Long Lost Princess

Chapter 2

As the group that surrounded me left the building, they became even more on edge than they already were. The tension and the expectation to fight suddenly increased tenfold. Something I never would've expected.
When the admin building was in sight, there were more and more guards everywhere I looked.. They appeared from everywhere, even on the roofs. All very vigilant and constantly looking around in every direction. But they couldn't seem to be able to help themselves from glancing down at our group, the circle of bodyguards that led me to our destination.
The group that was surrounding me quickly pushed me into the door of the building, half of them in front and half of them behind me. They made sure to block any semblance of escape I had on either side of the door as well, making an impenetrable wall all around me. As my eyes adjusted from the bright sun outside to the fluorescent lights in the building, I saw even more guards standing throughout the entire perimeter of the small front office. There was one that was standing right behind the secretary, making the poor woman even more nervous than she naturally was. The one who spoke to me earlier opened the door for the Principal's office and guided me inside, but the rest of the group stayed in the main space.
"Miss Cerenes, please take a seat." Principal Johnson gestured to one of three seats that was opposite him. On either side sat my parents, Dad looking pale and clammy, and Mom looking very nervous.
"Mom? Dad? What are you guys doing here? Is something wrong? Is Jeremy okay?"
I blurted out everything in a rush as my dad just slowly nodded, looking weary.
"Megan... Jeremy is fine, everything is fine. There's just something you need to be told and someone who needs to speak with you." My dad took his glasses off and cleaned them, a nervous habit of his.
"Who?" I asked. But that question didn't need answering, as all of a sudden the guards all stood up straighter and both of my parents stood up as well as the principal. Slowly, I turned, facing the door just before an older woman, dressed in black clothing was escorted into the increasingly cramped room by more guards. This was a woman that everyone knew. This was the face of the nation. It was the queen.
    Mr Johnson made a half-assed attempt at a bow but stopped when one of the guards elbowed him lightly in the side. My mom went to her and curtsied slightly before my dad also went to her and bowed, kissing her hand in the process. Both stepped back towards their chairs before the queen walked around the large desk that Mr Johnson usually sat at. Finally she nodded, and took the principal's chair, forcing Mr Johnson to scramble for another seat and allowing everyone but the guards to sit as well. A few that were in the room prior to her arrival left, leaving much more breathing room.
    The queen took in the room with a blank expression, studying everything around her, before her eyes landed on me. I gulped. Here was this woman, the leader of the country, sitting before me, looking me up and down, pausing just a moment on my scar. I felt my face flush, feeling embarrassed and wishing I had indeed spent more time on myself this morning.
    "My name is Queen Rhonda." She began, her voice was clear and composed, just like she had been shown on TV. "My son was the departed Prince Vincent. He was set to take over the throne." I nodded. This was information that we had all grown up with getting drilled into our heads. Where is she going with this? "His wife was named Chiara. She was from this town, this is where she went to school as well." That was new.  I knew she had been born here, but I didn't know that I went to the same school that she had.
"The Prince and Princess had some friends that they truly trusted. People that they had known for nearly 30 years by the time they passed." The Queen continued. "These people are the couple sitting across from me."
    I turned and looked at my parents. "You knew the Prince and Princess? You were friends with them?"
    My mom nodded, "You knew that I had grown up with the princess. Chiara was my best friend. We met in pre-school and grew up with each other. I was in her wedding, and she was in mine." Her voice trembled as she spoke.
    My dad spoke up as well. "I met Vincent when we were in elementary school. We went to the same boarding school and when they got married, I met Elena" He said, gesturing to my mom.
    "I still don't understand what is happening though. Why didn't you ever tell me?"
    The queen cleared her throat and again I felt my face flush. I had forgotten she was here. "It is time to tell her the truth. You both have done well keeping her safe. But now that the threat is eliminated, she needs to know."
     My mom nodded, "Megan, hun. There's something you need to know. When Princess Ellia was born, the Prince and Princess made us her godparents, in case something happened to them. We saw her all the time, she was the most beautiful little girl. Her eyes looked exactly like her mom's."
    "So you're saying that I knew her? I must've, we were born around the same time." I stopped before I started rambling on.
    "Sweetheart, you didn't just know her. You are her. Your name is not Megan Cerenes. Your name is Princess Ellia of Lidane." She stopped, breaking down into tears. "You are their daughter and when we heard what happened, we took you in and hid your identity."
    "What do you mean? I can't be. The princess disappeared 10 years ago. You have pictures with me from before that." I stammered, nearly yelling. They couldn't have, this couldn't be true. There's no way.
