Shivering, I pulled my cloak a little tighter around my shoulders. Debating whether to go inside or not, I remembered what awaited me if I did. Leaning back, I looked up at the grand trees with leaves turning to shades of red, orange, and yellow. The crunch of leaves brought my head to the left.

"Avoiding your royal duties, your highness?" Nikolai asked with a smirk. He slid down next to me putting an arm around my shoulder and pulling me close.

Grinning, I nodded. "I couldn't handle one more question of what food to serve, who got the goat, or another marriage proposal," I said, shaking my head. In the past month since my coronation things had changed more than expected. Erik had taken over the Dragons. It was a natural shift, but still came with hardships as we all continued to grieve the loss of Orion. Yesterday had been a day of celebration at the compound. It marked the end of my third year and the end of the boys first as apprentices. If training wasn't hard enough, I was now learning the ropes of being royal. We were hosting royalty from Eskalay at the end of the week and Jone had been pestering me to help with the preparations. I had also sat in on the people's court where they could bring their issues before King Philip who would help resolve them. Then to top it all off, the past two weeks marriage proposals had been arriving, people wanting to raise in station through marriage.

Nikolai smiled down at me. He then stood up without warning and pulled me to my feet.

"Where are we going?" I asked as he hurried us through the garden. His eyes sparkled, but he didn't say anything as he guided me to the dock where a row boat was tied. "Nikolai, I don't have long. Your uncle, the King of Eskalay, is coming and I need to prepare," I said.

He laughed. "I am very well aware my uncle is the king. I also know that he won't care what color of napkin he uses to wipe his dinner off with," he smirked. "Now, are you going to climb into the boat on your own or am I kidnapping you?" he asked. We held each other's gaze before I sighed. "Good," he said, as I climbed in. He quickly untied the boat and started rowing towards the small island in the middle of the lake.

"You had this planned!" I said, looking at the picnic set up on the island. Helping him tie the boat, we made our way to the blanket.

He nodded pulling me down to the ground. "Yes. You've been under such stress lately and we've hardly gotten time together. I figured the only way to do so was to kidnap you. I told father, Erik and Alexander where we'd be. However, I figured if many more knew we wouldn't be alone," he said.

Sighing I leaned into him. "I like being kidnapped by you," I smiled up at him.

Chuckling, Nikolai leaned back on his arm wrapping his other around my waist. "I enjoy kidnapping you."

Closing my eyes I found comfort in the peace. Nikolai and I had come to a place in our relationship where conversation wasn't the glue holding us together. We could sit and enjoy each other's company with or without words. "Do you think they'll be an arranged marriage between Alex's baby and Chloe's?" I asked after a while. Not long ago Erik and Chloe had officially announced she was with child and soon after Alexander and Amber informed us their family would be growing shortly before Chloe's.

"Possibly. Their parents do get along so family gatherings wouldn't be too stressful," he said, earning a grin from myself. "Do you want to have kids one day?" he asked.

Sitting up I cocked my head. "You know, I've never really thought of it. Marriage was a topic I avoided and with it motherhood," I said.

He nodded as he listened. "You are so good with kids though. You have Sparrow wrapped around you and so many of the village kids adore you," he said leaning forward. "You'd make a great momma," he said, causing me to glare and blush. Instead of responding I took a roll from the basket and shoved it in his mouth.

Watching the sunset over the lake was breathtaking. The water shimmered like diamonds. Smiling in contentment as we stood on the waters edge, Nikolai's arms held me to him.

"When I found you this afternoon in the garden you said that you were hiding from choosing napkin colors, deciding who got the goat, I want to hear that story later," Nikolai said, making me laugh. "and marriage proposals. I may not be able to help with the napkins or goat..." he said. Pausing as he took a deep breath. I turned to face him wondering what had gotten him so nervous. "However, I can offer you a solution to the marriage problem," he said. Then Nikolai dropped to his knee pulling out a stunning ring. The band was twisted and patterned with rubies and diamonds and in the center was a square diamond shimmering like the water. "You have received many proposals. All of them would be fine alliances, but I hope that you will consider my proposal not one of alliances, but one of love," he said.

I gasped my hand flying to my mouth. Never had I imagined I would be the girl to cry when proposed to. I'd laughed at the thought, but here I was. Standing in front of the man I loved as he asked me to become his . . . forever. "Nikolai," I said, tears running down my cheeks. "I don't know what to do," I said honestly, never having imagined this time like most girls had.

Nikolai chuckled a smile crossed his face as he held the ring out. "Normally, this is when the girl says yes or no. I would much prefer if you said yes though. It may be an awkward boat ride back to shore otherwise."

Laughing, I nodded. "Yes. Yes, I will choose you over anyone else," I said. His smile grew as he took my hand and slipped the ring onto my finger. He then stood and drew me into a hug. "Best kidnapping ever," I whispered into his shoulder. We stayed on the island for a little while longer. Enjoying the stars that started to fill the sky as the sun disappeared. All too soon it was time to head back. "Couldn't we just stay here tonight?" I asked, grabbing Nikolai's hand and stopping him from untying the boat.

