Hello readers! So you've met Caleb and seen that Manna might have had a bit of "history" with him. Now it's time to return to Fiona. Want to meet Alexander Harrison in person? Well here's your chance! :-)

*Note: The first two pages of this chapter contain a bit of exposition. Some of it is just clarification on things you have already learned. I would love to hear folks opinion on it. Does it seem like useful info? Too much repeated stuff you already know? Does it go on too long? Let me know what you think!

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Fiona

He was not there when she arrived. Not surprising. Harrison had never been known for his punctuality. As Fiona stood overlooking the north gate of Auresir, she thought of the last time she had seen Alex, nearly thirteen years before. She'd only just realized that she carried his child inside of her. It was only a week after two members of the Vox Populi were arrested having been found carrying messages for the rebellion. Only three days after those same men had escaped punishment by giving up their Senmin comrades. 

It would be five days still before those Senmin men were hanged without the benefit of trial. Five days that they would spend imprisoned by the Crown suffering unimaginable tortures. But already Fiona had known what their fate would be. Everyone did. They were suspected traitors and, more importantly, they were Senmin, less than human in the eyes of the law. The Vox Populi had abandoned them entirely. The Crown was only too happy to make an example.

Fiona remembered attending the emergency meetings of the Council of Elders that had followed the news of the arrest and subsequent execution of their fellows. She remembered biting her tongue as the Councilmen had ranted and raved, expounding on the evils of the Vox Populi. They were right after all. The Vox Populi had ultimately made it clear that they were no friends to the Senmin. She had trusted them and they betrayed her, tainting one of her first leadership decisions as Nita. No one could ever learn that she had mistakenly given away her trust.

Fiona wholeheartedly agreed to the Council's decision to distance itself from the condemned as much as possible, choking back the guilt at the knowledge she was at least in part responsible for their deaths having incited both men to trust Plath and the rebellion. But there was nothing she could have done to save them.

In the end, the Council's public and exceedingly vocal condemnation of the Senmin rebels had done little to sooth the King's anger. In retaliation for their traitorous ilk, the Crown had taken away the last of the Senmin's representation in the House of Lords, stripping the titles of nobility held by Leman and Collier, two Senmin councilmen from the Nothernlands, in addition to confiscating their lands. 

All Senmin businesses throughout the realm were taxed an additional five percent of their revenue in restitution to the Empire for three years and new anti-Senmin legislation regarding schooling and trade was enacted throughout all of Erestia. The Vox Populi had done nothing in recognition of the Senmin's sacrifice. They had disappeared into the shadows to regroup their strength, leaving the Senmin to answer for their mistakes. The idea that after all that had transpired, Alexander Harrison would now come to Fiona for aid was almost laughable. And yet, here she was, waiting for him in spite of all reason.

When she finally caught sight of the cloaked figure making a clear approach, the leisurely gate instantly registered as familiar. Fiona made ready. She had already created a pact with herself and intended to stand by it. She would meet Harrison, in remembrance of the more positive aspects of their former relationship, and hear his reason for contacting her as he had done. She would agree to nothing more.

As Alex stood before her and removed his hood, Fiona crossed her arms and gave him a disapproving glare, hoping to mask any betrayal of the slight skip in her heart at the sight of his face. The face she'd been so certain she would never see again. Alex took one look at her expression and offered up a weary grin.

"Already angry with me?" he asked. "I haven't seen you in over a decade. What could I possibly have done to deserve that look already? The fact that you came was so promising. But that look," he shook his head. "I know that look."

"You went to quite a bit of trouble to send me that message," Fiona answered, tone hard. "I felt I had no choice but to come. Still, it seems you have not learned to follow the common courtesy of punctuality."

In spite of her chilly demeanor, Alex's smile only grew. "Please forgive me, Nita Amoral," he said with a small bow. "Travel in and out of the Capital has become quite difficult of late." Fiona could not disguise her surprise at his response.

"Am I to understand then, that you currently reside the Imperial City?" she asked.

"At least in part."

"You must be either one of the bravest men alive or one of the most foolish," she said with a shake of her head. "I can't imagine that it is easy living under the nose of the Crown when you still rank as one of its most infamous enemies."