    "Like your moth-Elena said", began my father, "we saw the princess- you- all the time. You're our goddaughter."
    "But why? Why wouldn't you tell me? Why now? I can't believe this is true." I cried.
    The queen cleared her throat off to my right. "You would do well not to shout,  young lady. Don't forget who is in your presence." She took a breath before continuing, more softly. "I can confirm this is true. Your mother and father were not just killed in an accident, they were assassinated. The prince and princess were killed by an underground group that was aimed at taking out the line of succession and ruining the kingdom. Your brother's late departure to the winter home was a last minute decision." The queen looked composed, but a slight bit of sadness flashed on her face before it was wiped away. "We have been tracking down and systematically taking out members of this group for the past 10 years."
    "I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. But if they tried to kill the princess, me. Why am I still alive?" I questioned. I didn't believe what was happening for a second. I felt like it was all a dream.
    "It's no worry. I understand you are curious" replied the queen. "And while I don't have a complete answer for you, there have been theories over the years about that."
    She called over a guard, the one that was standing off to her left. He stepped forward and bowed to her, and then to me. He was young, and handsome. His blue eyes matched his dark hair perfectly and when I looked at him, I got the feeling that I knew him already. He looked at me quickly, his face unreadable before he spoke. 
    "I was one of the responding guardsmen. The evidence shows that the car was forced off of the road. Your parents were being followed by the guards yes, but your father liked to drive quickly in his own vehicle. It was not merely an accident. If it had been, they likely would have survived. Their wounds were serious, yes, but they could've healed. We know they were assassinated because they had been shot. We pulled up to the scene only moments after the crash and saw that the prince and princess had already been killed. They were about to do the same to you but they were interrupted." The queen looked a bit sick at this point, and the guard paused but continued when she nodded. "The leader of the group turned at the last moment and missed his mark, sending the bullet to scrape your face and end up in a section of your brain. He must have thought you were dead. At the time, so did we."
    At this point my mom began to cry silently. My dad wrapped his arm around her and comforted her silently. "We got the call around midnight." Dad began. "Jeremy was asleep and they called and told us what happened. They told us that you were alive and that the people who did this had run off. That it was imperative that we take over custody and keep you safe. They didn't know if the group would continue to come after you"
    I stared. There was no way that any of this was true. It was one thing to make up a story like that, but to get the queen involved? No way. "Look," I stated. "This is a really good prank, but it just seems too ridiculous to believe. I don't know why I'm not waking up but there is no way that I am the Princess. You've got the wrong girl."
    "Now you listen here," the queen stated suddenly. "Your parents were great people. They would've made wonderful leaders. And you are their daughter. I understand that this is tough to believe right now, but there is no doubt about it. Do you understand? You are the heir to this country. You are the one that is meant to lead. You are Princess Ellia. I would know my own granddaughter anywhere."
    I nodded, scared by this small woman sitting in front of me. She exuded power from every part of her and though her voice was calm, the intonation behind them was serious. My mother chimed up at this point. "Your highness, may I ask, what is going to happen now? Meg- Ellia has only a few months before she is 18 and expected to take on royal duties, surely she is much behind her brother."
    The queen nodded, considering. "Yes, she will need to focus on not only looking the part, but she will have to behave the part of a future queen." With this, she turned to me. "Do you think that you could accomplish that by your birthday?"
    "So let me double check," I began. "You're trying to make me into a princess as well? What about that group? The ones that tried to kill me? There's no way that I can learn everything that is supposed to go into being a princess before January."
    The queen turned to the guard who spoke up again. "Our sources say that the group is entirely eradicated at this point. We have nothing to fear from them"
    "My dear," the queen stated. "You are meant to rule. You are the rightful heir to the throne. You are meant to lead the country and I'm sure that you will do well. We do need to work a bit, starting with that posture" I instantly sat up straighter, suddenly conscious of the lack of royal etiquette I had. "But you are your father's daughter. You will make them proud."
    And with that she stood up, causing the rest of us to jump out of our seats. "The guards will escort you home immediately and your things that are deemed worthy of a princess will be packed and brought with you to the palace." She said as she departed the room.
    A moment of silence passed before my mom grabbed me and put me into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry sweetheart. We never wanted to lie to you. But in order to keep you safe, we had to" My dad rubbed my back, his face showing all the emotion he didn't want to say.
    "You are welcome back whenever you want. And we will visit you as often as we can. I promise." My mom kissed my forehead, her tears wetting my hair.
"I can't do that," I cried. "I can't be a princess. I don't know the first thing about what to do. Mom, I don't want to leave you."
She grabbed me and hugged me hard, " I know sweetie. I know. And you will always be my daughter."