I was rudely awoken by flash's cold wet nose. I picked the little fluff ball up and gave it a cuddle. I noticed that Peter wasn't in bed so I got dressed and went to find him. Flash was at my heels yapping for food.

"I'll feed you in a minute flash." I said.

"That's a lovely name for her.", father said.

"Thanks I thought it would be, because of the strip of white down her back and front."

"Tell me, knowing that the light raider's princess must die, what do you plan on doing with her?"

"I will deal with her today after breakfast. Will you have her brought to the throne room please father and would you mind realising the rest of the light raiders. I want them to see the fall of their princess but no one is to kill Gabriel! Is that okay father? "

"Very well, I will do as you ask."

Flash and I headed to the food hall, but Peter wasn't there either but Michael was.

"Have you seen Peter?"

"Yes He's in the training hall, he didn't want to wake you up."

"Will you get him up to the throne room along with the rest of our council please?"

"I will, your highness."

He left me with flash who was still yapping for food. I put her on my lap and fed her a breakfast of bacon which she seemed to like, as she kept looking for more.

Father came in and sat down beside me.

"Tell me what do you plan on doing with her?"

"I plan on showing her which clan is really superior."

He smiled and nodded; "Very well she's waiting for you in the throne room with the rest of our council."

I nodded. "I'll be there in a minute father." He got up and left me. I went back up to my room to get changed into my armour, (father had given me new armour) and my sword. As I slid my sword into it's scabbard I thought of all the things that the light raiders had done to my family. They'd split my family, up killed my mother, and shattered my clan. Now it was time for revenge. I tried to set flash on my bed but she wasn't having any of it, so I picked the cub up. She licked my face. I gave her a scratch behind the ears.

When I got to the throne room I gave the cub to my father.

"Look after her if this goes badly okay?"

Father nodded. "We have released the rest of the light raiders and sent them out side; their not leaving though not without a fight." father said.

"That's okay I don't want them to leave not yet any way." I said with a wink. "Get our men armed in case they attack, as I suspect they may."

Father nodded. Peter came over to me. "Lex, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes I am They're going to pay for what they've done to our family."

He said no more, just giving me a kiss on the cheek.

I walked past Peter and I saw Alexander holding Jess by the arms.

"Before I do what I must do, I need to make some things clear to you Jess. Before we entered this area, we were best friends. I truly have strong feelings about you as the person that I knew then. Since that time I have heard you talk about what you would like to do to the shadow raider's princess. It wasn't pretty. You and I know that for the prophecy to be fulfilled one of us must die. It is an unpleasant job that I have this morning."

I said, "Let her go and give her a sword please Alexander."

He nodded let her go. My father gave Alexander a sword, which he gave to Jess. She looked a mess. Her dress was torn and there was a little bit of blood on it. Her hair, which she was always proud of, was every where.

"Since when did shadow raiders believed in being fair? Wouldn't you rather just kill me now without a fight?"

"No I owe you a chance, however slim. I don't want to be accused of taking advantage of you, even if I am more skilled with a blade than you are. I want to prove something to you and the rest of your miserable clan. We will fight for our future. We will fight and win the war. Now get up and fight."

Jess stood shaking. "What did we ever do to you?" Jess asked.

"You don't know?" I asked.

"No! Please tell me, you owe me that much at least" Jess said

"Your father and Gabriel attacked our castle, killed my mother, and shattered our clan.

Now were getting our own back starting with you."

I'd had enough. I lunged in with my sword. She side stepped and brought her sword up and took a lunge at me. I blocked her effortlessly I moved forward she started to walk backwards. The council moved back. "Father I think you should go outside and let me deal with her."

"If you wish" he said.

"Do me a favour and bolt the front door when you go out, please."

My father nodded. The council moved out and left just me and Jess. Seeing her opportunity she ran. I ran after her. She headed up to the top floor. She tried to get into her old room, but father had locked the door.

"Do you think were that stupid Jess?"

"I wouldn't put it past you."

