A Game of Crowns

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”

— Nelson Mandela

“Tobias,” I said awed. Tears stung my eyes and threatened to spill over.

A simple and elegant sign read The Rose Suite Orphanage.

It was our humanities project. It was a silly name. I had named it after my room at the palace.

“How?” I asked finally looking at him. In that moment I knew we’d always be bound together. In what way? I didn’t know but I’d take him any way I could have him.

Killian and Georgiana stood apart from us, giving us privacy.

“I have money, Penelope. My father left me a lot of it. He may not have left me the Crown but he left me well off. He’d be proud that we used some of it for this. I used the contractors we found to gut and reframe this building. It’s not brand new but it works. I set aside some money that will keep the place running for about three years at a capacity of eighty. This city does not have that many homeless children but some have been relocated here and are living happily. A few have already been adopted. Pamphlets are being given out to let people know about the adoption process.”

My heart clenched happily. The tears fell freely now. My heart couldn’t contain the joy. It threatened to burst at its seams.

“Tobias,” I said with all the emotion my heart contained.

His smile warmed me.

“I know it’s a lot. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this sooner but I wanted it to be a surprise. I know I’m an idiot and I do idiotic things at times but please don’t hold it against me. I’m a work in progress,” he said in the softest voice I’d ever heard him use.

His eyes held so much of who he was. I stared into his eyes and saw all that he could be; all that we could be and all that we could accomplish together.

“I could kiss you right now,” I laughed.

His eyes crinkled at the corners and the corners of his lips lifted. He took a step closer to me and brought his hands to cup my face and wiped away the tears with his thumbs. He then took a step back.

Wait, what?

“No one’s stopping you,” he grinned.

He needed me to make the move this time. I could do that for him. I laughed and launched myself into his arms. He picked me up and swung me around. He placed me on the ground where I quickly closed the distance between our faces and placed an urgent kiss on his lips.

He held me tightly by the waist and I held his face and kissed him with every ounce of energy I could give him. A satisfied groan rumbled through him and it pulled a soft moan from my lips.

“Okay, you two. That’s enough. We have a building full of kids waiting to meet you two,” Killian said, interrupting.

I could hear Georgiana’s tinkling laughter in the background.

I sighed and pulled away from Tobias. His grin could light the world for days.

“Later,” he chuckled as he gave my chin a slight shake.

“Tobias,” I whispered.

“Hmm?”

He held my hands in his as I looked into his eyes.

“What if we don’t make it to the end of this together?” I asked. That was the main reason I had refused to open my heart to him completely. “What if you become king and I go back home to being just Penelope?”

“I don’t want to be king without you,” he said seriously.

His words settled something in my heart and calmed me in a way I hadn’t known I needed.

“Man, they have it bad,” Killian said to a smitten Georgiana.

“No shame here, Kil,” Tobias smirked.

I laughed and repeated his words from earlier. “Shall we?”

***

The building was perfect. It was simple and clean cut. The headmistress of Rose Suite had added some touches to make it seem cozier and she did a wonderful job. The woman was reed thin with an average face but when she smiled it could make the darkest clouds turn blue again. She would be perfect for the children. Her staff of four were all kind women and I was happy with them all.

Headmistress Luna had called the local papers to boast of the new Orphanage and they had sent out a reporter with a photographer. She also organized a get together of the town’s representatives and a few of the families who had adopted some of the children. She even had a little tree ceremony in the backyard. I wasn’t prepared to say anything but Tobias seemed to be prepared. Georgiana retouched my makeup and fixed any stray hairs. She offered me a pain pill which I gladly accepted.

“I thought I was managing to hide my pain well,” I grumbled.

“Well enough, but I know you by now, my lady,” she laughed.

“Thank you, Georgiana.”

She winked and happily went to stand at the back of the crowd with Killian.

Tobias began our speech. “We thank you all for coming to show your support of Rose Suite and hope that you continue to work with us in this journey of making sure all children have a place to call home where they are loved and fed,” He said to the small crowd.

I continued for him. “No child should go without the necessities, no child should have to live on the streets, and no child should feel the pain of an empty stomach. Every child should feel loved, every child should feel the security of a roof over their heads, and every child deserves a family.”

Tobias continued, “And here at Rose Suite Orphanage we’ll strive to make sure every child that comes through our doors feels welcomed and secure.”

“To the future of Iron Forge,” I said, smiling at all the little faces that watched us.

Tobias and I picked up a small tree and placed it into a previously dug whole and covered it with the overturned dirt. I felt the moment deserved a prayer. So, I did just that and prayed a prayer I heard my father and mother say many times.

“May your love sweep over us and heal the broken. May your divinity rain blessings in our lives. May our faith continue to grow through the darkness. May we find peace in the shade you offer. May our hearts continue to overflow with your love and may tomorrow bring a better day. Praise the Mother.”

