They don't like the idea of leaving the choice to the common elf. They feel that they are all in league with the wizard."

Indeed when they got back to the palace that was talked about. There has to be a wizard, either one that has somehow survived the millennia or a new one. Either way it is bad for all concerned. They need Tyler to remain in power to lead and protect Andreamore. The magical animals fear what will happen should Tyler abdicate.

"The magical beasts now know what to look for and are actively looking for signs of a wizard. There is little we can do Lisa. Even the wedding plans are moving forward and don't need our help." Tyler grabs hold of Lisa and holds her in his arms. "I know it is hard Lisa, but you need to calm down."

"Well Tyler, everything is in place, you don't feel the need to fix anything else do you?" Lisa asks that last bit with a bit of hope. She's bored to tears.

"Just to get rid of the wizard. I can't help but feel he'll or she'll try to rig the vote tomorrow so he can take over." Tyler says pacing around the room.

"You do? Could the wizard be strong enough to affect that many people?" Lisa asks with a great deal of interest.

"No. But he could be strong enough to affect the voting apparatus. In which case I'll have no choice but to abdicate... what is it Lisa?"

Lisa is smiling and goes up to him and pulls him to her. Her baby  bump getting in her way but she still pulls him as close to her as she can. "Then don't use the apparatus. Do a live vote in front of you. Have them raise their hands and do a manual count, if he can't affect people the way he can things well that will take care of that."

Tyler stands stunned, "It's never been done that way before, the wizard would never think of it."

"What is with you always having to do things the same way they've been done before? How can a place or a people ever grow if all you ever do is the same thing over and over again? The unknown is scary. It can be scary as hell, but you can't grow if you don't try new things." Lisa says then proceeds to show Tyler just what she means.

"Ty, we should get up now. The people will already be coming, we need to get ready." Lisa says waking Tyler up. She doesn't want to get up any more than he's showing he wants to.

"This might be my last day as Prince, Lisa, are you sure you will still want to marry me if I'm not?" Tyler is sounding unsure and uncharacteristically child like.

"To tell you the truth Ty, I think I'd prefer it if you weren't Prince anymore and we could live on Earth peacefully. You've sacrificed so much for Andreamore, and have received so little in return, I have to say I'm terribly underwhelmed by the patriotic sense of your people."

"If they knew you are the lady I intend on marrying they wouldn't vote for me to abdicate." Tyler says more than a little hope in his voice.

"If you tell them that then I'll return to Earth and never speak to you again. I want you to keep your throne because of what you've done and what you've sacrificed. I will not accept anything less. And if they are so short sighted about you then they no longer deserve to have you as their ruler and the wizard can deal with it." Lisa says with more than a little heat.

"Shh, my love. I won't let the cat out of the bag until after the voting is finished."

Tyler holds tight to Lisa's hand as they stand in front of the people possibly for the last time as their prince. "I feel sick. I've never felt sick talking to my subjects before." Tyler says under his breath as he stands and waits for his turn to speak.

"Steady my love. It will all be over shortly. But I do have a question," Lisa says her eyes inexorably drawn to the man standing at the edge of the crowd.

"What is that Lisa?" Tyler says all but crushing her hand in his grip.

"What would happen if I put a cap on the magic?" Lisa smiles, she's pretty sure that the man she can't look away from is the wizard come to make mischief.

"Nothing. Magic isn't supposed to be used when there is voting to be done." Tyler turns his attention away from the crowd and looks at Lisa. "Why? What's going on?"

"I think I see our wizard and I think he's got something planned as well. I think it's time I take matters in my own hand. Sorry, love, I'll be speaking next instead of you. Let them hate me even more." Lisa says and takes a step forward.

"Citizens of Andreamore, I know most of you hate me with a hatred that burns. That's okay, Lady Lisa was a woman that would be hard to beat. But today isn't about me, it's about YOUR choice for who is going to lead Andreamore. I personally don't care. If you choose to have the prince that sacrificed everything for you to abdicate, then I'll have him at my side full time and not just when he's not in meetings all day long. It's a win for me, at least if I can get him to love me anywhere near what he loves Lady Lisa. But since there is the chance of chicanery and magical intervention with this vote," Lisa waves her arms and there is deadly silence when she is done. "Magic is sealed until the voting is finished. 

"Oh, and by the way, there's a new wizard or perhaps a very old one around now. He or she are responsible for the dragon's dying. So whoever will be the new ruler of Andreamore will have to deal with that." Lisa smiles and her eyes start to glow, "I have no doubt that whoever you choose will be up to the task. But if it's not Tyler than I really don't give a fly fu-" Tyler pulls Lisa back as she finishes the speech. But he's chuckling even as the crowd is stirred up and angry.

Tyler goes before the people. "My fiancee is rather blunt and plain speaking, she thinks that the people have shown a great deal of disrespect to me and themselves. She's rather disgusted if truth be known and is more than a little hopeful that we will be leaving here to return to her home realm.

"Now, as for the voting it will be simple. The voting apparatus was indeed found to be tampered with so we will do  the voting a different way. My fiancee came up with this, it's something they do on her world at times. You will show by a raise of hands what your choice is. The choice is simple: two questions, 1. will you support Prince Tyler or 2. do you wish Prince Tyler to abdicate?

"My faithful servant Sir Lionel will now start the voting." Tyler steps back and goes into the corridor that the balcony juts from. He pulls Lisa with him and holds her tight as Lionel asks first one then the second question.

"Won't you have to wait for the results from the other cities Ty?" Lisa asks holding just as tight to Tyler as he is to her.

"No, the voting is being done by trusted servants in the other cities just like here. As soon as they are able to count the hands the results will be relayed. This city has the largest population and will take the longest to count.

A cheer is heard going up. Tyler closes his eyes, "Come, my love the voting is done."