The only door that was open was my father's room. She ran in and brought her sword up to face me.

"What? You're not going to run again Jess?"

"I'm not running from you Lex why the hell would I be scared of you?" she said.

I knew the door up to the roof was still open as father liked to be out in the fresh air at night. I backed her towards the door. She grabbed the handle and wrenched the door open and ran up the stairs. I went after her when I reached the top. I heard Jess shouting. I locked the door, as the key was in the door.

"Now that I have finally got you to stop running, will you fight or will I have to just kill you?"

I could hear shouting down below. The light raiders were trying to get into the castle by any means possible.

"You won't kill me because Gabriel will get here before you can finish me off." Jess said.

"You really think that they can get past my father, his council and the locked door behind me?", I asked her.

Her face took on a look of complete terror.

"Face it! It's just you and me. We fight to the death.", I said.

"You're crazy Lex."

I'd had enough of her. I swung my sword at her. She ducked and swung her own, which I blocked. I pushed her back towards the edge of the roof. She desperately lunged at me. I plunged her sword into her heart. I threw her backwards off the edge of the platform. She fell right on to the now frozen lake and her blood splattered all over the ice.

I looked over the edge. You couldn't make out Jess in the mess of blood but I knew it was her. I was violently sick but that was the least of my problems. The light raiders had noticed that the victim was Jess and not me. They were screaming their heads off calling me all the names under the sun and moon. I looked down. Father and the council had gone back inside. I unlocked the door and went down into the main hall. Father met me.

"Lex, are you okay?"

I just nodded.

"I know what you did is hard to do. But you did what you had to. I'm proud of you Alexandria.", he said.

"My lord we need to fight! They're almost breaking through." Michael said.

"Okay, but were getting my daughter out of here!"

"No! I'm not going any where. You will need me and I know that I can fight."

He looked straight into my eyes.

"Very well; I can see that I will not persuade you to stay out of the fight."

Peter found me.

"Thank heavens your okay Lex. I was so afraid for you.", he said, giving me a bear hug.

I was still covered in Jess's blood.

"I'm fine Peter; we need everyone to fight. The light raiders are mad as hell."

Peter nodded and left to get everyone organized. The light raiders were hammering the door down.

"Father do we have any back up?"

"I'm afraid you killed them off.", father said.

"There's no back up at all?" I asked.

"Well there is, but I only use them in extreme circumstances."

"Well, I think that if things don't go well you should use them."

Father just nodded. The door was just about to give way. Father was shouting getting people ready to fight then without warning the door gave way and the light raiders flooded in. The didn't have swords, but were prepared to fight none the less.

"Remember what I said, no one kills Gabriel without mine or my fathers permission!" I shouted.

Jason came charging towards me. "Your going to pay for what you did to Jess!" he yelled.

"She deserved what she got!" I yelled at him.

I charged with my sword, he managed to duck my blow. He tried to punch me in the face but I swung my sword hitting him in the side of the head, almost knocking him unconscious.

"So you think that your pathetic clan can kill me? I don't think so Jason! It's you that will die today."

He was too dazed to say anything. He stood back up.

"Go on then, kill me I'm all yours.", he said.

I knew he was teasing me but I took the opportunity. I drove my sword deep into his belly and twisted the same way I dealt with Jess only this time I pulled it back out and with it a torrent off blood.

"Still think I wasn't going to kill you?", I said.

He didn't say anything. He just vomited blood, shuddered, and died. I heard Gabriel scream; "You bitch what have you done?".

"I killed him, what does it look like I've done. Face it Gabriel, you've lost! Your princess is dead, along with your brother."

Gabriel looked at me the tears were running down his face.

"You may have won this battle, but the war is just beginning." he said.

Addressing the rest of the light raiders he said, "Everyone stop, its over! They've won this fight. Retreat. This isn't over Lucifer. When we meet again you won't survive." Gabriel said, before picking up Jason and leaving. They all followed him.

