It's Been Too Long (Alexandreina)

[Vlad Dracul III]

Vlad straightened his navy blue tunic as he walked through the halls of the palace. He approached the familiar corner and smiled. Here was the lounge, where Alexandreina should be coming soon. He hadn't seen her in a little while and he missed her comforting presence. He wondered if she even noticed his absence, if she missed him as much as he missed her. He wished he had more time to dedicate to his beloved, but his duties were constantly interfering with any plans he could make. It bothered him that he had gone so long without speaking with her for more than a few minutes. What if she had changed her mind about him? What if she was beginning to realize how occupied his life truly was? But without Alexandreina, all that would be left was the land and the land doesn't light up when you speak. Any woman would always come second to his nation, but with Alexandreina it was a close contest. He couldn't be whole without either of them and he prayed he would manage to keep them both.

Vlad just hoped she would have time for a long talk with him. It hadn't exactly been an easy day, with trying to convince the nobles to accept the need for additional taxes in order to finance negotiation with the Ottomans while not letting their military strength fade. Of course, they hadn't liked the idea of any dip in their treasuries and he sensed the beginnings of a long battle, but none of them would want to be vulnerable to invasion and that would work in his favor. If only they would all just agree without question like they had done when he had first reclaimed the throne. Then, they had been so grateful to be released from the brutal control of their conquerors that they would have agreed to anything. But now they expected results instantly. Every day they grew more impatient and they steadfastly refused to believe that they might be able to speed things along. But that kind of denial couldn't last forever and as soon as they realized how much their help was needed, he was sure they would offer it willingly. And it was his job to make them see the necessity.

But Vlad wasn't here to think about politics. He was here to visit his pretty fiance and be reassured that he still had a future after the end of the conflict. When it was over, he hoped he would still have Alexandreina and his family so their lives could continue. None of his children would ever be driven from their land and beautiful Transylvania would never again fall to foreigners. No one not born beneath the cliffs and forests could understand the fierce, wild beauty of the land. To those from more tranquil landscapes, it seemed an untamed wilderness, something to conquer and force to bear fruit. But the wildness was a part of the land and it wasn't meant to be domesticated. The difference between his home and other kingdoms was similar to the difference between a tame lap dog and the fierce, independent wolf that roamed the forests. One could be tamed, one had to be admired from a respectful distance.

Of course, humans did influence Transylvania. After all, Vlad had removed enemy troops from its land and watched as the crops began to grow again, no longer stunted by the constant tramping of hard boots. But the land owned him more than he could ever hope to own it. And he knew most farmers, most lords would say the same. No one could truly own Transylvania any more than any one could own another human. Instead, you learned to work with it, to use its gifts without demanding more. It had taught him patience and he hoped that his relationship with Alexandreina would be that successful. And there she was, looking beautiful as always. He could only see the back of her head, but he felt his heart speed up at sight of her. She had, for some bizarre reason, chosen him and she was as much his as she could be. And she held more of his heart than any other human could ever hope to.

"Hello, Alexandreina," Vlad greeted her softly.

[Alexandreina Vintila]

Finally! Finally, she was going to have some time with her future husband. It would be nice to actually have a chance to sit and talk with him, just to be with him for more than a few minutes. There seemed to never be enough time for the two of them to be together. Vlad had his country to care for and his political regime to think about. Alexandreina swore to keep herself busy as well. Not quite so much as Vlad, but enough that she wouldn't notice how much he was away from her. She deeply missed him and she wished to feel the touch of his hand upon hers, the feeling of his lips upon her own as they would kiss. Alexandreina definitely did notice how much time they had spent apart, but she loved Vlad and nothing would change that. She felt he must have his doubts on if she still wished to marry him, but how could she not? Vlad's very soul was mated to her own. There was no other man in this world for her.

They were supposed to meet today in the lounge of the palace. She had arrived early after getting dressed into a subtle, yet elegant, pale blue gown. Having no idea that Vlad was also wearing blue today, it would be a nice surprise when they did meet to see just how much they were in tune with one another, even on that subconscious level. She knew Vlad was set to meet with some nobles today to talk about how to raise more financial backing for the militia, as well as possible negotiations with other lands. He was a very important man, she knew that much. Vlad was gentle with her, but it was his soft spoken voice and the ambition in his eyes that had won her over in the end. Aside from that, he was an intelligent man, hailing from an intelligent family. Alexandreina could care less that they were noble, or even that she was noble. If she had met Vlad and he was a pauper, she still would have fallen in love with him.

Her mind drifted to how beautiful their wedding would be. Vlad didn't seem to mind any costs that were incurred, though it did help that her father, Marku, was helping to finance his eldest daughter's special day. He could see that Alexandreina was very happy with Vlad. He also knew that if she wasn't, he would know about it and try to have a talk with the young lad. Vlad made his daughter happy, which in turn made him happy. That was important to Marku. What doting father didn't want to see his little girl smiling and joyous? Today was not going to be about politics for the two of them. It was just the chance to get to spend time with each other, something that Alexandreina missed. Vlad had been trying to keep the land safe and secure for his kingdom, though outsiders wished to conquer it and wondered what potential it had beneath the surface. It would be a shame to see anything happen to those forests and cliffs that she and Vlad called home. Their families were here, generations of each. She knew Vlad wished to ensure it stayed that way.

