TREEhugger101 (2014-08-06 07:28:59)

---

Somebody requested a shipfic between me and Carlos11. This is also my entry for the Shipping Fic Contest. It will probably have some more chapters coming up, so enjoy.
-

Queen Cierra.
Queen.
She mumbled it under her breath, rolled it around on her tongue for a bit. Queen Cierra.
She didn't like it. Too clunky, too formal. Not to say she liked the title of Princess, either- neither suited her, and being crowned in her teenage years meant that she couldn't take on all the responsibility and decision-making of Queen. That went to her advisors. She was there to oversee.
King Robert DeProp and assistant Somè Luigi (it's French) were away for a year or more on business and it was up to her to manage alone.
Of course, there just had to be some stupid, embarassing rule to becoming Queen, and that rule was that there had to be a King. All of the suitors were disappointing wannabes.
She hated every single one.
Well, maybe except for the executioner.
Executioner Carlos barely counted as a suitor. He wasn't the one going after her. Queen Cierra found herself stopping by the gallows or the beheading arena to talk to him as he sharpened his axe or measured and tied nooses for hangings.
It was a gruesome duty as executioner, but Carlos didn't seem to mind. He knew the common townsfolk simply as peasants and wasn't regarded as important very much, but he was the only boy willing to do the job.
What scared Queen Cierra even more was that he was young- exactly her age, in fact. Tall, slim, youthful, with a mischievous grin and piercing eyes, far cry from previous executioners.
Many girls had their eyes on him, but Carlos usually turned them down with a look of disgust.
Cierra was afraid that would be her the look was aimed at, but that didn't stop her from coming to visit every day.
She had just hurried down the palace steps, lifting the hem of her gown so as to not trip. It was a breezy day, the sun just peeking up from behind white cotton clouds. It wasn't very busy- the place usually bursting with people was empty. They were all at church, after all.
Cierra arrived at the gallows to see Carlos hoisting ropes up from the trapdoors. He paused to wipe sweat off of his brow, then continued. She paused for a moment to stare, her gaze affixed on him and his work.
"Like what you see, m'lady?"
His voice snapped Cierra out of her daydreaming. She rolled her eyes, walking towards him and that smirk he always wore around her, that goddamn awful smirk that made her want to slap him and kiss him at the same time.
"No, you dolt." Cierra elbowed him playfully. "Shut up."
"That isn't very nice, Queenie." he chuckled and finished bringing up the rope, kicking it aside. "How about we go for a little walk?"
"You have work to do."
"All work and no play makes Executioner a dull boy. Besides, it's not every day the Queen of the Plaza comes to visit."
She raised an eyebrow at the remark. She wondered if he even noticed that yes, she did come to visit every day.
Carlos held out his arm.

Cierra took it, giving Carlos a condescending look.
"What a gentleman." she joked, but inside, the butterflies in her stomach were getting more and more restless by the minute.
Carlos simply chuckled, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Where to, m'lady?"
Her heart skipped a beat. "How about the gardens?"
"Nah. I'll take you someplace more exciting." he grabbed her hand and tugged. "Let's go."

-
Carlos led her to a large stone bridge overlooking a river. "Close your eyes and no peeking until I tell you to." Without warning, he lifted her up, bridal-style.
"Carlos!" Cierra cursed aloud and attempted to struggle. "Put me down!"
"Patience, sweetheart. And didn't I tell you to close your eyes?"
Cierra rolled her eyes and did as she was told. Carlos slid his legs over the edge of the bridge, hopping down to a ledge underneath.
"Open your eyes."
Cierra gasped at the beautiful sight below her, a deep blue river running far below in a lush valley full of fauna and flora.
"Voila." Carlos smirked again, pulling her closer by the waist.
"What're you doi-"
"Can't have you falling, can we?"
She sighed. "Carlos."
"Yes, m'lady?"
"You're amazing, y'know that?"
He seemed a little taken aback. "Thank you."
Cierra leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed again.
This was like a dream come true.

---

carlos11 (2014-08-06 07:39:36)

---

*claps slowly*

---

Bean (2014-08-06 20:27:09)

---

*Claps quickly*

---