Relief
POV: Alexandra
I looked back at Lucien to find that he had opened his eyes and they were the beautiful light green that I had always loved even when I considered him a friend. I dropped the journal and wrapped my arms around him, “Lucien, thank the Gods you are awake. I was so worried about you.” I began to cry but this time they were happy and relieved tears. He patted me and stroked my hair, “I’m sorry, my love, I didn’t mean to frighten you. I seemed to have tripped and hit my head when I was out searching for you. I’m also relieved that you are okay. I thought I had lost you to Loki.” I pulled away, “I would hate that. My place is here with my friends, family, and the one I love.” I looked him in the eye when I said that and he gasped, “Has the curse been lifted?” I nodded, “I’m not entirely sure how that happened though.” A bright purple flash filled the room and Aphrodite was there smiling, “I can explain that.” We both looked at her stunned at her abrupt appearance, “Everyone who knows Alexandra knows that Apollo and I created her soul. What they don’t know is that because she is, in part, Esperanza that her soul had a twin soul. Twin souls just can’t be special and unique like that. For every soul touched by a God that shared a womb, the other soul must also be touched by a God. It is the balance of things.” I gasped, “Is Ashton touched by the Gods too?” She smiled and giggled, “In a sense, you see All Mighty commanded that Thor create the soul of your brother. He had a dormant power which he used earlier tonight to scare the ever-loving crap out of Loki. Loki is Thor’s brother, of course, and Thor is so much stronger than him so when he saw the Thunder God’s power come out…well he tucked his tail and ran. Your brother’s power was so very perfect in this instance to protect you.” I nodded but then asked, “So how did it come to be that the curse was lifted?” She smiled, “Well, in a sense, you worked in tandem to lift the curse on your own. You see, your Aphrodite ability had coursed out to your brother since you were affected by the curse. This pulse of love for his sister fueled his rage and he sent a jolt through your body unknowingly and it negated Loki’s curse by zapping it dead in a sense. Remember, Thor is more powerful than Loki and since he made Ashton’s soul, his power was also more powerful than any curse or spell Loki could cast on you. All Mighty found that part very fascinating, he’s very curious about what you two could do together. Brigit assures him that it will be big things if you go down the path you are meant to.”
She smiled over at Lucien, “And how do you feel now that you have your love in your arms again at last?” He blushed a little and muttered, “It is everything.” She gave him a warm look, “Good, remember that in the future. Now I believe I must be going. Come see me real soon. Okay?” She disappeared before I could ask her if she was talking to just me or the both of us. He looked at me with his tired eyes, “Xan, I am still so very tired. Would you let me hold you while I fall asleep again?” I smiled, “Of course, anything to help you feel better.” He pressed his forehead against mine, “Marry me.” I chuckled, “I’m so very sure that that will cure you, Lucien. Besides, can you imagine the outrage if you bypassed the rest of the competition?” He sighed, “Unfortunately, I’m very well aware of what would happen. It likely would put you in further danger than you were before too. I hope Ashton can find out if the Maignys are involved sooner.” I stroked the hand that was draped around my neck and sighed, “I very much doubt that that would change things for the competition. I still would have to contend with eight other women.” He pulled me down onto the bed gently, “You forget that two women will be eliminated soon by the princesses.” I nodded, “True but that is still six other women.” He kissed the back of my head as he spooned me, “You are still number one, Xan. You just have to hang in there through the masquerade and the council interview. That’s all that’s left.” I tensed up at the mention of an interview, “I was not told there would be an interview.” He stroked my arm, “I’m sure you will do fine. You are a Batiste, the great foundation of the crown. You just have to be your wonderfully charming self, the rest your mother will undoubtedly prepare you for.” I sighed, “I was afraid of that. It is torture for me to have to learn from that woman. Love her to death but she’s so strict, too much sometimes. I sometimes wonder how she and Uncle Talon are twins. Ashton and I are very much the same person of different genders.” He winced, “The thought of being in love with Ashton’s personality is very frightening to me. Could we not call him a male Alexandra?” I laughed, “Okay, my darling. I will keep that to myself.” Silence fell on the room and I heard the steady breathing of Lucien behind me and I knew that he was eased back to sleep. I sighed happily, knowing that he was alive and, while slightly beat up, still somewhat well. I fell asleep as well wrapped in the warmth of his arms around me.
