TRAPPED

SECRETS

ERIC

After two weeks of celebrating, settling in and setting up a new council, things seemed to calm down a bit though I was still very much busy.
Kings from other lands coming to congratulate me and offer gifts, others offering their princesses for marriage, others suggesting alliances and trade deals. It was really exhausting but I knew that if I didn't do it then I would let my kingdom down and fail as their king so early in my rulership.
I decided to change things up a bit, instead of everything coming to me for approval I appointed other people to be dealing with specific issues of the land then I would only be going to check on them, this way I only had a few things to deal with.
Joshua would handle anything to do with the security of our land, in the short time I had known him I had grown to trust him and he even revealed to me how he had helped Kira escape.

"She was so unhappy and she just wanted a way out, I didn't know it would lead to war"he said,
he must have felt really guilty but after hearing the story I did understand his actions

"It's not your fault, from what you've told me my father did not handle things very well ".

I later confronted my mother about her role in everything that had transpired and she did not deny it.

"You tried to kill her?!"I questioned her angrily

"You don't understand son, if she had stayed then everything would have been taken from me, from us.. I loved your father and he loved me too, Kira was just being forced on him" she said to me

"Then why did he go after her?  Why the he start a freaking war just to get her back!?"I was now yelling.

"I don't know.. Your father could be an idiot sometimes.. I don't want to discuss this anymore "she said and walked out on me.

A week after that conversation I sent Joshua to Liam's kingdom, I wanted us to sign a peace treaty and be friendly neighbors, I knew it was the first step to forgiveness and reconciliation so that I could marry Shalom who I hadn't seen in weeks, hopefully she still loved me and hadn't lost faith in me.

When Joshua returned he told me that king Liam had said if I wanted to meet and negotiate a peace treaty then the meeting would be in his kingdom.

"I don't think you should go, it may be a trap to kill you "  he advised

"I have to trust him if I want this to work " I responded

"Your majesty, King Liam is not to be trusted, you humiliated him and made him feel weak, he will want to retaliate and get back at you. Let the meeting be at a neutral place" he suggested

I knew Joshua's concerns were with merit but I also had to trust shalom,I had to trust that she wouldn't let any harm come to me .

"We'll meet on his conditions "I said and Joshua reluctantly agreed.

Two days later we travelled to Liam's kingdom, I was happy to finally see Shalom's home and it was indeed beautiful, I knew that their wealth from the minerals in their kingdom is what had made my kingdom prosper and develop so quickly and I guess we had to thank them for that. The castle was so big and tall I suddenly felt so small, maybe Joshua was right, we shouldn't have come here, what if Liam had an army waiting for us on the other side??. But we were already there and there was no turning back so we announced our arrival and we were ushered into the castle.

The meeting would be held the following day so we were taken to our guest rooms without even being greeted by the King

"This is an insult your majesty "Joshua muttered.

"It's this kingdom, he can do whatever he wants ".I said with a sigh.

Thankfully my men were not disarmed and they were allowed to guard me through the night. After a much needed bath, food was delivered to the room and when the doors were opened I was surprised and happy to see Shalom enter with the maids, once they put down the food they left and the doors were closed.
I rushed to shalom and kissed her passionately, I had really missed her and it felt great to have her in my arms again.

"I missed you "I told her after releasing her from the kiss

"I missed you more "she put her hand on my chest "am glad you took this step, dad still loathes you but he's willing to call it even and stand down "she told me and I was glad to know I wasn't walking in a trap.

"Am glad to hear that, I want us to be at peace so that I can ask for your hand in marriage" I told her and she smiled sadly

"I don't think dad will accept you that easily " she said and we sat on the bed.

"Am willing to try, I love you and I wanna be with you no matter what "I told her and she wrapped her arms around me then kissed me deeply

"Do you really mean that? "She asked sounding emotional

"Of course I do.. And what are you doing here? Shouldn't you have gone back to school?" I inquired

"After what happened dad won't let us leave, he said we'll do e-learning. He claims it's not safe" she answered and I nodded, after being held hostage there was no way he would let his family out of sight.

"Am really sorry about that, I wish things could have gone differently " I told her sincerely

"So do I baby...."she sighed, shifting her eyes. "... and mum told me the story, how she was married to your father at the age of seven and everything that happened when he showed up with your mother"

"I know, it was really bad and I don't blame your mother for running away"

"I don't blame her either, but she told me something else. She told me why my father attacked and seized the throne, why be feels like he deserves it ".she was speaking and studying my eyes as I got a glass of water while listening intently "he did everything because he is the first born though born out of wedlock ".

"What do you mean ?"I asked her

"Your father and my father are half brothers "she said and the glass slipped out the my hand and fell to the ground.
What did she just say?? Surely she was joking right??.