Everyone chimed in. “Praise the Mother.”

After a small cake cutting and several pictures later, we were finally able to fully tour the building. It contained four giant rooms spread over the two floors. Each room held twenty beds with two restrooms each. The top floor held the showers, a medium sized game room and a large kitchen. The kitchen staff of three were happy for the jobs. They had been struggling to find work for a while now. Tobias had made it a point to hire retired King’s Men. I wouldn’t have done it differently.

The first floor held the cafeteria, a large living room, two large classrooms, the office, and a small waiting room for prospective parents to wait in.

The living room was great. It held six similar couches, tons of pillow chairs, blankets, and games.

The best part was the looks the children held on their adorable little faces. I was filled with so much happiness my mouth ached from all the smiling I’d been doing.

Tobias and Killian were outside playing some ball game with some of the older boys. Georgiana had spent the last two hours braiding all the girl’s hair to resemble my own. Her eyes sparkled happily.

I sat with some of the girls who already had their hair done in a semi-circle and painted their nails with a glossy pink nail polish.

“Miss Penolpe, wills you come back to see us?” asked a little girl who looked no older than four years old. Her name was Gwen, I think.

“Of course, I’ll be back, sweetie. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

Another girl spoke up. She was a bit older, around ten maybe. “I hope you win, Miss Penelope. I think you’d make a beautiful and strong queen.”

These little girls were tugging at my heartstrings. “Thank you, Summer. You guys want to know a secret?” I whispered.

They all nodded their heads vigorously and leaned in.

“I hope I win too.”

They all fell into a fit of giggles.

Lunch and dinner came and went quickly. The meals the cooks prepared reminded me of home. I missed my mother and father terribly. I’d have to write them soon. I had still to use the stationary my father had given me and guilt weighed on my heart because of it. I’d remedy that tonight.

We made a final round through the building and said our goodbyes. The children were sad to see us leave but were appeased with a promise to return.

“See, I tolded you they would come back,” Gwen said vehemently to them all.

Headmistress Luna chuckled. “Get ready for your bathing cycles, everyone.” She gave other orders to her staff and walked us out.

We piled into the car and let out a collective exhausted groan. I had ended up sitting with Tobias and Georgiana with Killian. She didn’t seem to mind at all. I leaned into the nook of Tobias’s arm and sighed contently. The day had been amazing and I owed it all to Tobias.

“Remind me to never have children,” grumbled Killian.

I let out a chuckle.

“At least one, Killian,” Georgiana said, smiling fondly up at him.

What?

I was sure if my mouth could hit the floor of the vehicle it would have. Georgiana realized her words and she turned a deep pink. She turned to face me and nothing seemed to be able to come out of her mouth.

Killian let out a loud laugh. I narrowed my eyes at him. If he was laughing at her I would kill him here and now. She didn’t need to be more humiliated that she already was.

“Don’t look at me like that, Penelope. She’s my betrothed,” he said taking a hold of her hand.

“What Georgie? I’m tired of pretending not to be in love with you. Aren’t you tired of pretending to not be sexually attracted to me?” Killian asked.

She scoffed and hit his arm playfully.

I swear my eyes wanted to pop out of their sockets. I looked at Tobias and he smiled smugly and nodded his head.

Georgiana looked at me shyly. “He is to be my husband,” she said in a love filled voice.

“But but but, how? You’re a participant in the game,” I said to Killian.

“Which is why it’s a secret. I don’t plan on winning. I’m only here to help Tobias win his family’s throne back and now yours as well.”

Oh...

“Did you cheat to get yourself into the game?” I asked honestly curious.

“I was going to tell her anyway, so go ahead,” Tobias said.

“I did. I bribed someone to write us in instead of a guy from Wayside.”

Oh...

“And you and Georgiana?”

Georgiana answered this for him. “We met on the first day and have been seeing each other since then. He recently asked me to be his wife. It was that day you let me off. We came into the city and spent the day together.”

Oh...

I guess when you know, you know.

“Tobias knew all of this?”

Georgiana and Killian nodded.

Oh...

I looked at him and he gave me a small smile. “It wasn’t my secret to tell, Penelope.”

I grinned so hard just then. “Georgiana, you’re getting married!” I squealed. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her fiercely. She’d be marrying Tobias’s best friend. We’d always be in each other’s lives.

Georgiana’s rigid frame softened in my arms. Did she think I’d be angry?

“You better treat her right or I’ll have your head,” I said, playfully kicking his leg.

He held his leg in mock pain. “Of course, my Queen.”

I blushed. Tobias pulled me back into his arms.

“My Queen,” he whispered into my ear. He snuggled his face into the crook of my neck and stayed there until we neared the palace.