In the back of the royal palace in Kingsfall, Enzo and Endre practicing their sword skills with wooden swords. Enzo's fighting skill was much higher than Endre and he often taught Endre and Aeron new ways to fight. They decide to take a break after Endre fourteenth lost. As they sat down the feeling of worry could be felt radiating from Endre.
"Do you think Aeron was going to betray the king, Enzo?" asked Endre.
"Honestly I have no idea. He has always had a resentment for our father. A part of me wants to believe that it was a lie and Aeron really was innocent. Although another part of me has a feeling that he really was conspiring against the king," responded Enzo looking at the floor.
"But he always tried his best to please father, I don't think he really wanted to hurt him or anything," responded Endre.
Enzo then said "Well what's done is done. There's nothing we can do about it now."
"How can you sound so cold?" replied Endre in a serious tone. "Our younger brother and sister are out in the world unprotected right now. Is that okay to you? Do you care about them at all?"
Enzo grabbed Endre by his shirt collar and said, "How dare you ask me a question such as this. Of course, I care about them, but they are gone now. It would be close to impossible to find them now."
Endre facial expression never changed as his brother spoke. He looked Enzo straight in his eye with anger and then he said, "If you care then you should speak your mind to father, you're the only one who he'll listen to."
Enzo let go of his brother, "You sounded like Aeron… He always said things like that." He then sighed and continued "If I do ask father, I'll only do it once. I may even ask mother for help."
"That's a good Idea, I'll go with you she'll definitely help us then." Responded Endre. Then they went back to sparring and their next few matches are filled with energy and determination.
A few hours later they go into the common room of the palace to drink some tea. They sat in the quite room still reflecting on everything that happened, when suddenly their younger sister Cleo ran into the room crying. "What's wrong Cleo? Stop crying talk to us" asked Enzo trying to calm her down.
Then Cemil, the youngest son of the king and their brother, followed Cleo into the room. He then said, "I know why she's crying, because she misses that traitor Aeron."
Cleo wiped some of the tears away from her eyes and yelled back at him, "Aeron's not a traitor, you're just stupid Cemil." She then looked towards Enzo and Endre and said, "You guys don't think Aeron's a traitor, do you?"
They both looked at each other and thought back to what they talked about earlier. "I'm sure Aeron didn't want to do anything bad." He pats her on the head, and she started smiling, then he looked at Cemil. "Cemil, it's not nice to say things that may not be true about anyone. Especially when you're talking about family", Said Enzo trying to teach his brother a lesson.
"Well he's no brother of mine", said Cemil as he stormed out the room.
Cleo got up from behind the couch and sat down next to Enzo. She then said, "I really miss Aeron and Alana, I hope they're okay."
Enzo smiled at her and then he said, "They're fine, and one day they'll come back. I just know it."
Before it was time to sleep Enzo and Endre went to go talk to their mother about Aeron and Alana. Hopefully they could convince her to talk to King Emeric about letting them come back. They found her talking to the some of the maids in the palaces kitchen.
"Excuse us, Queen Amelia, may we speak with you." Politely asked Enzo while bowing before her.
"Of course, you don't have to be so formal with me Enzo, I'm your mother after all.", replied Queen Amelia. She then looked towards the maids and said, "Please excuse us, we have to talk privately." The maids smiled and bowed, before leaving the kitchen. "Okay, what did you guys want to talk to me about?" asked Queen Amelia. Enzo and Endre look at each other, both of them waiting for the other one to start talking. Endre elbowed Enzo forcing him to start the conversation with their mother.
"So, mother do you miss Aeron?" asked Enzo with worry that his question offended his mother.
She responded, "Why yes, I do miss him. In fact, I miss him and Alana a great deal. Why do you ask?"
"Do you think he was really going to betray our father, the king?" asked Endre.
"Now, I know Aeron has a bad temper, but I don't think he would be able to do something like that." She responded. "But it was up to me to decide. You guys heard what they said at the trial he was found guilty. I don't agree with that verdict. But what's done is done."
Endre said "If you think he's innocent, you should talk to father. He might be willing to change his mind and let Aeron and Alana comeback." Endre's tone became louder as he challenged his mother's view on the matter.
