Author's Note: Hello, my name is Cloey van Zyl and this is my second story here on fictionpress . com ('My kidnapper, my friend' is not on hiatus, I just haven't had time to update it). This story started out after watching an episode of The Tudors and the idea for this sprang to my mind. I wrote the opening scene but didn't touch it again until very recently. My sister has always wanted to read one of my stories but I didn't really want to show her one of my fanfics so I decided to write her a story as a kind-of Christmas present. But, I was having trouble thinking up a whole new story idea for her story so I ended up having a look at the dozens of half-finished stories that fill my laptop and decided to take this one, dust it off and finish it up properly. So, here we are. I'm in the process of writing chapter 5 (at about 11k words) but the good news for you is that it will definitely be finished by Christmas eve so there'll be little excuse for me not to update. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this story :)

For Karen, my wonderful sister.

Chapter 1

Anna

"Have you heard the news?" my brother, John, burst into the room, his voice frantic. His clothes showed signs of a hurried journey from the town to our modest home in the country. My mother and I looked up at him. We already knew what he was going to say, even though we had not already heard the news he was speaking of.

Taking off his wet jacket and hanging it up on one of the hooks by the door, he continued speaking anyway, not waiting for an answer from either my mother or myself, "The Reginalds' were defeated. Lucas has taken the throne."

"Then the war is finally over. And our worst nightmare has begun." I said, getting up and walking to the table in the middle of the room to pour some tea for John and another cup for my mother. John followed me to the table and collected the cups from me, passing one to my mother, whose hands shook as she grasped it, and then took a seat next to the fire. "No, our nightmare began when the Reginalds' were foolish enough to trust the Williams'."

"But until now we had hope. There was always a chance that the Reginalds' would be able to fight off the Williams'." I said, sitting down once more and arranging the blanket which was wrapped around my mother's skinny body, "Are you comfortable?" I asked her quietly.

She gave a faint nod and took a feeble sip of her tea. John regarded her pitifully for a moment before turning back to me and saying, "Forget our past hope, it is gone now. Besides, I have further news."

"What further news? Please tell me it is good news."

John gave a sinister smile, "As if good news still exists. The Williams' have decreed that all subjects of Athlon are to appear before their nearest town council to take an oath that acknowledges Lucas as King and swears their allegiance to the Williams'."

I stared at him, my eyes wide with horror. "What? No."

"Don't act so surprised. The Williams' were bound to do something like this sooner or later. This way they can weed out anyone who is a potential threat."

"But surely people wouldn't be so stupid as to swear allegiance to those monsters!" I tried to reason out.

"The Williams' are powerful and anyone who does not take the oath will be sent to prison. You'll find few who will object to the Williams' now that they have the throne."

I couldn't believe that people would be so fickle and simply swear their allegiance to those that they had previously opposed. The Reginalds' had been losing power in the last few years but they still had followers, my family included. My father had even…

"Will you take the oath as well then? Simply because the Williams' have now destroyed the Reginalds'?"

John looked at me with shocked eyes, "'Simply because the Williams' have now destroyed the Reginalds' '?" John repeated in surprise, "Anna, this family have always supported the Reginalds' but this is something else entirely. The Williams' have won the war and Lucas Williams is now our King. They are powerful and merciless. There is no question as to whether I will take the oath. Of course I will, not because the Williams' have destroyed the Reginalds' but because I, like any other sane and rational person, value my life and freedom and will admit when it is time to surrender. We will all take the oath." His voice took the commanding tone that John had mastered since he had reluctantly became the head of our small family.

I didn't reply but instead regarded him curiously, soaking in his words and the fact that my fun, older brother seemed to have almost completely disappeared and had been replaced by this stern man. Athlon's civil war and the consequences has forced him to take on responsibilities that he not expected at only twenty-three years old.

Lucas

I stood in front of the high priest as he said the last few words of the ancient prayer before raising his voice even more and proclaiming me as "Lucas, King and High Protector of Athlon!" The crowd of people, both of those fortunate to be allowed into the holy building and the lesser folk who were packed into the city's many alleyways and town squares to support their new king, cheered and the roar of noise grew steadily while I winced slightly at the deafening sound.

The high priest then proceeded to place the massive crown on my head. It was much heavier than I had expected. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother beaming with pride and at the sight of her obvious elation, I felt the joy rise inside me as well as I remembered the long struggle it had taken to get to where I was now. I knew that I needed to savour the feeling of this absolute power I was being given. I was King. It seemed to be only sinking in now, slowly but surely.

Once I was seated in the impressive throne, my uncle stepped forward and announced that some of the greatest families were now going to take The Oath and pledge their undying allegiance to me and my family. The first family to come forward and kneel before me was the Silvertons. The earl of Staines, Phillip Silverton, was the head of the family and commonly known as the richest man in Athlon. He was an impressive figure who towered over others both in physical stature and in power and influence. His family was also one of the largest and the large crowd of people who knelt down to me included at least eighty well-bred lords and ladies. Lord Staines took The Oath in his powerful voice and the crowd of people moved aside for the next family to come forward.

