Royals

Chapter 38: elizabeth

I watched as my mother walked around the guest room. Gathering what she had brought with her when she came with Sarah and them.
"I'm going to miss you mother." I say quietly.
She stops and looks at me. Tears prick the corners of her eyes and she tries not to cry. Slowly my mother walks up to me and grabs my shoulders.
"Listen now, Elizabeth. You take care of these children for as long as you can. Also, keep ruling the right way and make sure Collin does. Just don't be too hard on my grandchildren. They know what they are doing for the most part.."
I nodded my head and embraced her in a hug. "I love you Mom."
"I love you too Lizzy." She whispered into my ear.

We pulled away and I quickly wiped my tears. "You'll be okay at home without Dad?"
A hint of hurt flashes through her eyes. We both knew by now after hearing Izze's story that there was no doubt he was dead. It seems these days we have no time to mourn, we have to keep going. Live for the moment.
"I think I will manage." My mother says as she grabs her dark brown coat.
We walk down the stairs and it in the front yard. A silver tinted carriage is parked in the front. The two horses stand there, all hooked up and ready for the small journey.
"Be careful." I say as she gets into the carriage and the coachman closes the door.
She looks me in the eye and smiled. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine dear."
The carriage rocks slowly and slowly the carriage pulls away. Down the gravel road. After a minute it slowly disappears and I turn back to the castle.

~*~

    "Thank you for meeting with me." I say smiling at my son and Princess Sophie.
     It has amazed me how quickly they've grown on each other. Collin acts different when he is with her. Sometimes it seems he's becoming more mature.
    Each little bit of the days that past as we get closer to coronation, he becomes more a king. More like his father, and I know Sebastian would be very proud.

    "Of course mother. Sophie said you wanted to talk about coronation." Collin says.
     "Yes, we need to work on the invite list and many other things. Like rehearsals which will start in October. Considering it will be in November." I reply glancing at my papers.
   There was at least thirty different papers that were neatly piled in different folders. It had token me two whole hours of my day yesterday.
    Just to make them perfect. Knowing me and my organization. Everything has to be perfect or as perfect as things can get.
     "Well then let's get started!" Sophie exclaimed happily and I smiled at her. She is definitely the one.

~*~

   The fire crackled and the smoke rose. Each and every star in the sky tonight glistened. Tonight was a special night.

It was my children, Princess Sophie, Sarah, her mother and sister, Sean and Rachel. My mother had left earlier this morning so she couldn't join us.
The night was quiet as we discussed what we all would be doing. It was hard to know they would be all leaving. In the amount of time that I've been back safe and sound in my own castle, it's crazy. I've known Sean, Rachel, Sarah and her family for a few months and like I said, it's crazy.
These teenagers have grown on me. Even Isabella, Adrianna and Collin. For sixteen and seventeen year olds...the three of them became so well grown.

"I'm going to miss you guys." Kayla frowned while looking at the wood burning. We all nodded in response and Isabella wrapped her arms around her small torso.
"I'm going to miss you so much Kayla." Isabella smiled.
"You're all going to make me cry." Rachel said quietly while letting out a small laugh. I smiled at Rachel and she smiled back.

"We will all see each other soon...at the coronation. You can all be invited. First on the list." I say trying to lift the mood. It works slightly as everyone murmurs in agreement.
"It's crazy to think how close we've come in such a short amount of time." Adrianna says.
"It is." I reply, agreeing all the way with my daughter.
Sophie stands up and we all turn to look at her. "Sean, Sarah, Sarah's Mom, Kayla, Rachel, Princess Isabella, Princess Adrianna and Queen Elizabeth...I've known you for what? Only like two or three days, well to me it feels like a life time.
"You've all taken me in as family, which I'll soon truly be. Thank you for everything." She smiled sweetly before turning to Collin.
"Thank you for being such an incredible person, I can't wait for the future."
Collin smiled at her statement and kissed her cheek as she sat down again.
"How about we all go around saying what we'll all do!" Kayla exclaimed happily.
Sean stood up, clasping his hands together in front of him.
"Well, tomorrow when we all leave..I will be going to my sisters again. With Rachel by my side." He says grinning down at her. Rachel nodded in agreement before standing up to hug Sean.

Sarah stood up and looked each and every one of us in the eye, "I just want to say thank you all for everything. You are the most down to earth family and I'm so glad I can call you all my friends. When we go back to are home in the woods, we will just live life before all of this.
Except, we'll have so much more. I will always think of you."
We all clap as Sarah sits down and slowly wipes her tears. Her sister hugs her tightly.
I feel a salty substance fall onto my lip. A single tear streamed down my face. Not a sad tear, but a happy one. No matter how many times I think of them or acknowledge them, I'll miss them all even more.

Soon the fire died and one by one we all stood up. Walking back to the castle to go to bed. Tomorrow they would be leaving and I don't think I would get sleep.

    Once I reached my room, I crawled into the king sized bed. Slowly I closed my eyes, the darkness being the only thing I see.
    After a while I opened my eyes. Still not being able to sleep. It seemed like it had been hours. I quietly turned over and looked at the bare spot next to me.
      A tear slipped out of my left eye and I wiped it away. I don't think I ever really noticed his spot or glanced at it until now.  His nightstand was empty except for his spruce wood lamp and his reading glasses.
     I shook my head slightly thinking about his glasses. He always had them on his nightstand.
    Always forgetting to put them back in the case and into the little drawer the nightstand had. Sebastian had always read in bed at night. Those memories made me smile.

~*~

    Eventually I had fallen asleep and the next day came faster. My eyes slowly opened and light flooded through my sight. I yawned and got out of bed.

    When I was ready and dressed I walked out of my room, closing the door behind me. At the end of the hall, Kayla was looking out a window. I walked up to her and looked out the window as well.
     "I don't want to go." Kayla mumbled.
    I knelt down beside her, getting her to look at me. "I don't want any of you to go, but it'll be for a short while. You all can come back for the coronation." Kayla slowly nodded and I gave her a quick hug.
     We both walked down the hall and down the stairs. Stopping in front of the main doors. Everyone stood there looking glum. I could hear the horses outside, shaking the reigns attached to the their halters.

"I guess this is it..." Adrianna said looking at everyone.
I watched as everyone came together in one big hug. A small smile rose on my face. I heard everyone sniffle and talk all at once.
"Come on Aunt Lizzy!" Rachel said grabbing my hand. Everyone turned and swarmed around me. Crushing me with a big hug.

When everyone let go we all turned towards the doors. Knowing it was time to go. We walked out the doors and everyone got into the carriages like snails. Moving as slow as possible.

"Well this is it." Adrianna said once everyone was gone. Tears strolled down our faces.
"Actually it's just the beginning." Collin said. We all looked at him confused. His face was facing towards the the entrance.
"He's right..." Isabella mumbled.
"You two are making no sense, explain please." I say as I wrap my arms around my self. The wind blowed slightly in the air. Sending shivers down my spine.
"This is the beginning of something new. Sort of like a new era.." Isabella replies looking at us all.
Sophia speaks up, "Like as in us royals?"
"Exactly." Collin and Isabella say in unison.
"We are—"

Isabella cuts of her voice and smiles slightly.

"You are the New Royals."

~*~

That is the end of Royals. Thank you so so so much for the over 200 of you that have read my book! It means a lot to me.

-Liv xo