Zöe

Chapter VIII

*Chapter VIII*

"I was absolutely shocked!I couldn't believe they were standing in front of me saying those things."

Zöe was flabbergasted! "What do you mean? Father wouldn't do that to anyone. He's sweet and kind and..."

Demetrius interrupted "Have you read my letters?"

Zöe replied "no. What were in them?"

"They contained information about the government, your father, Philipp's father, and you."

"He collected and burned them. How did you get all around the world?"

"I sailed everywhere along the Mediterranean. We went to Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and Turkey. I took papyrus paper and wrote you, because sailing around the world gets lonely. I also wanted to inform you about all the wrong doings and wanted to stop Philipp from getting into the military and stop them from marrying you off."

"How did you know all this?"

"Your father, he was my informant."

"Why did he not tell me about the letters? Why did he keep all that from me?"

"He was probably trying to protect you.... but it didn't work."

"Oh... What role did my father play?"

"He gave me information while he was still pretending to be part of the military. They found out, somehow, about your father giving information. They didn't know who he was giving the information to. He didn't give me up so he got demoted."

"He did that for you? I thought his world revolved around work." Zöe felt awful. She had taken her father for granted.

"Yes, he's very admirable. He loved you to death."

Zöe was quiet for a long time. She gave Demetrius a hug and decided that was enough talk and time for bed. She crawled up under the tarp and tugged the blanket over her small, curled up figure. The rocks under the tarp jabbed into her ribs and the fresh dew on the ground chilled her. The exhaustion was overwhelming and sleep washed over Zöe. Demetrius strolled toward Zöe and he lovingly looked down over Zöe. He decided to keep watch and make sure nothing would come to harm them. Thoughts from the past swirled through his head about Zöe. The earliest memory he had of her was when she was on the beach with her older brother. A wave would roll across the sea and as it almost got to them he would throw her high up in the air and she would land on the passing by wave. When she emerged a bright smile went from cheek to cheek and her blue eyes were ignited with joy. She would beg her brother to throw her yet again! and again! and again! Another time was when she was with her tutor and she had gotten all the problems right for the month so she was rewarded with fine cheese. Zöe asked her servant and he summoned me to join her and celebrate. Zöe was so excited when I joined her. She said "I am now smart. I have surpassed your knowledge" with a grin across her face. When it was grape harvesting season, her older brother was killed in battle. Tears streamed down her face as she remember those great times she had with her older brother. I was Zöe's shoulder to cry on and oh did she cry. She then relied heavily on her mother. I loved her mom. She was so sweet and she always treated me like family. Since my mother was a drunkard, Zöe's mother became mine. She loved to cook us food and teach us everyday things like how to make a fire, how to clean the dishes, and how to build a sandcastle. Then, her father got job for the government. He stopped joking around and he started to get more serious. His hair lightened from a midnight black to a grey. I thought I could help Pirithous become himself again. He told me I couldn't handle the stress and weight of his work and that I should be a kid until I had to grow up. Sadly, my father willed me to become a solider and I couldn't help Pirithous. The day I had to tell her was very difficult. It was beautiful out. I decided the best place to tell her was on the sea. The boat rolled over the waves and the sun shone bright, and beautifully over the glittering water. Zöe looked beautiful as the wind tossed her hair. She laughed at the joke I had told and she shimmered with happiness. I then sat her down and looked her in the eyes and said that I was willed to join the army. I had to go. At first, she was confused, but then she realized what it meant. Most soldiers never come home.