That same weekend, the Ula festival began. The entirety of the castle began to grow in a festive mood. Everyone was happy and I'm sure it was the fact that the festival was beginning. According to Gemma and Harry, the festival lasts from this Saturday through the following Sunday. A whole week of happy people sounds like the greatest thing on earth. Hell, even Priscilla is happy. As we all know, Priscilla isn't the happiest of people.
This morning I was awoken earlier than normal to get dressed because we, meaning the royal family and I, were going somewhere. I wasn't completely sure where "somewhere" was, but it had to be something for the festival. I was excited for whatever was thrown at me.
Trish and her daughters gave me an off white mid-calf length dress. The collar was just under my neck and curved down hanging low on my shoulders. It was pretty and the skirt reminded me of the one I wore yesterday, only thicker. The fabric of my dresses were beginning to become a thicker material in order to accommodate the cold weather coming into Ula.
"Good morning, Emerald," Queen Anne smiled at me as I entered the dining room for breakfast. It was weird eating breakfast with the whole family opposed to just Harry.
"Morning, Queen Anne," I smiled as a butler pulled out my chair and allowed me to take a seat in my usual spot. "You look lovely."
"Thank you, your dress looks gorgeous. White suits you," she smiled to me as she picked up her cup of tea. "Gemma was a struggle to get out of bed this morning I heard. She stayed up late reading last night is what I heard."
"I think those books need to come out of her room," I laughed putting three spoonfuls of sugar into my cup of tea. "This seems to happen more and more I've noticed."
"It has," Queen Anne nodded. "Morning Harry."
"Morning Mum," he said kissing her cheek. "Morning Emerald," he stated as I leaned up as he leaned down pecking my lips gently. I still felt awkward kissing him in front of his mother.
"Ready to go to St. Mary's today?" She asked us as Harry settled into the seat next to me.
"St. Mary's?" I asked, confusion writing itself on my face.
"At the start of the festival we go and spend some time with ill children. So sad," Queen Anne said. "I know it doesn't really help their conditions, but it puts a smile on their face."
I nodded silently, not quite sure what to say to the subject. Visiting sick children during such a joyous festival didn't exactly seem ideal. It seemed more sad than anything. I was more excited to spend the rest of my day talking with Harry and enjoying all of the festivities. Since I was told about the festival, I was excited to be a part of it for the first time in my life.
"It's fun," Harry assured me placing his hand on my thigh. "The children are always the sweetest people, they are up for anything."
"Unless they are too sick," his mother reminded him as she sipped at her morning tea. I felt Harry's arm wrap around my back, his forearm resting on the back of my chair.
"What are you doing?" I asked, turning to him.
"What? I can't put my arm on the back of your chair? Fine," he said taking it off. I grabbed his wrist with a smile and pulled it back around me. "I see how it is."
"Hmmm, what would that be?" I asked with a hum.
"You can't keep your hands off me," he smirked.
"That is far from the truth," I told him. "I can so keep my hands to myself."
"Yeah, because I believe that," he laughed as I hid my face in my hands. His head rested against my shoulder as he laughed. I looked at him with a kind smile on my face.
"You know what I look forward to?" Harry asked me.
"What is that your highness?" I teased with a smile.
"Just Harry," he corrected pointedly. "I like playing with the kids. They are always the best."
I smiled at him, the thought of him sitting on the floor with small children crawling over him giggling uncontrollably. Somehow, I found myself pondering on the idea of the two of us having children. Though, I couldn't seem to picture our children in this large palace. Children in general was a hard thing to imagine though it could be nearer than I thought if Harry and I did end up getting married.
Gemma and King Desmond filtered into the dining room with smiles on both of their faces. I stared down at my lap as Gemma sat across from my with a smirk on her face. The butlers placed plates of food in front of us. They uncovered the plate to reveal eggs, sausages, and hashbrowns. A delicious meal.
