Plans
POV: Alexandra
I had never seen Lucien so angry, it was almost like he had channeled his brother. I walked up to him and placed my hands on his cheeks, “Look at me, focus on me.” I looked me in the eyes and I started to breathe in a slow smooth rhythm, “Now breathe slowly like me.” He started to calm down but he still had a death grip on the paper. I looked down and placed my hands on the paper, “Now you should probably let go so you don’t ruin the evidence.” He sighed and let go, “You’re right but I swear if your father doesn’t demand the worst punishment of him, I will as one of the aggrieved.” I looked at him confused, “What do you mean?” He pointed at the paper, “Just read it.” I looked down at the paper and it said that they contracted some men to go through the portal and take an item from Terre with the purpose of assassinating me, they also had an order to take out Queen Mother Helena. I was confused as to why they would go after Lucien’s mother, “Why would they go after Queen Helena?” Edgar spoke behind me, “That is because once the new Queen becomes Queen her power will not be as absolute. The Queen Mother will still hold more power than the Queen. I imagine he wanted that done to strengthen his family’s power.” I looked back down at the paper but it didn’t specify what the item was that they had taken from Terre but at that moment I realized what it could possibly be. I looked up at Lucien, “Do you know what it was that they took from Terre?” He shook his head, “I can’t possibly fathom what it was that they took from Terre. Do you have an idea?” I shrugged, “I think I have an inkling but I don’t want to say it until I check something out.” He looked at me, “What are you going to check out?” I looked over at the other men in the room and then back at Lucien, “Not long ago, I was a memory catalyst to my uncle. I think I want to see if his memories hold the key to what that item is.” Lucien hesitantly nodded, “As long as it brings you no harm.” I shook my head, “It didn’t the last time so I think I’ll be okay.”
Edgar rose from his spot where he was and looked at me, “Your Grace, I do believe it is way too late for you to be occupying the King’s quarters. People will start to talk so I suggest you go to dinner now.” I nodded at him, “Yes but I do believe I will need to have an escort.” The General stood up and dusted himself off, “I will take you, Your Grace. I am hungry.” I smiled at him, “Perfect. Thank you, General.” He offered his arm and turned to Lucien, “Your Majesty, permission to be dismissed.” Lucien nodded, “Yes, I couldn’t leave Alexandra to walk back on her own with assassins out there and one conspiring to do so in this very camp.” I took his arm and as we were just about to leave, I looked over my shoulder at Edgar, “Sir, are you coming?” He shook his head, “No, Your Grace. I would like to talk to His Majesty alone about all of this. You go ahead and enjoy dinner. I hear it is pot roast tonight.” I giggled, “Okay, I will see you in the morning then?” He smiled and nodded, “Yes, Your Grace, though I do believe you know exactly what you are doing tomorrow.” I only assumed he meant that I would be working in the medical tent yet again. I smiled large at him, “I don’t mind that assignment. It has been my greatest pleasure to help out there. Good night, sir. Good night, Your Majesty.” Lucien walked over to us and pulled my hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on it, “Good night, my lady.”
The General and I left the tent and I looked up at him, “Thank you, General. I do have a question for you though.” He looked down at me smiling, “What is it, Your Grace?” I looked down at my feet, “I feel rude that I haven’t asked this before but I feel weird just calling you General. What is your actual name?” He laughed a laugh that came from deep within, “You know? You’re probably the first noble to ask me that. Most don’t really care to get to know me. They just see me as a glorified servant. I almost thought that you would be just like everyone else that has a title in their name but you have proven to me time and again that you are unlike any other noble. Your family is kind but you stand out amongst them. To answer your question, my name is Ronan Folain.” I shrugged, “I don’t know about others but I think you have a story that would probably be pretty fascinating to hear. I cannot understand this whole hierarchy of Vellum for the nobility to treat others so snobbily.” He chuckled, “I really don’t mind but sometimes it would be nice to be known by my name.” I smiled up at him, “What should I address you as during mixed company then? I don’t want to address you informally when the situation calls for it.” He stopped and looked up at the night sky, “I think you can keep calling me General or Folain when we are around others but it would be nice to speak on a first name basis in settings such as this.” I nodded, “Okay, Ronan, I shall endeavor to abide by your wishes.”
We walked up to the mess tent and he winked at me, “Remember this will be mixed company. I wish I could sit with you tonight but I have to speak with my second in command about the plans for tomorrow.” As we walked into the mess tent everyone stopped what they were doing and the room went silent. Ronan cleared his throat, “What are you all looking at? Carry on.” The room went back to their lively conversation, nearby a table of soldiers were surmising on who each of them could lift over their head. One said he thought I would be too easy to lift over the head of the man who had claimed that he could lift me. I giggled at the conversation as I picked up my tray and walked over to the food stations, placing roast beef, honey-glazed carrots, mashed potatoes, and a buttered roll on my plate. I made sure to get extra beef since I knew that Bash came out to eat around this time of night. True to schedule, Bash popped out and showed me a toothy grin as I pulled a fork full of meat to my face. I rolled my eyes and giggled at him, “You’ll get some, just let me take a few bites.” Jess rose from her spot next to me, “I’m going to ask Alita if they have a bowl that he can use.”
As she walked away, Derek looked at her and waited until she was out of earshot, “So I asked the King if we could go back to the retreat for the surprise engagement since our first date was there.” I looked up at him as I had to keep Bash from sticking his face in my food tray, “Oh yeah? What did he say?” His face lit up, “He said as long as it is after the ball, he would be delighted to have us all out there again.” I smiled at him, “Do you know what you’re going to say?” His eyes widened, “I thought it was just that you got down on a knee and gave her a ring. No?” I shook my head, “I mean you could but what would really make it extra special is if you gave her a speech about how she makes you feel and things like that.” He looked panicked, “Now I’m really starting to rethink this idea then.” I giggled, “Relax, Romeo, I am a master of words. When I’m done with you, you’re going to be seen as the great poet of Vellum.” He let out a real throaty laugh, “I’m not sure who this Romeo is that you speak of but he must be good-looking if you’re comparing him to me.” I rolled my eyes, “He doesn’t have a look per se as he is fictional. I need to let you read Shakespeare some time. Romeo and Juliet is one of the classics but honestly, my favorite is Midsummer Night’s Dream. Come to think of it, I bet Nystasia would love that one. I’m going to have to show her that one when I get back. But that is beside the point, just hang out with me when we are home and I can help you come up with a speech for the occasion.”
Jess came back with a bowl in her hand and I placed the food in a bowl with a little of the vegetables mixed in. I hardly got to place the bowl on the ground before he started to eat it like he’d never eaten before. He normally wouldn’t act this way about food but he had been hibernating for a few weeks when he received his new powers. It was a pity that he couldn’t use it on Loki but he was still out there lurking somewhere likely plotting a way to steal me away. I didn’t stress about him as much as I had about The Order and right now there was an undead assassin out there who got really close to killing me and one of the ones who ordered him to do so was shooting sharp glares at me. I knew what she was thinking at that moment but it was her own fault that I got to spend some time with Lucien alone. She didn’t stand a chance in his heart but she was delusional and arrogant enough to think that she did. I couldn’t wait for the day her world would come crashing down. Normally I wasn’t that petty but this was a bit personal since she came for my life, my brother, and my family’s ward. No one could mess with my family that much and not draw my ire. I found the strength of resolve in me to see to it that I gathered as much evidence as possible to put her and her wretched family away. I would succeed or die trying.