"Quiet down, Endre. Don't raise your voice at the Queen", said Enzo while forcing his brother to bow.
"Its fine Enzo, He's just speaking his mind on a passionate matter." Said the Queen while smiling. "You know what, You're right Endre. Tomorrow morning I'll speak to your father about it and I'll tell you what he says."
Enzo then asked one more question. "Thank you so much mother, but when talk to the king can you not bring our names?"
The queen replied, "I will remember to not use your names, I will ask him like it is coming from me." She gave both of them hugs before saying, "Don't worry Aeron will be fine. Now if that's all I will be going to sleep." She then walks towards the door of the kitchen. "Goodnight my sons, I Love you", she said.
They both responded, "Love you too." Queen Amelia left to go to the king's room.
"We did it, she's going to ask him", said Endre.
"I know, I was there.", responded Enzo while shaking his head at is brothers dumb comment. "We should go to bed to it's getting late.
"Yeah your right. Let's go", said Endre as they both head out off to their bedrooms.
Enzo had just got out of the bath and was ready to go to bed when his Cleo knocked on his door.
"Enzo, can I come in." she asked in a curious voice.
Enzo really wanted to go to sleep, his eyes felt like they were being weight down by weights, but he just couldn't say no to his sister. He sighs and then says, "Of course you can." She slowly opens the door and then she just stands there with a sad face.
"What's wrong?" asked Enzo trying to be a good older brother.
She responded quietly while looking at the floor, "Ever since Aeron and Alana left us, I haven't been able to sleep."
Enzo smiled at her and then said, "Do you want to sleep in here then?"
"Yes", answered Cleo with a little embarrassment. Enzo walked to his closet and grabbed a big blanket and laid it on the floor. "You can sleep in my bed; I wouldn't want my little sister to sleep on the floor."
She sat down on his bed and her face still looked like it was filled with sadness. "Are you still worried about Aeron and Alana."
"No, I'm not worried. Well, actually maybe a little." She tried to hide her feelings, but her voice was shaky like she could start tearing up at any moment. "I want everything to go back to the way it was. I miss them so much. they used to do everything with me."
Enzo sat down next to her and hugged her tightly then he said, "One day, they will come back and we will be a family again."
She then asked "Do you promise we will?" while wiping her tears.
"I promise. Now it's time for you to go to sleep," Enzo placed a blanket over Cleo and within a few mins she was fast asleep.
Enzo then laid on his blanket that was on the floor while staring at the celling. His mind started to wander aimlessly as he thought about Aeron and Alana. Then his eyes started to close causing him to fall asleep quickly.
After cleaning herself in the royal bath house on the other side of the palace, the queen starts to head back to her and the kings room. While walking back she was thinking of words to say to her husband that would convince him to allow their two children back home. When she approached the door, she collected her thoughts and then she lets out a big breath of air. She opened the door to find the king sitting on the side of the bed while staring into a mirror. She sat down on the other side of the bed and started rubbing the shoulders of her husband.
"What's wrong dear? you seem stressed", asked Queen Amelia trying to start a conversation.
The king responded by saying "Nothing, I am just thinking. Nothing more or nothing less."
She then started to massage his shoulders a little harder "Try to relax from time to time, Stress isn't a good look for the leader of a nation."
The king then stood up whilst still staring at himself in the mirror and said, "When you're the face of a nation, everything you do becomes stressful, even the most mundane of affairs. Everything you do must be calculated and executed with precision. The way you present yourself, the way you talk, and the way you dress are all small examples of things that could determine how people see you and the nation you represent. The smallest mistake can become a spark for your enemies, that could inevitably ruin you or your claim to power."
The Queen then followed him out the bed and stood right behind him. "But shouldn't the king have the power to do what he wants? If what you said is true, then the people have the real power and the king is just a puppet who is scared of losing his position," said the Queen.
King Emeric turn to face his wife and said, "Lets change the subject, we can talk about this another time."
Queen Amelia thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to bring up Aeron and Alana. She politely asked "My lord, may I ask you a question."
"Amelia, you only talk like this when you want something. What is it you wish to talk about?" responded King Emeric.
