Memory of You

Chapter Fifty Five: The Last Preparations

"I won't." He smiled, moving her so that they were both comfortable.

"That brings back memories." Mark laughed, as he caught sight of them, holding the door to the castle open.

I know, Valek thought silently. It felt like another lifetime ago, when Alexandra had been little, and they had been studying at the academy. Then she would use them as rides around the castle. Laughing with joy, and screaming with fear when they would run too fast. It was that same girl who was now learning how to fight with a sword, because she didn't want to sit back and let others fight for her. Time really has flown by, he thought.

"Faster, Valek!" He heard Alexandra order. She seemed to have remembered those moments as well.

"No running in the halls." Mark called out after them, as he laughed.

Deciding to grant her wish, he obliged, tearing through the halls as she laughed. He could feel her arms tightening around him, as he bolted up the steps to her room.

Reaching her room, he opened the door with one hand, and flicked on the light before dumping her on the bed, as Alexandra squealed with laughter.

"I had forgotten how much fun that was." She said, wiping her eyes as she kept laughing.

Laying down beside her, Valek took a moment to catch his breath.

"I know...It's been a while." He said. "Can't say I'll be doing that again anytime soon."

She pushed him, as her laughter subsided.

"Too old to be my horsey, Valek?"

"No...you're just too heavy!" He remarked cheekily. Alexandra took one of her pillows to beat him with as he snickered.

"I'm kidding, Lexie. I swear! You're not heavy at all...you're as light as a feather!" He said chuckling, as she hit him with the soft pillow once more.

"Liar." She snickered, lying back down beside him.

"You're fine, Alex." He said, pulling her slender frame towards him. He kissed the top of her hair. "Which is surprising considering how much you love sweets, and food in general."

"I get my exercise by ditching my guards and making a run for it around the castle." She snidely remarked.

"It's worked well for you." He laughed.

As they settled down, Mark entered the doorway shaking his head.

"Didn't I tell you not to run?" He said, looking at Valek.

"Sorry, but the Queen ordered me to go faster."

"That's true. I did." She confirmed.

Smiling, Mark sat down on the other side of Alexandra, lending her his hand to make her sit up. The time for jokes and laughter was over, it was time to tell her what had been going on. Sitting up himself, Valek mentally prepared what he was to say to the Queen.

"Alex, the reason we told you we wanted to talk, was so that we could discuss the upcoming fight with David." Valek started.

"Okay...what about it?"

"We're making the final preparations ahead of meeting him, and you know that we'll be going to the plains of Ryden, in two weeks time." He said, trying to ease into the topic at hand.

"Yes, I know. You're not trying to stop me from going, are you?" Alexandra asked them cautiously.

"Not at all." Mark spoke up. "But there is something we've been meaning to tell you...it's very important and it relates to David."