The Darkness Within Her

Chapter- 2

Teresa had been searching for her five year old granddaughter Zoe. One of the maids had told her how some children had made fun of the fact that Zoe was an orphan.

Teresa wanted to hurt those snobby children who had hurt Zoe but she couldn't. Not when they had to stay hidden.

She walked through the garden in hopes of finding the little girl. She neared one of the trees where she saw Zoe sitting beneath it.

Zoe had pushed her knees towards her chest with her head between her legs. She was hugging herself while she shook with each sob.

Teresa crouched in front of Zoe and held her in her arms. Zoe looked up through her lashes to see her grandmother give her a comforting smile.

"Grams, why don't I have mama or pappa? Do they not want me? Charles said that mama doesn't want me so she left me.",Zoe asked Teresa, sobbing.

It broke her heart to see that Zoe thought that her parents had left her.

"Sweetheart, I don't want you to listen to what others say. I want you to know that I love you to the moon and back. That is all that you will ever need baby."

Zoe smiled at Teresa hearing that she loved her. She stopped her crying and hugged Teresa like her life depended on it.

Henry

My head was throbbing very badly. It had been for the past two hours as I heard all the Lords argue with each other. I had long stopped listening to whatever they were talking about.

I felt bad for Darius. I subtly looked at him. He was seated at the throne while the other Lords were at the long table. His face was emotionless but I could see that he was tired just like me with the way his shoulders were drooped. Dark circles were evident under his eyes.

I could see that the trouble with Idrisid was weighing down on him.

Idrisid was a neighbouring kingdom. They had been causing trouble for over fifty years. Sixteen years ago they had nearly destroyed Travunia- our kingdom. It was a bloody war but we had been able to fight back. After that war they had been quiet but now they have started to fight again.

I hoped that it wouldn't be as bad as it was the previous time.

After the last war we had been barely able to stand back on our feet. Sure our soldiers were better trained now but I don't think we would survive another war like that. Every single person had lost someone that they held dear to them.

Many of the Lords did not want to fight with the Idrisid. They knew that if we surrendered then they could still remain alive even if the royal family got executed. I hated them because that put my family in danger. I would fight until my last breath, if it meant that I could keep them alive.

Darius ended the meeting. Everybody started to leave slowly. Some of them were still not happy with the fact that we would have to fight against Idrisid.

After the room was emptied except for Darius and me, Darius left a long sigh. He rose from the throne and walked towards me. Standing next to me he said, "I have to fight. I can't just give up this kingdom that was entrusted to me by my father. I owe it to all those people who lost their lives sixteen years ago. I owe it to Zoe."

"I understand Darius. I will fight beside you. You are family and I will always protect you. And yes we also owe it to Zoe to fight."

I knew that thinking about Zoe was a sore topic but we had to fight if we wanted to see her again.

I still remember the way she used to giggle whenever I held her. She held all our hearts in her tiny little hands. After she left the family hasn't been the same. My sister Maria would always have tears in her eyes whenever Zoe was mentioned. The kids had also grown apart after her departure. Even though we knew that she had to leave, it still broke our hearts that she could not grow up with her family.

I had been searching for her all these years. I could only hope that I find her. Only she could heal this broken family.