He smiled down at me. With a deep sigh he shook his head. Placing his hands on my shoulders he turned me towards the shore where we could make out a handful of small lights. "I wish. However, if you look a little closer you might recognize those as lantern lights and if we don't go back soon those holding the lights will find their way over here," he said.

"Oh... and those holding the lights would think that you aren't being a gentleman and I'd be stuck with the marriage problem again," I said. I grinned at him and shoved him back to the boat. "Hurry up! I got a reputation to uphold," I said.

Chuckling he quickly untied the boat and we got in. "If your father, Erik and Alex were the only ones that knew then why are there so many lights?" I asked as he slowly rowed back towards the shore.

"I'm sure as soon as you and I were in the boat Erik was informing your brothers and a handful of others about the true nature of this outing," he said.

As soon as we neared the dock James and Kole grabbed the boat and tied it off. I was hardly standing before Alakay and Rowen were pulling me from the boat. "You better have said no! He's not good enough for you," Alakay grinned.

Smiling, I shook my head and shoved his shoulder. "There couldn't be anyone better," I said, holding up my hand. Isabella, Chloe, and Amber all rushed forward to look at the ring resting on my finger.

"Oh Sam, it's beautiful," Amber said, giving me a quick congratulatory hug.

"I'm surprised you didn't figure it out. He's been a nervous wreck this past week as he's worked with Erik, Chloe, and myself planning this out," Isabella grinned, throwing her arms around me.

Chloe pulled me into a hug, then held my hands as she smiled at me with tears in her eyes. "I'm so happy for you, Sam," she said, placing a kiss on my cheek. She then turned to Nikolai who was standing quietly beside me now. "Take care of her," she said.

He nodded and opened his arms pulling her in for a hug. "Always," he said.

Smiling, I watched the two exchange a few words. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. Looking up, Alexander was standing by my side. "Does he make you happy?" he asked looking down at me. I nodded. He nodded in return and a smile crossed his lips. "Good, you deserve someone who will make you happy and stand by your side," he said, pulling me into a hug.

I didn't get another chance to relax until my head hit the pillow that night. After my embrace with Alexander we were directed to a small clearing with lanterns set up around a blanket of food. I'm not sure how long we stayed out, but I know that I hadn't been in my bed long before the sun started to rise the following morning.

Groaning I pulled my pillow over my head as the banging on my door continued. "Go away," I mumbled trying to ignore the noise and get back to sleep.

"Samantha Grace!" Alakay called barging into my room.

"That's not my middle name," I said, rolling away from him, hoping he'd get the hint. Alakay chuckled walking over to my bed. He grabbed my blanket and yanked it off. Crying out I curled into a ball trying to keep warm.

"Benedict sent me in to make sure you were awake and heading towards the arena. We only have you until lunch and he wants to get in a drill before breakfast," Alakay said, grabbing my pillow and whacking my head before tossing it on the floor with my blanket and walking out of my room.

Moaning, I yawned and stretched before quickly dressing and heading to the arena. Walking by Alakay I shoved him none too gently in the shoulder causing him to stumble into Louis.

"Isn't someone just cheery this morning," Benedict said with laughter in his eyes.

"I'd recommend not sending Alakay to wake me up anymore, next time he's gonna die," I responded.

Benedict nodded. "Noted. Now, let's get down to business," he said, tossing each of us a wooden staff. This had been our newest form of training and it was one that I was actually better at then the boys. "And no Alakay and Sam you are not sparring today," he said, cutting us off before either could suggest it.

We practiced with our staffs until breakfast. Finding James, Kole, and Rowen I quickly sat down with them. "What are your guy's plans for our free day?" Kole asked. Tomorrow most of the Dragons had a free day. A few would still be on duty just in case, but for most it was a down day.

"I promised Sparrow I'd take her out on a ride. So that will take most of the day," Rowen said.

"My mom said that I am not allowed to have any plans. It's been awhile since I've spent the day at home so that's my plan," James said.

"I plan on sleeping. Sleep is not something that seems to be of high importance on the list for Dragons," Kole grinned.

With a deep sigh I looked at my three friends. "I'd love to be doing any of what you all just said. Unfortunately, it seems that I will be spending my day at the castle. King Syrus and his family are arriving the day after tomorrow and according to Jone we have a million and one things to get done," I said glaring as they laughed at my situation.

"Sucks to be royal," James grinned.  

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Author Note:

The begin of the end is bitter sweet. This is the final story in Samantha's adventure from orphan to queen. I hope you have enjoyed getting to know her and her friends and I hope that you enjoy watching as she transforms into the queen everyone knows/knew (depending on who we're talking about) she could be.