Royals Without Limits - all rp levels discussion

Madeline sat on the bench located beneath the Gazebo and let the kittens play in the bushes that surrounded. She wasn't expecting the turn of events that played out in the day. Something about the exchange in the rose garden made her blood boil and her stomach turn. I didn't want this! She thought to herself looking back on the last years. I wanted to be with Nathaniel for the rest of my life but he gave up on me and never returned my letters. Tears started to flow out of her eyes and she had no clue how she was going to stop them.

King Richard had a picnic basket in his hands for their afternoon picnic party. Darrion had told him he'd find his wife at the gazebo. He had a wide smile on his face, happy to be done with his work but saw Madeline's wet face. He left the basket down and walked over to her, kneeling in front of her and taking her hands in his. "Darling" he said softly, taking her into an embrace and stroking her back. He wouldn't ask what was wrong, he preferred to be the shoulder to cry on and let her talk when she wanted to.

"I'm here, Maddie" he murmured into her hair. Richard wondered what or who was the reason for these tears.

When she heard Richard's voice she cried even harder her heart thudding in her chest. "I just don't know what to do anymore." She said feeling the need to cry more. "I think I need to talk to my mother." She calmed as she came to the realization that her mom was the only person who wasn't too fond of Nathaniel St. Claire. "Have you met the new Head of Security?" She looked at her husband and whipped at her eyes.

Richard held her tight as she started to cry even more than when he first arrived. The insecurity in him questioned whether it was his appearance that had caused this scene. “You always know what to do Maddie” he said, stroking away the tears on her cheeks. “This country would be in ruins if it wasn’t for you” he smiled reassuringly. He tilted his head in confusion when she mentioned her mother. The woman was kind but Richard never felt close to her.

“Of course, from MI5, highly recommend too” he said. Richard concerned at the sudden change of topic. “Why do you ask?” He asked curiously. “Are you alright? Do you want me to get you something?” He continued in worry.

Madeline looked at Richard and her eyes widened upon hearing that the M15 had recommended Nathaniel to them. "I'll be okay. I think I'm just having a rough day that's all." She was being honest for the most part. Something was keeping her from telling her husband that the guy that was their new head of security was once her lover. She heard something rustling around nearby and heard meowing. "Did you bring our lunch?"

Richard's eyes still wondered over her features, anything that might give way to what was on his wife's mind. His hand squeezed hers. "You can tell me anything, you know that" he said, before kissing her hand gently. He stood, the pain on his hip flared but the King didn't show it. He glanced at the basket and then at Madeline. With an eager nod, Richard smiled. "Yeah, got everything with me. We can set it up here" he offered.

Walking over to the basket, he opened and pulled out a blanket for the floor then began unpacking the lunch he had gotten prepared for them.

Madeline got up from the bench and joined Richard on the blanket. "Richard, I met the head of security this morning and was taken by surprise." She started as she took a drink of the water that he had brought for them. "He was my ex." She didn't know how else to bring it up. "I can definitely tell you that he has changed a lot." She shook her head.

Maddie and Benny could hear the rustling of food wrappers which made them come out of their hiding spot. Benny purred noisily and was trying to climb into Richard's lap.

He didn't deny that the confession surprised him. Nor did he attempt to hide it. "Your ex?" he echoed. Richard blew the breath he held before a hand went through his hair. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't know" he murmured. "Maybe I should've run this past you first instead of..." his hands opened, palm upwards. "Just do it"

He squeezed his hands. "You want to talk about it?" he asked. Richard wasn't angry, he just felt guilty for his choice to have a new head of security. Perhaps it was all the stress of the past few months that he just signed the paper agreeing to giving Nathaniel St. Claire the new position.

With a free hand, he tickled Benny's small throat, before placing him in the safety of his lap.

Madeline thought about it. Do I really want to talk about my ex that I'd drop everything for if he wanted me back?She thought to herself and looked at little Benny who was purring loudly. "He's my ex who completely stopped writing me letters when we were still trying to make things work. He had just come here for school and moved back to where he came from."

((sorry ))

Richard bit his lower lip as he listened. "Do you want me to fire him? Have him moved perhaps to the Minister of Defence's office?" he asked. Unsure what he could exactly do. Of course he was the King; he could do whatever he desired. Yet this time he felt it was necessary to ask his wife's opinion instead of creating the same mistake as before.

"I can't relate" he smirked. "But if it's making you uncomfortable just tell me" he reassured. He looked down slightly ashamed at his next works. "Do you have feelings for him?" he asked, more curious than anything.

Madeline looked at her husband,"I would never ask you to do such a thing and he doesn't deserve to be fired just because I'm upset." She gently took a sandwich from the basket and started to eat as she continued to listen to her husband's words. When she heard him ask if she still had feelings for Nathaniel she didn't hesitate in her answer. "Yes my feelings for him never went away I just kept them at the back of my mind because I thought I would never see him again."

He nodded slowly. "I understand. I won't do or say anything then" he answered to his Queen. Richard took a bite of his own sandwich, letting the filling and bread die down before replying to his wife's reply. It didn't surprise him. He knew that they didn't feel anything but companionship and a mutual love for their wellbeing. Nothing physical. "Then I don't see why there is a problem..." he said. "Maddie, I don't want to keep you locked away from your feelings. I'm sure he feels the same way?.."

