Royal Temptations

Chapter Five

"We could rent out the house and live with our Aunt." Seb tried to reason as Rania threw her small amount of belongings into a black duffel bag.

"We haven't spoken to our Aunt since Ma passed, how do we know she would take us all in?"

"How about you teach us to hunt, we could get more meat to sell to the butcher in town." Ashur gave Rania a small encouraging smile.

"It would take months to teach you both. Listen, I'm going to miss you guys but I don't have a choice. We need the money. Besides I'll write and I'm sure with the money I'll earn I could afford a camera. You guys could send me those pictures and it'll be like I never even left." Rania smiled sadly at her two brothers.

The two boys engulfed her small frame in a tight group hug. "Can we visit?" Seb mumbled into her hair.

"I'm sure that can be arranged." Rania smiled up at her brothers tall figures. "Now, instead of moping around in my room help me pack will you?"

The boys did help, in their own way. Ashur messily shoved belongings into her few bags along with Rania while Seb sprawled out on her bed and spoke excitedly about what it would be like in the kingdom.

"Don't you dare fall in love missy! We expect you back within the year. Unless it's someone that would be willing to move back. No royals, that's an order. You know I read about what they have there. A massive pool, training yard. It's more like a community heaps of people live there."

Sebeen's rambling caused excitement to bubble up inside Rania. She felt that the situation was so unreal, it was as if she would wake up from dreaming any moment. She pinched herself but no scenery changed, she was still standing in the middle of her room staring at her bags neatly piled on the floor as Ashur zipped the last one up.

The walk to the front door seemed too short. Emelia was already waiting in the vehicle she got sent over to collect them and drive them to the train station. Rania dumped her belongings in the trunk before making her way to her family. They stood in a short line, awaiting for their individual goodbyes quietly. Rania made her way to her father, the embrace was quick but the words he murmured as they pulled away meant the World to her. "Your mother would be so proud of you." It was a simple statement, one her father had never spoken to any of his children until that very moment.

Ashur's goodbye took a little longer, his uncontrollable crying made it difficult for Rania to move on to her sister but after a whole fifteen minutes of his endless sobbing he manned up and let her go.

"Why are you going?" Lilith demanded in her little angelic voice. She crossed her arms across her chest and stared Rania dead in the eye. She was hurt.

"Don't worry Lilith, I'll be home soon." She embraced the little girl in front of her, enjoying the feeling of cradling her in her arms. She couldn't help but still fear for Lilith.

Rania fought back tears when Seb's turn came. "Don't you dare cry. You promised, remember?" They grasped onto each other as if they were each others own life lines. "You're strong, so very strong. You are doing so well at holding us all together, don't falter now." They smiled at each other whole heartedly before Rania turned away. She joined Emelia without looking back once. The fear of changing her mind made her wait until the vehicle was moving to look back at her family.

No words were exchanged for the car ride, the silence seeping into the time on the train as well. After merciless hours of awkward situations the Queen finally spoke.

"Rania dear, we're almost there. Don't you have any questions?"

"You know I find it quite strange. I resent you so much, yet I've never been this grateful to anyone in my life." Emelia was shocked at her harsh words but silently agreed with her. She did take her away from her home after all.