I saw Andrew. He was crying his eyes out. When he saw me he said "He loved you and you ripped his heart out and now you've taken him from me you're a monster." He then spat in my face. Father saw this and made quick work of him. Before I knew anything, he was on the ground.

" Take your dead and wounded and leave with Gabriel before any more are killed.", father said.

The only thing he could do was nod.

The light raiders left picking up their dead and wounded.

"Father where's flash?"

"She's in my room Alexandria."

"I'm going to go up and get her."

Father nodded. I headed up to his room and he followed me. Flash came running out when I opened the door. I picked her up and gave her a cuddle.

"Are you okay Alexandria?", father asked.

"Sort of. I still can't believe I had to kill Jess and Jason."

"Listen to me, you did what you had to do. I'm very proud of you. You defended the clan the way a leader should. Now why don't you take a shower. I will have clothes brought up for you."

I nodded and handed flash to him.

I went and had a long shower. I still couldn't believe that I'd killed Jess and Jason. I started to panic. The reality of what I'd done was just starting to hit me. When I came out of the shower father had laid clothes out for me on the bed. I was just finishing getting dressed when my father came back in with flash. He sat down beside me.

"I know how your feeling Alexandria. When I first killed, I felt guilty."

"Who did you kill?", I asked.

"Gabriel's uncle. He killed your grandfather. We've been killing each other for generations. It will never stop until one of us is wiped out."

"How did all of this start?", I asked.

Father looked into my eyes "I can see that you do want to know. Very well I will tell you. It started nearly a thousand years ago or so, or so they say. We're not entirely sure, the fighting has been going on for so long we've forgotten the details. Anyway, the light raiders and shadow raiders were once one clan. Then your ancestor fell in love with a servant girl and at the time it was strictly forbidden. When the leader found out they executed the girl. Your ancestor, Alexander they called him, was devastated. He broke away from the clan with a few others. They declared war on their old clan, and its been that way ever since. It will never be settled."

It took me a few minutes to process all the information. Finally I asked, "Why did they execute the girl? Surly its not a crime to be in love?", I asked.

"No it's not. But as I'm sure you know it is against their laws to have sex before marriage. There laws have never changed and never will."

I wanted to know more but father didn't know any more than what he had already told me. I decided to do my own digging in the library.

Father said, "Why don't we go down stairs and get some food." He put his arm round my shoulders and guided me downstairs to the food hall. I wasn't hungry but father insisted that I eat. Peter came and sat next to me.

"How are you feeling Lex?" he asked.

"I'm okay. I'd feel better if it wasn't necessary to kill them."

"Well I'd rather they'd be dead than you Lex", Peter said giving me a kiss and a hug.

I ate something small but I still felt sick about what I had needed to do. I didn't know what to do with my self. I felt so numb. Every one was saying that it wasn't my fault, that it was self defence. But, deep down, I knew it wasn't.

"I think tonight you should stay in my room Alexandria.", father said.

I just nodded.

Father guided me back up to his room. The door was still open from when we left for food. Flash jumped on the bed beside me. I stroked between her ears. She seemed to like it as she wouldn't leave me alone.

"Alexandria can I show you something? Your grandfather left it for us."

I nodded. Father went out of the room. He was gone for about five minutes. During that time flash had cheered me up a little bit. She had stolen one of my fathers socks and was running round the room with it. I was chasing her trying to get it from her when father came back in. He saw me laughing at the cub.

Father laughed and said, "Well I'm glad someone could put a smile back on your face, the little rascal."

"Well it's lucky for some she has no worries. The only thing she worries about is where the next meal is coming from. What did you go to get father?"

"I went to get this."

He handed me the black book Michael had shown me.

"I've seen this book before. Michael showed it to me. It said something about the final battle. I didn't really understand it."

"Did he show you all of it?"

I shook my head. "well we've known about the final battle for about eighty or ninety years but there has to be certain signs before it can happen. A fight between two princesses is one of them."

"What? So we were always meant to fight?", I asked.

"Yes! This would be the only time we've had two princesses. It was always a prince on our side. You're the first princess that we've ever had and were hoping that when you have a child that it will be a female. Have a read if you don't believe me."

