Light filtered through the bedroom curtain in a steady stream and Fawn curled her body closer against Garth's. He rested on his stomach and Fawn laid against the back of his left shoulder. Her left hand was on top of his. Garth's bare skin warmed her and bid her to stay in bed, unmoving. Garth sighed beneath her, his back rising up and down. Fawn wore one of his cotton shirts she had picked up off the floor last night. Garth moved again and Fawn figured that he must be awake.

"Hey." She whispered with a smile. Garth turned his head to the left.

"Hey." He said sleepily. Fawn wound her fingers in and out of his, glancing at their bedside clock.

"We should get up, it's nine o'clock." Fawn sat up and looked around their room. It was gorgeous. It had enough space to fit a group of people and was decorated lavishly. The balcony was big and Fawn had a perfect view of the garden. She was happy. The three days she was given alone with Garth had gone by in a blur and the thought of actually having to do something besides be with him, made her a little unhappy. Garth turned over.

"Do we have to get up and rule a country?" He complained.

"Yes." Fawn smiled and placed a hand on his chest, giving him a soft kiss. Garth smiled at her and ran a hand through her hair, kissing her forehead and then her lips.

"Five more minutes!" He shouted playfully and wrapped his arms around her. Fawn let out a squeal and scrambled of out bed and away from him. She was still uncomfortable with being completely disrobed in front of her husband and ran around in his shirt and her own undergarments. Garth wore cotton pants. Garth scrambled out of bed on the other side. He turned around and faced her, putting his hands on the bed.

"Face it, you're caught." He smirked. Fawn knew there was only one place she could manage to dart to from here. She smiled playfully.

"Don't do it..." Garth challenged her. Fawn took off toward the bathroom with a shriek, throwing a pillow from the bed at Garth in the process. Garth pounded after but he was not as quick as his wife. She quickly darted into the bathroom, closing and locking the door.

"Cheater!" Garth shouted through the door, jiggling the knob. Fawn pressed her back against the wooden door, laughing. She heard Garth chuckle.

"You still have my shirt!" He said.

"Come in and get it!" Fawn said, but didn't unlock the door. She waited until she heard Garth walk across the room before slipping out of her nighttime clothes. Fawn started to draw her bath water, her servants would be arriving to dress her sometime. Fawn made sure to unlock the door just before slipping into the steaming water that way if Garth needed something he could come in and get it. Relaxing in the warm water, Fawn closed her eyes and allowed herself to breath. She was moving slowly, making sure her hair didn't get wet. Soon, someone knocked on the door. Fawn opened her eyes.

"Did you unlock it?" Garth asked.

"Yes." Fawn said and closed her eyes once again. Garth opened the door.

"Excuse my intrusion." He said, his voice holding a smoothness to it. Fawn opened her eyes and saw him smirking. She put a hand up as if to splash him with water, noticing that he was dressed up. Garth backed away.

"Hey!" He said fearfully. Fawn laughed. Garth sighed and looked out the door.

"Your servants are here. Nathan wanted to talk to me really quick so I won't see you until before the ceremony." He said. Fawn frowned and Garth saw her unhappiness.

"I won't be gone too long, I promise." He came over to the side of the bath, tilting Fawn's chin up. She leaned out of the water and gave him a quick kiss. Garth smiled and walked toward the bathroom door.

"See you later, my love." He said softly and disappeared. Before Fawn could respond, Violet and another servant walked into the bathroom. Fawn pushed herself back down into the water not used to the new servant. Violet looked at the other girl.

"Shoo now, go get that dress!" She said quickly. Fawn looked at Violet. She hadn't seen her servant in a while and was relieved to see she was still the same.

"Let's get you dried off and ready for that ceremony." Violet said. She grabbed a towel as Fawn got out of the tub. She was used to Violet and this wasn't the first time the servant had seen her undressed. Violet left the bathroom, leaving Fawn to dry and to grab the fresh undergarments just outside the door. Once she put them on, Fawn stepped out the bathroom. Both servants immediately set to work doing Fawn's hair and make-up. Violet chattered the whole time, making Fawn laugh despite her nerves. When Violet had finished Fawn's hair, she looked in the mirror. Violet had done her hair up nicely and a light dust of make-up made her look flawless. The second servant, whose name Fawn still didn't know, held a flowing royal light purple dress. Fawn looked at the soft fabric. That dress had to have been expensive. As the servants pulled the dress on, Fawn noticed it was strapless with a tight fitting top. From the waist down, the dress came out in a hoop like form. It was the most beautiful thing Fawn had ever worn and Violet was beaming when she looked at Fawn. There was a type of sheen to the dress that reflected light when Fawn moved. Someone knocked on the door.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"Lady Fawn's presence is requested." A guard's voice declared outside the door. Fawn's breath hitched. Was it time already? Violet opened the door and Fawn stared at the guard, half-dazed. Violet came over and patted Fawn's hand.

