Truth Between the Lies
By: Sinead
Part Three
Dinobot’s jaw dropped slightly, as I was let out of the dressing room. I shook my head. "If I could wear what I normally do, then I would." Making a face, I added, "This stuff starts to chafe after a while."
Rattrap recovered enough to whistle. "Lookin’ sharp, kid!"
I leered towards him. "Wait until you see the girls from the other noble houses!"
Optimus walked up, his face surprised. "I never thought I’d see the day."
I smiled, and smoothed down the bodice of the royal blue dress. Or rather, ball gown. Crimson edged around the seams, while I wore a gold sash from my left shoulder to my right hip. On the sash were medals that represented my family, the heritage I was born into, and the country.
One of my assistants, handmaidens, if you want to be picky, handed me soft, gold satin gloves. I sighed, and pulled them over my calloused hands. It’s been two weeks since I’ve been able to run, jump, and complete a single backflip or forward flip, landing three out of five times on my feet. It’s also been two months since I’ve left the hospital.
Dinobot touched my shoulder. I jumped, and looked up at him guiltily. "Sorry. Thinking."
He shook his head, and indicated the large window, bulletproof, where I could see over my grandmother’s capital. I walked beside him, taking even, measured steps from training when I was younger and taking lessons for this kinda stuff, as well as imitating my mother . . . before she had died with my father in an assassination car accident. Their deaths left the country in near ruin and ultimate grief. Grandmother took upon the title of active Queen, while waiting for me to mature and grow older.
This was the formal announcement of her final resignation . . .
And my coronation.
Dinobot reached the window and looked back at me. I had stopped to look at a wonderfully-crafted tapestry of my father and mother on their coronation day. I sighed, and continued to Dinobot. The other Maximals in my guard had been brought away to prepare for the ceremony. Once I reached my once-lover . . . but . . . he still acted as if we were. And I still loved him. I could tell that I could never stop loving him, either. I looked up at him solemnly, and sighed, looking at my gloved hands. I was wringing them one in the other. Two larger hands, ones that belonged to Dinobot, took them and spread them out, then studied how small they were in comparison to his own. I sighed and leaned closer to him, resting my forehead carefully against his lower chest. One hand took both of my own in it, while the other rested on the back of my neck, holding me close. I closed my eyes, and sighed.
"You’re nervous, Rebta."
I nodded.
"You’re also shaking quite a bit."
I looked up at him, and said in a quiet voice, "I’m about to be coronated, to be the head of a country. I have reason to be nervous and shaking."
"I don’t doubt that."
A handmaiden walked up, and asked quietly, "Sir? If you would come with me for preparation?"
He looked down at me, and I smiled. "I’ll help him. Are the others ready?"
"No, royalty."
"If you would please return to them, I’d be grateful."
"Please don’t be indebted to me, royalty," she murmured, before curtsying, and backing away.
As we walked to one of the rooms, Rattrap was roughly shoved out of a door, amid laughter from his comrades, as well as a few human voices. He grumbled something under his breath, and looked over at us. I chuckled, and walked over to fix a few loose buckles on the ceremonial armor. He frowned. "How do ’ya have all dis armor?"
At that very moment, as if to answer his question, a rather large squirrel, accompanied by two spotted cats, ran up to us. They transformed, and I embraced all three in turn, as they asked a flurry of questions. I answered the questions as quickly as they came.
"Woah, woah, woah! Hold up, ’ere! Rebta, who are dey?"
The three seemed shocked that Rattrap had used my nick-name. The squirrel asked, "Princess Rebtaliyah, who are they, and why did that one not address you properly?"
I shook my head. "Swiftelm, Sharpfang, and Swiftspot, meet Dinobot and Rattrap. They’re two of my personal guard."
The three stopped dead. Sharpfang bowed, his actions as sure as any other swordfighter’s. "Then we apologize. We had no knowing of your rank."
Someone ran up behind them, and a reptilian snout poked between Swiftelm and Sharpfang’s heads. "Princess, it is one hour until."
I smiled. "Thank you."
