[XMFC] A Conspiracy of Ravens [Charles/Erik, Raven/Irene, PG-13] (Prologue and Part I of VI)
Title: A Conspiracy of Ravens (Prologue and Part I)
Pairing: Charles/Erik, Raven/Irene, others to be advised
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Charles Francis Essex made an excellent courtier. As the son of Nathaniel Essex, a land-less diplomat, he had little to his name that he had not procured by his own devices, and luckily for him those devices were considerable.
When Princess Raven of Symkaria travels to Genosha to fulfil her marriage contract with its Crown Prince, she finds himself caught up in the storm brewing between Prince Erik and Sebastian Shaw, the Regent of the realm. She can only be thankful that her trusted advisor and friend Charles is with her; but as she's about to discover, he's got his own agenda. A modern day royalty AU.
circa Regna tonat (around the throne thunder rolls) - Thomas Wyatt, 1536
Being an alternative history of events in the Kingdoms of Genosha and Symkaria in the years leading up to unification.
The official histories drafted during the reign of the House of Marko recount the events leading up to the rule of Kurt III thus:
The last days of Brian II were dark times, full of unrest and unprecedented depravity. It was near universally acknowledged that the weakness of the Crown was to blame. The House of Xavier had allowed their royal blood to become diluted through marriage to the low-born, and Brian II did not have power enough to enforce the peace. Few were surprised when the King died of a weak heart, followed swiftly by the child Prince.
In the bloody struggle that ensued, one man emerged with honour intact, wielding the power that was the birthright of the royal houses of Symkaria and their sister kingdom Genosha. Kurt III, head of the House of Marko, which traces its descent through the same lines as the House of Xavier, and which had never allowed its blood to become tainted, became the rightful new ruler of Symkaria. The two Houses were united through marriage when Kurt III wed Brian II's widow Queen Sharon, and thus began the rule of the House of Marko, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity.
As most are now aware, this is not what happened. This alternative history is the story of how the truth came to light.
Part I
Charles Francis Essex made an excellent courtier. As the son of Nathaniel Essex, a land-less diplomat, he had little to his name that he had not procured by his own devices, and luckily for him those devices were considerable. It was almost uncanny, the way he always knew when to be amusing and when to be serious, always disappearing and appearing at exactly the right moment.
He was highly popular at court - some would say to an improper extent - and had by a combination of luck and design become a confidant to His Majesty's only daughter, the Princess Raven. When the Princess became engaged to be married to the Crown Prince of Genosha, it was natural for the King to send him along as a trusted advisor.
"How do I look?"
Charles paced a circle around Raven, gaze tracking from the golden circlet on her head to the shine of her polished red heels. "Poised, untouchable, beautiful. Everything a princess should be."
Raven made a most un-princess-like face. "Urgh. I hate this. I hate pretending. If all anyone knew of me was this I think I'd go mad."
Charles pulled her closer by the wrist and kissed her hair, her forehead, the soft, perfumed skin of her temple. "It's all right. I'm here. I know the Raven who throws amazing tantrums and knows how to wrap anyone around her little finger. I know the real you."
"Thank God someone does," Raven said mulishly, although she'd relaxed in his embrace and was fighting a smile. "You know, half the Palace thinks we're fucking."
"Half the Palace thinks I've fucked the other half," Charles said. A few silky strands of Raven's gold hair had come loose. He tucked them back behind her ear, humming thoughtfully. "I'm sorry, a lack of discretion on my part shouldn't reflect on you."
Raven rolled her eyes. "Charles, I don't mind."
Charles adjusted her circlet. "You have to mind. Remember, now. You're playing a long game."
"It's not my game, it's my father's. I'm nothing but a pawn."
Raven said it calmly, like she really was a dutiful daughter resigned to her fate. Only the flintiness of her gaze hinted at the truth. He placed two fingers under her chin, pressing in gently until she raised her head, so that she was looking down at him.
"That's where you're wrong. It won't matter what His Majesty wants, not when you're hundreds of miles away. You don't have to be a pawn. Be the queen."
"I'm glad you're going with me," Raven said, very solemnly.
Charles smiled his polished, precise smile. "Always happy to serve, Your Highness."
* * *
The flight from Aniana to Hammer Bay normally took three hours. In the King's private jet, they could cut it down to two. Raven found herself wishing she'd somehow convinced her father to let her fly commercial. That way, at least, it would feel like she'd actually gone somewhere else. With a full escort it was going to be palace to limo to jet to limo to palace, and with her movement sure to be restricted for her first few months in Genosha, she might as well have not left Aniana at all.
But her father and the Genoshan delegation both wished for speed and discretion, so it was the royal treatment or nothing.
Some of her maids had gazed out the windows as they left the tarmac, tearfully bidding their homeland goodbye. Raven supposed she might feel the same way in a month or so, when the strangeness of a new culture got to her. For now, she was simply excited, a caged bird flying free.
If Charles felt anything at all about leaving his home country behind, it didn't show on his face. He looked as if the cup of coffee he was poring held all the mysteries of the universe.
"Here you are, Your Highness. Drink up, I suspect you'll need the energy."
There were times when she wondered what kind of young man volunteered for a role usually played by ladies in waiting, and did it impeccably. At first she'd thought he hoped to gain some advantage by seducing her. It wasn't an unusual thought; she'd been fending off advances ever since she turned fifteen, and was already quite good at rejecting men of all stations.
In some ways, Charles was just like those stupid nobles' sons. He was charming, confident to a fault, and pretty enough to lean on his looks. But as she'd quickly discovered when she tried to let him down with some grace, he was nothing like them in the ways that counted.
That was why she wouldn't swap him for anyone, especially when she was heading into the unknown.
Raven took a careful sip of her coffee. "So. What do we know about my future husband?"
"Quite a lot, as it happens," Charles said. His smile was approving; he liked that she'd thought to ask. "The most important thing for your purposes is that he really should be Erik V by now. Jakob II died fifteen years ago."
"Meaning - meaning he's being kept from the throne. By who?"
"Exactly, yes. My sources say the culprit is the Regent, Sebastian Shaw, otherwise known as His Grace the Duke of Terrigen. Big duchy, very nice court in Carrion Cove. The title's only his by marriage, though. Terrigen belongs to the House of Frost, and he's got no say there. Rumour says that he and the Duchess don't get along."
And that was why she kept him around.
"Does she come to court?"
"Sometimes. Her name is Emma, you'll want to keep an eye on her."
Emma of Terrigen. That name sounded familiar. Something her father had said - "Both of them have royal blood?"
"Yes. It is said that the Duchess can read minds. Limits - I'm not sure about. Shaw's is to do with energy."
Raven nodded. "Do you think I should let on about my power? Hank says I shouldn't."
Charles' expression turned thoughtful at the mention of her personal physician, Doctor Hank McCoy, who was currently dozing about half a dozen seats down.
"He's right, although I'm not sure his reasoning matches mine. You'll probably have to demonstrate a bit for the Prince's satisfaction, but I'd advise keeping your secrets as closely as you can. Don't let them know the full extent of what you can do."
In their two years together she'd hardly ever seen him look so serious. For the first time, she felt apprehensive about what awaited her upon landing.
Trust no one. Right.
"Worse case scenario?"
"Exactly," Charles said approvingly.
Her power wasn't much good for combat, and she couldn't hold a full transformation for long. If she needed to hide, though, it could come in very handy.
The powers of the royal houses of Genosha and Symkaria were something of a taboo topic; the relative strengths and weaknesses of those powers even more so. Raven vividly recalled getting cuffed by her elder brother the Crown Prince as a child when she had asked him why his strengthening power only worked on one part of the body at a time.
"How powerful is Erik? Wasn't his mother low-born?"