Father handed me the book I found the passage that I'd read before. I looked through the book and found what my father was talking about. The passage said, "The final battle will arise when two princesses fight on a platform in the sky followed by a battle on bloodied ground. Only then will the final battle between the clans commence." I read it over a few times.

"So its was always meant to be me against Jess?"

Father nodded. "I'm afraid so. You were never meant to meet her but because of what happened the only safe place was James' and Sarah's house. Unfortunately she was taken near by. I'm sorry you had to go through this. I hope this helps you accept the fact that you would have had to fight her regardless of whether you knew her or not.", father said. He kissed me on the head.

"The next passage is very unusual. It says, ' When two angles dance together under a sky of blood red only then will the clans be at rest'". Do you know what that one means, father?"

Father looked uneasy

"No, Alexandria, that one has never made sense to me either. Just remember, you were destined to fight Jess. It was just an unfortunate situation that led you to know her as a friend."

"It does help father Thank you. how did this book come to be how did he know all of this?"

"He saw all of this in his visions. He knew that your mother would have a girl. He told us when your mother was pregnant that it would be a girl, but we didn't believe him."

"Did I ever meet him?"

"He was killed just after you were born, so you won't remember him. However, he adored you and he insisted on calling you after his wife.

Your mother was devastated that's why we retaliated by killing Gabriel's uncle. Why don't you look through the book while I go to council you don't need to go. We're just discussing what's happened. I don't want to distress you any more than you already are." father said.

I nodded council was boring anyway, so I was glad to get out of it.

"I will be up later, after council."

"Okay father, thanks"

Father kissed me on the cheek and left. Flash was now trying to rip my fathers sock apart.

"Flash stop that" I grabbed one end of the sock, but the cub thought I was playing with her and started tugging back she was making me laugh I played with her for a little while then I went back to the book when flash decided to hide with the sock I flicked through the book it was a diary of all the visions that my grandfather had seen one caught my eye it said,

"Last night I had an other vision. Last night I saw her again standing on the edge of the battle. She had my daughters sword and was mounted on a black horse. I saw her talking to Thomas' son Michael. She was giving orders to the men. I remember her saying to the men,

"We're going to make them pay for what they did to our clan we need to get father back come hell or high water."

They charged at people who were advancing against the woman and our men. Then I woke up. This may be the final battle, but I'm not sure"

I had to read it a few times it was then I realised what was going on the light raiders were evil and needed to be stopped at all costs. I went up to the roof top I walked over to the edge. Jess's blood still stained the ice. They'd taken her body away. A deep realisation hit me that it would have been me if I hadn't have fought! I was glad to be alive. Flash had ran up the stairs and was now yapping round my feet to get me to pick her up. When I did she licked my face. I scratched her behind the ears. It was starting to get dark, the setting sun made Jess's blood stretch out onto the snow. I shed a tear. Jess had been a wonderful friend. I was going to miss her. I was so sorry that Jess had to die but I knew my place and I knew that father wouldn't like me to be upset over her. It was starting to snow so I went back inside. I closed the door and lay down on my fathers bed. Flash cuddled up beside me and I slipped into a deep sleep. When I woke, father was standing at the window. He'd pulled the covers over me.

"Father?"

"Sorry, did I wake you Alexandria?"

"No you didn't father." I said sitting up.

"What time is it?"

"It's about eleven o'clock, how are you feeling?"

"Better, the book helped a lot."

I got up and went over to my father and he gave me a hug.

"It will get better, I promise" he said as he hugged me tight.

I was glad of the comfort of his moral support.

"Do you want me to get some food brought up to you?"

I nodded.

"Peter was asking about you. Do you want to see him?"

"Yes please father." He went to the door. Peter must have been waiting outside. Father said something to him that I didn't hear, and then left. Peter came over to me and hugged me.

"How are you feeling Lex?"

"I'm better than I was thanks to this little book." We sat down on the bed. I showed him the book.