She caught sight of Dinobot. "Who’s the Prime-cut one?"
He growled. "One who could care less."
Rattrap snickered. "Well, you’re crazy to think that he’ll like ’ya!"
She snorted. "I’m not looking for another husband, thank you very much. The one I have at the moment is trouble enough!" She grinned. "I merely said so to embarrass the Princess."
I rolled my eyes, and removed the satin gloves. "Come on, Dinobot. We have to get you into that armor you were fitted for. Rattrap, if I find that you were flirting with Swiftelm, I’ll kill you for ruining your armor."
He nodded, and I walked off with Dinobot behind me. We reached the dressing quarters, where the armor was hanging on a rack. I tucked the gloves into a well-concealed pocket, where a small dagger was stored. I hefted up the shoulder-plates, and he sat, as I placed them upon his shoulders.
Optimus walked in, accompanied by both a human and a Cybertronian footman. I smiled. "What? I have to be babysat now?"
He chuckled. "No, not really. It’s just too loud in the other room."
"That’s the biggest pile of slag I’ve ever heard from you," Dinobot snarled, teasing him.
Optimus chuckled. "True. But we have to talk, Rebta."
"Princess Rebtaliyah, may I ask a question?"
I smiled at the teenage human footman, who was actually training under the Cybertronian one, called as Stoneswipe. The boy was also the son of one of the chefs, who had many a time let me taste from the dishes he was preparing when I was little. The man was wonderful, and still was the best cook in this and the surrounding countries. I nodded to the boy. "Yes, go ahead."
"Why do they not acknowledge your royal position and heritage?"
I smiled again, as I was placing the gauntlets on Dinobot’s hands, strapping them on, as he was grumbling under his breath about how all this was unnecessary. I smiled at him, stopping his grumbling, as I retrieved another part of the armor. Once my answer was complete in my head, I replied, "When I was still recovering, they had been appointed by my grandmother to keep an eye on me. They didn’t know about me being of royal blood, or anything of the sort."
"But we knew that you were somehow important enough to be singled out for an assassination attempt," Optimus replied. "And to be assigned Cybertronian bodyguards. Even on Cybertron, bots knew that only the most important of people had a Cybertronian trained as a bodyguard. One was plenty, but who ever had heard of six for one person?"
I laughed. "Did Grandmother ask for only one of your group?"
"Well, she sent for Dinobot, specifically, since he was the one who had professional training. That, and putting Megatron into restraints would a tough job for anyone other than the largest of Maximals."
I blinked at the Maximal, who was glowering at his leader. "Really? Huh. I never would have thought, but that would explain a lot about the protective way you’ve acted."
"Oh, shut up," Dinobot growled.
Stoneswipe blinked at Dinobot, as I hit the bot upside the head lightly. "Oh, you. What happened after that, Optimus?"
The footman-in-training was sitting, watching the leader with awe. Optimus chuckled. "Well, we all went, since we were feeling a bit trapped on Cybertron, with all these social obligations to attend, since we did capture Megatron, and return him to Cybertron."
"Yes, Dinobot told me about that."
Optimus’ optics asked me if I knew the whole story, and I smiled slightly, my eyes sad, telling him silently that I did. He nodded, and replied, "Well, we all came, and she met with Dinobot alone. We waited around, and saw that there were a few more candidates for a bodyguard. All of which were famous for one thing or another. It seemed as if she wanted people to know that someone who was an accomplished warrior was watching over you."
He paused. I finished armoring Dinobot, and leaned on his shoulder. "So what happened next?"
Optimus indicated Dinobot, who shrugged his free shoulder. "She asked about all sorts of things, some of which had seemed to be unnecessary. For instance, had I ever had to deal with death before."
"Ouch."
"Hmph. Indeed. Once all the questioning was done, she asked one more question. Was I here alone, like the others, or did I come with comrades? I told her, and she asked me to bring them in."
Optimus was chuckling. "You should have seen the faces of the others, when Dinobot walked out, then back in, with all of us behind him. Primus, they were surprised."
