Obsessed With Fiction

Reader’s POV

I ran around chasing after the little squirt who was currently avoiding his bath-time before tripping up and landing square on my backside in a patch of tall Calla Lilies. They were a stunning shade of deep violet and brought back the memories of 6 summers ago. The day I was married off to my best-friend, Steve Rogers, Lord of Rosebury-upon-Sale. I chuckled to myself as my husband rounded the corner of the orangery with our son, covered in mud head to toe, a huge smile plastered on his face. The last few years had been trying at times, and unbearable in others but somehow, we managed to make it through.

“Frolicking in the flowers are we, my petal?” A deep laugh resonated from Steve’s chest as he took in the sight of me, dishevelled and dirtied from my tumble.

“Yes, it’s a rather delightful hobby I have found. Quite the thrilling end to chasing our little gremlin child. Now if you would be so inclined as to help your pregnant wife out of the flower bed, I would greatly appreciate it.”

“Come now love, you know I love to see you in a fluster, but I suppose it would do the baby no good leaving you there.”

I took the hand he so graciously offered me and took our muddied little boy from his father’s hold.

“Now honestly Charlie, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Prince as muddy and dirty as you are right now, you little rascal. Let’s get you cleaned up and fed, then maybe we can go and visit Uncle James before bedtime.”

----------------- 4 Years Earlier----------------

The King summoned us back to court, and what was meant to be a joyous visit quickly became a permanent stay. Upon our arrival we were greeted by a bleary-eyed Prince and an equally as troubled Princess. The King was dying and had called upon his advisor to help prepare for Bucky’s transition into power. To anyone else nothing would’ve seemed amiss, except it was.

When James’ back was turned, I had witnessed Princess Maia acting rather strangely, gathering bouquets of foxglove and trimmings of deadly nightshade. I was almost certain of her intentions but feared my own safety and so kept it to myself, until one night where I couldn’t bear the burden this knowledge held over me any longer.

“Steve, my love, I have something troubling my mind.” My voice came out a hushed and broken whisper.

“What worries you so my petal? I know it hasn’t been easy for you being back, and having to pretend to like Maia, I assure you that I am always here to listen to you and love you.”

“Well, you see, I think I know why the King is sick. On several occasions I have witnessed the Princess with my own eyes gathering bouquets of foxglove and cuttings from the nightshade bush down by the lily patch. I worry that she is poisoning the King, taking advantage of both his and James’ compromised states to hold a sway over decisions that will likely see our kingdom lost to that of her own father.”

I spoke confidently now, having been an integral part of the court for all my childhood. Steve knew better than to question my knowledge of how things ran. He also knew that I would be one of the first to notice if anything was awry, be that with the account books or even the numbers of armed men stationed at each watchtower. After the death of his wife the King only had James as an heir, and so, he vowed that in case any ill befall him I would also be trained, so that if required, I could become a successful Queen someday.

“Steve, I do believe wholeheartedly that this is all a set-up and that we have been blindly infiltrated by our enemy. Things aren’t adding up. The number of guards stationed at The Keep has been halved in sized since the King has fallen ill. It leaves the West of the kingdom in a precarious position. One where an attack could easily happen and be kept quiet. I don’t like the look of it, any of it, and something needs to be done before we are conquered, you are killed, and me resigned to a life of slavery and servitude at the hands of the despicable Wyvern family.” My voice broke and a sob tore through me at the thought of losing everything I have left to the family that has already taken so much from me, starting with my mother shortly after I was born.

“Hush my petal. Tears will do nothing to fix this. The King is aware of the situation, however in our absence the Prince has changed, and he has become blinded by his love for ‘his lily’, though I daresay snake would be the better term for that venomous bitch.” A scoff escaped Steve’s lips before he continued. “The reason the King summoned us is because he has seen what fate has befallen James. He has made his bed, albeit a rather uncomfortable bed, and now he will have to lie in it. The King wishes for you to become Queen after his passing. He wants to stop the plans of Maia’s family before their tendrils of poison can run further into our kingdom than they already have. You my love can bring all this to an end, and I believe you would be able to unite the Kingdoms in a peaceful treaty that could last.”

I curled up into Steve’s side placing a chaste kiss to his lips. He returned it with a hunger and passion before carding his fingers through my hair and tracing them along my jaw.

“Please my petal, let me chase away your worries, after all, if you are to be Queen, we shall need to work on producing some heirs.”

A smirk befell his lips before he ducked his head, nipping at my neck, knowing full well that I would cave to his carnal desires.

