Atlantis 2: A Queen to Be

Chapter 12

Princess Diablo entered the hallway where Lorna's private quarters were located. She could hear Lorna, Anna, and Alonna in Lorna's dressing chambers. They sounded like three witches circling their cauldron while it was bubbling very enthusiastically as Lorna showed them different gowns to try on. She smiled and shook her head as she moved on to Lorna's bed chamber where Alexandria was recuperating.
When she reached the door she could hear laughing coming from inside. She opened the door and stepped inside to find Alexandria and Tural talking. He was telling her the story of when her parents first met.
"Your father was so nervous that when he attempted to hand your mother a drink he spilled it all over the both of them because his hands were trembling uncontrollably." Tural said laughing. "I can't imagine my father being nervous. I always invisioned him as a very strong, proud, & prominent kind of man who came in & swooped my mother up off her feet." Alexandria said. "Well he was always very prompt. I will assure you." Tural said.
"Well look who's awake." Diablo said as she entered the room. Tural bowed deeply. Alexandria looked as though she were about to scramble off the bed to kneel but Diablo caught her by the arm and said "Don't you dare. You need not worry yourself with formalities in your condition. How are you feeling?" "I am well thanks to Lady Lorna and to you highness. I am told that you organized a rescue party to come save me from my foolishness." Alexandria replied. "Very foolish indeed. You had me worried sick. What were you thinking going after the workhouse master like that? He could have killed you." Diablo scolded. "I don't really think I was thinking truthfully. I just knew I was so angry at all that he had done and

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he had to pay for his wrong doings. I don't remember much after that. It's all like a dream that I can't quite remember. " Said Alexandria. "And well you shouldn't. The horrors of last evening are better left well forgotten." Diablo said sternly. "I must agree." Tural chimed in. Alexandria got a sudden look on her face of ergency as she remembered that Princess Diablo was supposed to be going to see Maximus at his home and meet his family today. "Princess I just remembered. Oh dear I have to get out of this bed and help you prepare for departure." Alexandria said as she began to scramble around to get out of bed. Diablo gently grabbed her by the arms to steady her and get her attention. "Easy now. There's no need. The plan has changed." Diablo said. "Changed?" Alexandria asked. "Yes, Instead of me going there I decided to bring them all here." Diablo said smiling. "Then I must get up at once and help you prepare. I have a dress picked out for you already.... Wait, your already wearing it. How did you know that I....?" Alexandria had a puzzled look on her face as she realized that the princess was wearing the dress she had pictured her wearing for the event of meeting her future in-laws. Diablo was smiling & on the verge of a giggle at Alexandria's look of utter confusion. "You've only been eyeing this dress for the last three days. It wasn't hard to figure out why. I decided that I liked your idea for wearing this dress for today. It has the royalty to show my worth, the beauty to match my own, the functionality to move with me, & just a bit of show to catch the eye of my Maximus by surprise. Not to mention my father had it made special for my mother on the day she was to meet his parents." Diablo said with an even bigger smile. "I knew it! I would have known that dress anywhere! I knew it's stitching, I knew it's

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work. There's is more to that dress than you know my princess. A lot more. And it's perfect for you." Alexandria said excitedly.
"What do you know of my mothers dress?" Diablo asked. Her curiosity was peaked intensly. "You are correct on his majasty having the dress made for the queen to be at that time but what is not widely known is that it was not made by the palace seamstress. The dress was made by Elaina Fetch under the careful design concept of a young prince at the time named Ranist Talantis." Alexandria said. Diablo's face had a look of shock & disbelief on it. "My father designed this dress?" Diablo mumbled. "He did and had my grandmother to sow it. He paid her by awarding her the estate where she lived & I grew up at. It was also the land that monster stole from me when he & his men showed up and took possession of me for the workhouses. They said she owed them a debt because of my father and that they were ceasing my grandmothers lands and any other lands owned by my family. I herd that he sold our land to a guard who was one of his favorite punnishers." Tears began rolling down her face as she spoke. Her hands were shaking and she was becoming more upset with every word. She had been warned against ever speaking of the monsterous atrocities that had befallen her since her capture. The workhouse master had done most of the warning personally with her. Everything from horse whipping her like a criminal to beating her like a dog to ensure her silence. The fear of what he would do to her sent shivers up her spine and she began to tremble all over. "Shush now. Its ok. No one will ever hurt you again." Diablo said taking Alexandria into her arms. "I killed him didn't I?" Alexandria asked sobbing. "Yes Ali. You did a good thing in removing that demon from the skin he wore. Rest assured the crystillian will not deal punnishment lightly for his crimes." Diablo