On and on it went, each family of nobles taking their turn to pledge their allegiance to me. I felt the feeling of power grow inside me as each family stepped forward. I was no longer the nervous boy I had been five years ago when I had been put forward by my uncle to take the head of the Williams' campaign against the filthy Reginalds'. I had taken control of the war, defeated the enemy and now had complete power over Athlon. Nothing could stop me and if anyone tried, I would crush them just like I had crushed the Reginalds.

The celebrations took place in the palace. My palace. I was seated above the crowds, at the head of the great hall and looked down upon my subjects. With a wave of my hand, a serving boy rushed forward and poured more wine into my half-empty goblet. Before he could finish pouring, I snatched it up and drank. The endless introductions and pleasantries that I had been forced into by my mother and uncle were annoying me and I grumbled silently to myself about how boring the party was. Nevertheless, I knew that I had to keep up appearances and instead relied on the wine to get me through the evening.

"Lucas," my mother approached me and I stifled a sigh at her tone of voice: the sugary sweet one that I knew she only used when there were important people to impress nearby. She had been using that voice all evening, "may I present Lady Claire Southerton. She is Lord Oliver's eldest daughter."

The Lady Claire Southerton was rather short, but still beautiful, and she curtsied for me. I smiled graciously and greeted her, "My lady," before gesturing to the empty chair next to me and asking, "Will you join me?"

My mother beamed secretly to herself and left as soon as Lady Claire took the offered seat.

"Are you enjoying the party?" I asked.

Lady Claire smiled demurely, "Very much, your majesty."

I gave a laugh at her words, "'Your majesty'. It sounds odd doesn't it?" I said and watched to see how she might answer. To see how stiff and proper she would be around a king. Or whether she would be able to see the humour in it like I did.

She gave a slight frown and asked, clearly unsure of how to answer, "Odd, your majesty?"

I sighed and tried not to roll my eyes, "Never mind, Lady Claire. If you'll excuse me, I must go and have a word with my uncle." So maybe she was every bit the bore I had expected her to be from the start. I stood up, not really caring too much if she thought I was rude- I was the king, wasn't I? And besides, with so many new people to meet and please, I didn't have time to make idle conversation with yet another Lord's daughter just for her sake. I made my way to one of the many buffet tables and ensured that I was out of the line of Lady Claire's sight before picking up one of the hundreds of gourmet finger foods and looking around at the dancing couples.

"If I'm honest, I think it's very odd." A voice behind me suddenly spoke. Whirling around to find the source of the voice, I found a tall and beautiful woman grinning at me. Her eyes were a rich brown and her chestnut-coloured hair cascaded past her shoulders in waves. I look at her with eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Excuse me?"

"Your question to Lady Claire? Whether 'Your majesty' was odd?" she prompted, picking up a small sausage roll and popping it into her mouth.

"Well," I said to myself in surprise as I regarded the beautiful woman who was obviously a different breed to the rest of the boring noble-women I had met at the party, "And why were you eavesdropping on my private conversation? I am the king, you know." I tried to give her a stern look but in fact, I was quite fascinated by her.

"Well that's why it's odd, isn't it? I mean, two months ago you were a, let's be honest, rather low-born son of some or other lord and there was another man on the throne." She popped another sausage roll into her mouth, chewed quickly and continued, "Now, not sixty days on, you're calling yourself the king and everyone has to take a funny little oath." She picked up another sausage roll and held it out to me, "Have you tried one of these? They're excellent!"

I stared for a moment in disbelief at her and the sausage roll she was offering me. Ignoring the food, I asked, quite annoyed at this (admittedly beautiful) nobody from nowhere talking to me like I was some stable-boy half her age, "Low-born!? I'll have you know that the Williams family is one of the oldest and most respected of the noble families of Athlon, not to mention that I am the king!"

She gave a laugh at me while I stood up straighter and tried to look imposing, "Not compared to my family their not."

I gave a snort, "And who's your family-?"

"Lucas!" my mother appeared out of nowhere and wrapped an arm around the beautiful woman's waist, "I didn't know that you had already been introduced to Lady Karen Silverton, Lord Staines' eldest granddaughter. Whatever happened to the Lady Claire that you were talking to?"

Lady Karen Silverton noticed that I was too shocked at the sudden news to say anything and covered me by saying sweetly and respectively, "Lady Claire was a little odd. I was actually just trying to persuade his majesty to try one of these wonderful sausage rolls, they are simply heavenly!"

My mother laughed and the two women chatted about the finger foods while I recovered from the surprise.

When I focused back onto the conversation, my mother said, "Oh! Is that Lord Bracken? I must speak to him. Excuse me." And glided away, leaving Lady Karen and I alone again.

"Lady Karen Silverton?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

"The one and only. Now will you try the stupid sausage roll already?" she asked while thrusting the finger food into my hand. I huffed and ate it.

"Good, right?" she asked, grinning again.

I shrugged, not quite sure what to make of anything.

"Oh, stop sulking. Everybody makes a fool of themselves once in a while- even kings."

I tried to look angry at her insult but it was difficult when I was finally talking to a woman intelligent enough to be able to hold a proper conversation- and make me laugh!- without simpering at me. I was really irritated with all the simpering.

A/N: So there you have it. Hope you liked it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it, so please leave a review:) Next chapter, soon! -Cloey