"What is this?" Peter asked.

"Don't tell my father I showed you this I'm not sure if it's secret or not."

"Don't worry I won't Lex."

"Its my grandfather's book of the visions. He wrote down everything he saw and he saw that Jess and I would fight and that one of us would die. It's also one of the signs of the final battle. There's an other vision in here that worries me, read it for your self." I handed him the book he read the vision that I'd read.
"Thomas is my grandfather so he must have meant father."

"But who's the person with his daughters sword?"

I handed him my sword. "That would be me as this is my mothers sword. But it also mentions that I would fight to get my father back which means that father must get kidnapped."

I paused to see his reaction. "I don't know if he does or not, I'm sure he's read the book."

"You should tell him your father needs to know!"

I was ready to protest when I was interrupted.

"Exactly what do I need to know Alexandria?" father said. He had returned with food.

"It's nothing father, just something I read." I said while trying to hide the book.

"Peter could you leave us?" father asked.

Peter nodded and left. Father locked the door. "Now are you going to tell me what it was or will I have to get it out of Peter?" father said. He looked at me very menacingly as if to say do what I say or I will have to hurt Peter.

"Very well father. I read a vision of grandfather's. It described woman on a horse giving orders to Michael, and that person had mother's sword. She said that they would get their father back come hell or high water. You've probably worked out it was me on the horse and I think you what that means." I said, waiting for the backlash.

"So when were you going to tell me that I was going to be kidnapped?", father said. He was very annoyed.

"I didn't know how to tell you father. I didn't want to upset you."

"But you should have told me Alexandria!" he was shouting now.

"Father, please calm down I didn't know how to tell you and do you honestly think that I would let anything happen to you?" I asked him.

He sort of calmed down. "I know you wouldn't but if you find anything out you must tell me okay?" Father had now fully calmed down, he pulled me into a hug.

"Promise me that if you see or read anything that you tell me okay?"

I nodded.

"Here, take something to eat and some blood. You need to drink wolf blood more regularly.", he said as he handed me a goblet of blood.

I drank deeply. It felt like the blood was washing away the memory of Jess and Jason.

"Why do we drink wolf blood father?" I asked.

"We drink it because it's scared to us and it keeps us looking young. It's our vital force, so to speak."

I nodded, sat down on the bed, and he handed me a tray of food, for which I was grateful. Father put his arm around me. "Do you know how it happens?"

"No father, I don't. I just know what grandfather left in the book. But, if I see anything I will tell you."

While we were talking flash had brought the sock out again and was running around the room with it.

Father laughed, "She's a rascal all right. She reminds me of the wolf your mother and I had."

"You and mother had a wolf?"

"Yes, his name was storm. He was a character. He ran off during the siege and we never found him again.", he said looking at the cub. "It's a scared bond that we have with wolves which reminds me there will be a sacrifice tomorrow if you want to join us" father said.

"Okay, as long as its not flash that's sacrificed its fine."

"Don't worry. Flash will never be sacrificed." father said.

I picked the cub up. As I did I felt the all to familiar twinge in my stomach. I saw a small camp. It was in the forest. There were a few tents round a fire. I saw Gabriel talking to the rest of the camp. "We need to kill the princess! She's our next target. After that we will take back the castle and our rightful place. Also, I need to concentrate on conceiving an heir after that. They wont be able to stand up to us then but our priority is the princess. We know that if she's alive when the final battle comes we will loose the war! That's what's been foretold." they talked a little more. I heard their plan before father shook me out of it.

"What happened Alexandria?"

"I had another vision father. Their going and try and kill me and Gabriel is trying to conceive an heir.", I said looking into fathers eyes.

"I expected that they would retaliate by trying to kill you but the news about him trying to conceiving an heir is a bit worrying. If he does it will mean big trouble." Father looked worried.

"Does this mean trouble?", I asked.

"It might. I take it that your vision wasn't of the future."

"No, I think it was happing now."

"I don't want you to worry about this. Why don't you go back to sleep."

