The Lost Princess

XXII

Aaron

"We need to strategize! We can not just run into the UPRK with no battle plans!"

"On the contrary, we need to act now."

"I respectfully disagree. Without a proper strategy we will die."

"If we sit here, our kingdoms will be destroyed. Then, we will all perish!"

"Enough!" I shout, my voice vibrating off the walls. The men look at me, baffled by how loud my voice was.

"Enough of this nonsense. We need a strategy and quick. The UPRK night send forces to our land. And I refuse to have a war on soil that has any families on it." I declare. The thought of having a war around people saddened me; innocent families dying..

It is heartbreaking.

Mark, our captain of the Navy, speaks up, "I agree. I say we do a Trojan horse offering. We present ourselves as laymen with a gift of offering to the king's kitchen staff. Then we attack from the inside out."

"What would be the point of that?" Father asks, "I say we demand the king and if he refuses we burn the palace down!"

The other men cheered while I shook my head, "No. I want this war won with as little bloodshed of the innocent as possible. Why should they and their families have to suffer for a cause they had nothing to do with?" The others quieted down and pondered my request.

"How about we tell King Derek about a deal? We can bring in a skilled soldier as your ambassador where you and King Derek can 'discuss a deal'. Then after a while, a third of Navy and one third of the army can attack the West side of the island and the other two/thirds plus another two-thirds of the Army attacks their army quarters. But, the soldier will have to be trained in palace affairs and what it happening at this point in time. However, what soldier is well spoken enough to take on this mounting task?" Peter explains.

I smile, "You are. Clearly you are educated in palace affairs. You know so much about the landscape of all of the kingdoms. Would you help me and be my ambassador for the day?"

Peter nods, "It would be my pleasure, your Majesty."

We continue to discuss our plan and after an hour of deliberation, we inform the troops. The cooks created a fine dinner, where all of our family sat together. It was a depressing mood, with Mother constantly wiping her cheeks with a handkerchief.

"I just do not understand the point of all of you going," Mother sniffles, "Why all of you? Aaron, Peter, William, John, Edward plus the soldiers and the captains. Why do you have to take away the pillars of the kingdom for a war?"

"It is to show we mean business and that we will not accept defeat with all of our best officials there." I respond.

"But, are there not dangers if you leave? Like hunger and injuries?" Mother asks.

I sigh, "If we perish, we perish."

Mother sobbed into her handkerchief and Father went to console her. Rose takes a glass of water, with her trembling hands. Ashlyn wipes tears from her eyes and Lily clings unto John's hands.

"There must be another way.." Ashlyn resolves.

"No," I remind her. "This is the only way. But, if I were to fail, my death would not be in vain."

Shatter.

The glass of water fell on the floor and glass shards spread throughout the ground. Rose has tears running down her cheeks, "Oh, I-I am sorry.." Rose walks out of the dining room and her sobs echo the hallway.

I follow her and find her slumped against a column. I tap her and she peers up at me, tears in her brown eyes. "What would I do if you died?" she asked.

"I must go. But I will not die. Our plan does not include a battlefield. The soldiers are only there for protection," I slide down and hug her.

She peers at me, "Promise?"

"I promise to you Rose.." I kiss her lips softly.

*****

The men load supplies into carts. I along with Peter was wearing our regular royal clothes, with vests underneath and a sword under our shirts.

Rose give me a kiss and gives me a hug, "I love you Aaron."

"I love you Rose," I whisper back. Ashlyn and Peter exchange a peck, William and Amelia are in a long embrace with William peppering kisses on Amelia. John and Lily are talking, and John constantly wipes tears off Lily's cheeks.

"We must be off.." My captain says.

I nod. I and the rest of my war generals, captains, and the royals follow me and mount horses. I look back at Rose who has a small smile with tears running down her cheeks. I blow her a kiss and turn my horse.

"Heyah!" I pat my horse. They neigh and gallop away from the castle. As we go through the village, the villagers gather around the fountain and pray for our safety.

This war is for our village. For our kingdom. For our castle. For our servants. For Mia. And my parents. John and Lily. Amelia and William. Ashlyn and Peter. And it's for me and Rose. But, most importantly, it is for my little baby who will grow up in a time of peace.

This war is for family.

Okay! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Btw, this is chapter 22 if you wanna know. What do y'all think?? Leave your comments below. I'll catch up later. Bye. ❤️

- Leslie