Prince Christian decided that he was going to court and wed Dawn, she was perfect for him. He loved her slender figure, her now shoulder-length Flaxen colored hair. He also loved the fact that she was born male, but now had the appearance of a beautiful fair maiden.
The sun glinted on his beautiful auburn hair, as he made his way to Dawn's suite of the castle with a bouquet of red roses and some beautiful, deep blue sapphire earrings. He also had a secret piece of jewelry hidden on him and if all went according to plan, he would give it to her.
He knocked on her door, and inquired, “May I come in, my darling?”
Dawn got up and answered, “Who is it?” with a little smile on her face knowing who it was, but wanting to have a little fun with the big, handsome man. She was falling love with him but she was wondering if she should fall in so easily with the machinations of Queen Elizabeth. It was still bothering her on how well she was tricked into her current role. As much as she loved her new clothes, her new jewelry she did miss the freedom of her days of being Eric, a handsome and randy knight.
She did regret the actions that gotten her into this mess in the first place. She should have had more respect for women and not force himself as he was Eric at the time on a beautiful girl who stirred up his passions. It is never right to force yourself on someone as Eric as Dawn soon realized when Alexander Du Lac raped her.
There is a freedom of being able to come and go when you are a man and Dawn did miss those days. Now she had to act demure and ladylike. She was to be treated like she was a natural born woman by Royal Decree. So she had to flirt with guys, wear dresses, which didn't mind too much, wear corsets, which she did mind, they were tight as Hades.
Prince Christian, did not take kindly to her attempt at humor and replied, “It is Your Royal Highness, Prince Christian.”
“Well you don't have to get all high and mighty with me. I was just kidding you, sheesh, can't you take a joke.”
She opened the door and let him in.
The prince being a bit impatient and quite stirred up in his passions proceeded to get down on one knee and asked Dawn the very important question.
“Will you marry me?”
Dawn hesitated and asked for a few seconds to think it over.
She then gave him an answer, as she nodded her head and said that she would be glad to accept that honor.
He then placed a beautiful sapphire and diamond ring on her finger.
Prince Christian was so radiantly happy with her answer and told her that he was the luckiest man alive.
“We have so much to plan in the next year. We will have to decide how we are going to get heirs.”
“My sister who is very similar to me agreed to donate her eggs and womb to remedy the situation. We will just have to make sure she is in seclusion when this occurs.”
“We will have to tell my mother the good news right away. She will be so pleased.”
“Can't we wait and tell both families together?” Dawn did not want to give the Queen instant gratification in the knowledge that her scheme worked. At least not for a little while, besides she wanted both families to know the news at the same time.
Christian agreed and so they set a date for a dinner to tell the news to both of their families.
Dawn's father, mother, brother, and sister received their invitation to a private party. They wondered what is about.
Dawn, nee Eric's father, William, was still angry over his former son's behavior to maidens and felt that his punishment was merited but he still had to deal with the embarrassment of having a rapist for a son. He hoped that Eric as Dawn would make a better life for herself. He also hoped that his new daughter would marry the Prince as this would be beneficial to the family's name and position in society.
Dawn's mother, Helena, was also hoping that her new daughter was announcing her engagement. She was very disappointed when Eric molested Victoria, she had hoped that she raised her son better. She has seen Eric since he became Dawn and she love the improvements in her former son.
Dawn's brother, Christopher, was happy for his new sister. He loved Eric better as Dawn, she was more kinder and gentler than her former self. He also noticed that Dawn seemed to care more for her family than she did before. He noticed that Dawn seemed to care more for the interests of others as opposed to being self-centered like she was when she was Eric. Christopher was also involved with the punishment of Alexander Du Lac, now Alexandra. He was very upset over what Alexander did to his sister but he was trying to treat Alexandra like a lady.
Dawn's sister, Amelia, was very certain that the engagement was going to be announced since she was secretly approached to be the donor mother for her sister. She was very pleased to be asked to do this, as she would do anything to help Dawn out. She was so happy to have a kind, loving sister as opposed to her overly masculine former brother. She secretly smiled to herself over how feminine her brother Eric has become as Dawn. Amelia, though a little shorter than Dawn, physically looked very similar to Dawn and knew that people would not be able to tell future kids weren't Dawn's.
Meanwhile, over in the palace King Jonathan and Queen Elizabeth were also wondering what the invitation was about. King Jonathan, who was in the dark about his son's orientation and Dawn once being Eric was hoping that his son was finally going to be settling down, get married and set about producing heirs to the throne. King Jonathan was a well-liked king, who tried to be fair to his people and to other kingdoms.
Queen Elizabeth, was fairly certain that her plans were working out, although she was extremely disappointed that her son did not tell her first. She was feeling guilty of her setting up Eric and forcing his transition to womanhood. She knew that Eric would make an excellent wife to her son. She would have rather discussed her plans with Eric, now Dawn and maybe could have made it worth his while, but she was afraid that Eric would not fall in with her plans so she did think it was for best to set him up and punish him for his crimes. Queen Elizabeth did believe that Dawn did make a fine woman, and was a beautiful accent to her handsome son. She did know that Christian was very taken with Dawn, her beauty and her inner grace.
Dawn was busy planning for the coming party. She had to plan the meal, make sure it was suitable for everyone in both families. She had to decide which set of china and crystal to use. Make sure the floral arrangements were done. She wanted it to be perfect. Although she was unsure of whether she wanted to be a woman or not, she did know that she loved being with Christian; loved the way he treated her; the way he made her feel. She really did feel that she could live the rest of her life as his wife. She did wonder if she would have accepted this if Queen Elizabeth had come to her first. She wondered what it would feel like to be possessed by Christian.
