Prince IcelandXPrincess Reader Ch 1 ~Request

The hurried bustling of the castle staff filled the halls of (country name) with a cacophonous racket. Today was a joyous celebration for the Great King, he had finally fathered a daughter to be married off and found alliances. The older man, middle aged at most, smiled down to his young son, Brody, blue eyes crinkling around the edges into weathered crow's feet markings. The seven year old smiled back, his own blue eyes gleaming as the two walked into the birthing chambers to see the newest addition to the royal family.

The mother, possessing (h/c) hair and (e/c) eyes, looked up at her husband and son, smiling serenely to the both of them –red skirts splayed around her as she stroked her daughter's head. "(Father's Name)," she greeted, "Brody. Today is the day our beloved _______ is engaged."

"Aye," agreed the King, who gazed lovingly at his wife and daughter. "The Royal Nordics are coming, being taken by servants. There are five, in order of age; there are Matthias Køhler, Berwald Oxenstierna, Tino Väinämöinen, Lukas Bondevik, and finally, the one a year older than our _______, Emil Steilsson."

"All of the nations are allied together under one, right?"

"Correct," said the King, "Currently, the lands are under the conglomerate name of Scandinavia. However, once the boys are old enough, they shall be taking ownership of each piece of land."

"I see," remarked the Queen in understand as she stroked the soft downy hair on her one year old daughter's head. "What are the ages of the boys?"

"Matthias is said to be 10, Berwald is eight, Tino is six, Lukas is four, and Emil is two –one year older than our own."

"Those are good ages. Before we can decide on the engagement, we will need to discuss the details with the King and Queen of Scandinavia. We need to look over the lands each of the boys will be taking and then decide that way," the Queen sighed as she rubbed her brow before looking kindly and tiredly to her son, "Brody, do you believe you can play with the boys and keep them company while they're here?"

Brody nodded, hiding shyly behind his father at the thought of having contact with another child. Being the sheltered palace boy that he was, he hadn't made friends with the peasants outside of the castle grounds –he being too young to make the journey around the country, though this would come later in his life –and therefore only knew the boys and girls who served him his entire life. Even they couldn't be counted as real friends since they only felt loyalty through payment.

"Good," said the Queen, pushing (h/c) locks from her face, the length fully braided down her back, "Tell the servants to hurry the preparations. It's better to be ready extremely early than waste our guests' time by being late."

"Your Majesty," the handmaiden of the young queen ran into her Lady's chamber frantically, her soiled and ragged clothing dwarfing her scrawny form as lank and greasy brown hair fell around her slim, bony face.

The queen looked up from her chair beside the bed in which _______ slept soundly, a small hand wrapped around the mother's finger, "What?" the Queen asked her sharply and quietly, face signaling to the other woman that the child was asleep and shouldn't be woken up.

"The guests have arrived and your presence is required in the throne room immediately. This message is from the Great King."

The Queen nodded, "I see," she stood up and unlatched the child from her hand, the small extremity retracting to _______'s chest –quietly rising and falling with each breath. "Put on my crown."

"Of course, Your Majesty," the serving girl nodded, going to the dresser in the room and pulling out a slim and dainty crown made from the finest and purest gold, inlaid with rare emeralds and blue diamonds –the colors of the royal family. The accessory was placed firmly onto (Mother's name)'s head before the royal woman walked from the room, skirts lifted from her slippers as she walked through the castle.

Soon, she came into the throne room, the long hall having a ruby red carpet with drapes hanging from the marble stone columns leading to the double thrones on the platform. She strolled gracefully to her throne –with soft, plush red fabric –and smoothed her green dress's skirt around her, turning her knees into her husband and smoothly placing her dainty hands onto the skirt, the right over the left, and turned her head to look at the doors, waiting for the Scandinavian's arrival.