--------------- Present Day -------------

After having cleaned up the mucky Prince, Steve and I walked with him through the gardens as evening began to draw in. Fireflies filled the air as we made the trek to the rose garden. As a child it had been mine and Bucky’s favourite place to hide, and on more than one occasion hugs and kisses had been exchanged.

Today this garden holds a whole new meaning as at its centre, beneath a beautiful weeping willow, lay James’ grave.

------------- 3 Years Earlier ------------

Before the King’s passing, he ordered his kings-guard to imprison and execute the Princess for treason against the throne. She was hung at The Keep as a warning to her family that they were next. Their years of planning and scheming had come to an abrupt and distasteful end.

What the Wyverns deemed as an unlawful murder incited a full war between our Kingdoms, it saw both Steve and Bucky fighting on the front lines with me at the helm, as Queen. Soon I had treaties signed with other Kingdoms aligning us for generations to come, until the only one stood against the alliance was the Kingdom of the Serpents. The battle of Roseknappe in the Western borders was the bloodiest battle of all. By this time, I was no longer part of frontline action as I was holed up in the castle under the watchful protection of my elite Queens-guard. When news got out that I was with child the Wyverns stopped at nothing to try and kill me or at the least cause me harm enough for my body to rid itself of the heir I now lovingly grew inside of me. But they needn’t have worried.

When I was around 5 months along tragedy struck our kingdom. The arrival of my husband looking grey in pallor, with sunken eyes and covered in injuries was the first sign that something was very wrong. When the two had left to fight they rode off, side by side, settling any grievances they had over the arranged marriages and uniting to fight to save the Kingdom and keep me on the throne. Steve’s return signalled the end of an era and feelings in my gut that had been dormant for years surfaced in cry of grief so great that it silenced the birdsong for days. Although James was not King, he was still a beloved Prince. My first love and the person who would forever hold a piece of my heart.

In my grief-stricken state I had fallen and managed to land with the sharp riser of the marble stairs squarely in my abdomen. The shock I was in meant that I hadn’t noticed the blood that began pooling nor do I remember what happened over the next few weeks as the doctors and healers frantically worked to keep me alive.

“Steve? Steve? Where’s James? I…. I want to see him. I…” I was interrupted by Steve coming over and pulling me tight to his chest.

“Praise to the Old Gods, my petal, are you okay? Are you in any pain?” worry had seeped into his tone and what looked to be a pang of guilt crossed his normally stoic face. “My love, how much do you remember of the last three weeks?”

A confused expression befell my features before Steve decided to continue.

“Oh, my sweet love, James... James isn’t coming back. The fight at Roseknappe, he saved my life by taking the arrow that was meant to pierce my heart, he sacrificed himself because he wanted me to be able to return to you, so I could love you the way he was never allowed to. So that I could raise a family and keep our Kingdom strong. He died in my arms after begging me to pass you on this letter that he wrote, almost as if he knew he wouldn’t make it back from this war.”

Fresh tears began to fall as Steve handed me the bloodied paper.

My dearest Rose,

How I wish things had been different, and that it was I that got to hold you in my arms at the end of the aisle. I begged my father to change his mind, but he wouldn’t budge. I will never forgive myself for the horrid things I said to you when father made you queen. I was poisoned by the words of a traitor and knowing now I hurt the one true love of my life is the reason why I will fight so hard to save you.

If you are reading this it means I am gone my sweet girl. I know that you will grieve me but please, for my sake as much as your own, I want you to love Steve as wholly as you once loved me. I beg of you to take care of yourself and to keep me close as you grow through the years. I am sorry I will not be there to see my little nieces and nephews, but I know that you and Steve will be the most wonderful parents.

That day in the rose garden, after your first dance in front of the court, when I kissed you. I wanted to tell you then just how much I loved you, but I couldn’t do it. It’s almost as if in my heart I knew you would never truly be mine.

I love you my Rose and I will see you in the next life,

Your Prince,

Bucky

xx

4 months later after grieving the loss of the Prince, the Kingdom was celebrating, not just a victory of war and a long lasting treaty of peace, but the birth of their future King.

Prince Charlie James Buchanan Rogers, heir to the throne of Rosehall and Duke of Snowblossom Grove.

----------- Present Day ----------

“…… and that is the story of how your brave Uncle James battled the terrifying Wyverns to protect your mummy.”

I could hear Steve talking with Charlie as I sat on the bench staring blankly at the grave, wishing with every ounce of strength that I could, hoping to gain just one more moment with my soulmate.

