Memory of You

Chapter Fifteen: Twenty

"There are days when Alex can smell secrets." Valek commented.

"And besides, her birthday is tomorrow." Mark finished. The chef nodded in understanding.

It was good to have Nicholas back from Airidia, the guard thought. The chef was able to talk some sense into the Queen, although it was quite amusing to watch the results of their pranks on each other. Perhaps there was something there, he thought, having seen the two of them together. Still, Mark thought, it felt right to have them all back together as Alexandra turned twenty.

"Everyone knows what they are doing, just make sure Alexandra doesn't hear a word of it. " He told them sternly, returning to the task at hand. They all nodded in agreement.

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"You know its one thing to allow me to be kidnapped by the resident seamstress, but completely another to forget to pick me up after a meeting." Alexandra said, annoyed at Valek.

"I thought you knew your way back to your room." He said, a smirk forming on his face.

"You're the one who said I wasn't allowed to go anywhere without you or Mark. If you hadn't made up rules, I would not be here."

"Fine time for you to choose to follow rules, Alex." He teased her.

"Urgh, you're not funny." She said, irritated. Spotting the other guard in her room, she remembered her previous grievance. "And you! Who gave you permission to hand me off to Mrs. Baker!"

"You heard her, all your dresses were getting too short for you." He grinned. She gave up, the two of them were enough to drive her crazy.

"Well, fine, then I'm not taking either of you with me now." She told them just to bother them, haughtily going in to her room and grabbing a warm cloak from her closet, she took out a plain looking dress. Heading to the bathroom, she closed the door and changed, leaving them both to stew.

As Alexandra got out to leave, she found both of them blocking the door. Why didn't I just silently leave when I had the chance? She asked herself, mentally kicking herself. There were times when she knew it would be better to keep her mouth shut.

"Where do you think you're going Lexie?" They asked her, giving her the unnerving stare she was so used to.

"No where..." She tried. "Okay...fine...I'm going in to town. I wanted to see how things were...and stuff."

"What stuff, Alex?" Valek asked.

"Would it kill you to let me go into town to buy some things?" She asked, giving up any pretense. She had originally planned to tell them, but the events of the morning had made her a little less sharing.

"Maybe." Mark answered. "I'm going with you. You know it, so don't argue."

Taking her hand, he led her out of the room, with Valek grinning at her. Alexandra scowled.

"Pointless argument, Lexie." Mark said to her, over his shoulder.

"You let me get kidnapped and he turned up late, forgive me if I'm less than happy to tell you where I'm going."

"You're forgiven. Now why are we going in to town?" Mark said ignoring her sarcasm, looking over at her questioningly.

Exasperated, she sighed, as he led them to his own room.

"I just wanted to go outside for a little while." Alexandra told him. Since David's dismissal, she felt lighter and more sure of herself. She just wanted to go outside and get some fresh air. His departure made her feel like she was starting a new chapter.