Charles raised his eyebrows. "What did I tell you when you argued with His Majesty two weeks ago? The dilution of blood is a myth. It doesn't actually matter. Look at the King your father - hardly any power to speak of. And yet you've enough to burn."
The arguement had been about the Queen her mother, who had died - some say of a broken heart, although never in her hearing - when Raven was just ten years old.
Her father had ordered her to never speak of that common drunk again.
All her life, Raven had been in awe of her royal father. The distance he kept from her only made him seem greater, like a figure of myth. But at that moment she saw him for what he truly was, and a previously soft part of her became hard as diamond.
"It's treason to talk about the King my father like that, as you well know," she said, not even pretending to mean it.
She only noticed that her hand was shaking when Charles enveloped it in between both of his. Then he looked at her as if she was the only person in the world, and it ceased to matter.
"That's why I can only be honest with you."
*
As the royal jet circled Astoria Airport on the way to landing, Hammer Bay stretched out before her in bold splashes of colour, all vivid blues and greens, and Raven thought she'd never seen anything so beautiful. Aniana already seemed dull in comparison.
"Ready for your public, Your Highness?" said Johanna, her chief lady-in-waiting.
Raven snorted in a most un-lady-like manner. "You're kidding, right?"
The Regent of Genosha had bid her bring as many servants as she liked, but restricted her to only one lady of rank, a stipulation she'd protested vigorously until her father shut her down. It turned out to be a moot point, anyway, when only Johanna turned out to be willing to abandon her own life and follow her princess abroad.
Lady Johanna Morales was the third daughter of a minor Earl, sarcastic, headstrong and not much liked at court; Raven was not close to her. Despite all of that, she was glad that Johanna had volunteered. At least she talked to Raven as if she was a grown-up, and her abrasive honesty would be welcome in a new land where Raven would have to guard against false friends.
Charles' hand landed on her shoulder. "Don't worry, there's no public to speak of. The Genoshans didn't want to make too much fuss before the actual wedding."
"Surely that's an insult," Hank said from behind her. She didn't need to see his face to know the indignant expression that would be on it. He'd been wearing it increasingly often over the past two weeks. "He's not marrying some commoner. Her Highness is the daughter of a King."
"I rather think that's the point," Charles said. He squeezed her shoulder before giving her a light push. "Come on, Your Highness, let's meet your groom to be. I hear he's very handsome."
Johanna barked a harsh laugh. "So that's why you wanted to come along, Essex."
"Oh, no. Quite frankly, I don't think the Prince has any hope of matching up to the standards set by your darling brother, Johanna," Charles said sweetly.
If looks could kill, he'd be a puddle on the carpeted floor. His smile never wavered as Johanna glared.
Raven giggled. She couldn't help it. And once she started, she couldn't stop either, until Johanna had to hold her up and she could hardly breathe. Strangely, she felt a lot better.
"Thanks, guys. I think I'm good to go now."
As they lined up in preparation for descending onto the tarmac, she heard Johanna's voice again, hushed this time. "Please never tell me if you actually did sleep with Ferdinand."
(Raven privately thought - and would never, ever say out loud - that Ferdinand's prospects were far too minor for Charles to bother with, based on his rumoured track record.)
Charles laughed. "Of course not."
That laugh had become so familiar that it warmed something inside her to hear it. She squared her shoulders as the stewardess came forward to lead her out.
It was a beautiful day in Hammer Bay. Raven fancied she could taste the salt of the sea on the air with each breath, and for a moment her heart was light.
She took a few more deep breaths, put away her fancies and became the princess.
Prince Erik was just as handsome as reports claimed. He was very tall, very thin, and had a face that seemed carved from stone, all clean lines, chiseled features and the whole just as forbidding as any statue. The older, patrician man standing behind him seemed positively friendly by comparison, even if his smile made Raven distinctively uneasy. This must be the infamous Regent.
When she stopped at the appropriate distance, the Prince took a step forward. His head whipped around when he noticed that the Regent had done the same thing, and it took him a moment too long to hide his displeasure.
Raven couldn't help but judge him for the slip. She couldn't fathom how anyone could grow up in a royal palace without working out a way to conceal their temper. The thought bought on a vivid memory of her governess Elisabetta telling her to keep something in her pocket that she could squeeze when she felt her own temper boiling over, and she had to work to keep her smile from going all wobbly.
"Welcome to Genosha, Princess," the Prince said stiffly.
Raven knew she was supposed to curtsey, but something kept her rooted to the spot, standing ram-rod straight, staring up into his face. "Raven. We're to be married, Your Highness. I think you can refer to me by name."
The Prince's face split into a wide smile that seemed perfectly genuine and was no less unsettling for it. "Then you must call me Erik. I insist." Then he paused, long enough for the suspicion that he was considering ignoring protocol before turning to indicate his companion. "May I present the Regent of Genosha, Sebastian Shaw."
Raven inclined her head. "Your Grace."
"Your Highness," Shaw returned with a genteel smile. "I hope your first impressions of Genosha have been favourable."
"Oh, yes. It's such a beautiful country," Raven said quickly. She had the familiar, creeping feeling that another conversation was being conducted over her head, like one of her father's hissed arguments over the phone.
"A land worthy of the great queen Your Highness will make," Charles murmured, loud enough that it was definitely not intended to be a private comment. Raven saw Erik's gaze shift and fix, laser-like, on the man standing a little behind her.
"And this is?"
Raven realized that she hadn't planned how she was going to introduce Charles. Officially, he didn't even have a diplomat's commission.
"My apologies. This is Charles Essex, a dear friend of mine at court."
Shaw raised his eyebrows and Raven keenly felt for the first time the lack of a title preceding Charles' name. She should have asked her father to ennoble him, screw what gossip would have said about it.
Charles himself seemed cheerfully oblivious to the condescension. He bowed very low, straightening with his polished courtier's smile. "Your Highness, Your Grace. It's an honour to be here."
"Doing what?" Erik said abruptly.
Raven had to fight down her own flare of temper. Fortunately, Shaw pre-empted her by making a quelling gesture, only subsiding when Erik glared at him. "Really, Your Highness - "
"Whatever the royal couple-to-be requires of me," Charles said. Probably no one else heard the laugh in his voice, but she sure did. He inclined his head at the jet, all but ignoring the head of state and heir to the throne, who were both giving him thoughtful looks. "Your Highness, shall I make arrangements for your luggage to be transported to the Palace?"
Hell no, you're not leaving me alone with these two.
Raven shook her head. "Johanna can do that."
She had the uncomfortable, prickly feeling of being closely watched the entire time as she gave Johanna instructions on what needed to be done. When she was finished, though, both Shaw and Erik had their poker faces back on.
If that's how you want to play it...
Raven pulled on her best smile. "Well, shall we go?"
*
She'd ended sitting next to Erik in the sleek black stretch limo, with Shaw, Charles and a gorgeous young woman ("It's such an honour, Your Highness. I'm Angel Salvadore, I head up the Crown Prince's household.") on the other side.
If Shaw was disgruntled to be seated next to two commoners, he was wise enough to disguise it underneath an ingratiating smile.
"I apologize for the unseemly haste. His Highness has been pushing for your arrival ever since you came of age."
Beside her, Erik had gone very still. It was easy, then, to work out what she had to say. "That's not a problem. I wanted to come earlier, actually, but the King my father wouldn't allow it."
It was amazing what a few words could do. She now felt like she was sitting beside an actual human being instead of a statue. Erik turned to her with a smile. "Would you like a drink?"
The metal door of the small fridge opened without anyone touching it. Raven felt the beginnings of a real smile on her face.
"Just a cola, if you have one. Thank you."
She sipped her drink quietly until the prickly feeling of being watched returned again. This time it was Charles raising his eyebrows at her. At first, she thought it was a comment on her sensible choice of drink. Then she followed his gaze to the world outside her window and understood, as always, what he'd meant for her to do.