"Did any of them know who you were?"
"Yes. They knew right away once they saw Dinobot."
I sighed, and reached into my pocket for the gloves, but only held them, not putting them back on. A handmaiden came in, with a silver box in her hands. Dinobot watched, as I sat, and she placed the simple princess’ tiara upon my head, arranging my recently-curled hair around it. A maid came in, dressed in full coronation regalia, her hands upon her hips. "Child, I assume that you’re wearing those gloves to hide those dirty fingernails of yours."
I smiled at my human nanny. "Yes. I’m sorry. But you know perfectly well that it’s always been that way, Nan."
Roughly slamming the door open and closed, my Maximal nanny stormed in, and grabbed my hands not too roughly, but in a manner that caused Dinobot to stand, ready to defend me. "Your callouses have softened, and your gripstrength is still weak! What are you thinking, getting coronated when you’re still like this?!"
I smiled up at her, and she dropped to her beast mode, a polar bear. "And to think, this time you’ll be arriving in the court on the arms of your bodyguards, and not by my shoulder."
"Icefire," I whispered, and wrapped my arms around her massive neck. "I’ve always left that offer open for you to join them."
She shook her head. "I’m still a guardian. And I’m waiting for you to have your own children, to take care of them."
I smiled, and kissed her white-furred cheek. "You’re the greatest teacher anyone could have."
She growled, embarrassed, and I looked at Dinobot. "Dinobot, I’d like you to meet Icefire. She’s the one who taught me swordfighting."
He bowed stiffly, formally, and Icefire reared up upon her hind legs, standing him up straight with a paw, and straightening his stance. "Shoulders back, chin higher, hands perpendicular to the ground, sir!" She circled once around him, inspecting him throughly. She dropped back to all fours, and ambled back to me, standing behind me, and looking at Dinobot from my left side. "Your grandmother made a good choice, when asking him to guard you. The others aren’t too bad themselves . . . except for that Rattrap. And Rhinox . . . hmm . . . he’s a bonus. Never underestimate that Maximal, Princess."
I smiled, nodding. She went back over to Dinobot, and roughly nudged him over to me, as Optimus was inspecting his gauntlets warily, ignoring the situation. Icefire said gruffly, "You. Take care of her, and don’t let her get hurt . . . if you value your life."
He nodded, and the others came into the room. Icefire turned her head aside slightly, smiling, and I saw a tear fall. With a smile, I looked up at Dinobot, who touched my cheek tenderly. "You’re going to have to be more careful from now on."
Silverbolt walked over, rubbing at his shoulders. "How do you stand this, Dinobot? You look less uncomfortable than the rest of us."
"Simple. I’ve worn battle armor before I left Cybertron."
"Why?" Silverbolt asked warily.
Dinobot grinned. "Bodyguard training and arena fighting."
I laughed at Silverbolt’s shocked _expression at the second half of the answer, and a pair of fledged footmen, clad in the royal blue, crimson, and gold of my family entered. "Your majesty?"
I sighed, and Dinobot took my right side, as Optimus took my left. The others filed behind us. As we left the room, I looked up at Dinobot. "You never told me exactly how you got that scar on your side."
His face fell. "Later, tonight, I give my word that I’ll tell you."
I smiled lightly. "Tell me that you’re kidding. Why am I wearing this dratted dress? There’s a feast right after the coronation. And then ball afterwards. That’s also why you’re wearing that decoration armor."
"Whoo-hoo! Pretty girls!"
I heard Icefire’s exasperated growl, and laughed, the tension breaking with those simple words. "Oh, wait and see, Rattrap. You just wait."
I kneeled before my grandmother, wearing the formal, white coronation finery that the elder royalty wore when crowning the younger, who always wore the colors of the family upon this occasion. She towered over me, in the gown she wore when she preformed this upon my parents’ coronation. She often joked that they had been coronated, ate, went to the ball, didn’t look once away from each other, and then went on their honeymoon. Their coronation was also their wedding, she said. But the friendly joke around the castle, was that they were married, and I was conceived three minutes later. I didn’t doubt that. My parents had always adored each other. Well, technically, Mother hadn’t even been born of royal blood, but Grandmother had found something about one illegitimate ancestor of hers, who had been royalty in another country. But that didn’t matter, since she said that she always had a back-up plan. Oddly enough, she never told me what it was.