As we ate our food, Gemma was looking at me and Harry. She stabbed a sausage and slid it between her lips and then back out repeating these actions. I began to choke on my food as I caught on to what she was doing. Harry was quick to ask if I was alright. I nodded looking at Gemma who had a sly smile on her face.
"Is everything okay there?" King Desmond asked.
"Yes," I nodded taking a sip of water. "Just swallowed too fast."
The king let out a chuckle and picked at his plate. I glanced over at Harry who was smiling at his plate. He reached his hand over and ran it over my bare knee. I smiled at him happily, my body leaning in to his touch.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We arrived at the hospital about an hour after the incident at breakfast. The hallways smelled of sterilization, the overly clean stench tickling my nose making me sniffle from the sudden blast of dryness. Harry reached for my hand lacing his fingers through mine. I smiled at him as we walked behind his parents and sister.
"This is our cancer ward," the nurse said gesturing to the doors in front of us. "The children's unit is on your right as soon as you walk into the doors."
"Thank you," King Desmond nodded shaking her hand. I walked over to the nurse who stood there watching the royal family go through the doors.
"Miss Price," she stated as she went into a curtsy. A blush grew on my cheeks. "What can I help you with?"
"I just wanted to personally say thank you," I smiled to her. "For showing us around the hospital. It means a lot."
"It's no problem," she smiled waving me off. "I enjoy this time of year, we're all happy and have a reason to celebrate."
I smiled to her and walked off into the children's ward. I peeked in through the window and saw Harry sitting on the floor. Young children were giggling and sitting around him. He had two small girls propped on his lap and he was animately talking to the kids. One of the girls had a tiara on her head and a doll in her hand.
"There she is!" Harry exclaimed as I walked in the room. Their heads popped up to look at me. "That's Emerald."
"No, she's Gertrude," Gemma said with an eyeroll. "Ignore him, I'm the better one."
"You're not the better Styles," Harry said with a pointed look. "I am."
"Really?" one of the kids asked.
"Yes I am!" he smiled. "I get to be King one day, don't I?" he asked and she nodded.
"Who's going to be queen?" the other girl asked.
"If all goes according to plan, Miss Emerald will be queen," he smiled to me. I couldn't help but smile back at him. "Isn't she pretty? I think she's absolutely beautiful."
"She is pretty, Prince Harry."
"Yeah she is, and so are you!" he said kissing her cheek. "You as well!" The girls giggled as he kissed their cheeks. "Em! Come here!"
"I'm good, Harry," I smiled. One of the children got off of Harry's lap and walked over to me and took my hand tugging me down to her level. I got down on my knees and smiled at the little girl. She put her hands on my face examining me.
"You have pretty eyes," she said to me. "They look like the sky. It's blue."
"It is," I nodded with a smile. "What's your name?"
"Addy," she smiled. "It's short for Addison."
"That's cute," I grinned. "I'm Emerald, you can call me Emmy."
"Emmy," she smiled testing out the name. "Do you love Prince Harry?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because you're going to marry him," she stated with a confident smile.
"I am?"
"Yes!" she giggled. "You're going to marry him and you get to live happy ever after. It says so in my books. The Prince always marries his princess."
"Yes, that's right," I smiled. "You don't want to be Queen?" I asked.
"No, I'm going to be an angel instead," she said to me. I frowned at the girl's words. "The doctors say I get to be an angel soon. I'm sick."
"That's too bad," I said placing a hand on her shoulder. "Would you like to be a princess?"
"Yeah," she blushed. I smiled and picked a plastic tiara off the ground and placed it on top of her bald head.
"Now you're a princess," I smiled to her. She shook her head. "No?"
"I am not a princess, I have a fake tiara."
"Want to know a secret?" I asked and she nodded. "I'm not one either."
"You're not?" she asked, clearly surprised. "But—you— why not? Only princesses marry future kings! It's in my books!"
"Because princesses are overrated," I smiled.
"Hey! I heard that," Gemma said turning to me. "It's quite cool, kid."
"No, you can be anyone you want and who knows, maybe you will marry a prince."
