His Queen - NIALL a.u.

Chapter 2

~Niall's POV~ 

We walked along the corridors of the castle in silence our arms still linked together in a comforting way-- her hand on my bicep. I could tell she wanted me to talk first, but in all honesty, I had no idea what royalty talked about. Was I to ask her about her interests, her likes and dislikes? Or did we already know about each other, but had never met? 

My thoughts were quickly lingering on in an unpleasant way. "Are you to be accompanying me to my royal ball?"  Her royal ball... whose place had I taken when I volunteered myself? Surely I'd be placed in a solitary chamber for the rest of my life, just because I lied to a future Queen, and took the place of a future King.

"Sometime I walk down these halls hoping to get lost...I know I never can though. I've spent endless years running around them, I know every corner!" She laughed to herself while I just smiled and looked to the ground. Maybe this was my cue to talk, here would come another lie.

"I used to think that the life of royalty was easier, that it'd get easier..." I began. "But sometimes it's hard to imagine that that could happen."

She sighed for a moment, looking at me, and then speaking. "I know what you mean. After mum and dad died, everything was left to me. Every little responsibility. They told me I had to get married and run the country in honor of my parents, but I'm just seventeen-- it's almost horrifying the amount of responsibility I'm already supposed to have." Our feet were still moving together in a slow pace, but fast enough to not get too tired. I watched her, her eyes appeared to be sad but reassuring-- I'd never understand what she was going through. Here she is with a stranger, someone she's never met, confiding her life into me, and all I can do is stare at her features like I understand.

"Sometimes I get angry. I get angry that they had to die, and here I am taking everything they left." She glanced up at me to see my expression, our eyes connecting, but she quickly glanced away once again. "I know it's wrong, but I just feel so lost because of them. I don't understand why they had to die and leave me here alone."

"But you're not alone," I spoke up. "I'm here."

She giggled at my spoken words, showing her sparkling white teeth; however, in a matter of seconds it was gone, the solemn expression taking over her features once again. "That's not what I mean silly, but you do have a point."

Her eyes were trailing across the ground as we walked, never looking up at me until I spoke again. "Why did you choose me to accompany you to your ball? Believe me, I don't mean to disrespect you-- you're absolutely gorgeous," I began as a slight pink blush danced across her porcelain face. "but what makes me so different from other princes?"

"I didn't choose you. Our parents set up an arrangement that on my seventeenth birthday, we would finally meet and spend a month together. I guess once that month is up, we go our separate ways." Her eyebrows were furrowed together for a second and then she looked up, smoothing them out to normal. As we turned another corner, my friend Harold (the butler), almost ran into us.

"Oh Harold!" Princess Autumn cried in a happy tone. "It's so lovely to see you. How are your two boys?"

"Your Highness and," he paused looked at my wide-eyed self. He smirked for a minute, while I was praying he had caught on. "Sir, my boys are doing wonderful, thank you for asking. What are you all up to?"

"Harold, this is Prince Niall. He's going to be accompanying me to my ball. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Prince, eh?" Harold looked at me with a raised eyebrow, before returning his eyes back to the Princess whose arm had never let go of my own. "That sounds wonderful my dear. Now, I really must be going-- I have a castle to check up on!"