Novella 2: The Devil's Court

CHAPTER 1

Next on Noah's Story:

CHAPTER 1- "You will not marry her."

August 28

"How is the kingdom?" Grayson asked Noah after they sat down on the couch.

Noah had gone to the Land Without Magic to pay a visit to Sarah and Grayson.

"The kingdom is good. I've been making a lot of public appearances, letting the kingdom ask me questions to get to know me. Aunt Snow is changing my title soon."

"What's it going to be?" Sarah asked, coming back in from the kitchen. She handed him a cup of hot cocoa and sat next to Grayson.

"'The Crown Prince Noah Lincoln Oradonald of the Enchanted Forest, the Savior'. The kingdom finally let me have my name," he said with a chuckle.

"What do you mean?" Grayson asked, with a confused look.

"During the trial, the kingdom stripped me of my name. Prince Noah was a Savior and I was seen as Evil Noah, a villian. Lincoln Oradonald is my dad's name and they thought that I didn't deserve it so I was called John Doe for three months. The only time I heard my name was when Natalie visited me or when we communicated through telepathy."

"I'm so sorry to hear about that," he said sympathetically.

"Thank you. Now they are getting to know who I really am and I think they are warming up to the idea of me being king."

"How do your brother and sister feel about that?" Sarah asked.

"Well, Carter and Tosia are still getting used to the fact that I will be king, but Aunt Snow and Uncle David have assured them that it won't happen for another two or three years. They're making plans to step down next year. Aunt Snow wants to spend more time with my mom and Duke and Uncle David wants to focus more on the farm. He started building a farm in his mother and father's name. Carter used his magic to help and Neal has requested to have his title removed so he is going to live on the farm soon which will really help David."

"That's good."

"How is Natalie?" Grayson asked.

"Unbelievably happy. She and Justin are really happy. A few weeks ago, he got my parent's and Audrey's blessing to propose to her. He then also asked me two days later. He got her a beautiful ring and is going to propose Christmas Eve and he has asked me if I could help him plan it."

"That's good," Sarah said.

Noah could tell that she wasn't really interested in his sister so he moved on to another subject. "Okay," he said, putting his mug down. "So I am here, because I would like to get your blessing to marry Annie," he said with a smile on his face.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Sarah said.

His smile faded and he looked confused. "Can I ask why?"

Grayson stared angrily at his wife. She looked at him and just shrugged like she didn't do anything wrong. He sighed and looked back to Noah.

"Noah, it's really not up to us. It's up to Annie, but we appreciate you coming to us first and you one hundred percent have our blessing. At least mine."

"Thank you, sir."

"I just have one question. If you and Annie get married, and you become king, does that mean she becomes queen?"

"That decision is up to her. She can be queen if she wants, if she doesn't then she will get a separate title and I will rule alone."

"Is this the life she wants?" Sarah asked.

"After I was set free when my execution was stopped, I asked her if she would move back and she said, 'yes'. If she didn't want this life, she would've said that we needed to talk about it." He looked back to Grayson. "Mr. Mcbongos, could you please excuse us for a moment?"

"Of course!" He stood up and put his hand on his wife's shoulder and squeezed it before leaving the room.

"Mrs. Mcbongos, I know what you must think of me. I know that you know what I did during The Darkness and who I am now, but I would never do anything to hurt Annie. I love her and I want her to be happy. I want you and her dad to walk her down the aisle. I want you to please accept me for who I am and my family. I don't know what you have against royals or me, but my family loves her and she loves them. I would never try to take her away from you or your husband."

"Except you already did."

"No I didn't. I don't mean any disrespect, but you drove her away. First with our relationship and then with our son and now with our upcoming twins and my past during The Darkness. I know that I had a PTSD induced dream and hurt Annie, but I would never in my right mind hurt her. You know that. All I've ever done was protect her and my son."

"She told me that you choked her."

"I did. It was an accident."

"I understand that."

"Please let me marry your daughter. Get to know my family and you will see how much we value her. How much I love her."

"The fact that asked us for our blessing shows us how much you love her and respect us."

"I do respect you. Very much."

"If you love my daughter, you will not marry her."

"Sarah," Grayson said.

"No it's okay. It was a mistake coming here. I should've known that this would happen. I was just trying to be polite. But like you said, it's Annie's decision. It was nice seeing you both. Annie misses you."

"Noah, wait," Grayson said. "Do you have a ring for her yet?"

"I do." He pulled out a box from his vest and opened it. He showed them a heart shaped emerald ring. "I chose the emerald because she was born in May. The heart is a symbol of our son as he was born in February, the month of love."

"That's beautiful," Grayson said.

"Thank you, sir."

"When are you planning on asking her?" Sarah asked.

"November. I want to do it before Justin does."

"Who else knows?" Grayson asked.

"Just Natalie and Justin."

There was a bit of silence.

"Well, I do hope you both come to the Enchanted Forest soon. Ben misses you."

"I have one more question," Sarah said. "How come you never call him 'Benjamin'?"

"It's complicated. I know someone else who is very special in my life named Benjamin and I want to separate the two names and people apart."

"I see."

"Anyways, I should get going," he said, throwing a bean. A portal opened and he walked through.