Camera flashes went off around me. Grandmother’s voice, old but strong, asked, as she held the sword, point resting upon the carpeted steps, "Rebtaliyah Awntani Srisabin Lehata, will you rule wisely, fairly, and with consideration to all?"
"I will," I replied.
"When you doubt your abilities, will you seek the help of elders, no matter what situation?"
"I will," I repeated.
"Will you consider every law that may be proposed to you, and take into consideration whom they will affect most and least?"
"I will."
The questions and answers went on for another fifteen minutes, before she brought up the sword, and touched my right shoulder, my left, then my right again, before being laid at my knees. Grandmother gently took my tiara off, and placed it upon the other side of the sword. I stared at it, clasping my hands before me, to keep them from shaking visibly. My stomach turned and twisted, and the thought of a feast afterwards seemed almost too much.
Grandmother’s lithe hands went up to her own head, and removed her crown.
I closed my eyes, and then felt the weight of the metal circle rest upon my head. I opened my eyes, amid a moment of silence.
Before I could gather my thoughts, thunderous applause and cheering filled the large outdoor court, echoing over the surrounding city. I took the hilt of the sword that signified I was now the one in power. I stood, raised the sword above my head in a warrior’s salute, and then lowered its tip to rest upon the ground, as I turned, and bowed to my Grandmother. She smiled, and bowed in return, as the cheering wore on.
I hope that I do this right,I thought, as I rose again, to face the crowd, sword in hand.
Dance.
Sit.
Dance.
Eat an appetizer.
Dance.
Sip at a toast to some odd reason or another.
Dance.
Sit.
"Are your feet up to this?" Optimus asked, as I was sitting back down from a rather grueling waltz.
I gave him a subtle glare, then laughed, as if he had made some joke or another. He smiled knowingly, and a couple of the guards eased off. Grandmother sat next to me, and nodded once. I had asked her a question, and she had just affirmed that it would be a wise idea to do. I looked back at Optimus. "I have a question for you. A request."
He smiled down at me. "Well, who am I to deny you?"
"Would you head the guard?"
"Blunt."
"You know I’m not one for dolling up my words."
"True," he replied, laughing. His mirth faded to a warm, paternal smile. "Of course. I’d only be honored."
Rattrap came over, more, I could tell, to check up on me, rather than to tell me something, but he spoke anyway. "’Ya were right ’bout da girls! An’ dey like me!"
Optimus coughed, hiding a chuckle as the short Maximal walked back off into the merry crowd. "He’s been slapped more times than even I can count."
I laughed, and took another sip of the fruit drink I preferred to the wine being served. "Go figure. What of Rhinox? He’s a medic, technician, but he’s also someone who we can always talk to about anything."
"He won’t take a high position. You should know that. We’ve all been speaking about subjects like this, ever since we had arrived here at the castle. Well, rather, Cheetor and Rattrap were daydreaming about it, and had asked the rest of us. You know how they are."
I smiled, as my grandmother muttered, "We most certainly do."
Dinobot, who was standing behind my chair, snickered. I shook my head, and asked, "Optimus, please tell me who would like what responsibility. I would hate to make any of them uncomfortable."
He opened his mouth to reply, but a prince from a country on the other side of the globe bowed slightly less than what appropriate, holding his hand out to me. "If her Esteemed Majesty would honor me with this dance?"
And even before I could reply, my grandmother snapped, "Bow a little lower, extend your hand a few inches higher to come level with your shoulder, and rephrase your request. However, I believe that my granddaughter had been promised a dance with one of her bodyguards, once this rest was over. Wasn’t the right, Dinobot?"
I could tell he was uncomfortable, but he made a neutral sound. "It was either me, Cheetor, or Rattrap."
