The Brotherband's Sister

Supply Run

" Okay everyone, we need to be in and out of Hallow Port as fast as possible so we can get back to sea. Remember that these people in Nihon-Ja don't speak much common tongue so speak clearly. Okay, head off in groups and get what we need," Hal ordered briskly from the helm.
The Heron floated smoothly in to the harbour now, and, as Hal and Edvin were watching the ship, everyone else was assigned tasks to do. Alexandria looked slightly nervous at the prospect of going to a foreign place that didn't speak her language well, as well as the fact she didn't even remember if common tongue was her proper language.
" Hey, Alexandria, why don't I accompany you?" Ingvar suggested as he walked over to her.
She turned and smiled at him broadly, relief evident in her less tense shoulders.
" Thanks Ingvar, I'd like that," Alexandria murmured appreciatively.

The two of them made their way around the markets near the harbour, getting the supplies of their combined lists.
" Okay...so we got spare blankets and rope, where do you suppose we would find some pitch?" Alexandria asked as she read the list slowly. " What is pitch?" She added as an afterthought.
Ingvar chuckled and steered her out of the way of a small horse and its young male rider. She blushed as she realised she'd been about to run in to them and thanked him quickly.
" Pitch is a thick black substance that kind of looks like black honey. It is a great way to waterproof the boat," Ingvar explained.
Alex nodded in sudden understanding before her eyes settled on a strange sight.

Down the centre of the marketplace rode a group of Nihon Jahn nobles and their guards, but at the head of the group was someone who seemed slightly familiar.
" The emperor of Nihon Ja," Ingvar whispered in surprise as she described the far off sight to him.
He started to see it as they came closer, but still had trouble since his spectacles were back on board. He and Alexandria stood to the side and watched the royal procession, she started to get a strange feeling she knew the emperor at the shad of the procession. As he passed her she saw his smiling face pass over her and then snap back all of a sudden.
He held up the hand for his procession to stop.
Instantly they did and he gazed down at her in surprise.
" Alexandria Madeliene? What in the world are you doing here?" The emperor said in surprise, his accented voice made Alex think she knew him even more.
" Supply run?" Alex said truthfully, but uncertain why the emperor would know her!
" Supply run! Why would the heir of Austrel be collecting pitch and rope from Nihon Ja?! I thought you and your family were headed for Araluen!" The emperor said in surprise still smiling fondly at her.
" Oh......uh, we are! Just stopping for supplies before continuing our journey!" Alex lied quickly, feeling awkward.
" Well then, good seas to you, fair lady of Austrel," The emperor wished as he and his procession continued on.
Ingvar turned to her, and she looked at him in utter confusion.
" I have a feeling you're more than just a commoner with sword skills!" Ingvar said with a small laugh.
Alex chuckled nervously, but her eyes betrayed his confusion. If only she could remember!!!

When they reached the ship again, Ingvar recounted the meeting with the emperor to everyone. No one was more surprised than Alex herself by the event, and she was getting a headache from attempting to remember everything she could about the emperor. And yet she remembered nothing.

Alex was deeply asleep at midnight, the rest of the crew sleeping around her, except for Hal who was at the helm again. She was dreaming.
Alex stood in a beautiful stone room, filled with nobles, ladies and knights. She stood in front of them, dressed in an utterly beautiful silver gown with sapphires embroidered in to it.
" Princess Alexandria Madeleine Knight, do you swear to protect Austrel until the day you pass from this world?" A man how she recognised to be the priest asked hopefully.
" Yes," Alex answered honestly.
Cheers erupted from the crowd.

Now she was on a boat, hiding below deck with her mother.
" Where's dad?" She asked shakily.
" Helping to fight the Scandian pirates! Don't worry Alex, you'll be safe!" Her mother soothed.
Yelling was heard abovedeck, and her mother grabbed her long spear before charging up on to the top deck, obviously going to help her father, the king. Alex grabbed her twin blades and strapped the, in their sheathes to her back. She had to help! Running up to the top deck and screeched in surprise.
The boat was slowly getting lower in the water, water sloshing around on deck and small fires burning everywhere. Scandians led by a tall young blonde boy, with a crooked nose from an old break, were engaging her guards and her parents in battle. She screamed as a burning beam fell towards her and she dreamed of pain, she vaguely heard her mother and father scream before darkness took her dream away.

Alex sat up with a gasp, forehead dropping sweat and her face pale. Memories started rushing back to her like a tidal wave, completely overwhelming her. She remembered all her moments with her parents, she remembered everything and it scared her. She finally remembered why they'd left Austrel.
Genovesans had invaded and killed many of her people, they'd overrun the castle and the only way to live was to leave. Her parents had taken her and some guards to a wilting escape boat and they'd sailed away. And they'd never reached safety.
However, one thought made her want to curl in to a ball and cry.
" I'm the queen of Austrel," she whispered in shock.