"Why would you be here rather than by her side, I'm sure if my parents knew they would've excused your people" she was initially surprised at the face he could've easily just said that she was unable to make it.
"Don't you get it, princess, nations don't care about each other, just what they could get. You think your family cares about anyone outside of this kingdom. This is all about alliances and who has the most to gain.
Before Elise could respond, a scream was heard coming from the other side of the grounds. She knew that scream, she lifted her dress and began running as fast as she could hoping that the enemy was not in their midst and had not made an attack right under their noses.
"Grandpa, grandpa, can you please wake up" Elise was on her knees gently shaking his body, the twins were crying in a corner. Kaizer had left to inform her parents what was happening.
"Over here!" His voice was clear
"Elise, come with me," Rena said trying to pull her to her pull
"No, I don't want to go," she started crying
"I'm not leaving grandpa until he wakes up" she held onto his clothes
"Ash, take the twins inside, please" they continued to cry quietly. Ash lowered himself to meet their eye level
"Come on boys, let's go to your room"
"But...but.....what about grandpa?" Eon stuttered as he continued to hold Renner,
"Why don't we go inside, it's getting a bit cold now" Renner finally looked at his uncle. The brother went into his arms and he lifted them while Ash took the twins away
"Luka, take Elise," Elise knew she did not stand a chance when she heard that. Rena freed her hand from her grandfather's clothing. Luka carried her away kicking and screaming at the top of her lungs.
As her uncle carried her, she passed her grandmother who was being held by Elijah and Jasper. Elise saw her walk towards his body.
The two had reached her room
"Elise, please calm down" Luka held her shoulders hoping his words would get through to her
"Let me go, I want to be with grandpa" she tried to fight her way out of his grasp but he could not let her go
"I want grandpa, let me go!" She let out a high pitched scream that almost burst his eardrums
"I can't do that, Elise!" He raised his voice, eyes wide. At that moment Meera walked in staring at the two, now staring at her. Elise saw how red her eyes are
"Grandpa is gone, isn't he" Elise looked back at her uncle
"I'm so sorry, Elise" Luka's eyes filled with tears. She embraced her uncle and allowed herself to fall apart. Her uncle soothing her by rubbing the top of her head.
"Grandpa has gone to a better place, He will be okay" Luka tried to believe his own words. Saying this made him remember the time when he had to explain their mother's death to his siblings.
Meera walked over and touched Luka on his shoulder
"Rena needs you" he pulled away and wipes the tears on Elise's face
"Aunt Meera will stay with you" Elise nodded her head as she wiped the rest of her tears
Meera closed the door behind him
"Let's get you ready for bed," the two had not spoken a word until Elise made her way towards the bed. Meera tucked her in and sat on the side of the bed. She began to brush Elise's hair, Meera saw how puffy her eyes were because of all the crying.
"Aunt Meera, can you please stay until I fall asleep?" She looked up and saw her aunt's concerned face grow soft
"Of course, I'll stay" Meera continued to rub her head.
During the night, Elise's door opening woke her up. With her back to the entrance, she heard her mother's voice.
"Thank you for staying with her" Elise noticed that her mother's voice was different like she had almost lost it.
"It was no problem, I'll leave you too" Elise felt a dip in the bed indicating that her mother was lying next to her, she pulled the covers over both of them. Elise felt her kiss on the back of her head.
Elise closed her eyes tightly, turning towards her mother and wrapping her arms around her. Rena responded to the hug with her embrace.
Elise recalled the last time they had slept in the same bed. It was when she was younger and had a nightmare about being kidnapped. They shared the same bed for a month before she could feel comfortable sleeping alone.
When Elise was with Meera, her mind could not rest, believing that this would be her state until morning. However, with her mother beside her, she found herself drifting to sleep.
The next morning Elise woke up alone, rubbing her eyes because of their dryness. She got out of bed and walked to the balcony, the grounds had returned to their original state before the celebration.
Flashback
"Grandpa, I wish I could go with you and grandma" Elise pouted
"The Elise I know wouldn't miss a day of training. Now, I know something else must be wrong" he knew that there had to be something else on her mind.
"I'm not sure I can get strong enough" she continued to look down at her feet
"That's not true, you're the strongest person I know. You have won every arm wrestle match we ever had. Let's have one right now to prove it" he got in position.
"Grandpa, that's not what I mean" she began to laugh while seeing how he prepared himself for the match
"Besides, I know you always let me win" her smile slowly fading
"What do you mean?" he began to take the conversation seriously
"My lessons....have not been going so well" she avoided his gaze when she realized what she just said.
Most people would perceive she was having a difficult time and wanted to run away
"I'm not running away," she made eye contact again
"I just need a break, for a while," he watches as she processed her words of what to say next.
"There is nothing wrong with taking a break. But you do know you have to come back from that break and face what you were taking a break from" she smiled at her grandfather.
"I knew you would say something like that"
"Is that so, how?"
"I knew you would tell me something difficult to her.....but true"
"Happy to hear that, it means I am doing my duty as your grandfather." They laughed enjoying their time together before his departure.