Three weeks had passed, and she worried about his safety. His trip to Mossca was an unexpected one and she wondered why he left and did not tell her the reason for his haste. The last words spoken to him were harsh. Today she was to meet with Vestin and have lunch in the garden, but what should have been a joyful moment and a chance to catch up more turned dark. She and Robert would write to each other often, since using a holohone could be tapped, so when the mail came, and she received his letter she found herself eager to read every word of it at that moment. She stood by the table with his letter in hand; tears in her eyes and a sea of confusion flooded her heart.

My Dearest Loraz,

It breaks my heart to have to inform you through the written word that my father has been called home to Paradise with the Ancestors. It also pains me to tell you that I will not be returning to Ay Su since I have been officially named heir to the throne. The public coronation will be held in two months' time and all of Zanooma will be able to witness as I am crowned the next king of Mossca. Father had me officially crowned three moons after his death in front of the council. If I do not receive a letter back after you have read this, I will understand. I am truly sorry for any pain I have caused you as this was never my intention. I will always love you Loraz and my offer for aid should you ever need it still stands. You will forever be the first princess of Mossca and my first and only true love.

With All My Love,

Robert

Her legs weak buckled and she caught herself by holding onto the edge of the table. Trying her best to keep her wits she looked at the letter again. This was how he felt she should find out such important news. She had already lost a mother and now to lose a father. There was also the fact that he didn't plan on returning to Ay Su, which meant they might never see each other again. This was his way of saying I cannot wait for you any longer. That his promise to her could not be fulfilled. The chance to say farewell was about to be gone forever. Grabbing hold of her chest she took deep breaths to try and calm her nerves. The fear she ran from for so long grabbed hold of her. It draped her in a blanket of darkness.

He walked up behind her thinking that he could surprise her with his presence when he soon realized something was off about her. His hand stretched out to touch her shoulder and she spun around to face him. Drenched in sweat and a face covered in tears he grabbed a cloth napkin from the table and wiped away some of the tears.

"Why do you look so unhappy? What has happened to make you cry so much?"

Loraz eyes met with Vestin's, and she slowly lifted the sheet of paper up. Her voice was almost unable to come out as the words played over and over in her head.

"I just received a letter from Robert..."

Confused why a letter from Robert would upset her he stepped closer and reached for it. As he straightened it out for him to read, he watched as she clenched her chest as if she were almost out of breath.

"Is the letter not a good one?"

Loraz felt her legs weaken more. She didn't let the man who had raised her know how much he meant to her before she left for Ay Su. She pushed Robert away time and time again only to find out that she had slowly become dependent on his presence. Now that both are gone, what did she have left? Who would she be able to turn to about the battle she was to face? Her heart tightened more as a question she never took into consideration entered her mind, what if Robert took a wife soon? He would eventually have to produce an heir to his throne. The thought of him kissing another woman the way he kissed her flashed before her eyes. Her body began to shake, and she soon realized she not only lusted for him, but her heart ached for him.

"It seems that father has passed on and he has been named the next in line for the throne."

Vestin Skimmed over the letter and looked up to see Loraz reaching for a chair. He helped her sit down and poured her a cup of tea as he tried to make sense of everything. He understood that while Robert had declared him the winner to Loraz's heart it was all too clear that her heart replaced him a long time ago.

"I am sorry for your loss. The

news must come as a shock to you."

Loraz held her head in her hands. They shook violently as thoughts of Robert and her father flooded her mind. So caught up on the fact that they were practically raised as siblings and that she had to protect him by keeping him at a distance. The very thing she feared was now about to happen.

"This makes it twice that I lose a parent and am unable to say my last goodbye. Twice that I am left alone and separated from someone I truly care for...he promised me...he promised."

Vestin's heart grew heavy. While he knew that she held some love for him in her heart it seemed that the love was just of a past romance of two silly children who thought they would always feel the same way forever. He, of course, still loved her but he had come to the realization that he wouldn't ever get back what he lost all those years ago. His chance to be by her side was gone and it pained him to see her tremble the way she did.

"Do not say you are left behind. You have many that are here with you, Loraz. There are still plenty of people who care for you. I understand he gave you his word, not a promise, but your mind is clouded now. Let us calm down then we can figure out what to do next."

Loraz snapped her head up suddenly as Vestin handed her the cup of tea. If Robert was named the next king, then his life was in danger. She could potentially lose him forever and his kingdom, her second home, would be brought into chaos. She had to go to him and protect him from all of them. The target on his back had become even bigger, she had no time to be sitting down crying and being consoled with gentle words and cups of tea. She would have to go after him, the trip to Mossca would be easy if it were done on horseback. Without making a huge fuss with carriages and if she packed lightly, she could make it in a few days. She wasn't sure if she would be any help, what strength does a princess with no one to govern hold. If anything, she would probably be more of a liability, but a fire inside of her burned and told her to run to his side.

