Hello readers! Thank you once again for reading my story! I won't be able to update in 5 days because I'm going on another little trip. I should get it up by Friday or Saturday so please be patient! Love you all! Please vote, comment, an become a fan! Everything is very much appreciated!

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I was woken by a beating on my door.

“Victoria! Wake up and unlock the door!” Amelia’s voice echoed through my room from behind the door.

It was still dark outside but I got up and unlocked the door to expose a frazzled Amelia.

“What is it Amelia. I was asleep!” I groaned.

“It’s about Alex! The King wants you immediately!”

That through me into high gear mode and before I even knew it; I was off to the throne room. I came crashing through the doors to find the king sitting looking tired, the queen silently crying and the duchess comforting her. They all looked up at my entrance before returning to their previous positions.

“What’s wrong? What happened? Is Alex alright?” There were a million questions I wanted to ask at once but my mouth wouldn’t allow it.

“Victoria, Alex is going to be fine.” The king said to me looking grave.

“Is going to be fine? What’s wrong with him?” I whimpered.

“He just has a little scratch. They took care of everything and he’s coming home in three days.” He said.

I simply nodded and looked down at my feet. I collapsed on a nearby couch and cried myself to sleep.

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It was still dark outside like it had been two nights ago when Amelia had woken me. I hadn’t necessarily left the library except to get a glass of water or a piece of bread. I hardly slept either. My eyes just felt like they were glazed over in a different world. It also seemed as if I had a massive, never ending headache.

It was probably around 3 in the morning. I stared around at all of the books but took no comfort in anything. The squeak of the door and a flame from a candle caught my attention. It was Amelia. She and Lady Annabelle had been staying with me the past few days. Amelia would occasionally bring me a meal but I would only eat the bread.

“Victoria, are you awake?” Amelia asked quietly.

“Of course I’m awake. I can’t ever get to get any sleep these days…” I whispered.

“Alex and the group are nearing the gates.” She told me.

I instantly got up and started out the library doors and through the hall with Amelia following with her candle close behind. When I saw the entrance doors, I ran though them, probably startling the guards outside, and rushed to the approaching horses and carriages. I pushed through people and horses trying desperately to find Alex. I finally spotted his mess of blonde hair and rushed forward.

“Oh, Alex I’m so glad you’re alright!” I hugged him causing him to groan. “I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you? Where are you hurt?” I babbled on.

“I’m fine Victoria. Just a little cut.” He whispered with a smile on his face. I couldn’t see anything since it was dark so I waited while men carried him into the castle. I never left his side.

As soon as he was settled in bed and had some water, I got a good look at him. He was sweating a little and still had some mud on his face from his travels but that didn’t stop him from smiling as if he had gained the whole world.

“I’ve missed you so much.” He whispered to me, caressing my face. I returned a smile and began to speak but a bandaged area on his shoulder caught my eye.

I cautiously reached over his broad chest and began to tenderly unwrap his shoulder.

What was underneath was no mere scratch. If it was a scratch, the scratch was about as long as my forearm and it looked to be about half an inch deep.

I let out a horrified gasp and covered my mouth before burying my head in his chest.

“Shh, Victoria, I’m fine. It will heal up nicely in a few days. There’s no need to worry about it. It’s just a scratch-” He tried to comfort me. By this time my face was drenched in tears.

“That is NOT just a scratch Alex! Do you not see how big that is?” I shrieked.

“Ok, it’s a little bigger than a scratch-”

“A little?!”

“Ok a lot bigger, but I’ll be fine. It doesn’t even hurt right now. Please, calm down.”

He wiped a tear from my cheek. “You should get some rest.” He said.

“So should you.” I retorted.

I lay my head back down on his chest and closed my eyes.

“You’re not seriously going to sleep in that entirely uncomfortable chair, are you?” He questioned me.

“Yes.”

“No, you take the bed, I’ll take the chair.”

My head shot upright and I gave him my best scolding look but it was hard to do considering I was looking at his handsome face.

“No! You are injured Alex! Don’t even say a thing like that!” I lay my head back down.

I heard him chuckle. “I just did…. At least sleep on the couch.” He suggested.

“Fine.” I said giving up. I marched myself over to the little couch and closed my eyes.

“Good night love.” I heard him say before my mind shut off once again for the night.

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I woke up to hear a little fuss in the making in the room that I had fallen asleep in the night before. It sounded like a servant was arguing with Alex but I couldn’t tell because I really didn’t want to wake up yet. I simply kept my eyes closed and listened intently on the little argument.

“Why would you let her do that?!” The servant yelled.