She sat back down on the bed with the full attention of her husband. She stared the king in his eye with a serious look on her face, before saying, "Do you miss our children?" A moment of silence filled the room before the king responded.
"Of course, I miss Alana," said the king.
The Queen quickly responded and said "What about Aeron?"
The King sighed and said "I knew you were going to ask that; His actions are the reasons he's gone and that's the end of it."
"How can you say that about your son," said Amelia. "Why did you exile him? You could have given him another punishment."
King Emeric looks at the ground to avoid Eye contact "I made an example of him, so the people now know treachery is not to be tolerated." His voice lacked any compassion and gave off a loathsome feeling. Queen Amelia's eyes started to tear up because she couldn't believe what her husband was saying.
He continues "Even though he's my son, that doesn't mean I should overlook his crimes. Now I will hear no more of this Amelia." The king gets in on his side of the bed to go to sleep.
Amelia then responded with a shaky voice "As you wish, my lord." She then got in bed and turn her body away from the king, to show her disapproval of his opinion. She thought to herself while lying in bed. "I pray that my children are protected from harm on their new journey. I'll do my best to support them here, but that's all I can do. Hopefully one day, they will come home, and everyone will accept them." Her eyes grew tired and began to close as she fell asleep thinking of Aeron and Alana.
A loud banging sound, coming from the door, had awoken Enzo and Cleo. Enzo waited to hear another knock before answering the door. A servant was waiting at the Door, "Prince Enzo and Princess Cleo, your father has asked me to bring you to a family meeting. Get dressed and Follow me."
The servant man leads them into the dining hall, where the rest of the family was already sitting. King Emeric was seated at the head of the table. The king then stood up and said, "My dear children, please come take a seat." There were chairs open next to their mother, so they sat down next to her.
Enzo whispered to his mother "What's going on? What is father going to tell us?"
"I have no idea what is about to happen. This is all a shock to me too." responded Amelia. The room was crowded with voices, while everyone in the room talked amongst themselves all wondering what the king was about to announce. The king then got ready and cleared his throat, which caused everyone to place their attention on the king.
"I thank all of you for coming this morning because there is a matter of grave importance I must announce. The Empire created by my Ancestors has prospered for thousands of years. It is now time for us to grow, and with us so will our lands. Some of the neighboring lands belong to us by birth right, but they are under control by people with false claim to the lands. We must make this right and fight to take it back ourselves." Everyone in the room was still trying to figure out what the king was talking about. They knew he was planning to do something, but they didn't think the king would be talking about a war. Duke William was sitting at the table along with other people of a similar status. He stands and waits for the king to allow him to speak.
"Duke William, you may speak." Said the king.
The duke asked, "My lord, are you suggesting that we go to war with our neighbors?"
"My dear cousin and Nobel lord of the Venied Empire, I am saying that we must go to war and win back our territory. It is rightfully ours, so it is only our duty to do so." Responded the king, then he looked around the table and continued "I, King Emeric, of the Venied Empire will declare war on all smaller nation surrounding our nation."
The room suddenly erupted into a loud cheer coming from a majority of the nobles. "I now ask you to help me rally an army so we can take back what is rightfully ours."
The crowd of nobles all agree and then they left the hall. Enzo was still in shock from the announcement his father had given. He was unsure of what to do during times of war, but he was determined not to show his feelings to his father. Enzo tapped his mother to get her attention, "Did you know father was going to do this?"
She then responded, "I knew this was going to happen. I just didn't know it would be this soon."
"Do you think I'll have to fight in the war?" asked Enzo with a burning curiosity.
"You probably won't have to," answered Queen Amelia.
Enzo then said "do you think Aeron, Alana, and the others will be okay?"
"They'll be okay, I believe in them." She responded. King Emeric walked over to his family and said, "It is now up to us to lead our people in this time of war." He then left out the hall to meet with his advisors. Queen Amelia tightly clenched her dress and thought to herself, "I hope that none of this endangers Aeron and Alana. Divine Spirits, please protect my children." She then left out the room with Enzo, both of them hoping none of this will bring harm to Aeron and Alana.