"Papa, please don't go! You've seen what this war is doing to our kingdom! To our people!" I cried out as my stepmother, Lady Diana Aziz, and stepsisters, Rachel and Tara, ran behind me. My father had received his orders from the king of Galdiyatazíu, Roman. He was going off to fight our attacking neighbor, Áragranatased.
"I cannot ignore a direct order from the king, Ella!" My father turned around and stopped, making me nearly bump into him. He lowered his voice as he continued, glancing at Diana, Rachel and Tara. "No matter how much I disagree with the war." He looked at me again and gently put his hands on my shoulders. "You must protect them, Ella. In ways that they cannot protect themselves. Hm?" He raised an eyebrow and nodded at me. I know exactly what he means.
"I swear I will, papa. However I need to. They're my family."
I glanced at Diana, Rachel and Tara as a subtle wave of white glitter washed over them. Hopefully, that spell will hold. And no one will notice I just did magic. Even if it was to protect them. Diana raised an eyebrow and I bit my lip, realizing she'd noticed. She and my sisters were the only other people who knew I had magic. I looked at my father again as he started to step back.
"You must also keep your abilities as hidden as possible. Only use them when absolutely necessary." I nodded.
"I swear." My father started to turn away from us. "Papa?" He turned back to me and I threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Please return to us soon. Do not leave us behind." Diana, Rachel and Tara hugged him, too, and he pulled them in closer.
A month passed and my father still had not returned from the war. Every week, he sent us a letter to tell us where he was and what was going on. Diana, Rachel, Tara, and I sat in the living room, in front of the fire as we opened his first letter.
"Dearest Diana, Ella, Rachel, and Tara,
I miss you all terribly and wish I were warm at home with you. I am writing to you from the Beldistoki province in Áragranatased. Our troops have camped for the evening at the base of the Hænost mountains. King Roman and General Thomas have said there is a great storm approaching, so it may take us a bit longer to reach the Skalystt province.
On the bright side, my loves, I saw a few things that reminded me of each of you. For Diana, I found a beautiful, gold poppy brooch that I bought at the market of the town we just passed through.
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For Ella, I found a lovely carnation. I had it pressed into a frame as a gift for you.
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For Rachel and Tara, I bought two dresses that reminded me of the ones you eyed in the town square. Below are images of the dresses."
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Sending All My Love, Irfan Aziz"
I grinned at Diana, Rachel and Tara. He is alive. Our father is alive. My stepsisters squealed and held out their hands.
"Can we see? Can we see?" I laughed as I held the letter out to Rachel and Tara.
"Of course. Here. Take a look." Diana had a huge smile on her face and I knew it was from relief, relief at knowing that my father was still alive.
Like we had the first time, Diana, Rachel, Tara, and I gathered in the living room to open my father's letter.
"Dearest Diana, Ella, Rachel, and Tara,
I miss you all terribly and wish I were warm at home with you. The storm has begun to let up, but King Roman and General Thomas have not let us move on yet. They say they want to be certain it is safe before we move.
The king and the general also say that, if the storm gets worse again, we will have to move regardless because of the risk of an avalanche. Neither option sounds pleasant, but I am hoping for the best. On the bright side, we do have enough food to last us the winter months, but it will mean we will have to turn back toward home.
Sending All My Love, Irfan Aziz"
I looked at my Diana, Rachel and Tara, eyes wide.
"If...they have to turn back..." I started. Rachel, seeming to understand, turned to face Diana.
"Their backs will be open to attack if the Áragranatasedians sneak up behind them." I bit my lip and stared at my family. Will he be safe? Will he survive an attack if they do ambush the troops?
"Ella, it will be alright," Tara said, hugging me tightly. "He will come back. I know it." I nodded and hugged Tara back. Rachel came over to me and hugged me, too. Diana smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes, and she slid off her chair to hug us, too.
We received two more letters and then months went by without another one. We anxiously waited for the next one, wondering when it would come. Every week, my stepsisters and I waited by the door, hoping the mail carrier would have a letter for us.
By the time we received the next letter, spring had already begun, but it was not from my father. A military officer walked up to the door and held out an envelope to me. The smile on my face faded immediately when I saw the man's somber look. No, no, no! Please, do not let him be gone.
"Where is my father, sir?" When he did not answer, I asked again. "Where is my father, sir?" The man shook his head. "Is he dead?" The man stayed solemnly silent. "Please!" Diana held me as tears formed in my eyes. "I need to know!" Tara and Rachel slid their arms around me, too. "Is he dead?"
The man slowly nodded as my family held me more tightly. Tears ran down my cheeks as I leaned into my family. I bit my lip as I tore open the envelope. Diana's brooch and my carnation fell out. I froze, my hands shaking. Two large boxes were brought to the door and my knees gave out from under me. The four of us fell to the floor, sobbing for hours.
