Aideen's Answer

-Chapter Two-

 King Daniel looked down at his beautiful wife from his place beside the fireplace. She was staring into the fire, the flames illuminating her delicate features. A more beautiful woman, he was sure, could never be found. Except, of course, for his only daughter.

 'Aideen,' he thought with a sigh. 'Please try to understand our reasoning behind this.'

 He looked around the dimly lit library. Normally, it was bright and cheery, with huge windows and large armchairs. It had always been a bit of an escape for him, a place to unwind. For it was wonderfully easy to lose oneself amid the dozens of shelves, or in the pages of an intriguing book. He loved coming in here to relax on the comfortable couches, to feel the sun streaming in from the large windows that took up most of one wall. Now, however, the heavy drapes had been closed for privacy. Which plunged the room into darkness and gave their task a rather gloomy air.

 "I'm frightened, Daniel," a soft voice shook him from his thoughts.

 The king looked with surprise upon his wife, for she was the strongest woman he'd ever known. His own mother, Grace, had been a frail little thing. He loved her dearly and she'd done a fine job raising him and his brothers, but the burden of being queen had proven too much for her. In contrast, Cara's spunk and courage was what drew him to her in the first place. Her strong faith was one thing that made her an extraordinary queen and Daniel could count on one hand the times she seemed truly scared. At the moment, however, her lips were tightly pressed together and she was clasping her hands to keep them from shaking. Quickly, he joined her on the settee and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

 'I need to pay more attention to her,' He chided himself. 'What good is a husband if he isn't there when his wife needs him? I'm so used to her strength, sometimes I forget that she needs a gentle touch, as well. That will change,' Daniel resolved firmly. 'Starting now.'

 "Hush now, my Love. Remember, it is all in the hands of the Lord," He reassured her softly.

 Cara clung to her husbands coat, ashamed at her lack of faith but so desperately needing comfort.

 "She didn't pray before breakfast this morning," Cara murmured. She sat up straight and looked at her husband, still in the safe circle of his arms.

 "Did you notice that, Daniel? When we have our family Bible reading every day, she seems, almost indifferent! Its like she's not even in the room. Not to mention, the servants suspect she's been sneaking out. For what I do not know. Our precious little girl!"

 Silence fell over the royal couple, each alone with their thoughts. Each desperately needing guidance.

 "Where did we go wrong dearest?" Cara asked quietly. "Have we allowed ruling this country to distract us from raising our daughter? Why does it seem she no longer has time for the one true God?"

 When her only answer was more silence, she looked up to her husbands face and saw his lips moving in silent prayer. This comforted Cara more than any words he could have spoken and she closed her eyes to join him, lifting all their burdens up to the One who could hold them much better than she.

 When she finally opened her eyes, she found her dear husband watching her intently.

 "We will get through this, Cara," He said softly. "God knows what He is doing. How did she react when you gave her the news?"

  "Not well," She answered. "I'm afraid she thought me very cruel. I should have thought it out better beforehand. I thought it wise that she know about it before this meeting, but now I'm not so sure. To tell her something like that but not give her any details,not answer her questions? It seems, well, cold."