First Meeting

Elena looked into the mirror that her serving girl provided for her. Her hair was swept up in an elaborate up-do on top of the mass of elaborate curls sat the Gilbert family crown. Elena was not only Elena but, Elena Petrova Gilbert, Queen of Mystic Falls. Mystic Falls is a large island country a large country holding 10 million or so subjects. It is a large burden on her shoulders. Not only that but, now her advisors are forcing her to meet a King from another country that she will have to entertain and pretend interest in. She is turning 25 in a few months and her advisors are getting antsy about her marrying. She has been ruling since she turned 18 after her father passed on 25, September 1812. With a wry smile Elena inspected the rest of her outfit. It was a gift from France; A silk blue gown with pearls sewn into the seams. She grabbed a feather and turned. All 20 of her ladies maids bowed and followed her. Elena didn't even have to tell them anymore. She walked outside of her chambers and her knights walked in front of her yelling "make way for the queen, the queen is coming!'

Elena sighed she wished that she could travel alone for once but, this was her fate. She motioned for her favorite lady maid Lady Caroline. She is the daughter of her cousin Duke Jeremy. "Yes my queen?" Caroline asked.

"Do you think he will be handsome Lady?"

"Your majesty, I believe he will be more handsome then any man here."

"Tell me what you heard about him. I know you have been spying." Elena said with a grin. Looking into her lady's maids deep blue eyes.

"Oh you know I have heard this and that. I heard that he has blue eyes like sapphires that pierce into your very soul. His hair is as black as a ravens and strong legs that any man would be jealous of. Elena grimaced. She was so wary of marrying. Her father was a ruthless ruler. He treated her mother as if she was just a piece of property. If it weren't for the fact that her mother was the Princess of Austria then her mother would have been surly abused. She grasped Caroline's hand and gave it a squeeze of thanks then motioned for her to go stand with the rest of her ladies maids. She stopped at the ornate doors to the throne room, raised her head, and straightened her spine like her nanny taught her. Then she nodded to the foot man to open the doors. They opened the door and she was announced to the room.

"The queen has arrived. Bow to your queen." He called in a loud gruff voice. Elena placed a soft smile on her face and inclined her head to the room. "You may rise" She called out and sat in her throne. She looked to her head advisor Alaric. He nodded and motioned for the foot men to open the door. The King and Prince of Italy walked into the room. Her heart felt like it stopped in her chest and suddenly her throat felt like she had gone a thousand summers without water. She swallowed delicately and stiffened her spine.

"Introducing his Majesty Damon Salvatore King of Italy and Stefan Salvatore Prince of Italy."

Damon and Stefan walked into the room and both bowed with practiced fluidity. Elena rose from her throne and walked to Damon and Stefan. With regality she said "Rise, Please" and placed her hand in first Damon's he kissed her hand with a flirty smile. She smirked. "Thank you for traveling so far. I trust that your travels went well."

"yes they were adequate." Damon replied in her native tongue with perfection. This pleased Elena. "And you Prince Stefan how fared your travels?"

Stefan looked surprised that she would address him. "They were pleasant your majesty." He replied with equal accuracy. It seemed that they had been practicing for this visit.

"Damon motioned at one of his grooms men. He brought a package to Damon and bowed. With delicacy Damon grasped the package and opened it. Inside the package sat a jeweled box with claw foot feet. It was silver with jewels lining the outside of it.

"A present for you your grace" he said while extending it to her. Elena opened it and gasped. Inside laid a beautiful necklace made of a thousand gems all more beautiful than the last. On the bottom of the necklace lay a large red ruby.

"This gift makes us most pleased. I hope that your stay in our country will be pleasant."

Damon bowed deep followed by Stefan they backed away from her and Elena went back to her throne, raised her hand, and gazed upon everyone in her throne room.

"My loyal subjects, today is a great day; today we get to dine with our esteemed guests. Treat them as you would treat me. For, tonight we feast and make merry in honor of my most beloved guests from Italy."

"With that she motioned that the visit was over and looked upon Alaric."

"Make sure that my guests are lodged in the best rooms. I think the Kings rooms would fit. Don't you?"

For a fleeting second Alaric looked very shocked. "Of course your majesty."

