Arm in arm they silently strolled along the cobbled pathway of the spacious eastern garden.

The Queen eventually broke the stream of silence to ask

Queen Marie: Are you remembering to breathe deeply?

She glanced down at her son’s face and saw him nod with closed eyes.

Queen Marie: -smile- Look up at the sky, Alex. Isn’t it beautiful? Such a clear evening..

Alex:...

Queen Marie: When I become troubled or plagued by fearful thoughts, I look up at the evening’s sky. Through my window or from my bedroom’s balcony, I may not see many stars there but out here…they remind me of how small I am and how even smaller and I daresay sometimes insignificant, my worries and cares are. 

Alex: -sigh-

Queen Marie: Alex? Are you ready to tell me what’s wrong now?

How could he say what troubled him now, when he had managed to withhold it from her all this time? He could not tell her that there was no ceremony to be had or that his father actually wanted him to not return home after the battle and that he also wished him dead.

There was certainly no way he was going to say that now. Not when tomorrow-

Alex: There’s- there is nothing wrong Mother

Queen Marie: Is that so?

Alex: …

Queen Marie: Why do you lie to me?

Alex: Mother- I-

Queen Marie: Yes. I am your mother and I well know when you’re hiding something from me. And you my son, your thoughts and feelings often betray you. They reveal themselves in many ways. So, answer me truthfully… Are you worried about leaving tomorrow? 

Alex: I am

Queen Marie: …And the battle soon to follow, frightens you?

Alex: y-Yes

Queen Marie: …You fear that you may not return home?

Alex: -sniff- I do

Queen Marie: -sigh- There is nothing wrong in this. And there's nothing wrong in admitting that you are afraid. No need to pretend to be overly brave for my sake, son. For I too am afraid..

And as they came to a stop, the Queen lovingly lifted her son’s head, she began to wipe away his tears. 

To Alex, his mother had always appeared so self assured and so strong but now, he saw that she was truly an understanding and tender being.  He attempted in that moment to capture her visage in his mind fully For he never before saw her this way. Fragile.

As tears flowed down her cheeks, the Queen said softly 

Queen Marie: My love, You are the most precious thing to me and nothing… nothing will ever separate us. You will return home to me…I know you will. There, there. Come..

His mother embraced him tightly and repeatedly kissed the crown of his head

Queen Marie: I love you dearly, Alex

Alex: -hic- I love you too Mother

He held his mother close and breathed her in. Her gentle warmth, her lavender scent along with the rhythmic thumping of her beating heart, comforted his own.

➵