Someone clearly wanted the arrival of the Princess of Symkaria to go unnoticed. In which case it was in her best interests to be conspicuous, and that was something Raven had always been good at.
She leaned across to the intercom and thumbed it on. "Stop, please. Could you park on the side of the road?"
The driver sounded utterly confused. "Your Highness - "
"Please? Just for a few minutes?"
There was quite a long pause. "As you wish."
When she turned back to the rest of the limo, Erik and Shaw were both staring at her again. She put on her most innocent smile. "I want to see my new home. And my people should get a chance to see me."
Neither of them were looking at Charles, so they completely missed the pride and approval lighting up his bright eyes.
*
Outside, the breeze felt wonderful on her skin, and the smell of the ocean was intoxicating. Their poor driver had a hell of a time parking a massive limo in the meager spaces provided by the side of the road, though, and they were attracting attention, just as she'd wanted.
She approached a street vendor selling ice cream. There was an idea. Were princesses allowed to eat street food in Genosha? "Good morning."
The sandy-haired young man minding the stall gave her a rather obvious once-over, and stood up straighter. "Hey, miss. Are you a tourist?"
I wish.
"Not exactly. I'm Raven of Symkaria."
She let her hair go copper red. With such localized transformations she could easily hold the change for hours, and it was terribly distinctive as far as demonstrations went.
The potential customer hovering behind her got it first. "Oh my God, It's the Princess! Princess Raven!"
Thank God somebody reads nobility gossip.
The ice cream vendor was now staring, slack-jawed. "W-what are you doing in Hammer Bay, Highness?"
Raven found her most camera-ready smile. "Don't you know? I'm here to get married to your Prince Erik."
She could hear the click and flash of cameraphones; no doubt someone was taking video too. Perfect.
"Well, I'm off to the Palace with my intended. It was really nice seeing all of you."
Charles helped her back into the limo with a whispered well done.
* * *
Erik had always found the ceremonial duties expected of him far more tiring and onerous than military service ever was, but even he was not usually this taxed by half a day's worth of entertaining his bride-to-be.
She wasn't the problem; in fact, she seemed perfectly lovely, every bit as suitable as the Ambassador had promised. He could very easily see himself married to her. It was spending so much time with Shaw that grated on his nerves.
Just as he was about to make his excuses and escape, Angel had given him a meaningful look and gestured to the audience chamber in his private rooms. So Shaw wanted to talk things over. Wonderful.
Come on, he told himself. You've endured staring into this man's eyes and wondering whether his was the hand that ended your parents' lives for fifteen years, what's a few more weeks? Months, at the most. With marriage, the Laws of Succession would kick in, and then -
Then Erik would have the answers he'd been looking for, by whatever means necessary.
"What did you think of the Princess?" Shaw said.
"She seemed fine," Erik replied flatly. Then, realising his error (Angel was giving him her patented unimpressed look behind Shaw's back) he went on quickly. "Very beautiful. Lively. I'm happy with her."
Shaw smirked. That pause had been too long after all. "Well, good. Personally, I'm curious about that young man of hers."
"Charles Essex, bosom friend and close confidant of the Princess," Angel said instantly. Trust her to know the latest gossip, even on new arrivals. "Interesting that he's here. I've heard that they're lovers."
Shaw laughed. "A princess bringing her lover along as dowry? They sure do things strangely in Symkaria. Well, Your Highness?"
Erik very carefully refrained from baring his teeth. "I will call on the Princess' entourage this afternoon to make further arrangements. We should put out a joint press release on the upcoming wedding."
Whatever her motivations, Raven's little stunt at the beach had made a public announcement absolutely necessary. Shaw's genteel mask flickered - for the briefest moment, but long enough for Erik to catch him - when he realized that he'd been defeated on that count.
"As you wish. If there's nothing else I'll take my leave, Your Highness."
Erik waved him off, trying not to appear too eager.
It was sad day indeed when the Prince of the realm had no almost one he could trust, but that was exactly the situation Erik found himself in. Even Angel, who he had known for more than ten years, had come to him from the glittering court of the Duchess of Terrigen, and the Duchess herself was the most untrustworthy, self-interested ally of them all.
"He prompted her," Angel said thoughtfully.
"Excuse me?"
"Essex, I saw him prompt Her Highness before she asked to leave the limo." Her smile turned mischievous. "I don't think it's a simple case of a girl being silly enough to bring her lover along, however cute he is."
Erik didn't think so either. He hadn't from the moment Essex had spoken up to cover for Raven when Shaw had attempted to lure her into error - a land worthy of the great queen Your Highness will make, indeed. No idle remark, that; nothing less than a calculated shot across Shaw's bows.
Then there was the way he had looked at Erik with blue eyes that seemed all too knowing, not a flicker in their still depths when Erik had tried to provoke him. The unsettling red curve of his smile.
Erik gave himself a mental shake. Now was definitely not the time to dwell. "Why didn't you say this while the Regent was here?" he asked Angel, a lot more peevishly than she deserved.
Unfortunately, Angel had been able to read him like a book for years. She smiled like she knew exactly why he was suddenly so ill-tempered. "Your Highness knows perfectly well why."
Moments like these he was almost completely convinced that she had to be on his side. But he couldn't be sure. Sometimes that seemed like Shaw's greatest success, making sure Erik was friendless because he couldn't ever afford to trust anyone.
* * *
Raven's new rooms were lavish, almost ridiculously so. It might have been someone's idea of a joke to give her a set of rooms that looked like the inside of a girl's dollhouse, all pastels and flowery wallpaper, but the couches were incredibly comfortable and the audience room had spectacular views of the Imperial Gardens, so she wasn't going to complain too much.
After a day of sitting like a princess, being able to slouch on the ridiculous, massive white leather coach felt amazing. "Johanna did a good job getting everything settled so fast."
"I'm glad she's here. We're going to need all the advantages we can get," Charles said tersely, his tone completely at odds with his usual boneless sprawl.
"What's wrong?"
Charles took a sip of his tea, considering. "The Regent doesn't want the marriage to go ahead. I'm fairly certain he was the one who arranged for your arrival to be so low-key. Well done again, by the way. That was brilliant."
Raven ducked his head so that he wouldn't see her blush. "I just wanted to see the beach."
"Mmm. Really, now," Charles said warmly.
"Well, maybe your scheming has rubbed off on me a little." Raven frowned. "I need to know more about Angel Salvadore. Aren't heads of household supposed to be...older?"
Charles set his teacup down carefully. "Jealous?"
"Why should I be? I hardly know the Prince. This marriage was't exactly my idea," Raven said dismissively. Then she remembered what she'd been meaning to tease Charles about. "Speaking of which, I think Hank is jealous of you. He was giving us some strange looks earlier."
That got his attention, just as she'd thought. He leaned forward, bracing an elbow against the armrest and resting his chin on his palm. "Really. Because I touch you casually?" A thoughtful pause. "Do you want to make him jealous, Your Highness? We can do that."
Now she really was blushing. "He's a good doctor. But I - I don't know."
Hank was a good friend. He made her feel safe and warm. Maybe that was what she was supposed to be looking for in a man, but a part of her was waiting for the spark she'd been reading about and seeing on screen all her life, and she had certainly never felt anything like that.
"You're young yet, you've got plenty of time for lovers," Charles said lightly; teasing, but not without the weight of empathy.
Raven snorted. "You're what, five years older than me?"
"Six, actually, and I've had plenty of time."
Raven swatted at his shoulder with a stray coat hanger until he put the lascivious grin away. "You always know what people need. What about the Crown Prince of Genosha? Does he need anything?"
Charles was silent a long time before he gave an unexpectedly serious answer. "A friend, maybe."
Raven grinned. "Up for a challenge?"
"A challenge is, I think, probably the correct term," Charles said slowly, the beginnings of a dangerous smile on his face. "He's definitely going to be difficult about it."