While Alaric took care of the King Elena felt that it would be a good time to work through the mountain of paper work on her desk. She exited her throne room and headed for her office. She motioned for her ladies maids and dismissed them. "You may have some free time for yourselves now but, be back before the sun sets." Her ladies maids bowed "Yes, your majesty" they backed away and with a soft sigh Elena turned and headed for her office.

Upon entering the room she motioned for a candle and sat at her desk. The boy stood holding the candle and placed it beside her. She glanced at the first scroll. This stack of scrolls were petition from her counsel with a heavy heart she knew they had to be attended to and since they were her least favorite she started with them. Many were petitions to raise taxes in their lands. She denied most of them only because she knew many of her counsel were greedy and spent their money frivolously. Her not allowing them to raise taxes would ensure they better spend their money in the future. She sealed each document and placed them in the bin to be mailed back.

Her counselors consisted of six dukes. Duke Jeremy, Her cousin, who is the next in line and the heir if she doesn't have children, Duke Tyler, Duke Matt, Duke John, DukeMickal, Duke Nick, and Duke Elijah. The only one to not petition for more was Duke Matt and Jeremy. That is why they are her favorite. She sighed happily because now she could get on to the request of her people. Many were very little. Many asked for small things perhaps a new dress for a wife or a new cow for a desperate family. She blew through those quickly. Many of these requests were fulfilled. No peasant asked for anything they didn't truly need.

Upon looking out the window Elena gasped the sun was almost set and she had to start getting ready for the feast. She stood and rolled her shoulders then nodded at the foot man at her door. He hastily opened the door for her she walked out the room turned and headed for her rooms. As she made way to her room she caught a glimpse of Damon and her heart started beating erratically. She knew that he would be difficult to ignore. His hair was so beautiful and Caroline was not kidding when she said his legs were very attractive just the thought of them made her stomach clench in excitement. At least he would provide a fun distraction for her for the next few months.

She came upon her door and her foot man opened the door for her. She thought she would wear the red dress tonight so that it would complement the necklace the King gave her. That will surely put her Lady's maids to gossip. She never wore the gifts of her suitors. She nodded towards Caroline and said "The red dress tonight with my new gift from King Damon." Caroline's eyes widened as she bowed "Yes your majesty"

Elena turned to the mirror as her ladies maids undressed her. She stood in her shift when Caroline arrived with her dress. Caroline washed her hands and pulled her hair from its pins.

"Do you think he will like this dress Caroline" Elena asked

"I am sure he will love you in whatever you wear, Your Majesty"

Elena was satisfied "The smaller crown tonight Caroline. My neck is screaming. Perhaps the small tiara."

"Yes your majesty" Caroline started to pull the strings on her corsets with this. Then she tied the hoops for her skirts. After this she put the dress on. It was a beautiful dress with bows outlining the seams. Her ladies maids started to sew her sleeves on. While Caroline twisted her hair into an elaborate design and placed the tiara on her head. Etiquette only allowed Caroline to ever touch the royal jewels or hair. She was only aloud to touch her because she is of the purest Nobel blood. Finally the necklace the King of Italy gave her was place upon her neck.

"Come ladies tonight we will have a fun night." The ladies giggled and followed her out of the room. She grasped Caroline's hand an allowed her to walk with her. A high honor that she could bestow upon her ladies maids. "My cousin tonight you may dance with Prince Stefan. Would that please you my child?"

Elena gazed upon her cousins blue gown, her golden hair tied upon her head and the beads in her hair. "Yes Elena that would make me very please. He is very handsome, wouldn't you agree."

"Yes and it is time that you marry. Dance with him tonight and see how you feel about it. Then report straight to me on it on the morrow."

"if it pleases you, your majesty"

Elena arrived at the door and nodded for her foot man to open the door. She stepped into the room and her gaze immediately fell upon Damon's. She smiled at Caroline and released her hand. She took her rightful place at the ladies maids table behind the queen's chair. The queen walked to her seat with Damon on her right and Stefan on her left. Then she placed her fingers upon the table and nodded for everyone to sit then nodded for the servers to begin the meal.

I hope you enjoyed my story. This is the second story I wrote on this website. My first story I abandoned for lack of heart. Please let me know if you see any mistakes. I have taken huge liberties with this story. All characters belong to L.J Smith. The story is mine.