The Land of the Lost

Chapter 13 - Eliana

It had been 38 days since Louis had departed, leaving behind an aching void in my heart that echoed with the silent pain of his absence.

In the beginning of his departure, the kingdom had descended into chaos and despair, the once vibrant streets now haunted by violence and oppression. It had been 24 days since the brutal murder of the King and Queen, an evil act that had shattered the very foundation of our kingdom.

In their absence, King Cedrick had seized the throne, his self-proclaimed reign casting a dark cloud over the kingdom. With the rightful heir, Princess Odette, lost to the Land of the Lost, Cedrick had seized the opportunity to assert his dominance, his iron grip tightening with each passing day.

But amidst the turmoil and unrest, a flicker of hope remained, a beacon of light amidst the encroaching darkness. Many still prayed for Odette's return, their voices rising in protest against the tyrannical rule of King Cedrick. Yet, their cries fell upon deaf ears, drowned out by the clamor of violence and oppression that gripped the kingdom in its merciless embrace.

Within the confines of our house, the silence echoed with the weight of our grief and longing. Louis's absence loomed large, an absence that hung heavy in the air like a cloud. I couldn't shake the gnawing fear that he might never return, his fate as uncertain as that of our beloved kingdom.

Mother, once a pillar of strength and resilience, had become a mere shadow of her former self, her eyes haunted by the specter of loss and despair. I would often find her staring out the window, her gaze fixed upon the horizon as if willing Louis to return with each passing moment.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, I found Mother in her usual place by the window. Her eyes were distant, lost in memories that seemed to provide little comfort.

"Mother," I said softly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You should rest. Sitting here all day won't bring him back."

She turned to me, her face etched with sorrow. "I know, Elara. But I can't help it. I keep hoping that one day I'll see him coming up the path, smiling like he used to."

I knelt beside her, my own heart aching with the same hope. "We have to believe that he's alive, that he's out there somewhere. But we also have to take care of ourselves, for Louis's sake."

Mother sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It's just so hard, Elara. Every day feels like an eternity without him. And now, with Cedrick on the throne... I fear for our future."

"We all do," I admitted. "But we can't let fear paralyze us. We have to keep going, for each other."

Mother nodded slowly, her eyes filling with tears. "You're right. I'm sorry, my dear. I just miss him so much."

"I miss him too," I whispered, my own voice breaking. "But we have to stay strong. For Louis, for Odette, and for our kingdom."

---

As the days stretched into weeks, our hope began to fade, like a flickering flame slowly being deprived of oxygen. The kingdom crumbled under King Cedrick's oppressive rule, its once vibrant spirit crushed beneath the weight of his tyranny.

One afternoon, as I was tending to the garden, I heard a soft knock on the door. My heart leaped with a mix of hope and fear. Who could it be at this hour?

I hurried to the door and opened it cautiously. Instead of Louis, it was old Agnes from the village. Her eyes were wide with worry, and her hands shook as she clutched her shawl around her thin shoulders.

"Elara," she said in a hushed voice, "we need to talk."

I invited her in and we sat at the kitchen table. Mother, sensing the urgency, joined us, her expression mirroring my own anxiety.