“I didn’t let her, I made her. She doesn’t even know. Now be quiet; she’s still sleeping and you and your loud mouth are going to wake her!?” Alex fussed back.

“You are in no condition to be carrying anything or sleeping on the couch!”

To that exclamation, my eyes shot open in confusion to be staring at the white sheets on the bed. I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

“Why am I in the bed…?” I asked them both who just stared at me. Alex lowered his gaze to the floor.

“Alex! Why did you move me? You can’t- you are not- ugh!!” I buried my face in my hands.

Getting up and grumbling, I walked over to Alex and made him stand and get back in bed despite all of his protests and, “I’m fine.”’s

I turned to the maid and gave her a delicate smile, trying not to set her off again.

“Would you mind going and getting us some tea?” I asked sweetly.

She curtseyed and walked off grumbling and muttering to herself.

“Well, she’s pleasant.” I muttered to myself which earned me a small chuckle from Alex who had heard me.

“Come here.” He beckoned.

I walked over to the side of the bed and he grabbed my hand.

“How have you been?” He asked me.

I let out a sigh and looked down at the ground. “I don’t know… The last two and a half days I’ve stayed in the library on a couch waiting for your return…”

“You didn’t have to worry about me-”

“Alex, you would have been a whole lot more worried if it had been me.” I stated firmly.

That caused him to think a minute.

After several agonizing minutes, he finally spoke.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. But all that matters is that you are safe now and that you’re here with me.” He gave me a warm smile which I returned back to him.

I sat down on the chair beside the bed and leaned in and kissed his forehead.

“I’m glad you’re alright.” I whispered. “You should sleep. I’ll be right here.” I told him.

“Fine mother.” He said teasingly. I giggled before he closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep.

I sat in the chair watching him struggle to fall asleep. He hadn’t let go of my hand so I just gave it a little squeeze.

I started to hum a lullaby my mother had sung to me when I was younger.

“Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me starlight and dewdrops are awaiting thee. Sounds of the rude world heard in the day led by the moonlight have all passed away. Beautiful dreamer, king of my song, list' while I woo thee with soft melody. Gone are the cares of life's busy throng. Beautiful dreamer awake unto me. Beautiful dreamer awake unto me.”

His chest rose up and down softly in a rhythmic pattern and I knew he was asleep. I carefully slipped my hand out of his and sat back in the chair keeping my eyes on his sleeping figure. A noise in the doorway startled me and I whirled around to see the maid with the tea and Lady Annabelle right behind her.

The maid set the tea down gently seeing Alex’s resting form and left the room. Lady Annabelle took a seat on the sofa that I had slept on the night before and she gave me an amused smile.

“What?” I asked her cracking a smile.

“Did you get him to sleep?” She giggled lightly.

“Yes.” I said a-matter-of-fact-ly.

“I didn’t think that was possible.” She laughed. “Nobody could ever get him to fall asleep when he was younger. It was terrible. How did you do it?”

“I told him he needed to sleep and he couldn’t so I sang to him…”

She looked at me in astonishment.

“And it worked?”

“Ya…” I giggled.

“Amazing.” She whispered to herself. She poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip. “Well, I just wanted to see how he was doing. I heard that in the middle of the night he switched sleeping arrangements… is that true?”

“Um, yes. I woke up in the bed and he and the maid were quarreling about how he had moved me…”

We both laughed but quickly shushed ourselves because Alex began to move but soon stopped once again.

“You are too cute together.” She giggled.

I felt a blush settle on my cheekbones. “Uh, thank you, I think…”

“You’re welcome.” She beamed.

I took a seat next to her and poured myself a cup of tea. I took a sip and set the nicely decorated cup down on the saucer.

“Ok, Victoria; you are practically like a sister to me already so, when the time comes, may I plan your wedding?”She looked at me over excitedly.

“You may, but don’t go overboard…” I giggled.

“Oh goodie!” She yelled.

“Shhh!” I hushed her.

Unfortunately, her little outburst woke Alex up.

“What’s going on?” He asked sitting up.

“I’m so sorry Alex.” Annabelle said. “I got a little carried away…”

“That’s alright Anna.” He smiled. “It seems like you two are getting along quite well?”

“Yes, Victoria is magnificent!” Annabelle said.

We all chuckled and continued talking.

We spent the rest of the day talking and goofing around until it was time for bed again and Annabelle left for her bed chambers. I settled on the sofa again and gave Alex a look.

“What?” He questioned.

“Don’t you dare move me again Alex.” I said threateningly.

“Or what?” He joked.

“Oh, you don’t want to know.”

And with that, I settled down for the night.