Back At The Palace

When Alex and Diana reach the stables Luna and Solis were happy to see them.

"Hi girl, did you miss me?" Diana asked as she stroked Luna's head and fed her a sugar cube.

"Neigh," she replied happily while Alex fed Solis an apple smiling at Luna's reaction as well.

They were just checking their saddles and reigns when Luna started acting strange.

"It's ok girl," Diana tied to sooth Luna's fretting "It's ok, what's wrong?" Diana asked.

"Is she alright?" Alex said as he came over into the stall where Luna and Diana currently are.

"I think so, she just started acting like this," Diana said before trying to calm Luna down "it's ok Luna."

"Neigh," she neighed in protest.

"What's wrong Luna?" Diana continued as Alex was about to come and help. "No, don't." Diana warned him away because when Luna gets agitated she doesn't like other people around her she has a few trust issues. Luckily without Diana explaining further Alex took a step back.

"Ok, but if she starts getting dangerous I will help." He warned as she continued to try and find out what's wrong with Luna. However, Luna just stood on her hind legs kicking her front ones in the air.

Diana lifted up her hands to show that she's no danger but when Luna saw Dianas left hand she started sniffing at it worriedly and bumping her head against it in worry and Diana quickly understood what's wrong.

"It's alright Luna," she said gently but the worry in Luna's eyes didn't dwindle even slightly "it doesn't hurt I promise it's just a cut."

"Neigh," Luna still sounded worried.

Diana just smiled slightly even if it hasn't reached her eyes its calmed her down which is good "See Luna I'm fine," after awhile of doing this Luna finally calmed down.

"She was just worried about you," Alex said smiling as Diana stroked Luna's head.

"Yeah she always gets skittish and acts up when she sees me hurt normally she doesn't let anyone near me. She's always been that way," Diana explained.

"That's sweet," he said smiling as he went back to Solis gideing her out of her stall and closing the door behind her. "Is it ok for you to ride her?" he asked as genuine worry entered his eyes.

"Of course I've had worse injuries than these miner cuts," Diana said honestly.

"I know what I mean is will she get skittish and start acting that way again," he clarified even though Diana understood what he was asking in the first place.

"Of course she'll be fine, she'd never do anything to hurt me," Diana reassured him as she brought Luna out of her stall and closed its door behind them.

"Ok, if your sure." Alex replied mounting Solis and Diana followed swiftly after him gripping Luna's reigns.

"Let's go," she said before hitting Luna's side causing her to start galloping back to the palace with Alex at Dianas side on Solis.

The ride back was quiet but it isn't an awkward silence it's actually quite peaceful being able to hear the galloping of the horses and the melodies birds are singing. Even the melodie of the wind as it gently flutters by rustling a few leaves before leaving to find more stories to sing in it's eternal melody.

As they approach the palace Diana can see King Brian, Queen Valeria and Princess Emma waiting for them. They reached them in only a few minutes dismounting from Solis and Luna quickly.

"Is everything alright?" Alex asked them worry and curiousity in his voice.

"Yes, we just wanted to see how you two are we heard about the incident earlier and wanted to see if you're alright," Queen Valeria replied to his question, worry painting her features.

"Yes we're..." Alex was about to say that they're fine but he was interrupted by Emma.

"Big sister, what happened to your hand?" Emma asked Diana worriedly as she came over and held onto Diana's left hand which was bandaged Emma's eyes looking at her with worry.

The royal family of Fortis just smiled knowing the young princess was bound to start calling her big sister sooner or later, Diana however, was surprised with what Emma called her but quickly regained her composure smiling sweetly at Emma, even as her eyes show no emotion.

"It's just a little scratch," Diana said it really isn't that big a deal even though everyone keeps treating it like the end of the world.

"Did you get this when you caught those knives?" Emma asked worry still etched into her words "I heard that you caught both knives before they could hurt Maddy or Crystal," she explained.

"Yes I did get it when I caught one of the knives," Diana answered "but it's not anything major and it really doesn't hurt I promise."

Luckily Emma didn't look as worried anymore and she smiled slightly "Ok, but you should still get it looked at," she told Diana and Alex gave her a look as if saying to Diana 'even she agrees with what we were saying.'

"Well your probably rather tired," Queen Valeria said "have you eaten supper yet?" she asked them smiling sweetly.

"No, not yet." Diana answered her.

"Well then let's go eat," Queen Valeria said smiling but then quickly remembered Dianas hand "unless you want to get your hand seen to first," she said not bothered about starting supper a little later.

"No my hand is fine thank you for your concern though," Diana answered her and they all headed into the palace with Emma holding Dianas right hand and Alex's as she recapped her day to them.

Supper was full of chatter and laughter much like the night before it was nothing like Diana's family dinners or any meals in general. There would never really be any laughter especially these last three years and there were never such sincere smiles on anyone's face. It's funny really how a kingdom at war seems more peaceful than a kingdom at peace, they seem like what a family should be.

'Who an I kidding,' Diana thought to herself 'Why compare them to a family they don't even know the meaning of the word unlike these people in front of me.'

The laughter at the table brought her back from her thoughts and dinner went on full of happiness and laughter. After dinner Emma wished them all good night before heading of to bed and King Brian and Queen Valeria followed soon after.

At the moment Diana's in her room putting the hair piece she got today away. The sun has long since set and the rooms lit by the crackling fire place and lights which adorn the walls.

She was just about to tie her hair up when someone knocked at the door. When Diana went and opened it she found Alex standing outside medical supplies in hand so she doesn't even bother asking why he's here.

"I guessed you weren't ever planning on getting your hand looked at, so I decided I'd come and do it for you," he explained and she can tell he won't leave until she lets him look at her hand.

"Alright, come in." Diana said opening the door so he can come in and closing it behind him. He walked over to her desk and put down the supplies he brought motioning her to sit on the chair which was at an angle from the table.

Diana just complys to get this over with holding out her hand to him. He bent down into a kneeling position and gently undid the bandage revealing her wounds. Which had bled after the bandage had been put on covering the area of skin a crimson as red as fire.

Gently and carefully so not to hurt Diana, Alex cleaned away the blood caressing her skin while he did he started to speak "You really should of gone to the palace doctor to make sure it isn't infected," Alex berated.

"I didn't want to bother them for some simple cuts besides I gathered that it's nor infected," she replied nonchalantly.

"That might be true but you should still have got them to see to it," Alex continued as he started to clean the wounds themselves "you wouldn't be bothering them and it would actually shut the others up."

"True, but by me just saying that I might go they shut up," Diana retorted.

"That's true," Alex agreed as he put a plaster over Dianas wounds and then started to bandage it very skillfully.

"Alex,"

"Hmm,"

"Why did you come and do this yourself? You could have just dragged me to the palace doctor or dragged them here but instead you came here yourself." She asked genuinely curious as to why he did it Diana herself is unsure and she isn't use to anyone doing this for her inless their ordered to do so or if it's their duty.

"Your my friend and someone had to make sure that someone other than you checked it," he said smiling as he finished bandaging it and packed the supplies away "you should change that often so it doesn't get infected."

"Don't worry I will I'm guessing you'll be there to nag at me until I do it," Diana said to him smiling slightly.

"That's true," he agreed as she opened her door for him "Well get some rest Diana see you tomorrow. Goodnight," he said.

"Goodnight and thanks for your help," Diana said sincerely.

"No need to thank me. See you tomorrow," he said smiling before heading to his room and Diana headed out to train for the evening she'd probably just toss and turn all night if she tried to sleep.