Sun and Shadow

Hunger

The streets of Brighton becomes rougher as the traders sell the last of what they have for the day, the beggars walk around hoping for crumbles of anything.
Morgan, a sixteen year old beggar stands opposite a bread shop, observes the seller and her activities before approaching.

"I'll have me three horsebreads"

She points to the horse bread in front of her, like she is entitled to the bread, like she wasn't about to steal

The seller packs up the bread for her, hands it over, Morgan reaches to her pocket like she is about to bring out coins but runs down through the streets while the seller keeps telling "thief"
No one listens to her, as the streets are tight and noisy. Another lucky day for Morgan to eat.
Still doesn't stop racing down the street she continues till she can't hear the people of the street any more. She takes few more steps before she finally reaches home.
A place no human being should be living, an abandoned building where beggars laid their heads at night that smelled like poverty

Vivian, Morgan's young beautiful daughter, even with how haggardly dressed and unkept she looked, one could still see how beautiful she was.
She was pregnant and one wouldn't know, raped by one of the drunk men on the streets months ago

"Mother"

Morgan becomes excited to show her mother what she had stolen

"Thank the heavens you are back, I was beginning to get worried"

Her eyes suddenly move to Morgan's left hand, it was food, she didn't care what food it was but just wanted to eat something

Tears roll down Vivian's cheeks while Morgan hands over two horse breads to her

"One for you and the baby"

Vivian pulls her closer as she hugs her tight

"I never wanted a life like this for you"

"It's not your fault, mother"

Vivian wipes her tears with her bare hands

"I'll find something for us tomorrow"

"No, you can't. You're pregnant"

Vivian wasn't about to argue about that with Morgan, she had already made her mind and nothing was going to stop her, not even herself"

                ***
Almost Nightfall and Xander and Tommen were still out looking for their dead brother. The guards already exhausted from searching everywhere in the woods, looking for the smallest trace but find nothing but Tommen refuses to let his men stop

Henry approaches the two brothers

"Your Grace, we haven't found anything yet. The men have become tired and hungry"

"We should all head back" Xander concluded

Tommen takes a look at his brother, the words he had just uttered had pissed him off.

"Head back? For fucks sake he is your bloody twin"

"Maybe he fled the kingdom"

Henry notices the conversation between the brothers and quietly leaves their midst

"He had no reason to do such"

"I'm tired of this and getting hungry"

Tommen couldn't believe the words Xander bad began to utter, 'did he hit his head' Tommen thought

"Your brother is missing and all you can think of right now, this moment, is food?"

"You don't want to lose another brother, do you?. Hunger kills"

Xander heads over to his black horse, patting it before he hops on it. Tommen quickly heads to his brother to confront him

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Trying not to get killed"

Xander rides off leaving Tommen in disbelief, the men murmur as they watch Xander leave with is horse hoping they can all return

"Continue the search"