While her mind had gone into that daydreaming state, Vlad was soon behind her in the distance, near the entrance of the lounge where she was. She was sitting down, leaning back and comfortable. Her head could be seen from the back, but that was about all. Her blond hair had been pulled up and back away from her youthful face, enhancing her crystal blue eyes and her slender neck. It wouldn't be long before she heard Vlad's voice call to her and she would turn her head to look over her shoulder. Once she caught sight of him, she smiled and rose from her seat to walk over to him, her hand outstretched towards him so that he could take it into his own.

"Hello, Vlad," Alexandreina replied with a smile on her lips, her voice equally as soft.

[Vlad Dracul III]

Vlad smiled as she approached him. She looked absolutely radiant in her blue dress and it amused him slightly that she had selected attire so similar to his own. Her face looked so young, so innocent, as she walked towards him, trusting him completely. Maybe it was wrong for him to mantain their relationship, to ask her to marry him, to put her in danger. Vlad had quite a few enemies, most of which wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of his lovely Alexandreina. But he couldn't live without her, couldn't pass the days without seeing her pale blue eyes. And she was more than a beautiful face. She was kinder than he could ever hope to be and he couldn't picture her condemning anyone. If she had fallen to one of the many nobles who had courted her, where would he be now? She was the future that awaited him after the battle, the time of peace he could look hopefully forward to.

Vlad took her hand as she offered it and gently pulled her closer to him, allowing her time to break away. He was gentler with her than he was with others, always treating her as though she were as fragile as glass, although he knew that those innocent eyes hid an intelligence nearly as keen as his own. Her hand felt soft and cool beneath his. She looked like she would break so easily, but she was tougher than anybody could imagine. But Vlad had no desire to test her will. He would never move too fast for her, always letting her decide what she wanted. She was strong in her own way, but he didn't want to break that, never wanted to see her lose that hidden will, the one most people would never see. The other nobles thought she was nothing more than a pretty face. But no Dracul woman was as weak as she appeared, not even the ones who married into the family. No child of the Transylvanian royal house could ever be content with a fool.

"You look lovely as always," Vlad continued to grin at her as he spoke, he never could seem to be unhappy around her, "I'm sorry I haven't been around that much recently. But I've been thinking of you. I've really missed your company. How have you been? Has everything been going well?"

Vlad wished he had been able to spend these early days by her side. But she had known when choosing him that he would never be able to put his own desires above the good of the nation. She was similar to his other female relatives in only two things, her loyalty to the nation and her sharp intellect. While he didn't doubt the loyalty of Mihaela and Elena, there was a wildness to them that she didn't share. She was always polite, calm and demure. Her strength was subtle, rather than the obvious will of his sister and sister-in-law. It wasn't even a fair comparison and he was glad he had ended up with Alexandreina. He knew he could be stubborn at times and if his love was as hard-headed as he was, they would have a rocky relationship. But they were like fire and ice, they balanced each other out and he knew he could count on her wisdom. And she loved him as deeply as he loved her, at least he liked to think she did. With the way she looked at him now, it was hard to believe anything else.

[Alexandreina Vintila]

Alexandreina could see him smile as she drew closer to him, crossing the lounge floor to be near him. She could not help but to notice that her pale blue dress matched his navy blue tunic. Perhaps their minds had been thinking alike this day? Walking towards him, she trusted him, more than she did others. Vlad, she did not believe, would ever hurt her. There were times when she was sure he was concerned about her marriage to him. Vlad, being a royal, had to have enemies out there. It was only logical to know this. Did he think she was scared? Well, she was a bit scared, but not enough to keep her from marrying him. The look in his dark eyes at times seemed to reflect a nervous person within, but Alexandreina could only tell it was there because she had grown to understand his facial features and what emotions may lay beneath them.

Vlad took her hand into his own and pulled her closer still to himself, but the motion was slow enough that if she chose not to get so close to him, she had the choice. No, Alexandreina wanted to be close to him and so, she would allow him to pull her all the way towards himself until there was no room left. The way he treated her was gentle and while she appreciated that he was more tender with her than with others, it didn’t mean she was going to break; not from such a small movement as that. She knew she would have to work on that with Vlad and with him, she would have the patience to do so. Alexandreina disliked when people treated her so fragile, but she felt it was due to her outward appearance, which she could not help. Genetics had given her all that she had, so there was not much she could do about that. In a way, it was beneficial because it could lure people in for a strike if she had a thought to harm someone. In another way, it was very infuriating. Only for those close to her could she make an exception and teach them she was not as fragile as she looked.

She knew other nobles thought she was just a pretty face with no intelligence or wit behind her, but they were wrong. Many times, she did not care to correct them. If others were to be so judgmental without even truly talking with her, then they would not be worth the time spent to try and correct that opinion. Vlad told her she looked lovely and his smile grew as they were closer together now.

“Thank you,” She told him in her soft voice, a smile continuing on her own lips.

Alexandreina was glad that she could make Vlad smile in times where others could not guess what he was thinking or feeling.

“Yes, Vlad, everything has been well, just as I have been. I have been thinking of you often and have missed having time with you,” She tried to put his mind at ease, letting him know she was doing fine.

She truly did miss him and was glad for this time they were going to spend with each other. Vlad often had a strict schedule which could include meeting with other nobility, trying to form alliances or political speeches and meetings. He had always been a busy man, even when they had first met and he had asked her to marry him. It would seem that was part of the lifestyle and to love a Dracul, you would also have to love having time on your hands. All of the siblings were involved in things that took their time from others.

“I injured my foot two days ago in a ride, but it is of no consequence,” She smiled again.

Though her foot was hurt and had a large black and blue bruise upon it, nothing was broken. While it may be painful, she could still walk, which was why she had told him not to worry.