The Queen and Her King

Arrival

Brielle POV

We got to the ship and were immediately swarmed by paparazzi before we boarded the ship. I took Harry's arm and reassured him before stepping out of the carriage,

"All you gotta do is get to the ship alright?"

I said to Harry, quickly realizing that his eyes weren't even paying attention to the excitedly raging paparazzi, but the pretty magnificent ship we were about to board. I giggled and let him be as he slowly nodded to me, this is one of those moments his inner pirate really shows. This boy loves a respectable ship that's for sure. Harry got out of the carriage first and gave me his hand to help me down.

The camera flashes filled my vision, questions and yelling filling my ears. Once I stepped down I took Harry's arm and did my bit of waving as we walked down the long red carpet leading up to the entrance of the ship, Harry catching on and waving as well. The questions were a lot, every possible category of question was being yelled at us, but I know it's important to answer at least one question for media coverage. So when I heard a pleasant question from a nice looking reporter, I went ahead and answered,

"Your majesty! How's the relationship been? You two are a beautiful couple!"

I looked at the reporter and smiled with a nod,

"Thank you, and happy, very happy"

The cameras flashed extra as I spoke, the questions flooding in more once I stopped talking.

With that through with, I led Harry away onto the ship. I whispered to him as we walked,

"Normally just answering one question is enough to satisfy them all for at least a month. They eat up everything I say and I'm sure they would eat up everything you say too. I don't know if you're aware or not but the media does love you"

Harry chuckled and whispered back as he continued waving,

"Who knew I related ta the media so much, I eat up everything ya say too"

And just like that, I'm all flushed again. I giggled and leaned into him some more,

"My goodness, how do you come up with this stuff?"

I said as we went up the steps onto the ship, the peaceful ocean waves below,

"It's not hard because it's true"

At this point, I honestly don't know how to match his level of clever remarks with words, so I simply looked up, not having to go on my tiptoes because of my heels, and simply gave him a light kiss on the jaw, something the paparazzi absolutely ate up as I don't believe they've caught a kiss of ours on camera yet. The clicks of the cameras and flashes peaked at that moment, can't wait to see that all over the news tonight. It sounds weird but as a royal, not just any royal but the Queen, getting pictures of any sort of anything about me or Ben is a win for them.

I glanced back up to Harry after my light kiss, a lovely dusting of cherry red blush across his cheeks and a dorky smile on his face. I couldn't help myself, not like I could stop myself even if I wanted to, but I just admired him again.. goodness...

I love those perfectly blue ocean eyes

We got onto the lower deck of the ship, being ushered through to where the stairs were to lead up to the main deck for our grand entrances. As we were ushered I whispered to Harry as I remembered the threat that could be lurking nearby, sadly forcing me to snap out of my daydreaming that I stumbled into from looking at Harry so intently,

"Do me a favor, keep an eye out and watch our backs. You already do that a lot anyway so it won't look strange, but I can't because someone is bound to wonder why I would be acting a little paranoid. You have to be my eyes for me if you see anything please tell me. Even if it seems-"

"Insignificant? I gotcha darlin'..."

I giggled and playfully nudged him some as he continued,

"... Oh and if anything does happen, just in case I want ya ta-"

"Stay close to you? I gotcha darling"

He chuckled and lovingly gazed down at me, something I hope never goes away,

"Oh! And we do have to do something, so right now we're going to head over this way and make our entrances. Ben and Mal will too, I apologize that I couldn't prepare you sooner but this will be your first introductory entrance, meaning when you make you appearance at a party your presence will be announced as "Harry Hook, Lord of the Court", that's a snazzy title you got there hm?"

I quickly and excitedly explained as we made our way to the door, Mal was there but oddly enough Ben wasn't. I gave her a quick smile as Harry processed,

"Wait, since when was I a Lord of the Court?"

"Since today, that's what this cotillion is all about. It's you and Mal's honorary celebration into the court. I didn't really wanna pressure you with all of that so I wasn't gonna tell you but now I'm blabbing and can't really stop because I'm honestly really excited for the two of you"

Mal chuckled and leaned into our conversation for a second,

"Have you not seen the news recently? Us and our new titles have been all over the place, is that your secret to being so calm, cool, and collected? Not watching the news?"

Harry took a second and slowly blinked before a bright smile began spreading on his face,

"Lord of the Court... it is quite the title isn't it?"

I giggled at his fondness, I'm glad he wasn't stressed about the whole thing, if he were suddenly hit with a wave of stress because I didn't tell him before I would've felt so bad,

"Harry, Mal, you may now head on up"

The man holding the door said after receiving a call on his walkie talkie,

"I have ta go without ya?"

Harry said with a bit of a sad tone. I sighed and nodded, I slowly raised one hand to extra fix his hair up before he headed out for his little debut,

"Mhm, you'll do great Har. I'll be right behind you too, all you have to do is slowly walk down the steps and greet my parents after you're announced. Then you just have to wait at the bottom for Ben and I to make our appearances and boom that's it. All you gotta do is smile and look all pretty and handsome, and you don't have to try to do that so you'll be alright"

Harry flushed within seconds, adorable to say the least. I cooed just a little at his expression of giddiness and cherry red cheeks,

"Alright then, I'll see ya up there then bonnie lass"

With that, I gave him a quick kiss on the jaw for reassurance,

"You got this Harry, I believe in you"

I whispered before sending him off, he gave me a very excited toothy smile before disappearing behind the door with Mal leading the way. I longingly sighed as I could not be more proud of him, he's truly blossomed into quite the prince over the past few months, all without losing himself in the process.

Finally Ben came beside me, standing very static and tense for some reason. He also didn't make eye contact with me, simply standing next to me with his hands stiffly held in front of him. I nudged him a little with my elbow,

"Hey, you alright?"

He simply nodded and hummed without looking my way at all, well that's rather odd. He's not normally such a dry talker... hold on... where and when have I thought that thought recently?

A/N

Hiya! Sorry for the late upload, I lowkey wrote this chapter twice because I royally messed it up the first time and almost put it off until tomorrow (earlier today now that its past midnight where I live :P)  to upload because I'm tired as hell but somehow willpower brought me here XD Remember to drink some water and to be kind to yourself today :D

-Brooke