NationStates Jolt Archive

1

Ice clinked around a martini glass in Queen Thorinika's lap as the plane touched down. A flicker of feedback emitted from the radios as Thorinika stood and her guards came from all directions. With the perimeter secured, the ramp was lowered. Correen Claire followed obediently behind her mother, a set of her own guards closely behind. An indifferent expression painted over Claire's face, while her usually stately one on Thorinikas.
The air-gate was cleared, and only a number of men in dark suits with radios firmly planted in their hands scattered the area. Claire and Thorinika took a seat near the gate awaiting their luggage to be delivered. In her grasp, Thorinika held a number of documents. Primly laminated and inside a small unmarked folder.

Thorinika tilted her head lightly to greet him. She offered a hand to him and pulled Claire out from behind her. A pleasant smile on her tight thin lips. Thorinika held Correen firmly in front of her.

“This is Princess Correen, Sire. My successor. She’ll be attending the negotiations with us.” She peered outside the window and noticed the evening star.

“Your quiet right. It is getting dark. I hope you won’t mind lodging a few of my guards. Standard procedure you know.” Two of the larger men stepped forward. Both seemingly identical, without their own personality. Only a black suit and a walkie-talking in their firm hands.
Her face resumed an unafflicted disposition and handed off the folder to the man in the latter position to her left.

“Assuming you don’t mind my associates, the Palace seems like a grand Idea.” Correen remained silent, her eyes downcast. Trying to stay in the shadow of her bodyguard.

He took her hand and kissed it. Then he looked over and smiled at her daughter.

"That is alright with me. Besides my sons will be with us as well and your guards are of no problem. We all need them." He said with a smile

Then the cars that would be bringing them back to the Imperial Palace arrived and the Emperor signalled for the Queen to step in first, her daughter second and then he got in. The cars took off rolling out of the airport and back towards the palace.

--20 minutes later--

The convoy arrived at the Palace. The large gates at the front swung open backwards with a slight squeek, but nothing major and the cars rolled in. They drove on the thin road to the large fountain in the middle, rolled around it and stopped. Doormen opened the door for the car carrying the important people.

"What do you think, m'lady? Please follow me." He said as he walked through the golden doors into the palace and into the dining room.

In the middle of the dining room there was the obviously huge dining table with atleast twenty five seats. The room was lit with a marvelous looking chandallier. Across the table there was nothing but the dishes, cups, knives and forks, for now. At the head of the table was the golden seat that the Emperor sits in every night for dinner. He led her to a seat that was only a few feet from him.

"The royal seat, m' lady" He smiled.

Thorinika nodded and directed two of her guards to their position in the room. She smiled weakly and waited for her guard to hand off the document until she sat. Correen addressed her mother in a very private manner before she went addressed the Queen in a meek voice terribly unsuitable for a 17-year-old about to be a ruler

“Sire, do you have somewhere I could freshen up?” Her eyes met the floor, a whisp of red hair falling into her view.

The Queen watched her daughter intently before looking through the documents. A pair of black bifocals hung lowly on her nose. Greying red hair pulled back into a tight bun. Thorinika waved one of her guards forward, he stood with his back to the chair, whispering something into the radio he held in his palm.

"Ah yes. Right down that way." He pointed. But then signalled for an assistant to show her the way.

Then the door to the dining room opened and a flow of people walked in. In the middle, all four military generals of Diminix. The emperor smiled, stood up and walked over to them, shaking each of their hands. He walked over to Tony Yayo, the Greater Prussian Lufftwaffe General and smirked.

"Your just in time, old friend. Please, sit down." He gestured to the traditional military seats at the table.

He walked back to his seat and sat down.

"When the princess returns, we shall begin the talks. Wine, anyone?" Asked the Emperor

Princess Correen treaded softly through the corridors. The conservative art and pieces were certainly a meal for the eyes. It wasn’t the grandeur she was use to. Nor the bright decorative female touches that her wing of the palace had. But it was a beautiful place to live. She noticed a number of guards and maids scattered around. Eyeing her conspicuously, her shy nature making her blush. Correen Claire returned to the room silently and passed her mother.
The Queen stood and grabbed her daughter by the arm, holding her firmly and addressing the powerful men that filled the room.
“All of you gentlemen here today are here for perhaps a number of reasons, perhaps one. This,” She let go of her daughter, and pulled her loose long locks back in a motherly manner.

“This is my reason. This is Princess Correen Claire. My daughter and successor. With today’s decision gentlemen, we shape her future, with a number of others’.” Her Majesty took up a wine glass in a charmingly feminine manner.

“ I toast to the future.’ She held her glass high, an embarrassed Claire treading back to her seat swiftly.

Thorinika nodded and smiled briefly toward her daughter. She stood, placing her glass down, a stern look on her face. She seemed as though she doted on the question for a moment. Although she knew this was coming. Thorinika smoothed her skirt down and inhaled deeply. Her hands placed on the table.

“Gentlemen, as you know, I rule a peaceful, socially inclined nation. Perhaps this is why rulers come to me for advice on social issues, perhaps this is why you hand off your burdened country to me. Of which I cannot tell you with complete conviction or any facts. But I know that I am ready and willing to take this county and mold it from it’s iron-fisted ruling to my plans for a reformed society. I am almost sure you gentlemen would agree with me when I say, that this country will be an asset to Greater Prussia, much in the same manner as my nation. God willing, you will welcome Celtkrina with open arms into Greater Prussia as a little sister state.”
Thorinika held her head high and smiled bravely. She eyed the men across from her. Each powerful military leaders. She caught site of her daughter who seemed disgustingly impatient with the proceedings. Thorinika sipped at her wine and added,

“Although I might need to rethink who will serve as a sovereign. This is indeed a blessing.”
Her tone was quiet annoyed. It was obvious she was attempting to shame her daughter. Her wretched little daughter dually noted it because she cleared her throat and sank in her seat. Thorinika bowed her head to the men, and sat back down. A defiant look of achievement on her face.

Her bright smile turned grim. Her face contorted into an unsatisfied frown. She stood and put her hands onto the table firmly.
“Absolutely not.” Her airy Gaelic accent became heavy, and discontent. The look in her pure green eyes became fierce.
“I will not have anymore blood shed in that tainted country.” Her robes over-flowed, she looked to the Emperor. A soft disposition and strong backbone holding her firmly erect and in authority.
“There must be another way.” She shuffled through the papers. Pulling out countless files and pictures. With an effortless push, the slid into the center of the table. Available to all the generals. Correen casually slid into the background and occupied herself in other manners.
“Perhaps negotiations. Blood-shed must be avoided at all costs.”The queen was clearly adamant. Her ground would not be treaded on here.