"That's the beauty of it," Alex answered with a grin. " Harder to see what is hiding in plain sight."

Fiona felt the corners of her lips twitching upwards, threatening to mimic his smile in spite of herself. "I can't say that you've changed much, sir. You're are still as infuriating and brazen as ever."

"Nor have you," he answered. "In fact, I would almost swear not a day had passed between us."

The last comment wiped away the banter from Fiona's eyes, the slight elation in seeing Alex again shattering like glass into a million pieces at his words. Fiona could see the man's face as it truly was, age lines creeping around the edges of the eyes and lips, the gray along his temples. The years suddenly fell between them in a wash of uncomfortable silence. She wondered if he'd noticed.

"You look good, Fee," he said after a moment.

She only nodded in response.

"I really wasn't sure you'd come. I thought you never wanted to see me again."

"I didn't. Though I can say I am glad to see you are not dead," she admitted.

"Well, at least there's that." Again Harrison attempted a grin, but Fiona could not bring herself to reciprocate.

"We heard of the battles, of the resistance in the north," she said, "and of Mulerdale. I feared the worst." Fiona saw him look away for a moment, his gaze casting slightly downward.

"I am sorry about Plath. You know I never much cared for him, but I know that the two of you were close. He was a brave man."

Harrison nodded. Again they fell to a silence that somehow spoke words. A silence of distance and lost time.

"Why did you ask me here?" Fiona asked finally.

"Have you not guessed? I am re-amassing the revolution Fee. I need your help."

Of course, she had inferred from his message that Alex planned to revive the defeated rebellion. Even if she had not, one look into his hardened gaze was all it took to see his intention. That same passion that had drawn her in so many years ago was still there. An unquenchable desire to seek vengeance again the Crown. No doubt his resolve had only grown over the past few years with the deaths of his friends and commander. But Fiona knew this was not her fight. Not anymore.

"No," she answered.

"Fiona," he began, preparing his words of persuasion. She cut him off before he could utter more than her name.

"Alex, you only barely escaped battle with you life one year ago. Your leader is dead, your comrades slaughtered. Have you not learned your lesson?"

The effect of her words registered immediately as the passion in his eyes intensified to a burning fury.

"I am a soldier Fiona. You know that. My life is worthless if I cannot fight for what I believe in. I will make them pay for what they did to my family, my friends, to the Empire!"

"Perhaps a peaceful resolution is the answer," she replied calmly, not giving in to his mounting fervor. "The Crown is a formidable foe and has proven that over and over again. There is a point at which other options for resolution to our Empire's problems must be considered.

He glared at her. "I was wrong," he said, "You have changed."

"Alex," she began. She wanted him to hear reason. In spite of their past differences, she'd never wished him dead. The idea that he was so ready to throw his life away so soon after his near brush with death upset her more than she wanted to admit. But Alex would not listen.

"No!" he exclaimed. "You yourself have met him Fee. Surely you realize that there can be no peace with a man such as that."

"Henry?" Fiona was somewhat caught off guard by his comment. King Fredrick had always been the rebels' target in the past. But given Henry's involvement in the slaughters to the north perhaps it was not surprising that Alex would now turn his rage towards the Prince.

"Who else?" he replied as if the answer was self-evident.

Fiona could not help but see Henry's arrogant face in her mind. The horrible sense of foreboding she had felt in his presence. Still, it was hardly enough to consider speaking with Alex of rebellion.

"Fredrick is king," Fiona answered carefully," and I made peace with my people's existence under his rule long ago. I understand your hatred of the Prince. I can only imagine you dream of revenge for the deaths of your friends, but the man only acted in defense of the Crown, and now the rebellion is defeated."

"The rebellion will live until the Bastario line falls," Alex answered, the hint of a snarl in his tone. "I swear it on my life." He shot her a disdainful glare.

"And even if your people have submitted and given yourselves over to Fredrick, the Senmin's obedience to the current King will soon be meaningless. Mark my words. Fredrick sent his son to battle to avoid his succession to the throne, but now that Henry has returned, he will not be pushed aside again. Fredrick's time will soon be ended."

