Royal Secret part 2 - The Coronation

The week that follows is slow and painful for the Whitney Kingdom; even the heavens above were grieving with the sad passing of its King and Queen and the guards who sacrificed theirs lives protecting the lives of their people. The soon to be King and his wife stays close to each other’s side, never losing sight of one another. Every time Amice starts to cry Alexis would stop what he is doing and hold her tight. Sometimes he would cry with her and sometimes it is the other way round. Every night they would cry together until they both fell asleep in each other’s arm. The funeral was held on a cold and wet Sunday. Each of the guests spoke their piece and left flowers and small gifts on their graves placed beside their beloved ancestors.1

For the week that followed the summer sun shines hot and brightly again as they settle down to prepare to welcome their new king and Queen to the throne. Prince Alexis spent the days leading to his crowning just pacing in his rooms and his wife spends her days comforting her friends by night they continue to comfort each other. In the afternoon Alexis talks through the ceremony until they are called down to dinner.2

The coronation occurs on a scorching summer day in February and starts in the bedroom of Alexis and his wife’s rooms. The sun shines on Amice as wakes up in her husband’s arm that is already awake and watching her lovingly beside her. He leans forward caressing her face gently, ‘Good morning my soon to be Queen,’ he whispers to her before kissing her. 3

She replies with a smile and a kiss that lasts until the alarm clock tells them to get out of bed. ‘I think it is time to get up my love,’ as she says that Alexis grabs the clock and throws it into the fireplace stopping the noise without taking her eyes off her. Amice laughs at her husband starts kissing her neck and asks ‘Honey what about your duty to your people.’4

She giggles as he lowers her back onto the bed and feels his mouth move to her ear, ‘not until I have done my duties as your husband.’5

* * * * * * * * * * *6

Two hours later they emerge into the throne in their red and gold ceremonial robes with a black bat with blood red eyes and stitches proudly stretching out its wing on their back. This is the second time that that Alexis wore his as the first time being on the day he married Amice. That was so far the happiest day of his life as he remembers how nerves as he waits for his soon to be wife with his mother beside him. Then five seconds later felt joy as he watches the most beautiful girl march towards him with his father walking her down the red and gold rug to him. Alexis gives a sad sigh as he returns to reality remembering how they arrive at this point and then looks at his wife who is watching him with a worried look. 7

Hand in hand they reach the thrones with their crowns sitting in their place waiting to be placed on their heads. The kind old bishop Emmanuel Erland picks up Alexis’s crown and the young father Stephen who is an old primary school friend of Amice’s picks up her crown as they turn around and sit in the throne. Bishop Emmanuel stands grandly up on the stair and addresses their friends and families. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen we are here to say farewell to our beloved ruler Queen Caroline and King Colbert Dracular, and to welcome our ruler’s Prince Alexis and Princess Amice.’ The bishop turns around and stands next to Alexis signally Alexis to kneel before him facing the crowd, ‘Prince Alexis Colbert Dracular of Whitney, do you swear to protect the Kingdom of Whitney and its people from their enemies to the best of your ability.’8

Alexis looking up into the man with blue-eyed dressed in white bishop robes says, ‘I, Prince Alexis Colbert Dracular of Whitney, do swear to protect the Kingdom of Whitney and its people from their enemies to the best of my ability.’9

The bishop nods and continues, ‘Prince Alexis Colbert Dracular of Whitney, do you swear to treat the people and the land of Whitney with respect.’10

Alexis still looking up at the Bishop, ‘I, Prince Alexis Colbert Dracular of Whitney, do swear to treat the people and the land with respect.’11

The bishop lowers the crown towards his head, ‘I, Bishop Emmanuel Erland of the local church of Whiney name you King Alexis Colbert Dracular of Whitney.’ As the bishop lowers the crown on to the new King and kisses his hands. The new King Alexis sits on his throne and watches as his wife stands up and kneels in front of the Bishop and the crowd. ‘Princess Amice Ebba Enochmus Dracular of Whitney, do you swear to protect the Kingdom of Whitney and its people from their enemies to the best of your ability.’ 12

Amices looks into his eyes, ‘I, Princess Amice Ebba Enochmus Dracular of Whitney, do swear to protect the Kingdom of Whitney and its people from their enemies to the best of my ability.’13

The bishop nods once more, ‘Princess Ebba Enochmus Dracular of Whitney, do swear to treat the people and the land with respect.’14

‘I, Princess Ebba Enochmus Dracular of Whitney, do swear to treat the people and the land with respect.’ The Bishop lowers the crown on the new Queen’s head.15

The bishop finishes the ceremony, ‘Ladies and gentlemen to day is a new beginning long may our new King and Queen live long and happy lives.’16