Becoming A Queen.

9

The doors of the royal dining room opened to reveal the royal servants collected along one wall with prince James, princess Amber and Sofia stood along the other. Sofia's face was full of wonder at the way her mother's fingers were woven in with the king's.

King Roland cleared his throat and turned to address the children. Amber's eyes were already filling with tears. She had seen the ring she had helped pick out from the royal jewels.
James smile grew.

There was a self conscious blush on Miranda's face that made her look younger. Roland turned to her With an overly obvious smile before he slowly lifted her hand and kissed the back of it before releasing it.

He took a few steps over to where Sofia stood full of confusion.
She stated slack jawed as the king himself knelt before her.

"Sofia. It is only fair to ask you too. Will you allow me to marry your mother?" He asked.

Sofia looked at Miranda, noticing the touch of tears shining in her happy eyes. She looked at the king again.

"You're going to be my dad?" she asked.

"If you'll let me. I love your mother very much and I'd like for you to be a princess and her to be a queen," Roland nodded.

Sofia's face broke into a smile. 

"Yes!" She nodded before catching herself.

"Yes, your majesty. You can marry mom!" She grinned causing spread laughter among the servants. A brief run around the castle had her already winning them over with her impulsive charm.

Miranda felt her own smile match the kings as he stood up and came towards her again. Ignoring the numerous eyes on them he grabbed both her hands and stood facing her. The love between them was obvious to everybody.

"That's the formalities done, my Queen," he smiled.

Miranda shook her head at his playfulness.

"How long must I wait to call you my Queen?" He asked.

Miranda widened her eyes. She hadn't even thought about a wedding.

"I don't know how long it takes to plan..." Miranda chuckled ironically.

"Well... would you like a big party or a more private ceremony?" He asked.

Miranda laughed.

"My first wedding was just us two and a priest," she chuckled.

"My first was done to the max and arranged in full by my uncle," Roland grinned.

"May I suggest you make it a public celebration? Invite those closest to you to the castle and hold a festival for the people of Enchantia?" Baileywick smiled gently.

Roland and Miranda smiled in unison.

"Perfect! How soon can it be organised?" Roland asked.

"If your highness is keen, we can have  a Queen by the end of the month," Baileywick grinned.

"A month," Miranda whispered.

"Is that okay, my love?" Roland asked.

Miranda nodded with a quiet laugh.

"I'll have to finish my orders and pack my stuff," she nodded.

"There is an unused shoemakers workshop in the stables," a servant commented.

Miranda looked at Roland who nodded.

"I only asked you to marry me, not to give up your work," he smiled.

Miranda held her scarred hands up for him to see.

"I don't think these are the hands of a queen," she said.

"They are the hands of my Queen, and I will not be apart from you again," Roland whispered tenderly and kissed both her palms.

Miranda nodded in understanding and Roland turned to the servants.

"Please arrange for the future Queen's workshop in the stables. I want it tidy and clean for her use. And call for the seamstress. We will need three dresses and two suits for the wedding. Miss Sofia and Lady Miranda will also need casual clothes to suit their new royal status, " he announced.

Miranda smiled at him.

"If you don't mind. I'd like Mrs Drummond to make my dress. she has been a dear friend to me," She smiled.

"As you wish, my darling," Roland smiled.

At the corner of her eye, Miranda caught several servants gushing over their king's happiness.

"But... Jade and Ruby? Will I not see them again?" Sofia asked tugging on her mother's arm.

Miranda looked at her daughter with a smile.
"We will live in town until the wedding," Miranda said, surprising herself by the feelings the word wedding brought up in her.

"So I can still play With jade and Ruby?" Sofia asked.

"Yes," Miranda smiled

"Even when you are Queen?" Sofia asked with a bright smile.

"They can come and visit you," Miranda said.

"We can even arrange a party," Roland shrugged.

"A sleepover at the Castle?" Sofia asked, clapping her hands.

"If you want. Baileywick, can a sleepver be arranged do you think?" Roland grinned at the steward.

"Oh. I think we can just about squeeze a few young girls into a guestroom," Baileywick chuckled back.

Sofia was skipping up and down. The exitement rolling off her.

"I can't wait to tell them I'll be living at the Castle... as a princess!" She laughed, twirling around.

Miranda crouched down in front of her daughter, stopping her twirls.

"Sofia, sweetheart. I think its best if you don't tell anyone quite yet," Miranda said seriously.

"We wouldn't want any gossip," Amber nodded.

Miranda smiled at Amber.

"True. But I also think it would be best if the announcement was made official and not through friends," Miranda smiled.

"In a month..." Roland mumbled, looking slightly disappointed.

"And then a lifetime..." Miranda whispered to her fiance.

He nodded in understanding.

"And then a lifetime..." he repeated.

With a grin he turned to his servants.

"Raise the flags and send announcements. Lady Miranda Balthazar will be the Queen of Enchantia and there will be a nationwide festival to celebrate the union!" He said proudly.

Baileywick gestured to a few footmen and they all disappeared through hidden doors in the walls. A moment later, Miranda heard the trumpets from the Towers.

She knew the flags were being raised and the Message was being written out and sent by messenger to every major town and village around the country.

She drew a shaky breath and released it slowly to ease her sudden stuttering heart.

"Are you regretting your answer, my love," Roland asked in a worried voice next to her.

She looked at him, seeing a frightened gleam in his eyes, but at the same time felt her nervousness settle into safety.

"Not for a moment. My dream of a larger family is coming true. I'm just getting a whole country along with the man I love," She said quietly.

Roland smiled happily back.

"I just don't know how to be a Queen!" She chuckled.

Roland lay and arm around her, tugging her Close.

"You'll be the perfect Queen!" he smiled.