Alex's words sent a cold shiver through her body. Fiona could not help but remember her fleeting hope that the irascible prince might somehow be thwarted in his ascension to the throne. The certainty in Alex's voice made her uncomfortable. She did not intend to let him know it.

"Is this the 'dire' matter to which you referred in your letter?" Fiona asked, trying to make light of Alex's claim. She knew the man too well. If she showed any sign of support he would be relentless in his quest to bring her to his fight, and that could not happen.

"Do not trivialize me," Alex replied, with no trace of his usual playful banter. "You must have seen it in his eyes. The danger."

"Yet he was willing to meet with my people," she replied, ignoring the truth in his words. "A gesture no king has attempted since the fall of the Hapsben crown. Even Grayson never requested the presence of the Nita at Salam Palace."

"You can't tell me that you believe Henry will deal earnestly with the Senmin?" he asked, incredulous.

"Perhaps more earnestly than the Vox Populi have in the past."

He frowned at her, and Fiona could see the look of guilt in his expression as he hesitated to answer her accusation. "That isn't fair."

"I'm sorry Alex. The situation is far too precarious. You say that Henry will inevitably become king. If that is the case, I must be even more cautious. Regime changes do not bode well for the Senmin historically. If there is danger approaching with Henry's imminent rise to the throne, I can do nothing that might entice him to retaliate against my people. I should not even be here with you now. "

"Please Fee," he said reaching out and taking her hands in his. "I beg you to at least consider the possibility. Consider the possibility of a newly formed Vox Populi, the new voice of the people. You and I can lead together. We can fight side by side as we did before. We can avenge the wrongs done to both of our people."

"Alex I..." She knew that she should pull away from him. That the words of caution she spoke were indeed correct. That she should leave. Alexander had survived the battles of the Northernlands and her curiosity had been sated. It was where their relationship should end in spite of the pulsing heat she felt coursing through her with their hands intertwined.

There was no question his passion was contagious and mimicked her own. She had received no communication from the Prince since their meeting one month prior and had prayed his silence was a sign that the more unpleasant moments of their discourse had been forgiven but she knew well that Alex's fears about the man rang true with her own assessment. Ultimately it didn't matter. Fiona's decision to join Harrison in the past had nearly destroyed her. The Senmin had suffered too much already because of the Vox Populi. As much as Fiona had disliked the Prince, she could not afford to make the mistake of once again trusting the rebellion would truly aide the Senmin in their time of need.

"Just think on it. That's all I ask," Alex said in response to her clear reticence to answer his request.

Fiona felt her head nod of its own accord, some part of her unwilling to deny him completely though she knew she would have to in the end.

"Give me time, Fiona," he said, finally withdrawing his hand. "Six months, a year. Time to prove to you that the resistance still lives. To prove that there are still many willing and able to fight against the Bastario line and bring a new age to Erestia."

Fiona stared a moment longer at his determination and sighed.

"I know there will be no stopping you from your planned course of action," she answered. "I only hope that you do not find yourself in the hangman's noose all too quickly for your efforts. But if you can truly prove your movement has life still, I will not deny you audience again. It will be my duty to consider the implications of the Vox Populi's revival for the good of my people after all. Understand however that I am committing to nothing."

Alex nodded once. "It is understood."

Fiona was glad for his professionalism. That he had not sought to push her any farther. Perhaps he truly had grown over the years.

"If I should wish to do so, how will I find you?" she asked.

"I will send word of a meeting place and time when I can. When I have made progress enough to convince you of my cause. I promise to be discrete. "

She nodded.

"It is so good to see you again," he said, a soft smile forming on his lips as their eyes locked. "I missed you greatly." Alex took a step closer towards her but then seemed to think better of it. Instead, he respectfully bowed his head. "I will hope we will meet again soon Nita Amoral." he said, "And I hope you will give true consideration to once again joining the Vox Populi."

So the plot thickens...Alex wants Fiona to join him once again. Should she do so? Is Henry really so bad? What were the Prince's motives in meeting with her anyway??? And what do you guys think of Alexander Harrison? Can Fiona trust him? Or will his desire for revenge only make him a danger to Fiona and the Senmin? As always I'd love to hear what you guys think of the chapter. And if you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote! Next week I am planning two updates so be on the look out. Thanks for reading!!