"Then you absolutely have to try. If anything, it'd be a novelty to see someone say no to you at long last."
She could have swore she saw a strange look in Charles' eyes then, but it was gone in an instant, and all that remained was the same smile. "You over-estimate my charm. People reject me all the time, you just don't see it."
"Don't be modest. You have a gift."
"Then it would be remiss of me to refuse."
*
Before Charles left on his business (or 'fishing trip' as he called it), he'd told her not to wander too far. In theory, she had the run of the Palace, but none of them were keen to test that just yet, not when their position was so uncertain.
An hour later, Raven was wandering the gilded halls alone, having left Johanna with the rest of the work that needed to be done to settle her household in the Palace. She blamed extreme boredom.
She was staring at the massive double doors leading to the gardens, wondering how much trouble she'd be in for going for a walk, when the doors slid open and a striking woman stopped right in front of her.
The woman's tall and slender form was wrapped in a massive blue cloak, her face covered by a gold mask.
"Your Highness has beautiful hair."
It was still in her favourite shade of copper red. Raven blushed. She was so caught up in the woman's low, throaty voice that she almost failed to notice the obvious problem.
The mask had no eye holes. So how could -
Power granted by royal blood, Raven realized with a shock. This woman must be a noble.
"Thank you. Ah - may I ask your name?"
She hadn't fumbled an introduction since she was a very young girl. Thankfully, the other woman seemed charmed rather than put off by her hesitancy.
"Of course. They call me Madame Destiny, because I can see the future, or something close to it. Welcome to Genosha, Queen-to-be."
The warmth of her voice made Raven certain that she was smiling beneath the mask.
Then she reached up with long-fingered hands and took it off, and Raven felt her eyes go wide. She had delicate features; high cheekbones, a sharp nose, wide dark eyes. Set into stillness, they were striking. If she laughed, or even smiled with real happiness, instead of a faint shadow of it, she'd be beautiful.
Raven wanted, suddenly, desperately, to make her laugh.
Unfortunately, her mouth had instead found a new tendency to babble. "I think yours are the first words of welcome I've heard today that were actually aimed at me as a person. I'm grateful to you, Madame."
It wasn't a laugh, but she did get a new smile, private and affectionate, that made her feel strangely light. "You'll like it here. The caged bird flying free at last."
Hadn't she thought just that, when the royal jet had left Aniana? And yet, since then the first moment of true freedom she'd had was this conversation with a stranger, with whom she could be nothing but honest.
"I hope so. There's so much I want to do - "
"There you are, Your Highness - Oh." Angel came to a stop, contrition all over her face. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Highness, Your Grace."
The lady inclined her head politely, although her soft smile had vanished. "It's all right, Angel. I should go. Until we meet again, Your Highness."
And with that, she glided away.
"Who was that?" Raven said blankly. She felt like she'd just been staring into the blazing Genoshan sun.
"Irene Adler, Countess of Seron." Something of her thoughts must have shown on her face, because Angel grinned and went on. "In her own right. Don't worry, she's not married."
Crap. Since when was she so transparent?
"I - I didn't - "
Angel sobered instantly. "Listen to me. I'm a survivor above everything else, Your Highness. That means I won't do anything stupid. Don't worry, your secret's safe."
"You promise? If this gets out - "
Charles was - she didn't know how he was going to react, which was scary in itself.
Angel smiled reassuringly. "It won't. Now, would you like me to contrive another meeting?"
* * *
Prince Erik, sole son and heir of the House of Lehnsherr, the man who would be King of Genosha. Charles had called him a challenge with a smile, and he was certainly determined to be difficult. Unfortunately for him, Charles could be difficult too.
They were in the Symkarian Wing of the Palace, renovated five years ago in preparation for the royal marriage. To Charles it seemed like some architecture student's homework gone wrong, a mock-Gothic monstrosity of high ceilings, arches everywhere and far, far too much limestone. Raven's new quarters might have been decorated by a five-year-old girl, but at least they were comfortable. The same could not have been said of the wood-backed couches in the audience room here. Not that either of them were sitting. Charles had to stand when Erik turned up, and Erik, it appeared, preferred to pace while he talked.
"What did His Majesty the King think about you coming here with Raven?"
"I don't know. He must have approved of it, since he let me," Charles said. He was being borderline insolent, and they both knew it. For a courtier with no title to speak of to talk to the Crown Prince of a foreign country like that was unthinkable. Either Erik's hold on his temper was better than advertised, or else he found Charles' cheek entertaining.
"I strongly doubt that. The slightest hint of scandal, and I could call the marriage off."
Charles smiled. "With all due respect, Your Highness, you were never going to do that."
Erik stopped mid-step. He turned, military-sharp, and prowled toward Charles, eyes fixed on his face as if he could open Charles up by sheer force of will.
"What is it you want from me?"
Charles' back hit the wall. He let his lashes dip and his smile turn coy. "I should be asking that. Your Highness."
Erik took another step forward, bracketing Charles in. He had a swift impression of green eyes, bright as jewels and twice as hard, before Erik bent his head, his lips inches from the shell of Charles' ear. "You can't possibly imagine that you have anything to offer the Crown Prince of Genosha."
Charles did not try to fight his natural reaction, which was to shiver. He tilted his head back and laughed, soft and intimate. As he'd thought, that alone was enough to make Erik draw back and frown thunderously at him. Charles summoned up his sweetest smile. "On the contrary, I think you need all the friends you can get."
The words themselves were harmless. It was their implication that was going to make Erik angry. Right on cue, he flinched back and made as if to leave the room.
Charles raised his voice and filled it with certainty and authority unbecoming a lowly courtier. "If a Prince is not married he has not attained majority; if he has not attained majority he cannot rule on his own behalf. It's obvious why you're in such a hurry to marry the Princess."
Erik stopped walking. The line of his back was rigid with tension, as if he wanted more than anything to leave, but he stayed almost unnaturally still.
"Go on."
"Thank you. Consider: the Regent has been de facto ruler of Genosha for fifteen years. Men grow accustomed to having power. Do you really think he'll give up his position so easily?"
The silence was thick enough to cut with a knife. For a moment, Charles was genuinely uncertain of the outcome. Then Erik chuckled.
When he turned to face Charles again, the look on his face was hard-edged. "Not just a brightly-coloured songbird, then."
Charles bit his lip, feeling the intensity of that gaze as if it could generate real heat. An older Count had once told him that he had a complexion made for blushing. From the way Erik was now smirking, his previously grim mood forgotten, he agreed.
"Even a canary can be a bird of prey, Your Highness," he said softly.
Erik's mouth stretched itself into an unsettling grin. "What about a raven?"
Charles blinked - that he had not anticipated. But no matter - Erik was right, things would proceed more smoothly with her involved. "You see? We're beginning to understand each other, my friend," he said, and sketched a bow.
When he straightened, he had to suppress a flash of sweet triumph at the look on Erik's face. Behind the smug grin, the bright green eyes fixed on his face were perplexed. No, more than that, fascinated, and completely taken aback by it like someone unfamiliar with the feeling.
Often the coldest, most forbidding people were the ones most vulnerable to a little warmth. If Erik felt himself to be feared and deferred to he'd have grown bored quickly. Right now, he probably didn't know what to think. Charles felt himself smile.
Once, Raven had said to him, shaking her head and grinning ruefully, "when you get your hooks into someone you really play them for all they're worth."
Necessity is the mother of invention, my dear Raven.
Part II
Notes: worryingly, most of this was produced while the Kooks' cover of Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People (you better run, better run, faster than my bullet) was stuck in my head.
For the purposes of this fic, I'm not going to specify where the two fictional kingdoms are. I've obviously had to move them since comics!Genosha is in Africa and comics!Symkaria is a small Balkan country. Aniana is the capital city of comics!Symkaria. Carrion Cove and Hammer Bay are the only place names associated with Genosha that I could find.