"You'll make a beautiful queen." She said softly. Fawn was grateful for her encouragement. She walked toward the guard, gesturing for him to take the lead. Ever since her encounter with the guards at the archives, along with her attempted assassination, Fawn had become a little weary of the palace guards. She didn't know who she could trust. Just like the halls had been for Fawn's wedding, were the way they were now. Anxiety built up in Fawn's chest like a weight as they came ever so closer to the throne room. When they rounded the corner, Fawn spotted Garth. He smiled at her. He looked very nice in his high collared shirt and vest. He looked like a king. Fawn walked over to him, her legs were beginning to feel like jello.

"Hello love." He greeted her with a kiss. Someone was announcing something inside. Garth glanced at the doors.

"Are you ready?" He asked in a whisper. Fawn swallowed, not answering. Garth looked at her.

"You're paler than the freshest snow." He chuckled and grabbed her hand.

"Don't worry, I'll be right here the whole time." The doors were pulled open and Garth took her arm in his. Fawn looked at everyone that occupied the room. There were officials everywhere and a unreasonable amount of guards. Running around were camera crews and Overseers sat at the front. Draped across the room was the American flag along with the flag of the royals, a purple flag with an Eagle on it. Clay stood at the front of the room between the King and Queen's throne. Despite Fawn's shot nerves she straightened her shoulders and back, she was going to be a queen after all. Fawn and Garth approached the table in front of Clay, letting the people take in their new King and Queen. Everyone in the room was standing and every pair of eyes was fixated on Fawn and Garth. Garth stopped and Fawn realized they had made it to the table. Two crowns, rings, and a Bible rested on it. Clay motioned for everyone to sit and then cleared his throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen. From happiness to tragedy to persistence. The king and queen's death came as a shock to all of us and we will never forget the sacrifice they made for our dear country." Despite Fawn's nerves, every word Clay said felt like a knife inside of her. He didn't mean anything he said.

"But we must move on. Garth and Fawn have come forward, willingly and humbly, to take on the burden of running this great country. May their reign always be true and faithful." Clay grabbed the Bible, speaking to Garth first.

"Repeat after me. "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of King and Ruler of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the people of the United States." Garth repeated the words in a loud and strong voice. Unlike Clay, he was willing to save the country or die trying. Clay moved the Bible toward Fawn and she raised her hand shakily. Clay repeated the same to her only changing King to Queen. Fawn opened her mouth. Her voice was small at first, but it grew in boldness as Fawn felt confidence flood through her. She thought of all her deceased friends and their families. Determination became a first instinct. She would rule justly, for them. Fawn knelt as Clay picked up Garth's crown. He placed it gingerly on his head before picking up a ring with a purple jewel.

"With this ring and crown all Sections will submit to one authority and one alone. Long live King Garth!" Fawn heard the whole throne room echo Clay's last words. Clay kissed the ring and placed it on Garth's hand. He then turned and picked up Fawn's crown. Fawn kept her head low as he placed it on her head. She stayed perfectly still. Clay took her ring.

"With this ring and crown all Sections will submit to one authority and one alone. Long live Queen Fawn!" A roar went through the room. When Clay kissed the ring and grabbed Fawn's hand to put it on, she met his eye. Fawn gave him the coldest look she could manage. Silently swearing to him that if he harmed anyone else he would pay. Clay didn't bat an eyelash. He straightened.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. I present to you, your King and Queen!" Fawn and Garth both turned, placing their hands together. Fawn watched with wide blue eyes as everyone bowed low to the floor. She saw Clay walk in front of them, lowering himself to the floor. Garth moved and Fawn caught his eye. He smiled. They had made it, they were ruling a country.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A parade, followed by a feast, and dancing came after the crowning. Even with the crown on her head, Fawn couldn't believe she was here. Few people even looked her in the eye anymore, only those closest to her such as Emma. One person that hadn't slipped Fawn's sight was Travis. He moved with poise, but Fawn knew him better. There was a storm brewing inside of the Overseer and Fawn was waiting for it to erupt. Travis caught her eye and held it, which forced Fawn to look away. She couldn't let him know that she suspected something. Garth hadn't left her side much and he was beaming. Fawn still couldn't figure out how he handled himself with such ease, but she was glad he did. It gave her someone to depend on. Fawn also noticed, with unease, that Clay was uncharacteristically quiet. She began to wonder if he was missing his power already. A darker side of her couldn't wait until the moment she could yank his power out from underneath him, the slimy snake that he was. Fawn mingled with the guests until it was late into the night, knowing that since she was queen she needed to make connections. To her surprise, Travis seemed to avoid her at every corner, making her suspicions worse. Fawn laid down that night with doubt piercing her stomach. Something was going to go terribly wrong.