"The Reluctant Princess" ~ for the Short Affair 12/28

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Challenge: The Short Affair

Prompt# 2: Mop,

Color: Silver

Author: mrua7

Title: "The reluctant princess"

Word Count: Approx. 990

Illya Kuryakin felt sorry for the girl, being uprooted from her home in New York and traveling to a strange country. None of this was her choice as apparently no one had bothered to ask her what she wanted.

Her destination was Derissa, a small principality between Italy and Austria. It wasn’t a well known country, similar to Ingolstein, * though a bit larger.

It was however, known for its fine apricot brandy, which was its main export. Other than that, there was nothing remarkable about the kingdom. It was picturesque, but you could find that in a lot of places around the world.

The principality until recently was ruled by Prince Louis Maté-Friedrich; a monarch somewhat noted for his playboy life style. Sadly at the age of twenty-nine, the prince died in a tragic skiing accident in the Swiss Alps. He had no spouse or heir, except for a cousin who lived in America.

That cousin had recently passed away, leaving only a daughter. A young girl who at the tender age of seventeen discovered she was now a princess and would inherit the throne when she came of age on her eighteenth birthday.

The agents were tasked with escorting Éloïse Beatrice Aurélia Maté, now Princess of Derissi, to her new home.

“One would think she’d be excited,” Napoleon remarked.

He and his partner waited patiently in front of a simple brownstone located in the West Village. Behind the two men, parked curbside, was a sleek silver-cloud Rolls Royce limousine sporting diplomatic flags.

It seemed Miss Maté was delaying her departure, stalling for the third time.

“Not when you are being ripped from everything you know, thrust into a world of strangers, and being forced to live in a place that in no way resembles your home...you forget I have experience in that area,” Kuryakin said.

"Hey, it's not like she's going to an orphanage and being trained in the art of espionage tovarisch."

"No, but like myself, she has no choice."

The girl wasn’t happy about it at all; leaving her friends behind and the only home she’d ever known. A few of her belongings were being shipped ahead with the only thing familiar left to her was her dog, a small bit of white fluff named Spot...an all American mutt, though there wasn’t a spot on him.

Much to Illya’s relief, the beast was put into a pet carrier, even though Spot didn’t look like he could harm a fly.

The woman Miss Maté had lived with after her father’s death was a friend of the family; a robust woman named Mrs. Fanucci. The girl’s mother had left years ago when Eloise was just a child and couldn’t be located upon the death of the father.

The goodbyes with Mrs. Fanucci were tearful and loud; the woman wiping her reddened cheeks with her white apron as she stood at the curb waving like a madwoman when the Rolls drove off.

“That’s a nice looking dog you have there,” Napoleon said. He was seated next to the princess, and Illya was opposite them with the pet carried next to him; he was not pleased.

“Would you like to pet him?” Eloise asked.

“I think it best we leave him in the cage,” Solo whispered,”my friend and dogs don’t exactly get along. He actually has a morbid fear of them.”

The girl, a pretty young thing with a wild mop top of curly brown hair, gave Illya an odd look. “You’re afraid of dogs...a little thing like Spot? You’re weird for an UNCLE agent.”

Kuryakin’s nostrils flared, that was the only reaction he gave her at first.

“Having been attacked and nearly killed by dogs a number of times in my life, I think I am justified in my dislike of them,” he finally huffed.

“Oh I’m sorry,”Eloise said. “Spot really wouldn’t hurt you, I promise.” Before anyone realized what she was doing; she opened the carrier, took hold of the pooch and deposited it in Illya’s lap.

The look of horror in his eyes was evident, but Eloise insisted.

“Just let him sit there...see, he’s not biting. Go ahead and pet him, like this,” she demonstrated before grabbing Kuryakin’s hand and forced him to stroke the dog’s head and back.

To Illya’s dismay, nothing happened. Spot made himself comfortable, laying down and panting a little before closing his eyes.

The Russian, known for striking terror in the hearts of enemy agents with a single blue-eye stare, remained rigid; once Eloise took away her hand, he continued to gently stroke the dog’s back.  Soothing the savage beast as it were, not taking a chance at angering the creature.

The trip to Kennedy Airport took longer than anticipated, and Napoleon watched in amusement as Illya finally laid his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.

“Kids...or rather, Kuryakin and dogs,” he mused to himself. “Nothing like a moving vehicle to soothe them both and send them to sleep.”

“So your highness, why aren't you excited about going to Derissi? You’re going to have a wonderful life there, one you could never have dreamed of here.”

“I’m going to miss my friends and Mrs. Fanucci. Except for Spot, they’re all I have.”

“Well, you'll make new friends, I'm sure.”

“I suppose,”she shrugged her indifference.

“And as Princess of Derissi you could have your friends and Mrs. Fanucci brought over to visit you?” He winked.

“I can?” Her eyes went wide with surprise.

“You do have a private jet at your disposal...the one we’re going to take today if we ever get to the airport. I assure you, you’ll be able to do things you never dreamed of your Highness.”

“Wow. Maybe this isn’t going to be that bad after all Mr. Solo,” she smiled.”Thank you!”

“My pleasure Princess Eloise, and thank you for helping to get my partner over his fear of dogs.”

"Not quite..."Illya opened one eye, "but better Highness, thank you."


* ref to MFU episode "The Round Table Affair"

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think it's unanimous, everyone wants this one to be continued. I will, but not right now. Have a WIP that has to be finished first.