The Rise Of A Queen

Chapter 3: An Announcement

A R A B E L L A ' S P.O.V

~ Two months later

Today was the people's day, one of the very first new traditions I started as Queen. Stupid name, I know, but I figured that it was best to be a blunt as possible when it came to new traditions.

I started it as a way of celebrating all the hard work that our people do, including the miners and the girls from the academy since they arguably have to do the worse job of all.

Being a wife to some stuck up old rich man.

The dress I chose to wore today was more simplistic than the others. A simple mossy green gown, that hugged my body like a glove, and gently flowed out at the bottom. The hem merely scraped the gown, but was long enough to hide the gold flats I chose to wear underneath.

I let Rowan brush a coating of foundation onto my face and apply some mascara but that was it. People's day was all about the people who survived on the bare minimum and wearing an extensive amount of jewellery and a fine amount of make up would just make me gaudy.

Giving me her hand, Rowan pulled me up to my feet. I groaned slightly, my ankles still a little swollen and my throat on fire from the mass throwing up I went though this morning.

We'd just had our first scan last week, and it was so weird. We were watching our baby, this small bean like shape wiggling around on the screen. That bean like shape was inside of me and soon they would be in my arms.

I was trained to be a mother, trained to be a wife, and even though I often forced myself to forget the training I received from the academy... sometimes it can't help but sink in.

I guess it would be the same now with the baby.

"You're already showing!" Rowan squealed, placing her hand on my imaginary bump. Hardin, Rory and Flo were all convinced that you could see my pregnancy bump already forming but they're just being delusional.

It looks like I ate one too many burgers last night, and Wyatt and Xander seem to be the only rational minds who agree with me.

Rowan already had an inkling about my pregnancy so it didn't really come as a shock to her, but everyone else took it with surprise . Xander almost fainted upon hearing the news and then gave Hardin a little secret talk that neither of them would tell me about.

Flo walked into room, an air of elegance surrounding her, as the train of her cream white dress trails behind her. Her fiancé, Daniel saunters in, his eyes fixed firmly on her and I smiled when I recognised the emotion flickering in his eyes. Love.

"Hey Daniel," He greets me with a bow, before I can stop him. "Remember I'm just Arabella."

His shyness creeps in and he simply nods, tucking his hands behind his back as if on duty. "How are you feeling Ari? Any pains, aches, queasiness?" I shook my head, letting Flo examine me for...whatever it was she was examining me for.

"I am a little nervous though." I admitted, thinking about announcing the pregnancy to everyone today. The advisors said that it would be best to tell the kingdom about the pregnancy on a day where everyone will be watching the Royal broadcast.

Whatever, as long as they don't start picking out colours for the nursery.

Flo sighed, and pulled me into a hug. "It will be okay and if anything, this pregnancy will raise the audience's hopes. It will make them happier and your likability will increase. You know what everyone loves more than a Royal wedding...a Royal baby."

I laughed, hugging her again, but quickly regretting it when my stomach starts to churn. "Excuse me," I mumbled, before running into the bathroom.

I almost miss the toilet but manage to make it just in time as chunks began to come up. Clutching the toilet, I brace myself for another wave of nausea.

Suddenly the door clicks open, and my senses are on high alert. I told everyone that I do not want them in here with me if I am throwing up.

It's disgusting, and embarrassing.

"Shh, I'm here baby." Hardin? Hardin was here. Before I could even glance back, I threw up again, and my body shivered as he raised my hair and pulled it back so it wouldn't get covered in vomit.

After I was finished, I pressed the flush and sat back against the wall, still panting for air. I hated throwing up, mostly because it brought up bad memories for me, memories I otherwise wish to forget.

The time when I was bulimic was dark and scary, and I went through it all alone but since Hardin and I married I hadn't had a single urge but now...I was pregnant. I was going to gain weight, get bigger and I wasn't sure how my mind would cope with that.

"Are you feeling better baby?" His hand was gently brushing back my hair, his soothing touch helping my erratic breathing to slowly subside.

"I'm good, it's just morning sickness." A look of sheer concern was plastered onto his face, making me feel a hundred times worse. Reaching out my hand, I touch his hand and squeezed it as hard as I could. "I'm fine Hardin." He gave me a pointed look. "I really am fine."

Bringing our interlaced hands up to his mouth, he pressed two feathery kisses onto them. I smiled in what felt like forever. "Tell me if you feel sick again or tired okay? We can leave whenever you want."

I groaned. "God, why couldn't this have happened at one of those stupid stuffy balls I don't care about? People's day is, our thing, the one thing the advisors haven't managed to corrupt with their scheming. Something I actually look forward too."

Shuffling closer towards me, he wrapped his arms around my petite form, pulling me into his body. One hand rest on my stomach, whilst the other kept running over my hair. "I'm proud of you. People's day has become my favourite holiday and you did that. You made something ordinary into something completely spectacular."

"Thank you baby, just promise to hold my hand the entire time and I'll try not to puke all over our guests." He threw his head back laughing.

"I love you."

"Love you too Hardin, my king." He grinned, kissing me softly.

"My queen,"

***

We were waiting, standing before our thrones, hand in hand for the crowd to simmer down. Cameras and microphones were all pointing at us, as well as a hundred pairs of eyes.

Rory flashed me a reassuring smile, and Wyatt did the same, flanking me as Dahlia's general. Hardin had this stupid notion that just because I was pregnant meant that I needed more people to watch over me, that meant more guards, more maids, and the general of Dahlia to watch over me.

Everyone was waiting for Hardin to make his grand announcement. We were supposed to be officially declaring it people's day, but we were going to take this opportunity to announce the pregnancy too.

Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

Hardin raised his free hand high and just like that, the room fell silent. The crown upon my head was starting to feel heavy, and I could feel sweat trickling down my forehead but I was determined to stay strong.

As soon as this was down though, I was rushing straight to the bathroom.

"Good people of Dahlia, my Queen and I are here to officially declare this beautiful Sunday morning as People's day. A day which recognises and celebrates everyone who works hard and contributes to making Dahlia one of the strongest kingdoms in the world. On this joyous occasion, we also have a piece of wonderful news to share." Glancing over at me, he squeezed me hand, a signal for me to take the reigns.

"I am expecting, Dahlia will have an heir." The whole crowd erupted in celebration, and suddenly streamers and glitter explained coating us all.

I did not approve of that, and from the look on Hardin's face, he didn't either. Giving him a shrug, I mouthed for him to ignore it, noticing the silent look of rage in his eyes directed at Huxley and his band of advisors.

"Let's just have the best day ever, no-one can ruin this for us." I whispered, before he pulled me in for a mind numbing kiss in-front of the nation.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder, clearing their throat. I broke the kiss and turned to see Wyatt, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "Flo says it's time to talk."

Nodding, I tried to stop the feeling of queasiness from ruining my favourite part of the day. Hardin and I spent hours conversing with the public on this day, offering as much help as we can.

It was honestly enlightening to speak to so many of our people, many of which the Palace neglects.

I took a seat in my throne, a regal and elegant chair that had a plump red velvet cushion behind me for support, and golden arms which curved at the ends.

A huge line was beginning to form, with the palace gates open so anyone could join in on the festivities. We were in the open courtyard so there were stalls, rides, boats being sailed on the lake and my personal favourite...the carousel.

I rode it every year, although this time it may be a little harder to convince Hardin to let me go on it. He believes walking could injure the baby.

Hardin summoned the first person up, a middle aged woman and a little girl I assumed was her daughter. Smiling at the both of them, I took the lead.

"Hello, I'm Arabella. What's your names?"

"Darcy your highness," She curtsied and then gestured to the little girl. "This is Josie."

"And how old are you?" Josie began to shy away, and hide behind her mother, causing us to laugh. "You don't have to be scared. Here, touch my hand."

She tentatively walked toward me, reached out her hand and pressed her fingers to my palm. I closed my hand around hers and squeezed it slightly. "See, I'm just like you. Nothing to be scared about."

She gave me a toothy smile, before running back to her mother.

"Josie made your highnesses a picture," She nudged Josie forward, who was clasping a piece of paper tightly. I could tell she was still a little afraid, so I stood, walking down the three steps that lead to them.

The guards stiffened and stepped closer but I waved them off. Bending down, I slowly reached for the drawing and turned it around.

The picture was perhaps the most adorable thing I had ever seen. It was Hardin and I, from the crown on top of our heads, smiling and waving out to the crowd. She'd drawn herself holding my hand and her mother right besides her.

"This is beautiful, in fact it's so beautiful that I want to have it framed and placed in my room. On my desk, so every time I sit down, I can see it and think of the amazing little girl who drew it."

I snapped my fingers, causing a maid to run over. After whispering my request into her ear, she nodded and sped off. Flo came over carrying a basket we gave everyone we walked to. It was filled with all sorts of goodies but also essential items as well like new toothbrushes, sanitary towels for women etc.

The maid hastily rushed back, a black case in her hands. I took it off her, thanking her silently with a smile, and passed it over to Josie, who grabbed it curiosity.

"This is an art pack and it's filled with paints and crayons and oil pastels and paper. More than you could ever imagine. I want you to draw everything that you find exciting or funny, and also the things you find scary too. Then, next year on this very day I want you to come back and show me them all. I want to hear all about your year, okay?"

She nodded, and then threw her arms around my neck. I laughed, nearly falling back from the shock but quickly found my footing. The guard all came towards us, but I heard Hardin tell them to stand back.

"See you next year Josie," I tapped her nose, causing her entire face to light up.

"Thank you Arabella." That's how I knew I had succeed, when people saw the person behind the crown, when they saw me rather than the Queen.

I saw Josie and Darcy off, before returning back to my throne. Hardin smiled at me knowingly, and brought my hand up to his mouth when I sat down.

"That's why I love you," He murmured, eyes filled with adoration. I love you, I mouthed.

Then the next person stepped up.

***

We'd spent almost seven hours talking to people, and the line just seemed to get bigger and bigger to the point where I considered turning People's day into a whole weekend celebration.

Eventually, the line began to get smaller and I had been controlling my stomach all day but I was at the point where throwing up was my only option.

Hardin told me he would see the last people, so decided to take my leave. Rory and Flo, helped me down, and were escorting my back to my room.

I waved everyone goodbye, when suddenly someone stepped forward. They were screaming my name with such an urgency, it made my heart beat faster.

They were cloaked, a black hood covering their face, so when they ran past the barriers and straight towards me I froze.

Guards swarmed towards the cloaked figure, but they quick and agile, dodging each one effectively. Hardin stood from his throne and began to run towards me, Wyatt had unsheathed his blade and was right behind him.

I stumbled back, heading for the stairs, when the person yanked down the cloak. "Wait!" They screamed. A woman.

I glanced back, maybe only for a minute and met her eyes. Her blue eyes which held a sort of familiarity in them. For a moment I stopped.

"I'm your mother Arabella!"

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A/N: Yes!!! I'm so happy to finally share this with you!!

So, what do you think of the plot twist?

And about People's day?? I wanted to share some of the changes that Arabella ha made since becoming Queen!!