Maddie looked at her husband surprised that he didn't have a problem with her having feelings for another man. He's gay and he's your best friend of course it doesn't bug him. She thought to herself. She sighed, "I highly doubt that Nathaniel feels the same."

Richard chewed his lower lip. "Hmm, perhaps he just doesn't want either of you to get hurt. You both have created different lifes...I wouldn't blame his distant appearance" he said honestly. Whilst he didn't know about love, he knew men. The tough outside that covered the vulnerability they created. Some struggled more than others. He shrugged. "That's just my opinion...and I'm sure there's more than one man falling for you" he teased, nudging her with his shoulder.

"I suppose you're right." She sighed and shook her head. "I wish that my love for him was gone but it isn't." She didn't know what to do. She hated the fact she loved him so much. That was when she heard the meow of her kitten Maddie.

"Then fight for it, my darling" he murmured, taking her hand in his. "I've already given you a tough life as my Queen, and a lonely life as a wife...you deserve so much more" he said, while his other hand went to softly stroke her cheek. Richard loved her. But he knew it would never be the right love that many desired to have in their life. He felt guilty for holding her in. But with the press and his father pushing his son for the throne, it was needlessly to say a haste decision had to be made.

"I'm here for you, Maddie. I'll help whichever why I can" he smiled then dropped his hand to stroke the lonely Benny that still was on his lap.

Madeline listened to Richard carefully and wondered if she took his suggestion if there would be any good results to come of it."I wonder if I fight to win him over again if he will budge." She said softly as she heard the king's cellular device go off. "Shouldn't keep that person waiting." She said basically giving him permission to answer.

Richard reached for the phone then turned it on silent, placing the device back in his pocket. "I have other, more important matters than that person" he answered back. "I'm here for you" He had checked the caller ID, it seemed to be a minister. But they would call back later, knowing that if the king had declined the call it was for a reason.

"He'll budge..." He smiled. "After all the stories you've told me about him, he doesn't seem a person to change his feelings so quickly." Richard remembered the stories Maddie had told him about the infamous Nathaniel. The romantic poet. But now a tough soldier? It didn't add up.

Madeline watched Richard carefully as he muted his phone and put it back into his pocket. "You really think so?" She asked him as she heard the loud purring of Benny who was still resting in Richard's lap.

Richard took Benny up to his face and softly placed a kiss on his small head. "My little boy" he murmured. The King glanced at his wife, holding her gaze in his own. "I do" he said. He leaned in, kissing her cheek. "And I will be with you with whatever you need"

Richard took hold of the marbled handrail, pulling himself up with Benny tucked close to him. "Right, I guess I have to get ready for Alistair...but I'll have my phone if you need me" he said, he knelt down and put the kitten on firm ground.

Maddie the little kitten could hear that Richard got up and started to try to get to him but got stuck in one of the bushes. "Meow meow!" She called in distress.

Madeline got up from the blanket and watched her husband just wanting to make sure that he was okay. She saw Benny start to head to the bush where Maddie was stuck. "Oh no sounds like she needs a little bit of help."

Richard leaned on the marble railing, shaking his head with a small smile on his face. The kittens wrecking havoc in their wake. He sighed, pushing himself off. "Then I best be on my way" he said. "I think the cook also put something for the kittens, milk I assume" he shrugged. With a small wave, he left the gazebo.

Madeline sighed and walked over to the bush and managed to get the little kitten out. When her husband said that he was going to make sure things were taken care of back in the castle. She didn't really get to say anything before her left. I'll talk to you later. she thought to herself as she took out a bottle and little bowl. She poured the milk into the bowl and watched as the kittens ran to the bowl and started to lap it up.

She sat down on the blanket and could hear the foot falls of platform shoes. She knew who it was as soon as she heard the humming. "Hello mom." She called out.

Leah walked up and was glad to see that her daughter was alone. "Hi there baby girl." She said as she took a seat. "I brought you something that's been over due." She added as she put the pile of letters in her daughter's lap.

Madeline's eyes went from her mother's eyes down to the pile of letters that were now in her lap. She recognized Nathaniel's hand writing and gasped. "How did you find these?" She looked up to her mother with wonder.

"I hid them from you." Leah answered not knowing how else to answer. It's too late to lie now. She thought as she watched her daughter's eyes dart between looking at her and then looking down at the letters that were in her lap.

"You hid them from me." Maddie repeated. This kind of upset her that her mom would do something like that. "Why would you do somthing like that? You watched me cry myself to sleep for several months and you said nothing." Tears started to come to her eyes.

"I hid them from you because I didn't think that he would ever come back. I thought that he was going to move on and forget all about you." Leah explained then took a deep breath. "I notice that he is working here now and attempted to give him yours but he wanted nothing to do with them."

Maddie looked at her mom with disbelief. How could she do that to me? She asked within herself as now her tears were starting. She wanted to scream at her mom."You kept my letters from being sent out all those years." She didn't bother to question it because she knew that it was a fact.

"Yes but I did it because I was trying to protect you from getting hurt," Leah explained. She knew that it was a poor reason but she was younger and thought what she was doing was the right thing to do.