"But—"
"Addy," Harry said smiling to the girl. "Just because someone says you're going to be an angel doesn't mean you can't be a princess."
"Really?" she asked, her eyes lighting up at Harry.
"Really," he laughed. "How would you like to be one for the day?" he asked. "My treat."
"Do I get a pretty dress?" she asked sitting on her lap.
"You do," he smiled. "I know some girls who are very good at making dresses. They make them for Miss Emmy," he said to me. The nickname I told to Addy sounded weird coming from Harry. I was used to Em. Not Emmy. I liked Em better.
"I don't get pretty hair though."
"We can get you some," Harry confirmed. "Then you can come to the festival if the nice nurses let us bring you."
"That sounds fun!" she cheered. "A princess!" she clapped jumping up and down from Harry's lap.
"You can spend the day with who you like," Queen Anne smiled to her.
"Can I spend the day with Princess Gemma?" she asked walking over to Gemma. Gemma grinned to us. "She's a real princess."
"Yes she is," Queen Anne smiled. "You can spend the day with her."
"I was alone anyways, Addy. My brother has Emerald and I don't have anyone."
"I thought you had Prince Louis."
"He's not here, though," she sighed. "Sucks, huh?"
"I wish I had a prince," Addy sighed.
"One day," Gemma said. "Boys suck right now."
"I want to be like Cinderella."
"You can be, but girls are cooler," Gemma said standing up holding Addy to her waist. "They smell better."
"Yeah they do," Addy said.
I was distracted from that point on. Harry came up behind me brushing my long hair over my shoulder and kissed my cheek. I turned to him and smiled. His dimples were showing as he smiled back at me. His warm breath on the back of my neck distracting me as Gemma and her parents talked with a nurse. I couldn't help but think that that little girl's dreams may be coming true.
"Only helping one child, isn't that hurtful to the other children?" I asked him quietly. "It's not very fair."
"We do this every year," Harry said. "She's the one who has the most aggressive illness. She is far more sick than the other children."
I frowned looking at the little girl. Apart from the pale skin and the baldness, she looked perfectly normal. She didn't look sickly nor did she look weaker than the others. She seemed like any normal child wandering out on the streets of Ula.
"I'm going to take a walk," I said to Harry. "I'll only be a little bit," I told him as he was about to say something. He dropped his hand that was once outstretched to me and nodded as his lips tucked under his teeth.
I walked out of the play room and wandered the hospitals seemingly vacant hallways. I climbed stairs and walked past rooms that were vacant or had people sitting on their beds, wires connected to them pumping them with medicines.
I entered through a doorway, the hallways covered in a light yellow color. The hallways were already telling me that this was a welcoming environment. Down the hallway was a large glass window and nurses in pink scrubs filtering in and out of the door. I walked over to the window and noticed the infants laying in their cots. A smile met my face as I looked at the sleeping infants.
"Beautiful aren't they?" a nurse asked walking up beside me.
"Their innocence can make anyone who is upset feel better," I murmured glancing at them. "The cancer unit is a difficult one."
"You have someone in there?"
"No," I shook my head. "Just visiting."
"No," she gasped taking a good look at me. "You're definitely not Princess Gemma," she said looking me over.
"No, I'm not Gemma," I laughed with a blush.
"Is it already the choosing?" she asked and I nodded. "Bloody hell, I remember when Prince Harry was just a wee lad. Such a charmer that boy is."
"That he is," I nodded in confirmation. "He's a great guy nonetheless."
"You're going to marry him, aren't you?"
"He hasn't formally asked, but he tells me he is," I smiled to her.
"You have a lot on your mind," she said and beckoned me to follow her. I did and she had me enter the nursery and walked to the back row of infants. "This one was born this morning, Mum didn't make it through birth and Dad's so heartbroken he won't even look at his son. Lad doesn't even have a name yet."
He's not even a day old and already has a tough life. I feel for the poor baby, he'll probably be blamed for his mother's death his whole life. That is if his father keeps him. I've heard of parents leaving their children for others. Those children have the hardest life.
