The sun was rising in and onto the floor of the palace. A half-asleep August felt her eyes beginning to open as the morning bell went off. She shifted herself over and onto her back, dramatically stretching herself out in attempt to wake up. But as her arms extended she realized that the space normally filled by her love Izzy was empty. The realization washed over her more as she noticed the date on the calander tacked up on the wall. It was coronation day.
August slipped on some shoes and pulled one of the blankets off of the bed and wrapping it around her shoulders before heading out.
Springtime had officially come to stay in Aldham. The birds were beginning to make their nests and the small green buds were starting to form on the treetops. Even the once empty gardens were beginning to show signs of new life.
Since King Edwards had officially been revoked from his position, thing in the kingdom were slowly becoming a bit brighter. Though they were yet to admit it, the citizens seemed to enjoy living more now that they had the freedom to do so. But still the gate was closed and the bridge was down, or at least for now. Despite it all, August could feel the change in the air that lingered around them and with Isadora officially being crowned the queen today she imagined much more would be on the horizon.
Her feet shuffled their way up the ladder and then the stairs that led to the observatory. If the princess was hiding anywhere then it was surely up here. And sure enough as her head broke through the door she caught the sight of Izzy curled up on the small bench with her nose buried in a book.
"Hey stranger," she smiled.
Izzy felt her heart skip slightly from being startled but soon calmed down when she realized who it was. She softly dogeared her page and closed the book, letting it fall lightly to the ground as she made room for August beside her on the bench.
"Blanket?" August nudged her slightly and after seeing her agreeing, wrapped half of her blanket around the princess's shoulders. Letting her arm stay behind her back and pulling her closer too her.
The air around them was crisp but she could tell by the clear blue sky ahead that the day was going to turn out nicely. Together they sat in their own silence for a while.
Since officially moving into the palace the two of them had spent many of hours up on this exact spot but August couldn't help but smile as she remembered their first night on it. It was the first moment she expressed her feelings to the princess and the two had shared their first kiss right on the same bench. It had seemed silly to think about but that night really had started so much between them.
Below the palace and deep into the streets, the Aldham citizens were starting to get themselves ready for the big day ahead. Even though August had never been to a coronation day, she imagined if it were even as half as extravagant as any other day in the palace than it would be amazing. But she couldn't help but wonder why the princess was up here instead of getting ready for the festivities herself.
"So why are you hiding?" she turned, looking into her blueish black eyes. Since Izzy's fight with her father the black had never truly gone away. Instead it left a reminder every time August saw them that she was more powerful than she even knew. But despite the power, Izzy still sheepishly brushed her hair out of her face and turned to August.
"I'm not hiding!"
"No? Then why are you up here reading, what," August nodded towards the book on the floor, "Moby Dick for the fourth time?" Instead of getting ready for the ceremony like the rest of the palace?"
"Perhaps I like Moby Dick," Izzy stuck out her nose but couldn't hide the grin on her face.
"Well I don't buy that anyone likes that whale enough to hear his story more than three times in a lifetime."
Even the princess couldn't help but chuckle at the stupid joke before leaning in and letting her head rest into August's shoulder. "Okay, okay you caught me."
"So then what's going on?" August pressed a soft kiss on her head before letting her fingers lightly dance their way through her hair.
Izzy remained silent for a moment; her own brain was running a million miles a minute. Even the past few weeks of living had been hard enough for her but to now have to take on a million more responsibilities seemed nearly impossible. And with her fathers trial on the horizon and the recent funeral of her mother, it just felt like no matter how fast she tried to adapt to the world around her that she would never be quick enough. As many words as she had trapped inside of her mind, the only thing she could manage to get out was: "I'm scared."
It wasn't something that Izzy admitted ever, if at all in her lifetime. Fear was a weakness in her family and in the royal life in general. Fear had meant inadequacy and Izzy didn't know if she would ever be fit to rule if her life revolved around so many fears.
Before August even had a chance to speak, Izzy found her words. "I'm just so scared that I'm not going to be good enough for Aldham. That I'm not going to be strong or brave enough to rule the people fairly. What if I mess up? What if I let all of the power get to my head and turn into my father? Or worse, what if I can't control whatever power I have inside and I end up the bad one?"
"Iz," August began, careful to choose her words. "You aren't going to be the ruler of the kingdom because you just happened to fall next in line. You're going to be the queen because the people down there," she pointed, "need someone who is going to understand their fears and concerns and help them overcome. A queen isn't perfect, in fact no one is. But they don't want perfect, they just want honest. And that's exactly what you are that your father was not. He may have raised you, but you are also your mother's daughter. Her blood bounds just as much through your veins."
The princess grew quiet as the thought of her mother returned to her mind. Since Nadia's sacrifice to save her daughter, Izzy had found it especially difficult to live in a world without her. She found herself longing to reach out for advice and support from her only to remember what was left. In fact it was on the same balcony where she gave everything up in an attempt to stop the king from throwing her daughter over the edge.
She thought about the restraint it must have taken her mother, to live for so long obeying the king and his orders knowing that her power was far stronger. Nadia was braver than most, and Izzy was proud to have gained her own power from her.
"I just want to make her proud."
"You're going to make all of us proud, Iz. And no matter what happens, you know I'm going to be right here by your side." August reached down and took the princesses hand in her own. The feel of her soft fingers curled against hers brought them both back from the daydreaming.
Izzy looked into the eyes of her love for a moment, just admiring they're existence. "What did I ever do to deserve the love of someone like you?" she smiled, leaning in for a kiss.
They broke apart suddenly when the sounds of trumpets sounded below, marking the final hour before the coronation was to begin. The two laughed as August wrapped her arms around Izzy's shoulders and held her close. "You're going to be amazing," she whispered into her ear.
The princess stood up from the bench and straightened herself out before turning to go and get ready, giving one last glance to August as she descended down into the palace.