“Come Charlie, let’s get you into bed, then tomorrow we can go riding and Papa can show you the waterfall where him and Uncle James decided to scare me into thinking that your Papa had drowned. Really, they just wanted mummy to go swimming with them, but they knew I wouldn’t go unless there was an emergency.”

After settling Charlie into bed, I took a stroll around the halls before heading to my shared chambers. Laying on the bed next to Steve he protectively wrapped his arms around me, as if he could shield me from the pain the world would throw at me.

“I love you Steven Grant Rogers. It may have taken me a while but, I have always cared for you, and I vow to you now that I will love you until my dying breath.”

“I know my petal, as I will love you, and Charlie, and this little one that we have yet to meet, until mine.”

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Originally they were going to propose that all other key workers (e.g. Police, Fire, Paramedics, Key retail workers, Teachers etc.) would be prioritised like our fellow Healthcare frontline workers were in Phase 1.

Now those of us in these fields, (myself included), have worked with at best mediocre PPE supplies for the last year, may have been periodically furloughed and kept everything running in the background so the people can be kept safe, kept fed and be able to keep their houses in working order.

We've been in contact with a general population who half the time don't care about social distancing, won't wear masks properly and who will yell at us for things that aren't our fault and are due to the pandemic we are in.

I went up to working full time this summer and was sometimes working 7 days in a row because we were so busy where I worked that we needed the extra staff. I have had full blown anxiety attacks about catching COVID and going to work because unlike others in my 'much less vulnerable' 18-29 age group when I get sick, I get very sick. A common cold will knock me on my ass for about a month and flu will kick my butt for about 3-4. If I get COVID I will most likely be hospitalised or if not I will be bedridden for a very long time. And if I can't work, I can't afford to pay my car insurance or my university accommodation rent.

This isn't a sob story to grab your attention this is a call to make our government be fairer in distribution of the vaccine. There are so many of my fellow key workers who across the country have died because of a lack of care from our government over the course of the last year. Everyone recognises that our NHS and healthcare workers are vital but no one seems to care for us, for those that have lost their lives to COVID doing our mundane jobs.

I have worked for the last year in a precarious situation, with horrific anxiety, and at times agoraphobia. I just want to be able to go to work without that worry but that won't happen until I have had my vaccine. Which is now not likely to happen until mid-late summer of this year. I know it could be worse but there are people who will have been happily working from home and not being in an at risk position who will get this vaccine before those that are at risk every minute they are in attendance at their job.

Reader’s POV

Many years ago, I fell in love with a Prince. He has the most beautiful chocolate brown hair that always falls in wild waves at his shoulders, whilst piercing blue eyes can convince you he can read into the deepest parts of your soul. That young Prince saved me in one of the darkest times of my life and convinced his father to allow me to remain at court with him and our best friend Steve.

His name? Prince James Buchanan Barnes.

Who am I to love a prince you ask?

That is something even I ask myself. I am a lowly court lady who is only there from his prince’s kindness. There is no way he could ever love me, let alone be the one to save me from my now nightmare of being taken away from my home to marry my unknown fiancé.

Tonight, as I took centre stage at court, I knew it was different. Tonight, I needed to express every raw emotion, through the song a Kiss From a Rose, in hopes that my eternal love might be able to read all that is written in my soul.

Bucky’s POV

I couldn’t do anything but stare at her. The shimmering gold and deep burgundy of her tutu glistened in the light of the ballroom. The way she danced with such fluid grace, letting every emotion flood through her in time with the music, pouring everything she wanted to express into the movements. Every leap and turn setting free her truth. She’d danced in this court hundreds of times before, but tonight, with the bittersweet notion of my engagement on my tongue, I watched enraptured as my beautiful rose danced as if she would never dance again. I fell in love with her when we were children and when I found out about my betrothal to another, I begged my father to let me marry her, the one true love of my life. I was met with solid resistance and firmly told that, should I refuse to marry the unknown woman I was now engaged to, I would be disowned.

“Steve, what am I going to do? I have to tell her how I feel even though I’m losing her forever. I feel as though she has to know the truth.” My voice wavered as I turned to my best friend and my father’s new advisor.

“Bucky, she doesn’t want to leave as it is to marry her fiancé, please don’t make this harder for the both of you. You’ve known for years that the day would come when we three would be separated. It’s time for you to grow up and be ready to take your true place in the court, with a wife to guide you and love you.”

My gaze fell to the half empty plate in front of me before returning to briefly meet her eyes. I could see the tears threatening to fall, no doubt misting up her vision. It broke me to see her this upset, infact, if I recall correctly, the last time I saw her cry was at her father’s funeral. I vividly remember holding her close to me that day as she sobbed into my chest, fearing that she would no longer hold a place in the court, and that she would be taken away from Steve and I. Now that fear was becoming a reality.