The nurse, Mary, placed the newborn boy in my arms. He curled into my arms and I smiled at him. I bounced him gently and looked at his small sleeping face. His innocence was a shining light and I knew he was going to grow up in a harsh life.
"What do you do if his father doesn't give him a name?" I asked still looking down at him.
"Well, his father still has to sign away his rights and then we asked someone of your people," she said and I looked up.
"My people?" I asked.
"The royal family," she laughed. "Whereabouts did you grow up, child?"
"Northern part of Ula," I said and she shook her head. "I came from a poor family."
"You are a blessed child then," she smiled to me. "Yes, we ask someone from the royal family to name the child and then find him a home. King Desmond has to give him a surname as well. The king always chooses the surname of a child, it takes a lot of research to make sure the name is not associated with any royalty. He is making that family name. That generation starts with that one child."
"He gives them a life," I said looking at him, he was such a cute baby. "You are going to be such a looker one day," I smiled brushing my hand over his cheek.
"Mary, we have some papers for you," one of the doctors said walking in the room. "Miss Price, you seemed to have wandered away from the cancer unit."
"I did," I nodded. "I needed some air and wound up here."
"Babies make the best in us come out, and apparently the worst," he said looking at the boy in my arms. "He's got no one."
"Miss Price," Mary said looking at me. "What's the child's name going to be?"
"Am I allowed—"
"You are associated with the royal family, dear, anyone who is associated may name the child. You're just giving him his two first names."
I looked down at the little boy racking my brain for a good name to give him a strong name, one that people would only associate with this young boy. I smiled down at the boy when a name popped into my head. One I knew meant fierce because this boy needed to be as fierce as he could be.
"You have one don't you?" she asked and I nodded.
"Killian Perseus," I said with a smile. "Fierce. That's what Killian means, my mother had a distant relative named Killian."
"Killian it is," she smiled.
A knock on the window startled me and I looked up to see Harry standing in front of the window with a confused look on his face. I smiled to him and looked back down at Killian, the boy who is more than sure to live up to his name.
"Em, what in the world are you doing up here?" Harry asked walking over to me. "You trying to tell me something?"
"No, I just— it was a little intense in there, the lingering death. In here, life has just been placed into these little humans and I don't know, it's complicated I guess," I smiled to him. "His father gave him up."
"Do I need to name him for the nurses?"
"They asked me to do it," I said looking at him. "He already has a name."
"What is his name?"
"Killian Perseus," I said.
"Fierce and destroyer," he said sitting on the arm of a chair. "Why destroyer?"
"It's a strong name," I smiled. "He can destroy anything he needs to, the definition is up to this little boy to decide."
"Yeah," he nodded. "Destroyer of evil if he so decides. You have a bright future, little man," he smiled taking hold of Killian's small hand. "You have no idea what is out there."
There was something about this moment that made me sit back and think about Harry and me. If I were to marry him, this would be expected of us, the product of our love. We were to create a small child who we would care for and raise to be the essence of his or her parents.
"This could be us one day," Harry smiled looking up at me. "You, me, a baby."
"Yeah," I nodded taking in that he was thinking the same thoughts as me.
"The thought of that makes me shit myself," He said chuckling to himself. "Absolutely petrified."
"Me too," I nodded. "It's far in the future though."
"Yeah," he nodded. "We have a while before we need to worry about mini Harry's."
I stayed silent after he said this. I didn't know how to respond to this because I had, but hadn't thought of kids. I don't know if that makes any sense, but the thought of offspring enthralled but frightened me. The words my father repeated to me rang in my head. I could end up like Killian's mother. In the morgue.
"What's on your mind, love?" Harry asked, his hand pressing against my cheek.
"Nothing, it's nothing."
"You went pale, tell me."
"Just something my father told me a long time ago, that's all," I said with a half smile. "It's not important."
"He's gone, Em, all those hateful words he apologized for before he died. In the most disturbing way, he did love you."
"I know," I nodded looking back down at Killian. "Some things live with you more than others. Even if you don't want them to."