Small Victories
POV: Alexandra
I wanted to go with the soldiers to help clear away the rubble of the manor but Edgar had told me that he did not want me doing that. The General said he would come to me if he found any information in their books about my brother. I didn’t think Celia would lie to me about that besides that, there weren’t many people who knew of that name. I sighed as I made my way to my assigned area the next morning, I was to help out with the medical tent again. This time Derek accompanied me since Jess wasn’t feeling well from being that close to so much suffering. She was telling me this morning about how empathy is a gift and a curse all at once. She was going to help in the clearing of the rubble at the manor so that Derek could be around me. He was following closely behind me but he chuckled, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you sigh so much as you have this morning. Anything eating away at you?” I stopped and turned to him, “Have you ever thought you could be doing more to help people but you just haven’t because you were ignorant to the suffering of others?” He shrugged, “That’s a pretty heavy thing to have weighing on your mind, Lex. To answer your question, no. I just never thought of it.” I clenched my jaw, “That’s my problem with myself, I just never thought of it. I come here and I find children who were orphaned due to tragedy that will likely never see another happy day again. I see this whole trade of people who are suffering because they were taken advantage of. Not only that, how many people have been made to suffer because of The Order? I feel like I could be doing more…and…and…” I sighed again not knowing how I would express what was on my mind. He pulled me into a hug and finished my thought, “And you don’t know how to do it. Right?” I spoke into his chest, “That’s exactly it. I don’t know.”
I could feel him sigh a heavy sigh as well and then he pulled me away to look down into my face, “You help by doing what you are doing now. You help by winning that damned competition so you have a platform to make the changes. You help in the short term by bringing up these observations to His Majesty. I’m sure he wouldn’t refuse to meet with you, even if it has to be in secret. I truly believe that you have always been the best woman to be Queen even if you don’t always see it yourself. You want to know why I, and so many others, think so?” I shrugged, “I couldn’t begin to tell you.” He smiled and placed a hand on my cheek, “For one, you never sought the power, two, you love him, and three, you are the most caring of the remaining three. I know Rayla, she doesn’t want it because she’s just not up to helping anyone and she doesn’t want power. Melody wants the power and she’s in love with him but she doesn’t have a caring bone in her body. Do you see her here patching up her enemies or fixing a young orphan’s last piece of her home?” I shook my head and looked down, “No.” I crooked a finger under my chin to look up at him, “Then you are doing more than a lot of people. Take that as a small victory and see what you can do from here. At the Citadel, we have a saying: sulking won’t solve anything. Do you understand?” I nodded, “You’re saying that I should get to work and see what I can help with today. Right?’ He smiled and nodded, “Now come on, Vellum won’t save itself.”
I turned and walked up to the entrance of the tent then stepped inside. Doc walked up to me with a big smile, “I’m so glad you are back to help us, Your Grace. Some of the patients were raving about how your bedside manner and assistance were so useful to them. Lucy in particular said you are the best bear surgeon in all of Vellum. Some of the other children were wondering if you could fix their toys as well.” He looked up at the extremely tall man next to me and smiled, “I see you brought a muscular friend with you today. I might need you, lad. We have some patients that need linen changes in their beds and a few rolls to avoid bed sores. You think you’d be up to that?” Derek nodded, “I will do what is needed, sir.” Doc nodded and patted me on the arm, “Lucy was asking for you when she woke up, I told her I’d send you her way when you arrived. I consider my favor to her done so don’t make a liar out of me.” I giggled, “I would never Doc. I’m going now.” Doc pulled Derek over to the bed that Countess Kastilidan was laying in to help lift her so he could change a bandage on her back. I walked over to Lucy who waved enthusiastically, “Miss Alexandra! I’m so happy you’re here!” I sat down next to her and smiled, “I’m happy to be here, Lucy.” She pulled out her bear and hugged him, “He’s better than he was before. Thank you so much for your help!” I nodded, “It was my pleasure especially since I can see that beautiful smile on your face.” Lucy’s face fell from delight to sadness quickly, “I wish I could help other kids be just as happy. My friend Kalli had a bunny lose an eye completely in the accident. Her mother doesn’t know how to sew though. There are kids who don’t have anything anymore either.” I looked around the area where the children were placed and saw quite a few bored, sad faces. I smiled at her, “I have an idea about how we can help them. Let me take a walk to the other children though. Okay?” Her face lit back up, “I just knew you would be the person to help. You’re so kind, Miss Alexandra!” I patted the small girl on the head and stood up, “Which one is Tilly?” She pointed to the bed next to her where a girl a little older than her with copper-colored hair was laying with a stuffed pink rabbit under her arm. She was asleep and I didn’t want to disturb her just yet, “Okay I will come back to her when I get back.”
