Countries Come Together

Description: A young princess is put through an arranged marriage to man she has just met. It seems that both of their fathers have seen trouble come into their countries and will do anything to stop it. And that includes forming with an alliance through marriage between strangers.

Oh and also the kingdoms/countries that are mentioned are from my imagination. They are somewhat based on real countries.

Enjoy.

Chapter One

“Da’s odiously gone in the head if he thinks I’m going tonight!” Maria tells her best friend, Chennai. She is standing in front of her full length mirror staring at herself. She’s dressed in a respectable green and white dress that has a modest neckline and falls just above her knees. Her dark brown hair is curled and she has it so it’s lying around her shoulders.

It being Friday, Maria would normally be in jeans and a t-shirt with her hair brushed back into a ponytail and would probably be in the library cramming for one of the tests she has coming up next week. But no! Today she is being forced to attend one of her da’s ‘meetings’. She knows something is whacked with this meeting, she just doesn’t know exactly what.

Maria Gardener is the princess of Olivia. At this time of the year her da is usually away on business. However since the summer holidays have just begun he has decided, for once, to spend time with his family. Roman Gardener, Maria’s dad, is king and with that comes many responsibilities. He insists that his family remain respectful at all times and keep the family reputation high and well formed. He takes things far too seriously and hardly ever has any fun.

Maria’s ma, Margaret Gardener, is the complete opposite of Roman. She wasn’t born royalty. She raised Maria, her older brother, and their younger sister with love, compassion, and respect. Therefore the children love and adore her. They do respect their dad but since he is hardly ever home they don’t know much about him.

“He’s never gaff and when he is here he takes charge of everyone’s lives.” Maria continues. She isn’t angry, just a little bored at the idea of spending her night with a bunch of other royals. “Remind me why we’re going again.” She turns to Chennai.

“Maria, your da just wants to spend some time with you.” Chennai tells the princess as leads her over to her vanity, sits her down, and she carefully applies a small brush of blush across Maria’s cheek.

Chennai Ashton is Maria’s lady in waiting and is also Maria’s best friend. They have grown up together because Chennai’s mother, Pacifica, is Margaret’s lady in waiting. Chennai is a slight bit taller then Maria. She has golden blonde hair, blue eyes, and is just as much independent as Maria.

They are a perfect pair of friends. They act like sisters and are always on an adventure. They tend to forget about royal status and protocol and just have fun. Margaret and Pacifica love their daughters’ relationship because it is how they themselves feel towards one another. Roman likes that his daughter has someone her age to talk to. When he comes home he notices the two 16 year olds attitude towards each other. They are the very essence of free.

“I would love to believe you, Chennai, but I think my da is up to something. It isn’t like him to force me to go to a banquet.” Maria tells her friend, “He normally respects the fact that they are dull.”

Chennai smiles gently, “I know that, Maria.”

“Then why must we go? Can’t we just change back into jeans, climb off the balcony, and go swimming or something? I’m sure no one would miss us.” Maria perks up at the idea of ditching the banquet.

“I’m afraid it’s too late.” Chennai lowers her voice to a whisper as they hear footsteps come up the main upstairs hallway.

Someone stops in front of Maria’s double doors and then knocks. Before either one of the girls have a chance to respond the doors open and Lady Ileana steps into the room.

“Girls are you ready?” Lady Ileana has been Maria’s governess for many years. She has taught her proper etiquette, the polite way to refuse someone of something (such as a dance, tea, or going on a walk), and different languages. She believes in strict rules, good conduct, and no acting like maggots/playing around.

“I don’t want to go.” Maria tilts her chin slightly so she can fully see her governess.

Lady Ileana snaps around and sends Maria a firm glare. “Don’t be cheeky, Maria, this is very important to your father and you will attend.” She rests her hands on her hips for effect.

Maria groans as she stands up.

Chennai sends Maria a reassuring look and then they both follow Lady Ileana out of the room.

The Gardener Castle is made up of the dungeons that are historic and are no longer in use, the main floor, seven other floors, and four towers. The two top floors aren’t used very often. The second floor (the floor above the main floor) is where all of the royals’ rooms are. The third floor is where the guests stay. The forth floor was made up for Mason, Maria, and Millay so no one except them, the maids, and their parents are allowed up there. The fourth floor is used for the military base and is where Roman has his office. The fifth floor is where the knights, officers, and soldiers live. The sixth and seventh floors aren’t visited. Maria has no idea why no one goes up to them, but she has always wanted to go up there. However since she is watched almost all of the time and because she’d have to go past the guards she hasn’t ever been up there.

“I hope that you will be on your best behavior. We go dinner with the very important people. I cannot wait to dance to start.” Lady Ileana holds her hand to heart as she gushes.

“Dancing?” Maria gulps and turns to Chennai. “No one told me we had to dance?”

“You have nothing to worry about, Maria. You are a superb dancer.” Chennai tells her with a large smile.

Maria sighs, “I’m not worried, but, I,”

She never got to finish for they were finally to the banquet hall. They had come down the stairs a few minutes ago and are now facing the large group of people that are mingling.