Feedback is adored. I am very slow about replying, but I do always reply.
Pairing: Charles/Erik, Raven/Irene, others to be advised
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Charles Francis Essex made an excellent courtier. As the son of Nathaniel Essex, a land-less diplomat, he had little to his name that he had not procured by his own devices, and luckily for him those devices were considerable.
When Princess Raven of Symkaria travels to Genosha to fulfil her marriage contract with its Crown Prince, she finds himself caught up in the storm brewing between Prince Erik and Sebastian Shaw, the Regent of the realm. She can only be thankful that her trusted advisor and friend Charles is with her; but as she's about to discover, he's got his own agenda. A modern day royalty AU.
circa Regna tonat (around the throne thunder rolls) - Thomas Wyatt, 1536
Being an alternative history of events in the Kingdoms of Genosha and Symkaria in the years leading up to unification.
The official histories drafted during the reign of the House of Marko recount the events leading up to the rule of Kurt III thus:
The last days of Brian II were dark times, full of unrest and unprecedented depravity. It was near universally acknowledged that the weakness of the Crown was to blame. The House of Xavier had allowed their royal blood to become diluted through marriage to the low-born, and Brian II did not have power enough to enforce the peace. Few were surprised when the King died of a weak heart, followed swiftly by the child Prince.
In the bloody struggle that ensued, one man emerged with honour intact, wielding the power that was the birthright of the royal houses of Symkaria and their sister kingdom Genosha. Kurt III, head of the House of Marko, which traces its descent through the same lines as the House of Xavier, and which had never allowed its blood to become tainted, became the rightful new ruler of Symkaria. The two Houses were united through marriage when Kurt III wed Brian II's widow Queen Sharon, and thus began the rule of the House of Marko, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity.
As most are now aware, this is not what happened. This alternative history is the story of how the truth came to light.
Part I
Charles Francis Essex made an excellent courtier. As the son of Nathaniel Essex, a land-less diplomat, he had little to his name that he had not procured by his own devices, and luckily for him those devices were considerable. It was almost uncanny, the way he always knew when to be amusing and when to be serious, always disappearing and appearing at exactly the right moment.
He was highly popular at court - some would say to an improper extent - and had by a combination of luck and design become a confidant to His Majesty's only daughter, the Princess Raven. When the Princess became engaged to be married to the Crown Prince of Genosha, it was natural for the King to send him along as a trusted advisor.
"How do I look?"
Charles paced a circle around Raven, gaze tracking from the golden circlet on her head to the shine of her polished red heels. "Poised, untouchable, beautiful. Everything a princess should be."
Raven made a most un-princess-like face. "Urgh. I hate this. I hate pretending. If all anyone knew of me was this I think I'd go mad."
Charles pulled her closer by the wrist and kissed her hair, her forehead, the soft, perfumed skin of her temple. "It's all right. I'm here. I know the Raven who throws amazing tantrums and knows how to wrap anyone around her little finger. I know the real you."
"Thank God someone does," Raven said mulishly, although she'd relaxed in his embrace and was fighting a smile. "You know, half the Palace thinks we're fucking."
"Half the Palace thinks I've fucked the other half," Charles said. A few silky strands of Raven's gold hair had come loose. He tucked them back behind her ear, humming thoughtfully. "I'm sorry, a lack of discretion on my part shouldn't reflect on you."
Raven rolled her eyes. "Charles, I don't mind."
Charles adjusted her circlet. "You have to mind. Remember, now. You're playing a long game."
"It's not my game, it's my father's. I'm nothing but a pawn."
Raven said it calmly, like she really was a dutiful daughter resigned to her fate. Only the flintiness of her gaze hinted at the truth. He placed two fingers under her chin, pressing in gently until she raised her head, so that she was looking down at him.
"That's where you're wrong. It won't matter what His Majesty wants, not when you're hundreds of miles away. You don't have to be a pawn. Be the queen."
"I'm glad you're going with me," Raven said, very solemnly.
Charles smiled his polished, precise smile. "Always happy to serve, Your Highness."
* * *
The flight from Aniana to Hammer Bay normally took three hours. In the King's private jet, they could cut it down to two. Raven found herself wishing she'd somehow convinced her father to let her fly commercial. That way, at least, it would feel like she'd actually gone somewhere else. With a full escort it was going to be palace to limo to jet to limo to palace, and with her movement sure to be restricted for her first few months in Genosha, she might as well have not left Aniana at all.
But her father and the Genoshan delegation both wished for speed and discretion, so it was the royal treatment or nothing.
Some of her maids had gazed out the windows as they left the tarmac, tearfully bidding their homeland goodbye. Raven supposed she might feel the same way in a month or so, when the strangeness of a new culture got to her. For now, she was simply excited, a caged bird flying free.
If Charles felt anything at all about leaving his home country behind, it didn't show on his face. He looked as if the cup of coffee he was poring held all the mysteries of the universe.
"Here you are, Your Highness. Drink up, I suspect you'll need the energy."
There were times when she wondered what kind of young man volunteered for a role usually played by ladies in waiting, and did it impeccably. At first she'd thought he hoped to gain some advantage by seducing her. It wasn't an unusual thought; she'd been fending off advances ever since she turned fifteen, and was already quite good at rejecting men of all stations.
In some ways, Charles was just like those stupid nobles' sons. He was charming, confident to a fault, and pretty enough to lean on his looks. But as she'd quickly discovered when she tried to let him down with some grace, he was nothing like them in the ways that counted.
That was why she wouldn't swap him for anyone, especially when she was heading into the unknown.
Raven took a careful sip of her coffee. "So. What do we know about my future husband?"
"Quite a lot, as it happens," Charles said. His smile was approving; he liked that she'd thought to ask. "The most important thing for your purposes is that he really should be Erik V by now. Jakob II died fifteen years ago."
"Meaning - meaning he's being kept from the throne. By who?"
"Exactly, yes. My sources say the culprit is the Regent, Sebastian Shaw, otherwise known as His Grace the Duke of Terrigen. Big duchy, very nice court in Carrion Cove. The title's only his by marriage, though. Terrigen belongs to the House of Frost, and he's got no say there. Rumour says that he and the Duchess don't get along."
And that was why she kept him around.
"Does she come to court?"
"Sometimes. Her name is Emma, you'll want to keep an eye on her."
Emma of Terrigen. That name sounded familiar. Something her father had said - "Both of them have royal blood?"
"Yes. It is said that the Duchess can read minds. Limits - I'm not sure about. Shaw's is to do with energy."
Raven nodded. "Do you think I should let on about my power? Hank says I shouldn't."
Charles' expression turned thoughtful at the mention of her personal physician, Doctor Hank McCoy, who was currently dozing about half a dozen seats down.
"He's right, although I'm not sure his reasoning matches mine. You'll probably have to demonstrate a bit for the Prince's satisfaction, but I'd advise keeping your secrets as closely as you can. Don't let them know the full extent of what you can do."
In their two years together she'd hardly ever seen him look so serious. For the first time, she felt apprehensive about what awaited her upon landing.
Trust no one. Right.
"Worse case scenario?"
"Exactly," Charles said approvingly.
Her power wasn't much good for combat, and she couldn't hold a full transformation for long. If she needed to hide, though, it could come in very handy.
The powers of the royal houses of Genosha and Symkaria were something of a taboo topic; the relative strengths and weaknesses of those powers even more so. Raven vividly recalled getting cuffed by her elder brother the Crown Prince as a child when she had asked him why his strengthening power only worked on one part of the body at a time.
"How powerful is Erik? Wasn't his mother low-born?"
Charles raised his eyebrows. "What did I tell you when you argued with His Majesty two weeks ago? The dilution of blood is a myth. It doesn't actually matter. Look at the King your father - hardly any power to speak of. And yet you've enough to burn."