"Only if someone stays in the room with me. I don't want to be left alone, not now."

"I'll send Peter back in until I come back."

I nodded.

He went to the door, unlocked it, and let Peter back in.

"Sorry for throwing you out Peter, I just needed to talk to my daughter."

"No problem, my lord."

Peter came in and sat down next to me on the bed.

"I won't be long Alexandria."

"Okay father."

Father left.

"I heard everything from outside. Are you okay?" Peter asked.

"I'm fine Peter. I'm feeling a lot better, well sort of better. I had another vision. Gabriel and the light raiders are going to try and kill me before the final battle."

"Well if I have my way they won't get to within three feet of you. I promise you that Lex." Peter said taking hold of my hand. He stroked my face with his other hand. "I love you Lex.", he said as he leaned in to kiss me.

"I love you to Peter." We fell on the bed and were kissing passionately, hands roaming all over each other. I was trying to take Peters shirt off and.....

"Ahem!"

We heard from behind us. Father was standing watching us. "Oh, father we didn't hear or see you." I said as I pushed Peter off me.

"It's not a problem. You're allowed to. Just not on my bed okay?", he said laughing.

Peter whispered in my ear. "Maybe you want to go to your own bed?"

I giggled. "Not tonight Peter. Father wants me to stay here with him, if that's okay with you.", I whispered back.

He nodded, gave me a kiss, then left me with my father.

"I'm sorry father, we got carried away."

"It's not a problem. The only thing that I ask is that until you marry you use protection."

"Father did you inform the council?"

"Yes, we've agreed that from now on a member of the council must be with you at all times. Also, security has been tightened and tonight I want you to stay with me okay?", he asked as he kissed me on the head.

"Where will I be sleeping father?"

"In my bed with me, but don't worry I'm not going to touch you.", he added noticing the look on my face. "Why don't you go and get changed for bed. I left clothes in the bathroom for you."

"Thank you father"

I went to the bathroom to change. He had left me a deep emerald green nightdress that left very little to the imagination. I felt a little exposed wearing that in front of my father so when I went out I tried to cover my self up.

"Don't be shy Alexandria, its okay", father said as he came over and kissed me on the head. "You've grown into a fine woman. Come lets go to bed."

I noticed that father was only wearing shorts. He got into one side of the bed and I got into the other. I cuddled up to my father it felt good to be in his arms. I felt safe and secure. Father was stroking my hair when I fell asleep.

When I woke up father was gone. It must have been afternoon, and the snow was falling very heavily. Father had lit a fire so the room was lovely and warm. I didn't want to move but Damien came in.

"You're awake! Lex, your father has requested you presence in the council hall."

"Can you tell him that I'm sleeping I don't want to get up yet."

"I'm sorry, but he told me to wake you. You're going to have to go!" Damien said.

"Okay, but you may tell my father I'm not happy."

Damien laughed and left. I got up and got dressed. When I went out of the room Peter was waiting for me.

"At your father's request, I will take you down to the council room." Peter said, and then he gave me a kiss.

"I'm glad he did." I smiled.

We walked down to the hall. Father smiled when I came in.

"I'm sorry to have to wake you Alexandria, but we needed your presence today. Otherwise I wouldn't have sent for you."

I sat down next to father. There wasn't a fire lit in this room so I was shivering a little. Peter noticed this and threw his cloak round my shoulders. I felt warmer.

"Thanks Peter!"

"Tonight is a very special night as my daughter will take part in the sacrifice for the first time." father said.

"Here's hoping it's not my last." I said under my breath. Peter burst out laughing. Father shot him a look as if to say, "Why the hell are you laughing?"

"I'm sorry my lord. The laugh was in response to something that Alexandria said."

Father gave him more dirty looks. Peter immediately shut up! Father put his hand on my shoulder and I felt the twinge again but this time it was different. I saw it as if it was happing right in front of me. I was sitting on spirit looking over a field. I could hear the thunderous hoofs of horses. I looked round. Our army was very small in comparison with our enemies. Michael rode up to me.

