"Alexander!" a raspy voiced called from the end of a hall.
The king had just awoken from another one of his nightmares. In these latter days, his dreams became more and more corrosive, eating him away, body and mind. His once youthful skin now hung dry and limp around his sinking frame, and his auburn locks no more than thin grey threads covering his weather beaten scalp.
"Alexander! Wake up this instant!" He stormed into his room and threw back his bed curtains.
"Father..wha...what's wrong?" a dazed answer came from within as the light from the early breaking dawn flooded his chamber. "A nightmare?" he questioned, when he found his voice.
The king did not reply, obviously too caught up in his own fear and anxiety, but rather forcefully pulled Alexander from his divan. Too fearful to query him further, Alexander quickly followed his father's ample pace down one of the main corridors of the dark, cheerless castle. They hastened for the drawing room, and swiftly, the king shut the doors behind him after Alexander was safe inside. Checking the room for privacy, the king poked and prodded every statue and tapestry that occupied it. This mannerism, common for him nowadays, hinted at his betrayal in the far-off past. Alexander yawned as he took his seat by the window that overlooked the dense forest. This young lad, no more than 16 was used to his father's nightmares, and didn't give it much thought as to this morning's cataclysm.
Once satisfied, the king took his place by his son, and sat in deep thought for nearly a half-hour. With difficulty, Alexander found his voice,
"Father....." He was cut-off mid-sentence.
"Alexander," the king began "I have had the dream again."
"The dream about our sovereignty?"
"Yes, and it grows worse. With every night it comes to haunt me, I do fear the stress it builds upon my body will destroy me. The dream, as I am sure you have realized is based on truth. Our kingdom is failing, and with the little time that it has left, will collapse. I have seen this when I sleep, and the outcome terrifies me." His sunken eyes drift upwards towards Alexander's.
Alexander saw the fear built up behind the piercing orbs and was taken aback by them.
"So much sorrow and remorse.." he thought.
"I am telling you this because I have a plan. A plan to stop this poverty and to change our people's fortune for the better." A luminous light danced from within his sudden smirk.
Alexander, you must marry a wealthy princess.....any princess. I will arrange everything; you need not bother yourself with detail. All you have to do is show up for the ceremony. It's perfect! She, with her wealth, will save us all!" The king suddenly shouted and rose into the air, arms overhead in triumph at his genius. He never even considered his son's opinion on the matter, and why should he? Alexander did everything that was ever asked of him, as if to refuse meant to cut his very legs from under him.
Alexander nodded in conformity, and without hesitation. After this action, he bowed his head low, pursed his lips, and clasped his hands together. His life was laid before him in the matter of minutes, and he, in his silence, had watched it form in front of his eyes. The king satisfied with himself, headed back to his room to catch the sleep he had been robbed of these past nights. But Alexander stared vacantly out of the drawing room window into the enchanted forest. Like most of his young life, he remained speechless throughout the remainder of the morning.