I walked around the room to several of the kids to figure out what sort of toys they liked. Some kids didn’t even want a toy, they wanted books or drawing materials. I eventually asked a nurse for some paper and a pen so I could write down names and what they would like. I would write home to ask for either the materials straight up or if it was stuffed animal materials to make them. I had learned a pretty neat skill when I lived in Terre called amigurumi and I hadn’t seen anything like it in Vellum so I would request yarn, stuffing, thread and my crochet kit to be sent along. This was a small victory that I could have especially for these children who lost so much and some who lost it all. I told myself that this would not be the end of me helping the orphans of Kastilidan Glades either nor would the orphans that were already in Tarn suffer. I made a mental note to visit this place that these children would be shipped to after they healed, just to see what kind of place it was. I stopped in my tracks and an idea had dawned on me that I would need Vanessa to help me with. I made the mental note to go see her when I returned. I turned back to go back to see Lucy when I noticed her talking to her friend. They both smiled up at me as I approached, “Miss Alexandra, this is my friend Tilly. I was telling her how you fixed my bear.” I smiled down at the young girl, “M-miss A-alexandra, c-can y-you fix my bunny?” The girl had a stutter but I wasn’t sure if it was because she was nervous or if this was something she had naturally. It didn’t matter to me as I took the stuffed animal that she handed to me, “Of course, I can. I think I left the sewing kit I used over…here.” I pulled the sewing kit out of a cabinet that was close by. I strode back over to the area between the two girls and set to work embroidering a new eye on the little pink rabbit. Once I was done, I looked at it and frowned, “It looks rather uneven doesn’t it? What do you think, Tilly?” She regarded and puffed out her lips in disdain, “Can you rip the other eye out and replace it with another sewn eye, Miss Alexandra?” I smiled and nodded, “Of course, I can. Let’s get to work.” While I was making the repairs, the two girls were chatting away about how young Stanley down the street is going to need to wear an eyepatch from now on. Apparently, he had received a huge scratch on his eye that the doctors are saying blinded him in the eye. Tilly said it didn’t matter what happened to his face and that boys would always be gross anyways. I laughed and retorted, “Careful there, Tilly, you might regret that attitude someday.” I assumed that she would be into boys when she was older. Lucy blushed, “I think he will look even more handsome with an eye patch.” I had finally finished the second eye for the bunny and handed it back to Tilly. She smiled and hugged the animal, “Thank you so much, Miss Alexandra. I’m going to tell my mama you helped me when she comes to visit.”
I heard a woman’s voice above us, “I can see what she did already, Tilly but you disrespect Her Grace by just addressing her as Miss.” I rose from my seat and shook my head, “I don’t mind. I would prefer people drop the honorifics while I am here. Nice to meet you, I’m Alexandra.” She gasped, “Oh no, Your Grace, I don’t know if I can disrespect your station that way. You are from the most respected house in all of Vellum.” I shrugged, “It’s up to you what you want to do but please just don’t chide your daughter for calling me, Miss Alexandra.” She sighed and nodded, “Okay, Your Grace.” I smiled and strode forward, “I would love to stay and chat but I need to go check in with my friend.” I walked out towards the center of the floor and looked around. Derek was at another bed helping Doc to roll an elderly woman on her side. I walked up to Doc and looked at the bandage he was changing on her, “Anything I can do to help?” He looked up from his work, “Yes, as a matter of fact, can you put on gloves and hold the bandage to her body while I tape it down?” I nodded, “Sure.” I walked to the supply cart and grabbed a pair of gloves and put them on. I grabbed a large square of gauze from the cart and brought it back over and held it up to the old woman’s wound. I could hear Doc next to me, “Perfect, just hold it right there as I tape it on. Aaaand there we go. You can let go now, Your Grace.” Derek rolled the old woman back over who peered up at me, “I can’t believe that The Batiste herself is tending to my wounds. It is truly an honor.” I shook my head, “Oh no, ma’am, the honor is all mine, I assure you.”
We smiled at each other for a few moments but turned our attention to the opening of the tent because there was a commotion. As I was going to walk over to investigate, I saw a tall blonde man walk into the tent and a man exclaim, “His Majesty, King Lucien!” Anyone who was standing bowed at the sight of him and the ones that weren’t standing lowered their heads at the very least. He looked around the room and his gaze landed on me, “Alexandra Batiste of House Batiste. Please rise.” I did as he had commanded and walked over to him, “Your Majesty, it is an honor to receive you.” He nodded at me and he had a business face on which meant that he was not here for a simple friendly chat. He clenched his jaw, “Please come with me if you will.” I placed my hand on my chest and bowed at my waist, “As you will it, Your Majesty.” I followed him out of the tent amongst whispers. Derek started to follow when one of Lucien’s guards stopped him, “She will be fine with His Majesty. He has asked to speak with her alone in his tent.” I silently followed Lucien to a large tent on the outskirts of the camp. I had wondered what they were going to use it for when we arrived but I found it was best not to question it. He ducked inside ahead of me and I walked in behind. He had guarded out in front so I figured it was secure to be in there with him. He turned to me and still wore the tense look on his face, “Please sit.” He gestured to a chair that was sitting in front of a small desk.” I did as he was told and stared at him until he decided to speak, “I need to speak with you about your behavior out here.”