The arguement had been about the Queen her mother, who had died - some say of a broken heart, although never in her hearing - when Raven was just ten years old.
Her father had ordered her to never speak of that common drunk again.
All her life, Raven had been in awe of her royal father. The distance he kept from her only made him seem greater, like a figure of myth. But at that moment she saw him for what he truly was, and a previously soft part of her became hard as diamond.
"It's treason to talk about the King my father like that, as you well know," she said, not even pretending to mean it.
She only noticed that her hand was shaking when Charles enveloped it in between both of his. Then he looked at her as if she was the only person in the world, and it ceased to matter.
"That's why I can only be honest with you."
*
As the royal jet circled Astoria Airport on the way to landing, Hammer Bay stretched out before her in bold splashes of colour, all vivid blues and greens, and Raven thought she'd never seen anything so beautiful. Aniana already seemed dull in comparison.
"Ready for your public, Your Highness?" said Johanna, her chief lady-in-waiting.
Raven snorted in a most un-lady-like manner. "You're kidding, right?"
The Regent of Genosha had bid her bring as many servants as she liked, but restricted her to only one lady of rank, a stipulation she'd protested vigorously until her father shut her down. It turned out to be a moot point, anyway, when only Johanna turned out to be willing to abandon her own life and follow her princess abroad.
Lady Johanna Morales was the third daughter of a minor Earl, sarcastic, headstrong and not much liked at court; Raven was not close to her. Despite all of that, she was glad that Johanna had volunteered. At least she talked to Raven as if she was a grown-up, and her abrasive honesty would be welcome in a new land where Raven would have to guard against false friends.
Charles' hand landed on her shoulder. "Don't worry, there's no public to speak of. The Genoshans didn't want to make too much fuss before the actual wedding."
"Surely that's an insult," Hank said from behind her. She didn't need to see his face to know the indignant expression that would be on it. He'd been wearing it increasingly often over the past two weeks. "He's not marrying some commoner. Her Highness is the daughter of a King."
"I rather think that's the point," Charles said. He squeezed her shoulder before giving her a light push. "Come on, Your Highness, let's meet your groom to be. I hear he's very handsome."
Johanna barked a harsh laugh. "So that's why you wanted to come along, Essex."
"Oh, no. Quite frankly, I don't think the Prince has any hope of matching up to the standards set by your darling brother, Johanna," Charles said sweetly.
If looks could kill, he'd be a puddle on the carpeted floor. His smile never wavered as Johanna glared.
Raven giggled. She couldn't help it. And once she started, she couldn't stop either, until Johanna had to hold her up and she could hardly breathe. Strangely, she felt a lot better.
"Thanks, guys. I think I'm good to go now."
As they lined up in preparation for descending onto the tarmac, she heard Johanna's voice again, hushed this time. "Please never tell me if you actually did sleep with Ferdinand."
(Raven privately thought - and would never, ever say out loud - that Ferdinand's prospects were far too minor for Charles to bother with, based on his rumoured track record.)
Charles laughed. "Of course not."
That laugh had become so familiar that it warmed something inside her to hear it. She squared her shoulders as the stewardess came forward to lead her out.
It was a beautiful day in Hammer Bay. Raven fancied she could taste the salt of the sea on the air with each breath, and for a moment her heart was light.
She took a few more deep breaths, put away her fancies and became the princess.
Prince Erik was just as handsome as reports claimed. He was very tall, very thin, and had a face that seemed carved from stone, all clean lines, chiseled features and the whole just as forbidding as any statue. The older, patrician man standing behind him seemed positively friendly by comparison, even if his smile made Raven distinctively uneasy. This must be the infamous Regent.
When she stopped at the appropriate distance, the Prince took a step forward. His head whipped around when he noticed that the Regent had done the same thing, and it took him a moment too long to hide his displeasure.
Raven couldn't help but judge him for the slip. She couldn't fathom how anyone could grow up in a royal palace without working out a way to conceal their temper. The thought bought on a vivid memory of her governess Elisabetta telling her to keep something in her pocket that she could squeeze when she felt her own temper boiling over, and she had to work to keep her smile from going all wobbly.
"Welcome to Genosha, Princess," the Prince said stiffly.
Raven knew she was supposed to curtsey, but something kept her rooted to the spot, standing ram-rod straight, staring up into his face. "Raven. We're to be married, Your Highness. I think you can refer to me by name."
The Prince's face split into a wide smile that seemed perfectly genuine and was no less unsettling for it. "Then you must call me Erik. I insist." Then he paused, long enough for the suspicion that he was considering ignoring protocol before turning to indicate his companion. "May I present the Regent of Genosha, Sebastian Shaw."
Raven inclined her head. "Your Grace."
"Your Highness," Shaw returned with a genteel smile. "I hope your first impressions of Genosha have been favourable."
"Oh, yes. It's such a beautiful country," Raven said quickly. She had the familiar, creeping feeling that another conversation was being conducted over her head, like one of her father's hissed arguments over the phone.
"A land worthy of the great queen Your Highness will make," Charles murmured, loud enough that it was definitely not intended to be a private comment. Raven saw Erik's gaze shift and fix, laser-like, on the man standing a little behind her.
"And this is?"
Raven realized that she hadn't planned how she was going to introduce Charles. Officially, he didn't even have a diplomat's commission.
"My apologies. This is Charles Essex, a dear friend of mine at court."
Shaw raised his eyebrows and Raven keenly felt for the first time the lack of a title preceding Charles' name. She should have asked her father to ennoble him, screw what gossip would have said about it.
Charles himself seemed cheerfully oblivious to the condescension. He bowed very low, straightening with his polished courtier's smile. "Your Highness, Your Grace. It's an honour to be here."
"Doing what?" Erik said abruptly.
Raven had to fight down her own flare of temper. Fortunately, Shaw pre-empted her by making a quelling gesture, only subsiding when Erik glared at him. "Really, Your Highness - "
"Whatever the royal couple-to-be requires of me," Charles said. Probably no one else heard the laugh in his voice, but she sure did. He inclined his head at the jet, all but ignoring the head of state and heir to the throne, who were both giving him thoughtful looks. "Your Highness, shall I make arrangements for your luggage to be transported to the Palace?"
Hell no, you're not leaving me alone with these two.
Raven shook her head. "Johanna can do that."
She had the uncomfortable, prickly feeling of being closely watched the entire time as she gave Johanna instructions on what needed to be done. When she was finished, though, both Shaw and Erik had their poker faces back on.
If that's how you want to play it...
Raven pulled on her best smile. "Well, shall we go?"
*
She'd ended sitting next to Erik in the sleek black stretch limo, with Shaw, Charles and a gorgeous young woman ("It's such an honour, Your Highness. I'm Angel Salvadore, I head up the Crown Prince's household.") on the other side.
If Shaw was disgruntled to be seated next to two commoners, he was wise enough to disguise it underneath an ingratiating smile.
"I apologize for the unseemly haste. His Highness has been pushing for your arrival ever since you came of age."
Beside her, Erik had gone very still. It was easy, then, to work out what she had to say. "That's not a problem. I wanted to come earlier, actually, but the King my father wouldn't allow it."
It was amazing what a few words could do. She now felt like she was sitting beside an actual human being instead of a statue. Erik turned to her with a smile. "Would you like a drink?"
The metal door of the small fridge opened without anyone touching it. Raven felt the beginnings of a real smile on her face.
"Just a cola, if you have one. Thank you."
She sipped her drink quietly until the prickly feeling of being watched returned again. This time it was Charles raising his eyebrows at her. At first, she thought it was a comment on her sensible choice of drink. Then she followed his gaze to the world outside her window and understood, as always, what he'd meant for her to do.
Someone clearly wanted the arrival of the Princess of Symkaria to go unnoticed. In which case it was in her best interests to be conspicuous, and that was something Raven had always been good at.