"No, I thought that it was you . . . You were the one who had been dared by Rattrap, weren’t you?"
I turned to look up at him. "Do I want to know?"
He sighed. "Yes, your grandmother is telling the truth." He grinned evilly, and walked in front of me, bowing the proper way. Grandmother, who had been correcting bows and postures out of fun all evening long, was silent at that. "Queen Rebtaliyah, milady, would you honor me with a dance, short or long, as soon as you are able?"
"My!" Grandmother exclaimed, chuckling. "Well done!"
I stood, bowed in return, and replied, "I believe that I can still dance, sir. Please, by all means, lead!"
He chuckled, and straightened, once more the bot I knew. "Glad that’s over."
"Stay proper!" Grandmother called, teasing him. He made a face, and she laughed.
As we danced, I asked, "Who was the prince?"
"One who enjoys one-night-stands, milady," Silverbolt replied, as he danced with a well-known and proper Maximal girl.
Dinobot nodded once. "His name is Itsumoso. To be truthful, Rattrap didn’t dare me, but I do not want that Prince anywhere near you."
I executed a neat spin, and he took me in a waltzing position, preparing to speed up to match the pace of the new band taking over, while the other had a rest. I looked up at him, and replied, "Then I’ll need someone planning who I dance with."
Rattrap spun by with a girl who was as fun-loving and wild as he was. Dinobot and I looked to each other, and shook our heads. Before long, I spotted Icefire, talking with Rhinox. She saw me, smiled reassuringly, and Dinobot spun me once more. When I could see where she and Rhinox had been talking . . . only Rhinox was there. Dinobot felt my hand twitch slightly in Rhinox’s direction, and we went. Soon, I was standing before him, smiling up at the Maximal. I told him of my situation, and he nodded. "I’ll get on that. Finish the dance off, and I’ll send someone over. Dinobot will know who. Don’t ask why or how."
I nodded, smiled, and then was off dancing again.
I rather liked the sensation of dancing with my . . . my Dinobot.
"Your feet are purple."
"Shut up."
"You’re irritable."
"Shut up."
"Are you actually going to leave your hair up like that?"
"Shut up, Dinobot!"
"And that stuff on your face?"
"It’s called make-up, you dope! Will you shut up already?"
"Hmph. It’s only four-thirty in the morning."
"Oh, I’m gonna kill you."
I sighed, and put my feet back in the tub of lukewarm water, and rested my head back against the tall back of the chair. An assistant had helped me out of the dress not fifteen minutes before, after all of my guests had left. One of the princes had seemed to be quite intent upon "staying the night." Optimus managed to convince him to leave, although a threat of physical removal had to come about. I had asked the handmaiden who it was, and she had said with a giggle and a blush, "Itsumoso, of course!"
Like that was reassuring.
I sighed, and closed my eyes. Only Dinobot and I were in the room, and he was managing to keep me awake by bickering. I didn’t mind it, although I wanted to get out of the makeup and the hairstyle as soon as I could. Hands touched my head, and I sat up straight, only to be held down in the chair by Dinobot. "Stay still. I saw this go in, and I can get it out for you so you can sleep longer."
I looked up at Dinobot, and he smiled slightly, pulling bobby pins out easily, and putting them on a table, next to the crown. My hair fell past my shoulders, and I sighed, reaching for a damp cloth. With that, I wiped at my face, until I felt it was as clean as it was going to get. I looked down at myself, and yawned. I was wearing a thin cotton tunic and pants, as it was a hot night for spring. The pants, at the moment, were hiked up above my knees. Dinobot’s hand rested upon my own, and I yawned again. "I need to sleep so badly . . ."
His arms wrapped around me, and I sighed into his shoulder. "I wish I was still a Maximal. It was the only time I had been truly free."
"It was," he rumbled, "one of the best times I had ever had in my life. I’d give anything to have those times back again."
I nodded, and felt him pick me up, then carry me to my bed, to lay me down gently. I felt him kiss my forehead, before a warmth spread along my back. I curled closer to Dinobot, and fell asleep.