The Rhein's Heirs

[Setsuko_ 308]

Alexander limped down the hall as fast as he could, buttoning his suit as he did so. The gash on his thigh from the fight in Osanora last month was healing fine, but it still hurt. Finally, as he finished his last button on his shirt and began the one coat button, he reached the door. Placing his hand on the door handle, he took in a breath before knocking with his other hand.

A woman's voice called out, allowing him entry. Alexander let the breath he was holding out, forcing his face into a neutral expression. As he opened the door, his eye instantly zeroed onto the lone woman inside. She stood tall, her pale blue dress pressed wrinkle free. Her gaze met his with a familiar stubbornness, her lips pursed into a frown. He promptly stepped into the room, his head high to match hers.

"No."

 

He turned on his heel, starting for the door again.

 

Lacie's jaw dropped as he turned, her brows knitting. "Alex!" When she realized he wasn't stopping, she followed in pursuit. "Pray tell, why not?!"

 

Alexander did not stop, but instead kept down the hallway. "Because I said so." 

 

Suddenly, Lacie shot her arm out. Her hand gripped Alexander's forearm, stopping him in his tracks. "I'm serious."

 

Again, Alexander turned on his heels. His 6'2" stature loomed over her 5'6" thin frame. "Lace..." He placed his hands on her shoulders, leaning down slightly. She didn't even flinch, causing a feeling of pride in the back of Alexander's mind. "The world is on the brink of war. Sutica itself is going through turmoil and changes." He paused, hoping his words weren't falling short. "Here is the safest place for you. Not out with Medina."

Lacie took a step back, pushing Alexander's hands off of her. "Father taught me to fight, as did you." She crossed her arms, looking up at Alexander, not backing down. "This isn't just about my safety."

 

Alexander's eye narrowed slightly, as if a natural reaction. He knew she could tell she struck a nerve. "No, it's not."

 

Lacie stared for a moment more, eyes locked with his. Finally she dropped her hands, stepping closer to Alexander and placing a hand on his forearm. "Do you trust me."

Tilting his head, Alexander looked questioningly to his niece. It wasn't a question she asked, but more of a statement. "You have your father's brains." He looked at her a moment more, the spitting image of her mother with her father Ames' brains and instincts. "I do."

 

Lacie surged forward, taking Alexander in a hug. She squeezed tight, making sure he couldn't dislodge her even if he tried. "Then trust me now, more than ever."

 

Alexander raised his arms, not knowing how to react. Hesitantly he dropped his arms to embrace the woman attached to his midsection. "It will be strange, not having you home." His tone was stiff and strained. He heard Lacie giggle slightly, her head buried under his arm.

 

"You've been through worse, aye?" Lacie smirked as she heard Alexander snort. She felt his hands fall onto her shoulders, attempting to withdraw her from him. Slowly she allowed herself to be pulled away. She looked up as her gaze met his again. It wasn't necessarily a convinced one, but it was slightly softer.

 

Regarding her carefully, Alexander thought for a moment. "Here." Reaching into his coat's inner pocket, he produced a dagger. The blade itself was six inches, the handle small and skinny. The round pommel and cross-guard accented the piece, and with it was a uniquely fashioned sheathe made to be fixed to a bra strap. "It's one of the daggers I pulled from the wreckage of Helena."

 

Lacie took the weapon gingerly, looking over it's details with a broad smile. "My namesake." Her smile grew as she referenced her middle name, Helena.

 

"It'll keep you safe when I cannot." Alexander bent down slightly, forcing Lacie to look back up to him. "And if Medina breaks your heart, I'll burn the city to ashes."

Lacie couldn't tell if he was joking or not, but she doubted it. She wrapped her arms around his neck, causing him to grunt slightly with the newly added weight as she leaped up. "Thank you Alex." She dropped back to the floor, tucking the dagger into a dress pocket for now. 

 

Alexander just hummed, not wanting to show too much emotion. He straightened up, adjusting his coat and buttoning the coat button again. "If you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to host." He turned around again, heading for the doorway at the end of the hall.

 

Lacie stood where she had, watching her Uncle leave. "Careful Alexander, you're turning into a politician!" 

 

Alexander chucked at her playful words, quickly disappearing through the door. Outside, he saw a small crowd gathered. Two of the Rhein's guards, as well as their Commander Alastor, stood at attention. Families looked to Alexander, having just come out of Lacie's home. He studied their faces for a moment and found a common emotion, uncertainty.

He cleared his throat, looking around the group. "I have no doubt by now you have all heard about the Countess of Sarissa's outburst, and borderline treasonous words." he paused as some started murmuring, nodding a nervous acknowledgement. "Including the threat against the other vassals, of marching in." Everyone stood still that time, all eyes on Alexander. Before he became Baron, he would have hated that. Now, it slightly bothered him that he didn't hate it. He tightened his fist slightly. "Since you all came here, to the edge of Sutica's wildlands, I have promised you three things. Food, Shelter and Protection." He raised a finger with each topic. His gaze swept the group again as Alexander shook his head. "None of that changes. The guards are on high alert, and I personally have told them if something happens to not hold anything back." He motions to Alastor, who nods respectfully. Alexander's eye stops on Alastor for a moment, giving him a grateful nod. "We will not seek reprimand for the Countess' words, as I am trusting our Monarch to do that for us. Rest assured, she will answer for the mess she caused one way or another." Some people in the crowd shifted, clearly not convinced.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Rhein, I come to you as a man. Nothing more, no matter what silly title I hold." Alexander raises his arms before dropping them in an exasperated manner. "Honestly? I've never been perfect, at anything. Nor will I ever be. Perfect is what each and every one of you deserve." He points to a few people in the crowd as he talks, to emphasize his point. "All I can do is strive to be as close as I can to what you all deserve."

"I promise all of you, I have devoted and will continue to devote my life to this town. Not for some overly egotistical notion of self accomplishment, but because of each person standing here with me today. Every one of you have trusted me with everything you have, and I intend to honor that." Alexander points to the hill, where the outline of three unfinished buildings sat. "It's time I stay home more, and work on getting this place back to a hundred percent." He motions to the guards, who all turn their heads. "Our loyal and talented forces are here to keep us all safe, as the barrier between the Rhein and anything that stands against us." Alexander finally rests his gaze onto the group, specifically a small boy. No one else clung to him, but rather it looked like he was on his own...

"And I am here for all of you."

Alastor stepped forward slightly. "We stand with the Rhein, Baron."

 

The other two soldiers stepped forward, vocalizing their agreement. Alexander's eye shot up as he heard a thick French accent from the crowd. "We stand with the Rhein." Alexander's grin grew as he heard others voice the same. Before his very eyes, their looks of worry slowly replaced themselves with a forming confidence until his own smile was met by others. Slowly they started to disperse, Alexander's gaze dropped again to the boy. 

His eye floated over him, studying the child. Alexander estimated he was about seven. His clothes were dirty and showed a lot of wear, some holes at the bottom of his pantlegs. Alexander knelt down, placing a hand on his back. "Your parents around lad?" When the boy shook his head Alexander looked around for a moment more, frowning. Finally he stood, bringing his hand to the boy's shoulder. "You're with me then." He started leading the boy towards Alexander's home, patting his back. The boy followed quietly, looking down to the dirt path. "Do you have a name, comrade?"

 

The boy looked up to the Baron, his eye looking down to him. "Tirilan."

 

Alexander's blood went cold for a moment. He looked up, blinking as a tear began to form in his eye. He cleared his throat, a smile starting to form. "I knew someone named Tirilan once..."