She leaned across to the intercom and thumbed it on. "Stop, please. Could you park on the side of the road?"
The driver sounded utterly confused. "Your Highness - "
"Please? Just for a few minutes?"
There was quite a long pause. "As you wish."
When she turned back to the rest of the limo, Erik and Shaw were both staring at her again. She put on her most innocent smile. "I want to see my new home. And my people should get a chance to see me."
Neither of them were looking at Charles, so they completely missed the pride and approval lighting up his bright eyes.
*
Outside, the breeze felt wonderful on her skin, and the smell of the ocean was intoxicating. Their poor driver had a hell of a time parking a massive limo in the meager spaces provided by the side of the road, though, and they were attracting attention, just as she'd wanted.
She approached a street vendor selling ice cream. There was an idea. Were princesses allowed to eat street food in Genosha? "Good morning."
The sandy-haired young man minding the stall gave her a rather obvious once-over, and stood up straighter. "Hey, miss. Are you a tourist?"
I wish.
"Not exactly. I'm Raven of Symkaria."
She let her hair go copper red. With such localized transformations she could easily hold the change for hours, and it was terribly distinctive as far as demonstrations went.
The potential customer hovering behind her got it first. "Oh my God, It's the Princess! Princess Raven!"
Thank God somebody reads nobility gossip.
The ice cream vendor was now staring, slack-jawed. "W-what are you doing in Hammer Bay, Highness?"
Raven found her most camera-ready smile. "Don't you know? I'm here to get married to your Prince Erik."
She could hear the click and flash of cameraphones; no doubt someone was taking video too. Perfect.
"Well, I'm off to the Palace with my intended. It was really nice seeing all of you."
Charles helped her back into the limo with a whispered well done.
* * *
Erik had always found the ceremonial duties expected of him far more tiring and onerous than military service ever was, but even he was not usually this taxed by half a day's worth of entertaining his bride-to-be.
She wasn't the problem; in fact, she seemed perfectly lovely, every bit as suitable as the Ambassador had promised. He could very easily see himself married to her. It was spending so much time with Shaw that grated on his nerves.
Just as he was about to make his excuses and escape, Angel had given him a meaningful look and gestured to the audience chamber in his private rooms. So Shaw wanted to talk things over. Wonderful.
Come on, he told himself. You've endured staring into this man's eyes and wondering whether his was the hand that ended your parents' lives for fifteen years, what's a few more weeks? Months, at the most. With marriage, the Laws of Succession would kick in, and then -
Then Erik would have the answers he'd been looking for, by whatever means necessary.
"What did you think of the Princess?" Shaw said.
"She seemed fine," Erik replied flatly. Then, realising his error (Angel was giving him her patented unimpressed look behind Shaw's back) he went on quickly. "Very beautiful. Lively. I'm happy with her."
Shaw smirked. That pause had been too long after all. "Well, good. Personally, I'm curious about that young man of hers."
"Charles Essex, bosom friend and close confidant of the Princess," Angel said instantly. Trust her to know the latest gossip, even on new arrivals. "Interesting that he's here. I've heard that they're lovers."
Shaw laughed. "A princess bringing her lover along as dowry? They sure do things strangely in Symkaria. Well, Your Highness?"
Erik very carefully refrained from baring his teeth. "I will call on the Princess' entourage this afternoon to make further arrangements. We should put out a joint press release on the upcoming wedding."
Whatever her motivations, Raven's little stunt at the beach had made a public announcement absolutely necessary. Shaw's genteel mask flickered - for the briefest moment, but long enough for Erik to catch him - when he realized that he'd been defeated on that count.
"As you wish. If there's nothing else I'll take my leave, Your Highness."
Erik waved him off, trying not to appear too eager.
It was sad day indeed when the Prince of the realm had no almost one he could trust, but that was exactly the situation Erik found himself in. Even Angel, who he had known for more than ten years, had come to him from the glittering court of the Duchess of Terrigen, and the Duchess herself was the most untrustworthy, self-interested ally of them all.
"He prompted her," Angel said thoughtfully.
"Excuse me?"
"Essex, I saw him prompt Her Highness before she asked to leave the limo." Her smile turned mischievous. "I don't think it's a simple case of a girl being silly enough to bring her lover along, however cute he is."
Erik didn't think so either. He hadn't from the moment Essex had spoken up to cover for Raven when Shaw had attempted to lure her into error - a land worthy of the great queen Your Highness will make, indeed. No idle remark, that; nothing less than a calculated shot across Shaw's bows.
Then there was the way he had looked at Erik with blue eyes that seemed all too knowing, not a flicker in their still depths when Erik had tried to provoke him. The unsettling red curve of his smile.
Erik gave himself a mental shake. Now was definitely not the time to dwell. "Why didn't you say this while the Regent was here?" he asked Angel, a lot more peevishly than she deserved.
Unfortunately, Angel had been able to read him like a book for years. She smiled like she knew exactly why he was suddenly so ill-tempered. "Your Highness knows perfectly well why."
Moments like these he was almost completely convinced that she had to be on his side. But he couldn't be sure. Sometimes that seemed like Shaw's greatest success, making sure Erik was friendless because he couldn't ever afford to trust anyone.
* * *
Raven's new rooms were lavish, almost ridiculously so. It might have been someone's idea of a joke to give her a set of rooms that looked like the inside of a girl's dollhouse, all pastels and flowery wallpaper, but the couches were incredibly comfortable and the audience room had spectacular views of the Imperial Gardens, so she wasn't going to complain too much.
After a day of sitting like a princess, being able to slouch on the ridiculous, massive white leather coach felt amazing. "Johanna did a good job getting everything settled so fast."
"I'm glad she's here. We're going to need all the advantages we can get," Charles said tersely, his tone completely at odds with his usual boneless sprawl.
"What's wrong?"
Charles took a sip of his tea, considering. "The Regent doesn't want the marriage to go ahead. I'm fairly certain he was the one who arranged for your arrival to be so low-key. Well done again, by the way. That was brilliant."
Raven ducked his head so that he wouldn't see her blush. "I just wanted to see the beach."
"Mmm. Really, now," Charles said warmly.
"Well, maybe your scheming has rubbed off on me a little." Raven frowned. "I need to know more about Angel Salvadore. Aren't heads of household supposed to be...older?"
Charles set his teacup down carefully. "Jealous?"
"Why should I be? I hardly know the Prince. This marriage was't exactly my idea," Raven said dismissively. Then she remembered what she'd been meaning to tease Charles about. "Speaking of which, I think Hank is jealous of you. He was giving us some strange looks earlier."
That got his attention, just as she'd thought. He leaned forward, bracing an elbow against the armrest and resting his chin on his palm. "Really. Because I touch you casually?" A thoughtful pause. "Do you want to make him jealous, Your Highness? We can do that."
Now she really was blushing. "He's a good doctor. But I - I don't know."
Hank was a good friend. He made her feel safe and warm. Maybe that was what she was supposed to be looking for in a man, but a part of her was waiting for the spark she'd been reading about and seeing on screen all her life, and she had certainly never felt anything like that.
"You're young yet, you've got plenty of time for lovers," Charles said lightly; teasing, but not without the weight of empathy.
Raven snorted. "You're what, five years older than me?"
"Six, actually, and I've had plenty of time."
Raven swatted at his shoulder with a stray coat hanger until he put the lascivious grin away. "You always know what people need. What about the Crown Prince of Genosha? Does he need anything?"
Charles was silent a long time before he gave an unexpectedly serious answer. "A friend, maybe."
Raven grinned. "Up for a challenge?"
"A challenge is, I think, probably the correct term," Charles said slowly, the beginnings of a dangerous smile on his face. "He's definitely going to be difficult about it."
"Then you absolutely have to try. If anything, it'd be a novelty to see someone say no to you at long last."