Right after a very late Brody ran into the room, his hair askew and tunic rumbled, as he slammed down into his seat, breathing heavily as he had obviously just come from his room. The Queen, (Mother's name), sighed at her son and quickly smoothed his bed-rumpled (h/c) locks; frowning at his unclean orange tunic before noticing that his black leggings were too tight on his legs, and bumps rimmed the edges of his boots, showing that he'd need knew clothing and shoes as soon as possible. The doors opened and the herald strolled in, hands clasped behind his dark purple and black striped tunic with the royal family's emblem embroidered skillfully on the front. His short hair, coming down in a bowl-like shape around his pointed chin and high cheek bones as covered in a pointed black hat that shadowed his dark and beady eyes in the dim lighted room, little light streaming through the windows and the candlelit chandeliers not providing the correct amount for midday.

He cleared his throat slowly and deliberately, making Queen (Mother's Name) and King (Father's Name) sigh in agitation whilst Brody fidgeted –his young and youthful never ending energy making him hate to sit still –until the herald, Van, finally said in a long, drawling and slightly dead tone, "The King and Queen of Scandinavia, Queen Adamine and King Ulf. Along with them are their children whom will settle the large lands that belong to this nation, Prince Matthias, Prince Berwald, Prince Tino, Prince Lukas, and Prince Emil."

After he said this, the herald Van bowed to King (Father's Name) and the beautiful Queen (Mother's Name) before quickly backing into the shadows by the large double doors as the Scandinavians entered the room.

The Queen Adamine was a beautiful lass, with long, curling blonde hair and large blue eyes, giving her a angelic appearance; her long, turquoise dress drug along the rug as she walked, her curls bobbing around her in a magically slow fashion. The King, Ulf, was strong and tall, towering above his petite wife. His hair was a neat and scruffy silver, and his eyes a striking violet. His strong torso and arms were framed in a shining silver fabric and his legs incased in muscle defining blue, with large feet encased in strong black boots. Behind the King and Queen came their five children, the first being Matthias.

Matthias' blonde hair stuck up at odd angles unlike any Queen (Mother's Name), Brody, or King (Father's Name) had ever seen. Along with a joyous and curious air, and slightly mischievous azure eyes, he wore a red tunic and leggings, brown boots on his feet. He grinned cockily as he surveyed his surroundings. Quietly and quickly, he whispered loudly to the younger boys behind him.

"Guys, check out this epic palace!"

This was met with a glare and grunt from the boy behind him, who was Berwald. Berwald's blue eyes were framed with a nice pair of spectacles, and it seemed to (Mother's Name) that he hated all around him from his icy stare. His blonde hair, scruffy and not so neat, almost made her giggle at the likeness it had to her own son's forever messy look. Berwald wore a dark blue tunic, slightly lighter colored leggings, and dark black boots. In his strong and large hand, the tall boy held onto the hand of a smaller one. Tino, the one holding Berwald's hand, was a violet eyed boy with pale blonde hair and skin. His odd colored eyes looked around in wonder at the surrounding throne room before tugging on Berwald's hand and whispering something inaudible. Berwald smiled, grunted, and nodded at the cheerful Tino.

(Mother's Name) liked the happy six years old.

After those two came the last, Lukas and the youngest, Emil. Lukas' had a blank and uncaring expression on his face as dull and lifeless blue eyes flowed around the room, taking in his surroundings. His light blonde hair had a strange curl and dot floating by it, and he wore deep blue gray tights and a silver tunic. As he turned his head to the side to observe a flickering torch, (Mother's Name) saw light glint off of a cross shaped clip attached to his hair, keeping locks from his pale face. Her eyes continued down, to see the latched hands of Lukas and who, she knew by process of elimination, Emil. He was a small lad, wearing a nice brown tunic and white tights, along with dark leather boots on his small feet. He had silver hair, with a slightly messy cut and large, light purple eyes. His mouth gaped open slightly as he looked around with wonder, before he tugged at Lukas' hand. The older boy looked down at him and, then, whispered something inaudible to (Mother's name). Emil smiled brightly and responded.

"Big brother!" with an excited lit to his voice. (Mother's name) progressed to set a ghost of a smile on her face before resuming a royally reserved air. She liked Emil.