Steve’s POV

I knew watching her dance that this would be the last of y/n’s genuinely happy moments. The king had confided in me his plan and asked for my opinion. I had known from the second the words left his mouth that all three of our lives would be changed. The king insisted that Bucky marry a princess, and that it was the only way to save the kingdom from a war in the future. The King also realised that Y/N would pose as a threat to that, as he knew of his son’s feelings for the girl, he had grown to consider a daughter.

Unknown’s POV

My plan was coming along nicely. With the only person standing in my way taken care of I could now settle into the final stretch. Another small victory in the path of achieving the one thing I’ve always dreamed of.

Reader’s POV

The orchestra ended the song as I finished my turn sequence, before landing in a final, graceful arabesque. Hearing my heart in my ears a sudden feeling of dread came over me as the king beckoned me to the table, handing me a glass and preparing to address the court. I took my seat next to Steve who sat on the right-hand side of the King. Over the years the King has come to care for me as his own daughter, and I know that, whoever he has me engaged to, it is for what he sees as my benefit.

I glance over and smile at Bucky. We all knew what announcement would be made by the king, and we three knew our lives were about to be turned upside down.

“Lords and Ladies. This evening I gathered you all to celebrate. We are celebrating the engagement of my son, Prince James, to the beautiful Princess Maia. This union will ensure the survival of both kingdoms and end a centuries long warpath that we have been on. I would like to formally welcome the Princess and have her join our table at the seat next to my son.”

As she made her way up to join us the tears spilled, and I ran from the room. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Steve holding James back, before seating the prince once again and then following me from the room.

Bucky’s POV

As Maia came to sit in the open seat next to me, I watched as my rose ran from the room, tears freely falling down her now reddened cheeks. I rose to chase after her only to find Steve blocking my path. He pushed me back into my seat before lowering his head to whisper to me.

“Buck, I know you love her, but you can’t. For the sake of the Kingdom, you need to stay here and at least pretend that you are happy to be engaged to Maia. I will go and see her and make sure she is alright, for now please don’t upset your father by making fools of us all.”

I sat back and glared at Steve as he spoke to my father before leaving the hall. A glance to my left and I saw the pained look in Maia’s eyes. Just from my reaction she could tell how I feel about Y/N and my heart broke a little knowing I’d hurt someone who held an innocent part of this situation.

My father rose to speak again as a clamour ran through the court.

“If I could keep your attention my Lords and Ladies. I was also going to announce to you all about the betrothal of one whom I consider my family but, as you can see, she has departed the room. However, I am happy to announce that Lady Y/N is engaged to….”

Steve’s POV

I held Y/N close as she broke down in my arms. Sobs wracked her body, and I couldn’t help but feel down at the news that I soon had to break to her. Tomorrow morning, we would begin our travels to take her to her fiancé as per the King’s decree. I coached her up out of my lap, and guided her to her room where we sat staring at the fire, until she had cried herself to sleep. 

She looks so graceful as she sleeps, the firelight picking out the dimples and freckles on her face. I also traced the line of furrowed brows as her worries plagued her dreams. She is about to be taken away from the only home she has ever known, and my heart is weeping at the thought.

“Sweet dreams my petal, for we have a long journey ahead of us.”

I kissed her forehead as I left her to sleep needing a little shut eye of my own before embarking on the road that would change our lives.

                         ------- Time Skip to two days later -------

Reader’s POV

I’m in the far reaches of the kingdom now. Farther than I’ve ever travelled before, in an unknown Lord’s castle. I haven’t seen Steve since last night and I’m growing worried as the lady’s maid busies herself with getting me into my wedding gown.

The dress itself is stunning. An ivory lace bodice joins with a large satin skirt edged with beading, lace and detailed hand embroidery. To say I feel like a princess is an understatement. My hair is gracefully curled and pinned up and accessorised with a flower garland of my favourite blooms.

I make my way to the church expecting to see Steve there to walk me down the aisle, but instead I am greeted with the warm smile of our coachman Anthony.

“Milady, are you ready?”

“As ready as I will ever be Anthony, thank you.”

The grand doors open before me and a familiar face is stood at the altar. No. It can’t be. This doesn’t make any sense. As I draw closer my eyes have not deceived me. He is stood there, a beaming smile on his face as Anthony passes my hand over to his.

“Hello there my beautiful petal.” He whispers as he places a chaste kiss on my hand before turning to face the Priest.

This was really happening. I was being married off to the King’s Advisor and my best friend, Steve.

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