drear | oh like gold, let it lead me astray.

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oh like gold, let it lead me astray.

[ It's mid-morning, the sun beating down strongly on the white stone of the palace. With the ceremony scheduled for afternoon, preparations are already well underway. In a chamber adjacent to the audience room, Heine is still getting dressed. His underthings are on, shirt and breeches as well, but a glance at all the other layers laid out make him want to break the wall down and leave.

He never should have agreed to this. Honestly, it was a mistake, and Heine can only stare longingly at his sword, which is placed on a side table, sheathed. He'd really rather go out into the training yard and beat something (or someone) up. Instead, he's here. Heine sighs loudly and slouches, despite the tailor poking him in the back and telling him to stand up straight as the door of the room swings open. A guard announces, ] The queen.

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Aside from the fact that I knew you'd refuse me, there's no reason we can't.

[status? that's fine. getting along? fine. trust? far more than she did anyone else in the palace.]

I— [ Heine looks around for a second, but there's no one close enough to hear the discussion. ] —I don't know anything about ruling. And I don't—I can't get married.

[ Not after all the things he's done. Also, he's scared of commitment. ]

[what, do you have a wife she doesn't know about?]

Ruling knowledge doesn't matter. I've been trained for it all my life, I can keep up what I've been doing. But if you're so insistent you can't get married, I'll try to set out negotiations with William. It was a ridiculous idea, so please forget it.

[now she just looks embarrassed. it was a spontaneous idea that had made sense in the moment but now...]

[ Nope, just massive issues. ]

No—wait. [ He doesn't want her to go and talk to William. ] I meant I can't—I wouldn't be good at—being married.

But you can't let that guy take over.

[seeing as she was turning around to leave, it's a good thing he asked her to wait.]

It's him for a hopefully temporary period of time or watching this power leave us entirely, if I'm not the one to hold onto it.

[this wasn't what her father had in mind when she had been named successor, probably, but perhaps he had expected her to already be married. now she's confused, stressed, and mentally beating herself up for making outrageous suggestions.]

[ The word "us" makes Heine's head spin for a second. ]

You have to hold on to it. If it takes marrying me, then I— [ Well. ] —then okay.

[us as in the royal family, the country, the empire itself - it was a collective, in that moment, one she didn't want to let down.]

I know I have to hold onto it which is-

[...wait. those words just sunk in.]

...Heine?

[wait, he was agreeing? to this spontaneous, ludicrous yet effective idea?]

Married. Yeah. [ Heine is still visibly flustered, eyes darting around, but he won't go back on it now. ]

I mean, I'm not going to marry anyone else.

[now she's equally flustered, beginning to speak and then stopping herself, having to try again.]

You know that you don't have to agree to this if it would just make you miserable.

It wouldn't. I mean, as long as we don't have to—uh. [ He looks aside quickly. ]

I spend all my time around where you are anyway.

[ It's a weak attempt at a joke, but it's true. ]

...I don't have words to properly express my gratitude to you, but be certain in this - what comes, I will be there at your side, not as your queen but as your friend.

[she says her words softly, knowing later she would probably just collapse on her bed in relief. there were things to do to solidify this and throw her third course of action into knowledge, but right now she can hear her heartbeat as she tries to calm down.

she asked so much of him always. the least she can do is swear that she would be a true friend.]

Right.

[ He should be saying "thanks", but he doesn't know—and yet there's gratitude in him anyway.

After a moment Heine stands properly, squaring his shoulders, before he kneels at her feet. ]

[she looks down at him in confusion - there's no way he brought a ring - but then she remembers where she's seen this pose before. when he swore his service to this country, but that was then. public and binding in that respect.

here, it's only them, but it feels even more significant with no eyes upon them. this time, when she extends her hand to him, it is in a reverent silence, not the echoes of a formal proclamation.]

[ Heine doesn't say anything but takes her hand, keeping the contact light as he brings it up. The kiss he presses to it is brief and nothing more than another point of touch, but more intimate and more personal.

He gets up, releasing her hand carefully. Despite how little he hesitated during, now that the moment is past, Heine is quick to cross his arms and pull back again, looking away and feeling immensely flustered. ]

[no, she hasn't quite calmed down yet, but that gesture makes it feel more real than just words. less like her legs will simply collapse from under her.

her other hand goes up to tuck back a strand of her hair.]

...within the week, the chancellors will probably demand you make an appearance. They'll want to know if you mean it, and that you don't have ulterior motives to sell the crown out.

[whatever he told them, she doubted it'd go over well. but they couldn't very well stop them from moving forward.]

If you need me, you know how to contact me.

Right. [ Honestly, Heine could never have ulterior motives in this kind of matter. As for successfully dealing with a court appearance, he'll just have to do his best. ]

...is there going to be a wedding?

Naturally. But I wonder if we wouldn't both prefer it to be something restrained and private rather than a blinding display of state.

[inwardly, she thinks it will only fuel rumours that they married for love instead of politics, but those could be borne.]

Yeah. I mean, it'd be better. I think.

[ He really doesn't want to have another public event like his appointment. ]

I'll find a way to ensure it's minimal without offending the entire nobility. The finer details can be sorted over time - it won't need to happen instantly. The engagement will be enough for a good amount of months more.

[it wasn't as though it was covering something up. that'd require swift action - and she can already hear her cousin's outrage over the matter.]

[ That sounds good enough for now. Heine nods minutely and casts his gaze at a slightly different spot on the ground. ]

So. [ LONG PAUSE. ] Do I have to... call you something else now?

[she can't imagine him using affectations of any sort, so there's really only one answer to that question.]

You could just call me Grell. And I call you Heine.

Okay.

[ He's not going to even try saying it right now, though. Too weird. ]

So I'll see you after you have things done, right?

[ It's really happening? Well... Heine guesses he can't back out now. And when he thinks about it, he really doesn't mind, in that he's helping someone who helped him, and it won't hurt him. So it's fine. He doesn't mind. ]

Yes. And if something comes up, I'll contact you.

[implied in that is that she's not going to let any aspect of this be a surprise for him. it was enough that he agreed, the rest of it didn't need to be a surprise.]

I suppose I should let you return to your work, General.

I guess so. Your Majesty.

[ Heine looks at her again, trying to figure out what it is about her that makes him do these things, but it's impossible to see that level of strength and openness with eyes alone.

In the end he bows shallowly and returns to his papers. Marriage. It's a frightening thing, but at least it's a partnership with someone he trusts. ]

[the news goes over about as well as could be expected. which is to say, there's a bit of an uproar over it all, and Grell has to skillfully manage the public opinion. there's fussing, and certain sorts are decidedly unhappy with it, but there is no way to legally stop her, and her will is inflexible. so they are engaged, and the crown will stay in her hands.

of course, with such sudden news, gossip has its opinion, and one night, Grell finds herself parrying away rumours. so will Heine, unfortunate enough to be nearby and able to hear them all as she shoots down the words one by one. all of it's couched in the formal language of the court, but the meaning is inescapable.

it's not too long before they turn to him as well, wanting some sort of delightful answer. from out of the corner of her eye, Grell watches, ready to intervene if need be.]

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