Princess Iris

I stop walking when I notice how fast she is walking toward me. She stops at an inch from me and we continue to stare at each other.

"Your majesty," Juliana says curtseying.

"Hi," I say.

"Hi," Duchess Juliana says.

We both become quiet looking at each other.

"I am glad to," we both say at the same time and pause.

Just then we both start laughing and then Juliana stops laughing and begins to sob. I cover the space between us and take her into my arms. She sobs for a little while.

"I thought I was never going to see you again," Duchess Juliana says.

"I am so sorry I took this long to come to see you," I say.

We finally release each other and she looks at me

"How are you... I mean, how have you been?" Duchess Juliana asks.

"For the past six years? Terrible, currently? Couldn't have been better I believe," I say giving her a handkerchief to dry her eyes.

"I have missed you so much," Duchess Juliana says with a pause and soft voice.

"I have missed you too," I say.

We look at each other and start laughing again.

"We have a lot to talk about," Duchess Juliana says.

"Indeed, we do," I say. "Speaking of having a lot to talk about, where is everyone? Zadie? Esmeralda? Octavia? Everyone?" I ask.

They have scattered everywhere in the ballroom," Duchess Juliana says.

"What?" I ask.

"They were looking for a way to drag you from the dowager queens," Duchess Juliana says.

"Let me guess, Esmeralda's idea?" I ask.

"You know her too well," Duchess Juliana says.

"All I want to do right now is scream in your face but I am too happy to see you."

I quickly turn to the voice and I find Octavia. Before I could react, she pushes me into a tight hug and starts crying. I smile at her and look up to find Esmeralda, Zadie, Lucinda, and Isabelle all smiling at me. when Octavia releases me, they all take turns hugging me.

"It's so good to see you all," I say cleaning my eyes with the handkerchief.

"You have no idea how the world felt without you in it," Princess Isabelle says.

"The ballroom is filled with curiosity," Duchess Zadie says.

We all turn and we find everybody looking our way.

"Yeah, everyone is wondering what is going on here," Princess Isabelle says.

"Or who or what Queen Iris is all about," Queen Esmeralda says with a tease and we start laughing.

"I am sorry everyone, I am sorry I never wrote back to any of you. I was just..."

"It's alright Iris, we all understood. No one is angry at you. We were just as lost as you were. No one knew how to move forward after Adrianna's death," Queen Esmeralda says.

"I guess we were seeking closure," Princess Octavia says.

"You are here right now. That's all that is important is us," Duchess Zadie says.

I turn to Juliana.

"So, Juliana, King Williams... How did that happen? I heard it started during the fountain march" I say with a teasing voice.

"Wait, what... How did you know?" Duchess Juliana's voice lights up with embarrassment and the girls start giggling.

"I read the papers remember," I say.

"I knew that picnic that was a bad idea," Duchess Juliana says covering her face with her eyes.

Just then the girls start letting me on the gossip. They tell me about themselves not leaving any details. We all laugh at each embarrassing moment as we go down memory lane. "You know Iris, we all predicted you would show up for Juliana's engagement party," Princess Octavia says.

"You all did?" I ask.

"Well since you didn't show up for mine or Esmeralda's engagement parties, our next bet was Juliana's," Princess Octavia says.

"I am sorry Octavia and Esmeralda. I saw the news about your engagements and Esmeralda I am sorry I missed your wedding. I just wasn't ready. I don't..."

"Iris, it is fine. Nobody is holding anything against you. We were just worried we will never see you again, right Isabelle? Queen Esmeralda says frowning at Princess Isabelle who is busy adjusting her tiara. "What? Oh yes, I know I was worried. I mean Leonard was getting worse and I was..."

"Your Highness!" Duchess Zadie says.

Princess Isabelle looks like she said something she shouldn't have said. Princess Octavia scorns her. I look between the girls for a while.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"It's nothing Your Majesty," Duchess Zadie says.

I look at the girls and they seem to be avoiding my eyes. The atmosphere among the girls has changed. I breathe in and out to collect myself.

"That reminds me, Isabelle, father introduced me to the German royals and a certain..."

"Don't even say it," Princess Isabelle says with distaste.

The girls start laughing.

"He seemed like the kind of guy you will hit it off with," I say.

I watch as Isabelle mutters under her breathe

"Did I say something wrong?" I ask.

"Let's just say that those two people bring out the worst in each other. In a good way I mean," Princess Octavia says.

I turn back to Princess Isabelle and watch her go back and forth with Duchess Juliana. I smile when I see a hint of shyness on her face.

"Oh, before I forget, Congratulations on your wedding Duchess Zadie and to you too Duchess Lucinda," I say.

"Thank you very much," Duchess Zadie says blushing.

"I bet Duke Alden gives you whatever you ask for with those colors on your cheeks," I say teasingly. "Will you look at that, Iris still got that silliness to herself," Princess Isabelle says as everyone laughs. "So, Iris, I mean Queen Iris..."

"Iris is fine Octavia, I might be a Queen but you all are my friends, so please no title as long as we are together," I say.

"Oh, thank God that is out of the way. So, I was going to ask, when did you decide it was time to come out?" Queen Esmeralda asks.

Everyone goes quiet and I am the center of attention.

"Seriously, Octavia? And they say I am the inconsiderate one," Princess Isabelle says.

"Did you just compare yourself to me? Queen Octavia asks.

"Ladies stop. We at a ball remember," I say.

"Sorry, Iris but It is ok if you don't want to talk about it..."

"No Octavia, it's fine. I want to talk about it. Besides, I owe you, girls, that much," I say.

I tell them why I decided to come out, the events that led to me being queen, and how I had to step up making sure to leave the details about the pirate. "Wow that was a lot," Duchess Zadie says.

"I can't believe your parents risked retirement at sure a dangerous time," Princess Isabelle says.

"A lot is going on in the four kingdoms. This is the hardest we have ever had to face, from the shortage of food, high increase of taxes..."

"And those pirates are to be blamed. Cutting off my supplies like that, like who do they think they are," Duchess Lucinda says interrupting Duchess Zadie. "What do they gain from all of this? I mean Cerphila supplies food to the south end and I heard that's where the pirates get their supplies so I don't under..." "Wait, what? Can you repeat that?" I say interrupting Princess Octavia.

"I said Cerphila supplies food to the south end and I heard that's where the pirates get their supplies," Queen Cerphila repeats.

"How do you know that?" I ask

"Well mother got me a new maid and she is from the south end. She talks about her village a lot and she happened to mention it," Princess Octavia says.

"Is there a problem Your Majesty? Duchess Juliana asks.

"Hmm," I say.

"Well, this is whole new information. If Cerphila supplies food as far as the south end then why are the pirates going out of their way to cut off all supplies," I say to myself.