She could have swore she saw a strange look in Charles' eyes then, but it was gone in an instant, and all that remained was the same smile. "You over-estimate my charm. People reject me all the time, you just don't see it."
"Don't be modest. You have a gift."
"Then it would be remiss of me to refuse."
*
Before Charles left on his business (or 'fishing trip' as he called it), he'd told her not to wander too far. In theory, she had the run of the Palace, but none of them were keen to test that just yet, not when their position was so uncertain.
An hour later, Raven was wandering the gilded halls alone, having left Johanna with the rest of the work that needed to be done to settle her household in the Palace. She blamed extreme boredom.
She was staring at the massive double doors leading to the gardens, wondering how much trouble she'd be in for going for a walk, when the doors slid open and a striking woman stopped right in front of her.
The woman's tall and slender form was wrapped in a massive blue cloak, her face covered by a gold mask.
"Your Highness has beautiful hair."
It was still in her favourite shade of copper red. Raven blushed. She was so caught up in the woman's low, throaty voice that she almost failed to notice the obvious problem.
The mask had no eye holes. So how could -
Power granted by royal blood, Raven realized with a shock. This woman must be a noble.
"Thank you. Ah - may I ask your name?"
She hadn't fumbled an introduction since she was a very young girl. Thankfully, the other woman seemed charmed rather than put off by her hesitancy.
"Of course. They call me Madame Destiny, because I can see the future, or something close to it. Welcome to Genosha, Queen-to-be."
The warmth of her voice made Raven certain that she was smiling beneath the mask.
Then she reached up with long-fingered hands and took it off, and Raven felt her eyes go wide. She had delicate features; high cheekbones, a sharp nose, wide dark eyes. Set into stillness, they were striking. If she laughed, or even smiled with real happiness, instead of a faint shadow of it, she'd be beautiful.
Raven wanted, suddenly, desperately, to make her laugh.
Unfortunately, her mouth had instead found a new tendency to babble. "I think yours are the first words of welcome I've heard today that were actually aimed at me as a person. I'm grateful to you, Madame."
It wasn't a laugh, but she did get a new smile, private and affectionate, that made her feel strangely light. "You'll like it here. The caged bird flying free at last."
Hadn't she thought just that, when the royal jet had left Aniana? And yet, since then the first moment of true freedom she'd had was this conversation with a stranger, with whom she could be nothing but honest.
"I hope so. There's so much I want to do - "
"There you are, Your Highness - Oh." Angel came to a stop, contrition all over her face. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Highness, Your Grace."
The lady inclined her head politely, although her soft smile had vanished. "It's all right, Angel. I should go. Until we meet again, Your Highness."
And with that, she glided away.
"Who was that?" Raven said blankly. She felt like she'd just been staring into the blazing Genoshan sun.
"Irene Adler, Countess of Seron." Something of her thoughts must have shown on her face, because Angel grinned and went on. "In her own right. Don't worry, she's not married."
Crap. Since when was she so transparent?
"I - I didn't - "
Angel sobered instantly. "Listen to me. I'm a survivor above everything else, Your Highness. That means I won't do anything stupid. Don't worry, your secret's safe."
"You promise? If this gets out - "
Charles was - she didn't know how he was going to react, which was scary in itself.
Angel smiled reassuringly. "It won't. Now, would you like me to contrive another meeting?"
* * *
Prince Erik, sole son and heir of the House of Lehnsherr, the man who would be King of Genosha. Charles had called him a challenge with a smile, and he was certainly determined to be difficult. Unfortunately for him, Charles could be difficult too.
They were in the Symkarian Wing of the Palace, renovated five years ago in preparation for the royal marriage. To Charles it seemed like some architecture student's homework gone wrong, a mock-Gothic monstrosity of high ceilings, arches everywhere and far, far too much limestone. Raven's new quarters might have been decorated by a five-year-old girl, but at least they were comfortable. The same could not have been said of the wood-backed couches in the audience room here. Not that either of them were sitting. Charles had to stand when Erik turned up, and Erik, it appeared, preferred to pace while he talked.
"What did His Majesty the King think about you coming here with Raven?"
"I don't know. He must have approved of it, since he let me," Charles said. He was being borderline insolent, and they both knew it. For a courtier with no title to speak of to talk to the Crown Prince of a foreign country like that was unthinkable. Either Erik's hold on his temper was better than advertised, or else he found Charles' cheek entertaining.
"I strongly doubt that. The slightest hint of scandal, and I could call the marriage off."
Charles smiled. "With all due respect, Your Highness, you were never going to do that."
Erik stopped mid-step. He turned, military-sharp, and prowled toward Charles, eyes fixed on his face as if he could open Charles up by sheer force of will.
"What is it you want from me?"
Charles' back hit the wall. He let his lashes dip and his smile turn coy. "I should be asking that. Your Highness."
Erik took another step forward, bracketing Charles in. He had a swift impression of green eyes, bright as jewels and twice as hard, before Erik bent his head, his lips inches from the shell of Charles' ear. "You can't possibly imagine that you have anything to offer the Crown Prince of Genosha."
Charles did not try to fight his natural reaction, which was to shiver. He tilted his head back and laughed, soft and intimate. As he'd thought, that alone was enough to make Erik draw back and frown thunderously at him. Charles summoned up his sweetest smile. "On the contrary, I think you need all the friends you can get."
The words themselves were harmless. It was their implication that was going to make Erik angry. Right on cue, he flinched back and made as if to leave the room.
Charles raised his voice and filled it with certainty and authority unbecoming a lowly courtier. "If a Prince is not married he has not attained majority; if he has not attained majority he cannot rule on his own behalf. It's obvious why you're in such a hurry to marry the Princess."
Erik stopped walking. The line of his back was rigid with tension, as if he wanted more than anything to leave, but he stayed almost unnaturally still.
"Go on."
"Thank you. Consider: the Regent has been de facto ruler of Genosha for fifteen years. Men grow accustomed to having power. Do you really think he'll give up his position so easily?"
The silence was thick enough to cut with a knife. For a moment, Charles was genuinely uncertain of the outcome. Then Erik chuckled.
When he turned to face Charles again, the look on his face was hard-edged. "Not just a brightly-coloured songbird, then."
Charles bit his lip, feeling the intensity of that gaze as if it could generate real heat. An older Count had once told him that he had a complexion made for blushing. From the way Erik was now smirking, his previously grim mood forgotten, he agreed.
"Even a canary can be a bird of prey, Your Highness," he said softly.
Erik's mouth stretched itself into an unsettling grin. "What about a raven?"
Charles blinked - that he had not anticipated. But no matter - Erik was right, things would proceed more smoothly with her involved. "You see? We're beginning to understand each other, my friend," he said, and sketched a bow.
When he straightened, he had to suppress a flash of sweet triumph at the look on Erik's face. Behind the smug grin, the bright green eyes fixed on his face were perplexed. No, more than that, fascinated, and completely taken aback by it like someone unfamiliar with the feeling.
Often the coldest, most forbidding people were the ones most vulnerable to a little warmth. If Erik felt himself to be feared and deferred to he'd have grown bored quickly. Right now, he probably didn't know what to think. Charles felt himself smile.
Once, Raven had said to him, shaking her head and grinning ruefully, "when you get your hooks into someone you really play them for all they're worth."
Necessity is the mother of invention, my dear Raven.
Part II
Notes: worryingly, most of this was produced while the Kooks' cover of Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People (you better run, better run, faster than my bullet) was stuck in my head.
For the purposes of this fic, I'm not going to specify where the two fictional kingdoms are. I've obviously had to move them since comics!Genosha is in Africa and comics!Symkaria is a small Balkan country. Aniana is the capital city of comics!Symkaria. Carrion Cove and Hammer Bay are the only place names associated with Genosha that I could find.
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