“This isn’t a meeting.” Maria starts. She is staring into the ballroom with shock and horror in her eyes.

“It’s a ball.” Chennai finishes. She has the exact same emotions clouding her own eyes.

They glance at one another.

“Janey mack!” Maria mumbles under her breath, “I should have known this was going to happen.”

Chennai shakes her head slightly, “This isn’t that bad.”

“This is brutal.” Maria replies. Then they both tense up slightly as they spot Maria’s father heading over to them.

“Oh class, Maria, you’re here.” Roman strides over to them with a bright smile across his face, “Come, there are some very important people I’d love you to meet.” Roman tells her.

He has gel in his dark brown hair and that makes his hair look even darker then usual.

He takes her hand and leads her through the ballroom.

Maria turns slightly and sends a panicked look back at Chennai who is trying to give her an assuring smile.

Maria stands up a straight and smiles kindly at the people in front of her. There is a middle aged couple around her parents age and a boy (or a man if you want to call him that) a little older then Maria.

“This is Mr. and Mrs. Thad and their son Finnegan.” Roman introduces, “Atley, Sheila, Finn, this is my other daughter Maria.”

“Pleasure.” Maria told them with a respectful nod of her head. She then noticed that her brother, Mason, mom, and her two year old sister, Millay, were standing with the group.

Millay looked very bored and is playing with mom’s necklace. Mason on the other hand looked as if he’d rather be banging his head against a wall then be there. He sent a pleading glance Maria’s way but she couldn’t do anything to help him.

“Arvo.” Atley and Sheila smile at me.

“G’day.” Finn nods his head. He looks just as bored as Mason and Maria.

By their accents Maria can tell that they are Aureaten. Maria looks more closely at the three guests and knows her assumptions are correct. They are all tall, with dark hair. Sheila and Finn both have bright green eyes.

Maria had never officially met anyone from Aureaten. She had always wanted to travel there, especially when her da went there, but however her father is so protective he wouldn’t ever let her go.

So Maria just smiled down at her shoes and tried to make the large grin that had appeared on her face disappear.

“So, are you enjoying the party?” Margaret asks.

Maria wasn’t sure who she was asking so she glanced up and noticed that her mom was facing the guests so she hung her head down once again.

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For the next hour Maria stood next to her brother listening to the adult’s converse about something. It seemed as if they all thought it was important. Neither of the women liked the idea and apparently the men thought it was a great solution. However no one except them knew what they were blathering about; which annoyed Maria to no end!

After dinner it was nine o’clock and Maria was bushed and was ready to call it a night. She was turning to leave the room and make a quick escape. However she hadn’t anticipated Finnegan.

“Would you care to dance?” Finn extends his arm and bows like a gentleman. He seemed to have appeared from no where, but then again Maria hadn’t really been paying attention to her surroundings so he could have been standing near her the entire night and she probably wouldn’t have noticed.

Maria stares at his hand for a second before accepting it.

He leads her out onto the dance floor and gently twirls her around before placing his right hand on her slim waist.

“So, how are you?” Finn asks he meets her gaze. His emerald eyes are so bright that Maria can’t help but stare.

“Just dandy.” Maria tells him with sarcasm laced through her words. There is a hint of a smile on the edges of her lips.

Finn looks around the room, “I hate these kinds of parties; although this one isn’t as bad as they usually are.” He winks are her.

Maria can feel her cheeks heat up gently.

“You’re scarlet.” Finn teases her as he too notices the faint pink shade her face has turned.

They both smile at one another and settle into a comfortable silence.

Finn and Maria dance around the ballroom in silence before Finn asks, “Do you like hanging around these tall poppies?”

“Not entirely.” Maria tells him with a frown evident in her voice.

Finn chuckles, “Not my bag either.”

They continue to dance together. One song goes into two and then they are in a waltz. Both of them are excellent dancer and Maria finds that she is actually enjoying his company.

Finn has a very blunt way of talking. It seems he doesn’t really care of being proper. But Maria finds that he is a gentleman without having to try. They talk about books, movies, and food.

Maria laughs as Finn continues his rant on the absurdity of eating cold left over Chinese food.

“I agree. My brother just takes a container out of the fridge and eats it.” Maria shudders at the thought. “Hasn’t anyone heard of a microwave?”

There is a slight clinking sound. The music stops and everyone turns over to the main double doors where Roman and Atley are standing together. Finn and Maria silence their laughter and turn slightly more serious as they watch their parents. They remain in their dancing positions (Finn has his hand on Maria’s waist and they are holding hand); without even noticing.

“May I have your attention?” Roman’s voice booms over the room with seriousness and authority. “There is something that I’d love to share with all of you.” He continues, “We have been through some trying times these past few years. Meraign has been daring to trespass into Olivia and also Aureate.”

Atley chimes in, “We have decided to become one country. We shall work together to rid ourselves of the Meraignians’.”

Finn and Maria glance at each other with a surprised look. Apparently neither of them knew anything of this arrangement.

“Further more we have an announcement.” Roman’s voice becomes slightly more cheerful and he lifts his glass of champagne into the air. “Our children, Finnegan Thad and Maria Gardener are to be married.”