Christian, knowing how his intended was, let her have her way planning the meal. He was just so elated that she agreed to marry him. He felt that he was the luckiest man alive. He was glad that his mother had found him his Dawn. He could not wait until the wedding. He could not wait to make Dawn his.
Chapter 3
Dawn was just putting the finishing touches to the meal when her guests began to arrive.
She led them into the sitting area and told them to get comfortable, while Christian got them their drinks. They were all there, except the queen who was just finishing up getting ready. She was running late because her court sessions today ran over time. She was wondering what the meeting was about. She was hoping that her plans and schemes worked out. She felt justified in ruining Eric's life if her son was happy. She thought he had looked a lot happier in the last few weeks. She felt that the ends justified the means and she was disciplined enough to plan and carry out her schemes. Besides she thought Dawn was a better person than Eric and that she was better off as a woman. She only wished that Christian was more like her and less the gentle man that he was.
She got dressed in her finest golden gown, put on her grandest tiara and headed down to the gathering.
The queen was rushed into the sitting room, and joined her husband who was already there. The king was a kindly man, who let his wife pretty much run things. He wanted his son to be happy and thought that Dawn was doing this. He didn't know for sure, but thought it highly likely that his wife planned out the whole thing. He did feel sorry for Eric, because the king liked him and thought him a great fellow. He studied Dawn, and wondered if she was truly happy as Dawn or would he go back to being Eric if he could. But knowing his wife he thought the last scenario was very unlikely. He figured his wife and Eric totally locked into being Dawn.
Dawn looked splendid in the gown she chose to wear for the dinner. She got up and walked over to her fiance. She gazed lovingly into his eyes.
Prince Christian got up.
“I have a wonderful announcement. I have asked Dawn to be my wife.”
“That's wonderful but what did she say?” The queen asked.
“She said no.”
The queen was shocked at this. She felt her plans for the kingdom and her son going awry. She was ready to go and punish Dawn. She felt maybe a few days in the dungeon would set her right. She was ready to call her guards in and carry that out when she noticed the gleam in her son's eyes.
“Got you”
“Did I have you going mother? I hope so, because this is the last time I am going to deal with your schemes and machinations. You set up a poor guy, so that you can make the perfect bride whether he wanted to be a bride or not. It is not right for you to play with other lives. Please let Alexandra be the last, or I will renounce my ascendancy to the throne. Dawn did accept because she loves me and wants to be with me and not as a result of your schemes. I really do hope that you learn not to manipulate others into your bidding.”
The queen was aghast at these words.
“What do you mean give up the throne. I did this, so that your ascendancy to the throne would be guaranteed. If you turn it down, I will have ruined another man's life for naught.”
“That's the point I am trying to make mother. It was very wrong of you to take Eric, set him up and transform him into a woman. Luckily for you she likes what was done to her, but if she wasn't you would have forced her into being someone she is not. You do not have the right to do that to others on your whim. I will only renounce the throne if you ever try to manipulate others again.”
The queen decided to let that matter drop for the time being, but thought to herself that she would revisit it when she could control her son a little bit better. She did not want to stop using her control to manipulate others.
Dawn was congratulated by her family who felt that this would be a good move for her. She would be protected and taken care of by a man who loved her.
Chapter 4
Christian woke up that morning and looked through the windows and leaves of red, gold and brown decorating the trees outside. He was unable to go back to sleep as the past was preying on his mind. He felt guilty over the part he played in the creating of Dawn.
He was always attracted to Eric growing up and wished that he could have had a relationship with him as Eric. Although with Dawn though, it would give the appearance of a man/woman relationship. Dawn still did have what Christian desired in Eric, just in a more pleasing womanly package.
He wondered if his mother sensed his attraction for Eric and that is why she chose him for his new role as a princess.
It was just the idea of the ruse used against Dawn, nee Eric that still did not sit right with him. Christian could see how much Dawn changed and developed into a beautiful young woman at least as appearances go.
Christian decided to get dressed in a pair of tights that left little to the imagination. He put on a forest green cambric shirt and donned a heavy woolen sweater and proceeded to go downstairs and wait for Dawn.
Dawn woke up and looked out of the windows in her room at the same awe inspiring view of the autumn leaves in the early hours of the dawn.
She was looking back at what got her to where she was today. She did regret the action of forcing a woman to be humiliated and treated by forcing her to have sex with Eric as she was then. Now that she was a woman herself she realized how heartless and cruel that was. She knew that all though it was engineered by the queen so that should get an effeminate man albeit dressed in the role of a woman as a wire for her son; Dawn did not have to do what Eric had done, it could have been avoided.
Dawn went to her wardrobe and skimmed through her choice of gowns before settling on a rust colored one that matched some of the colors of the leaves outside.
She rang for her maidservant to come and get her dressed.
Dawn gracefully descended down the stairs. Gliding with each step as it brought her closer to the man that she was falling deeply in love with.
Christian asked, “Would you like to go for a stroll, sweetheart?”
“Yes, that would be great. I have been thinking how much I care for you.”
“I feel the same, but maybe that may change after I tell you something. I want you to know that I have always been in love with you, as far back as Eric. I feel guilty in that may be why my mother chose you for your current role.”
“Don't feel guilty, dear, I am here for my own role in the crime I committed. I do care for you and I love where I am at now. I had no real goal in life then, I was content to abuse others and take what I wanted. I realize how wrong I was then and I love being in a relationship with a man who cares for me and treats me with respect. I can now be an example to others in how you can change your life around and better yourself. I cannot wait for May, when we can get married and be together for the rest of lives.”