Returning Home

"You know, brother, I didn't ask to be born. I didn't ask to come here, I didn't ask for a snotty brother, I didn't even ask for your thrown," she snapped, putting a gentle hand on his c.h.e.s.t, "And I sure as hell didn't ask to be art of some pompous royal family." She watched as the anger faded from his face at her sharp, quiet words. She leaned into him a bit, nudging him back towards the door.

"Now get out." She said, shoving him out of the room with much more force then she had meant to. She wasn't shocked though when he smacked into the wall of the corridor and slides to the ground. She just felt empty, void of emotion. Nate looked at her bewildered as she lowered her hand and the door shut in his face. She sighed heavily and walked back to the table. Lawna just watched her the entire time she ate, like she expected her to blow up.

"Lawna, if it is alright, I would like to excuse you for the rest of the afternoon. I need some time to myself." Alex says as she finishes her sandwiches. Her voice sounded distant.

"Yes, my lady." She dips her head and begins cleaning up the lunch plates. Alexandra walks into her room, grateful Eugene still isn't back yet. She had a feeling he would not approve of what just happened. She sinks onto the floor at the foot of the bed. Head in her hands she asked herself what was happening to her. In the 9 days sense she had arrived in this world everything about her seemed to have changed, the very core of herself that she thought was what kept her going had changed shape. She usually didn't lose control so easily

She stayed there on the floor, brooding over what was happening, wondering why, and promising herself she'd figure out how to manage. After a few tears fells and pillows were thrown the healer showed up. She talked politely with him to avoid being completely rude and when he left, she found the spot on the floor again and laid down on her back until she heard Lawna rummaging around outside. Alex stood and straightened out her dress. Slashing water on her face she reminded herself that now she had a chance. A chance to be something more then a pore orphan girl from V.i.r.g.i.nia. When she walked out the door, she had a smile on her face. It disappeared when she saw her father sitting at the table. Lawna was nowhere in sight. Two bowls of steaming stew sat in front of him.

"Hello Alexandra." He said with a small grin, "I think we have some things to discuss." She nodded in agreement.

"I'm afraid this isn't a short conversation so please sit down and eat." She slid into the chair across from him and served herself a bowl of stew. "Why am I so speechless? I have dreamt of this meeting sense I was little. This shouldn't be this hard."

"King Ewing told me a bit about where you come from and what you have been through. What you have been through," He said reaching across the table for her hand, "I am truly sorry that I wasn't there. What happened to Karen…" He paused again, looking away, "it never should have ended that way for her. It does not however, give you the right to assault your brother, the heir to my throne. Do you understand this?" he said, his voice no longer gentle. She shook her head vigorously. She wondered if he was the kind of parent to strike his kids.

"How are your lessons going?" he asked, his tone suddenly neutral.

"Good I guess, just a lot of reading. Nothing I'm not used to." She replies. Pulling her hand away from his.

"And those burns?" he asks, pointing to her gauze wrapped wrist.

"Shouldn't scar, the ointment has it almost healed."

"Good. Good." He says looking around the room nervously. He stood from the table then and asked, "What do you know about our dynasty?'

"Just that you're are the third strongest royal family, that you look over training the nations soldiers, and you watch over two wide spread cities.

"We are also controlling, training, and funding the rebellion against William Tysonoak. Our goal is to put the Aries family back on the thrown but we have reached a stalemate. We need inside intel. Everyone we have sent in has hit a brick wall. We need someone who can blend in better." He stared into the fire for a moment, contemplating what he was going to say, "King Ewing informed me of your skills. Your ability to listen and blend in. In seems that your surrogate mother taught you everything you would need to ever know here." He pauses again.

"We have a plan but we need you for it to work" he looked at her now, hardness in his eyes, as if he didn't want to consider all the possibilities, "You will go to the capital as a distant lords daughter with a proposal for the king, if he accepts, which he will, your job will be to become close with the prince. Get him to like you and confide in you. Then you will report back to me."

"Just me?" she asked nervously. She didn't even know how to act around people yet.

"No. not alone. You'll travel with the royal children from your generation, a few maids, a body guard, and Nathaniel if I can convince King Jaymoth. Sense the current High King has never seen any of them it should all be fine. It doesn't hurt that he believes them dead either so I doubt the thought will even cross his mind." He paused and she swallows hard. How was she supposed to pull this off?" she wondered.

"What if I say no?" She asks.

"Then you will be cast out onto the streets without any further training and no one to help you who could possibly understand what you are going through." He said coldly.

"And what if I fail?" she asked nervously. This was not what she had pictured her first conversation with her father going at all.

"You won't."

"You can't possibly know that?" she scoffed.

"I can because if this fails; so does the rebellion. This is our last chance." He said sternly, "You will go and you will succeed. Do you understand me daughter?"

"Yes, I understand." Though in her heart she didn't. She had so much she wanted to say. So much to learn before she even began being a part of society here.

"Good. Everyone will meet in the morning. I must go, goodnight my dear, I will see you in the morning." He kissed her forehead and disappeared through the door into the corridor as swiftly as he had appeared. His bowl of stew left untouched.