"Your highness I really don't think we can win the war. We're defeated. We need to retreat. I beg you, we need more men." he said.

"Okay we will retreat, but this isn't over." I said.

"Lex? Are you okay?", Peter said.

"I'm fine, just another vision. Why am I getting them so often?" I asked.

"I don't know, but there must be a reason. What did you see?" father asked. "I was standing on the edge of a battle field. Michael came up to me and said that we would be killed if we didn't leave because we didn't have enough men to face our enemy." Father looked at me. "Where was I, do you know?"

"I didn't see you father."

"I think we should stop all ceremonies until we have built up our army."

"Alexandria, I think that's a little extreme don't you?" father said.

"Father, I really think we should build up our army. I'm getting a warning about something. This might be important. If we ignored the visions and entered the final battle, as we are now. Do you honestly think that the light raiders are sitting doing nothing? No! They're building their army and trying to build their royal family. I'm taking over in this case. You know that I can. If you don't do what I say I will remove you from office.", I said and waited for his reaction.

He looked taken aback. "Very well, everything is postponed until further notice although I don't see the point." he said side eyeing me.

"Well maybe you should get inside my head and see what I see. Then you would."

Father was not amused! We spent the rest of the council meeting discussing how we would expand our army. By the time we finished father wasn't happy that I could get one over on him, but he had to live with it for now. By the end of council we had no idea of how to increase our army's size. We decided that we would discuss it at the next council.

I couldn't think of any way to do it, then it hit me! Of course why didn't I think of it sooner it might be difficult but worth a try and anyway it would be a good excuse to get away from the castle for a little while. Anyway although I wasn't sure if father would agree to it but I had to try I went to sleep that night with a little hope in my heart. I was only hoping that it wouldn't be in vain.

I was rudely woken by flash sticking her nose in my back. The cold wetness woke me up. "You little scamp! Are you hungry girl?"

She yapped back in reply so I got dressed and took her down to the food hall. I gave her a breakfast of bacon and sausage which she devoured. Alexander came in when I was feeding her.

"You seem in better mood today, your highness. How are you?" he asked.

"I'm better than what I was, that's for sure. It's better knowing that Jess and I were destined to fight and that it could have gone either way. I'm just glad to be alive. I have an idea of how to boost our numbers but I'm not sure if father will agree."

Alexander looked interested. "What is your idea, your highness?"

I told him my plan. "He might be interested as they can be trusted with you. Obviously, your father won't be able to go with you; because if he did the castle would be gone. It would probably be either me or Michael that would go with you. Run it by him at council."

I nodded. I waited until it was time to go up the council room. When I got there father was waiting, looking over papers.

"Father?"

He looked up. "Alexandria how are you?", he got up and gave me a hug and a kiss.

"I'm fine father and I have an idea for getting more members for our army. It's drastic, but it might work."

I explained my plan to him. He mused over it for a few minutes.

"It would work. It's dangerous, but of course I would insist on a few members of the council going with you."

I was pleased that he was going to agree with my plan.

"I have come to the same conclusion. Would you mind if it was Alexander and Peter?"

"That would be okay, but I want Damien to go as well. Okay?" father said.

"Good! Father, thank you!"

"No! Thank you If it wasn't for you I would still be in that hell I was in. I thought that both you and your mother were dead. I didn't see a reason for living, but you've breathed life into me again. Please take care while you are away, I couldn't deal with life if anything happened to you"

"Don't worry about me. I will be fine and I'll be taking my sword with me. They are the ones that should worry."

"I'm so proud of you. I'm glad I have you as a daughter.", father said. He made me beam with pride. The rest of the council had arrived. When they were all settled father told them the plan.

"So, Alexander, Peter and Damien; would you accompany my daughter on this mission?"

"My lord, it would be my pleasure and honour to accompany and protect your daughter." So said Alexander, Damien, and Peter at the same time. Finally everything was settled. The council was prepared to take a chance on my plan. I was going back to James and Sarah's house.