"I must go to Mossca. I have to attend to ceremony."

Vestin saw the look in her eyes. The sheer determination that radiated from her was strong. He couldn't let her rush headfirst into danger, not only because he loved her, but also because she was a valuable part to their plan to free Serenity.

"First you must calm yourself before you go into a panic. If Robert wished for you to be there, he would have had you join him on his trip."

She threw her cup to the ground and as it shattered the tea splattered all over her shoes. They were the shoes Robert brought for her on their first trip to the market together. They were white with a black lace accent. She had never seen shoes so beautiful in her life. They were his present to her to apologize for the wrong he had done to her in the past. That was the moment she had truly forgiven him, and her heart became more opened to him. She looked at her stained shoes as the tea-soaked into the fabric inch by inch she thought to herself how much of a child she was being, but something begged her to go to Robert's side. An unknown force that coursed through her told every cell of her body that she had to make it to his side before his coronation.

"You don't understand? He has been officially announced as the new king of Mossca...he cannot return to Ay Su and leave his people unprotected. He cannot leave his throne empty to come to chase after a wild dream. He has no one he can trust by his side now with everyone, including his own blood, out for themselves. I must go to Mossca, if anyone is feeling the most pain right now it would be him...his father was everything to him. He meant more to him than the air he breathed. Just like he means everything to me. He saved me from drowning in my sadness. Even when I pushed him away, he stood by my side and never left."

"So, you have made your choice..."

"Vestin I'm sorry..."

"Do not feel guilty. I came too late to be anything more than a friend."

"I still love you..."

"I know...but you love Robert more."

"I just need to help him. He is facing the same people that tried to kill me for so many years. I can't let him experience that kind of torment."

Vestin, He smiled a weary smile already fully aware of what this was leading to. She was in love with Robert. He already knew this from the first time he watched how they interacted with each other, yet he always held a small slither of hope that maybe he still held a piece of her heart. Unfortunately, time moves on and nothing can stay the same forever. Even though her lips kept telling him she loved him as well it wasn't the same as the love she held for Robert.

"Then we should cut our lunch date short and start preparing."

Loraz looked at him confused as she grabbed the napkin from his hand.

"Lunch date? What lunch date?"

Vestin saw the look on her face and chuckled a bit.

"The one we were supposed to have now."

She pushed him away and her eyes softened. Twisting the napkin between her fingers she forced a smile.

"Vestin, let's not start with me as well."

"But you can't pretend that the conversation you and Robert had before he left never happened. We have to talk about it eventually."

She covered her face and let out a small groan.

"Vestin...my mind is confused and my heart in turmoil. I've already admitted having feelings for you both...but could the love I have for each of you be different?"

"I understand how confused you must be, but now comes the time to make your choice, Lo. Our future was cut short and while I still love you, I no longer know who you are. What I see is the 'you' from the past, not the person you have become. I am not rushing you to make your choice but understand a choice will have to be made. Just know whatever you choose I will always be with you. As a friend or as a lover."

She stood up and walked towards the walkway.

"We should go and start packing for our trip."

He grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her back towards him.

"I understand you want to go to him, Lo, but you must see the reason. Right now, you are well known to all of Zanooma as the lost princess of Serenity. Trying to have you travel to Mossca at this time would be like baiting a line for a thisele. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

She pulled away from him and clenched her fist.

"You just said that we should prepare for the trip."

"I know. It's just we must be careful about how we do this. You are an important figure now. Ay Su won't be willing to let you just run off to wherever you wish now."

"I can't just leave him by himself, Vestin. I don't understand it but every fiber of my body is telling me to go to him and help him secure his position as king. His brothers are ruthless, but their mothers are even more cold-hearted than their offspring."

"I understand. Then if it will please you we can set out in two days. That should give us enough time to prepare for the journey. Plus convince the Consul of Serenity to let you leave Ay Su."

"If we pack lightly, we can set out by nightfall tomorrow. I will have the horses readied for us. I understand everyone wishes for me to be the shining light for Serenity, but that will take time. The people who have watched over me and accepted me are those in Mossca."

"Nightfall tomorrow? How can an escort for a princess be ready by then?"

"Because we will travel with only three of us. Pick the most trusted soldier you have under your command and tell them to be ready."

Vestin walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"It will take about five days and four nights to reach Mossca. We would have to prepare accordingly for us to make it there safely."

She looked up at him, her face stained with tears and her eyes puffy and red.

"Vestin, I have taken this trip a few times before. If we travel light and with very few people, we can cut the time and resources we need for the trip. I would travel alone if they would permit it, but unfortunately, because of my newfound title and status I am not allowed to travel without an escort."

He sighed and pulled her into him wrapping his arms around her.

"Okay, okay, then I will only bring one other person along."

She wrapped her arms around him and tightened her grip.

"Thank you, Vestin,you are a true friend."