Suddenly, a light came into the room and I woke up still in Lucien’s arms. Malinus was smiling down at us, “Good morning, Alexandra. How is our patient?” I smiled back at him, “He woke for a little while last night and asked me to stay.” He nodded, “Do you feel like you are decent enough to have others in here?” I nodded, “I think so. Just need to fix my hair most likely.” He nodded and walked over to the door, “Marie, please come with me.” A woman, not much older than me, entered the room wearing a blue dress and curtsied to me, “Good morning, Your Grace, I am Marie and I will assist you in fixing your hair.” She pulled me over to the vanity and brushed my hair out. She smiled down at my hair, “My goodness this is a beautiful black and it is so thick in wavy. You must be the envy of many around you, Your Grace.” I shrugged, “Personally, I think my hair is a nuisance but if others enjoy it, I suppose that’s nice.” She nodded and hummed as she swept it into an updo, nothing fancy but enough that it was out of my face and neatly tucked away. She took all the tools she had brought in and smiled at Malinus, “I believe Her Grace is ready to receive the doctor now.” Malinus smiled and opened the door for Marie, “Thank you, Marie. You did an admirable job.” He ushered the doctor in and he went right to Lucien. Lucien opened his eyes slightly, “What is with the racket? Can a man not sleep in with a caring woman at his side?” The doctor chuckled, “Thankfully, His Majesty is feeling well enough to be cranky this morning.” He sighed, “I’m just annoyed that I had to wake up alone when I wasn’t when I fell asleep.” He winked at me and I blushed then turned my head. The doctor cleared his throat, “Well, I must enlist the help of Her Grace in the future. She did excellently well in keeping your wound dressed and the medicine applied as instructed. That is two royals that you were able to help nurse back to health, Your Grace. You did so well that His Majesty no longer has a large bump and there’s only a small scratch on his forehead.” He looked back at Lucien, “Your Majesty, you should be able to resume your duties after a day of rest.”
Malinus smiled and clapped his hands, “Excellent news. I must suggest that His Majesty eat now. The Batiste can join the royals in the dining hall for breakfast.” Lucien sighed, “If she must, I was very much enjoying her company.” I smiled at him, “I will be back, Your Majesty. We both must eat.” He nodded, “Yes, I know. Please enjoy your breakfast, Your Grace.” I smiled and left the room with Malinus. He spoke, “I am so relieved that you were there for him last night. I cannot tell you how relieved Her Highness was as well. She knew he was in the best possible hands.” I sighed, “I am glad that I was permitted to stay, I don’t think I would have slept knowing that he was injured and I could do nothing.” He patted my shoulder, “I don’t believe His Majesty would have had it any other way. His mother knows this and it is her sincerest wish that you are his future bride. Many of us here at the castle wish that.” I blushed, “You know, Malinus, if you had told me six months ago that I would be in love with a king in a different realm, I probably would have told you that you were high on something. I can hardly believe it now. This is a new emotion for me. I didn’t think about it when we were at the retreat because the King was just Lucien out there to me but being here in his home and being treated like royalty, it seems more real. I wonder, though, if I’m even a suitable person to take a place by his side. Is no one who is rooting for me concerned that I wouldn’t be a very good Queen?” He laughed, “Is that all you are worried about?” I pinched his arm, “Dear cousin, this is no laughing matter!” He shook his head, “I mean to say that if Her Majesty believes you are suitable, is there not better authority on the subject?” I rubbed my chin, “You have a very well thought out point there.” He got a smug look on his face and I rolled my eyes. As we walked into the dining room, Ashton rushed over and hugged me, “Xan, I’m so glad to see you. We have something to discuss but later we should enjoy breakfast with Her Majesty, His Highness, Her Royal Highness, and Her Highness.” All eyes looked at me and smiled and Sylphia rose, “Indeed, let’s enjoy breakfast together.”