"Greetings to you," King (Father's name) said to the Scandinavian royalty, as was custom.

"Good morrow," King Ulf responded, nodding his head to King (Father's name. "I assume arrangements have been made for board?"

"As always," King (Father's name) answered. "We look forward to making an engagement with your family."

"As do we."

"Now, to get down to it," (Father's name) said, getting straight into the business, "You have come to offer a son to wed our beloved ________ to, correct?"

"Yes."

"Good, my wife and I, over a week of decisions with decide which son would fit our daughter best."

"I wouldn't expect anything less."

TIMESKIP

"Have you made your decision yet?" Queen Adamine inquired of Queen (Mother's name) as they sat together in the castle gardens under a large and leafy gazebo. Queen (Mother's name) calmly sipped her tea as she contemplated answering, while watching Matthias and Brody roughhouse.

"My husband and I have been discussing."

"Then which of my sons are you leaning towards?" the Scandinavian Queen pressed, before calling out to Matthias, "Not to rough, dear! Brody's only Tino's age!"

"Yeah, yeah, Mom, whatever!" Matthias called back before tackling a fleeing Brody to the ground. Adamine frowned, sighing before turning back to (Mother's name), expecting an answer.

(Mother's name) frowned, she and her husband had been having a hard time deciding. All of the boys were so different; it was a difficult decision to make –forcing them to choose a lifetime partner for their daughter who couldn't yet speak. She opened her mouth, debating with herself before saying evenly, "We are still in the process."
Queen Adamine rolled her mystical blue eyes as she daintily sipped her drink, "You must decide soon, (Mother's name). Your week of decision ends tonight!"

"Do you think I'm unaware?" (Mother's name) snapped, the fate of the kingdom rested on this marriage.

"Are you examining any of them more than the others?" Adamine questioned, trying to help with the process of elimination.

(Mother's name) sighed, resting a light hand on her forehead, eyes closed in thought, "(Father's name) and I are considering the younger ones more thoroughly than, say, Matthias and Berwald."

"So you're leaning towards Tino, Lukas, and Emil?"

"Yes," (Mother's name) responded. "However, we're not thinking as fondly of Lukas. He seems very distant, and we want someone more loving for our beloved daughter."

"So the choice rests between Tino and Emil?"

"Certainly. Tino is only five years older than _______. That's not the vastest age gap I've come across. I've seen Queens, younger than myself, married to men older than (Father's name). It's just normal in these troublesome times."

"Now that you've eliminated all but two, which of them did you and your husband favor the most?" Adamine asked.

(Mother's name) pondered for a second as she observed Brody deliver a mighty left hook to Matthias' jaw, causing the boy to curse and begin running after her son, shouting out obscenities. "We don't know much about Emil, due to his young age. However, we have noticed that Tino and Berwald seem quite fond of each other, and we don't necessarily want to rip them apart later in life."

"Meaning you've chosen Emil?"

"In a sense, yes. I just have to discuss this with my husband. He was leaning towards Matthias."

"Why on this Earth would he favor Matthias?"

"Apparently he thinks Matthias would make a good companion for Brody."

"Let me get this straight," Adamine chuckled, "Your husband fancies the idea of marrying your one year old daughter to my ten year old son, just so Brody could have a friend? How absurd!"

"My thoughts exactly!" (Mother's name) laughed, watching Brody shimmy up a tree and perch in its branches, pelting fruit at Matthias every time he tried to climb up. "I have to agree though. Brody's always been shy and quiet. It seems as if Matthias has awoken his playful side."

"My son's good at bringing out the best in others, however, Lukas has inherited more from my side of the family."

"Is he your favorite then?"

"More or less. I do love my children, but I have a soft spot for Lukas and Berwald."

"I'm afraid I can't choose between my son and daughter. _______'s just not old enough for me to decide if I like her personality! Anyways," (Mother's name) drew the relaxing conversation to an end, "I must discuss with my husband our plans. I'll see you at the banquet tonight when we decide the fiancé for _______."