322 NOW YOU'RE HERE

THIS IS THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF VOLUME 5: THE QUEEN OF TERRA. SORRY FOR THE MIXED UP VOLUME. I COULDN'T EDIT IT IN INKSTONE. :(

Raigon seemed to be more of his usual self as he kissed the Queen's forehead. "I will be back, Queen Mother. Please regain your strength so you can rule the land as the Queen once more."

Queen Rose's lips curved up as she lifted her feeble hand and held his face. "Finally, you're my Raigon again. I will be waiting."

Zoe gazed at the Queen wondering if she has starved herself to death seeing her family crumble down as she really looked ill. 

"Will she be fine here alone?" She asked with a worried voice, knowing that Raigon is planning to escape. As much as she wanted to get angry at her, she didn't want her to die. 

"Don't worry about her. Lady Wiktoria must still have some goodness left in her. She was still providing our family with our daily needs."

"I should have known from the start. It was her who has been poisoning the King with Physician Sheng Tun!" The Queen growled at the thought of Lady Wiktoria. 

"What? How did that happen?" Zoe blurted out in astonishment.

"We have no time. I will explain later. We must get out of here now." Raigon told her. 

Queen Rose grabbed her hands and in a fleeting moment, Zoe's heart softened towards her. 

"I apologize for everything I have done to you. But I want to thank you for your medical interventions. If you didn't step in, I could have lost my son and my husband."

Then she motioned her head to the door. "Go now, and please save this land with my son." 

Zoe's heart was in a dilemma if she would be glad to hear those sweet words or not. But she nodded her head as Raigon was already fighting off the guards that were at the door.

"Go!" He commanded her and Princess Taia, making them run for their life to the secret passageway where there are fewer guards than the main gate.

Raigon followed close behind and fought off the guards swiftly with his sword. Zoe can't help but be amazed as she saw him fight for real for the first time. But she was also worried that one of them might wound him as he protected them. 

"Run!" He continued to instruct them until the three of them reached a place where they needed somewhere to hide for there were numerous guards everywhere. They were already nearing the exit.

Raigon was about to run again when Princess Taia pulled her back. 

"I guess this is where we'll part, brother and sister. Our family is still here. I must protect them."

"But -" Raigon was about to contradict her when she continued on. "I can take care of myself. We'll be waiting for you." 

Before Raigon could utter another word, Princess Taia ran off. Seeing that there were guards who noticed her, he quickly looked at Zoe. He was supposed to give her an instruction. But Zoe already nodded and ran to the opposite direction to distract the guards which was what he was intending to say. 

"Must the women in my life be so quick-witted and recklessly brave?" Raigon shook his head in disbelief as he ran to Zoe's aid. 

With their agility, they managed to escape the Castle Guards and were able to get a horse that would take them to Hengcheng Mountains. 

As they were finally in the clearing with no signs of guards following them anywhere, Zoe managed to finally breathe in.

"We made it." Her lips curved up as her muscles relaxed. Raigon must have felt it as her hands slightly loosened from its hold on his waist.

"You came back." Raigon responded as they were now slowing down. They were already near the gates of the Hou Residence.

"Yes. Are you happy?" Zoe tried to lighten the situation as Raigon climbed down the horse and lifted his arms so he could bring her down.

"I don't know." Raigon answered her straightforwardly.

She was expecting her lips to lift up as she would feel Raigon's touch again. But with his answer, they do the exact opposite. 

"I have already failed them. I don't want to fail you too. Again." He lifted his head and darted his eyes away. 

Zoe gazed at Raigon with her heart. She suddenly felt warm inside even with the icy cold breeze of the desolate land.

She thought he was mad at her for leaving him when things were tough. But instead, he was mad at himself for not being able to protect his family and his land. And now that she is also there, he doesn't want to disappoint her too. He has already disappointed her before.

Zoe drew in a deep breath as she gave him an encouraging smile. 

"Don't worry about me, your Highness. You will succeed this time. And even if you fail, I will be beside you. I will never leave you again. I'm here to stay."

Raigon's pupils enlarged at Zoe's response. He gazed at her intently as his brawny hands flew to press her shoulders. 

"Do you really mean that? What if things won't go back to normal? What if we won't be Prince and Princess anymore? What if -- What if --"

Zoe continued his sentence for him. 

"What if we die while trying to save this land? Then I will die with you. I will not part with you until my last breath. That's my vow and I intend to keep it."

Zoe tiptoed, lifted her hands to his cheeks and planted a warm kiss on his lips. 

"I love you, Raigon. Forgive me for not being around when you need me most."

She gazed at him with her hands still on his cheeks. At that point, she was expecting a long response from him, explaining what transpired in between the times that they separated and that moment and how he fought for the land.

But instead he gave her a short answer and a long kiss.

"Now you're here."

********************************************

They that love beyond the world cannot be separate by it. For death is no more than a turning for us over from time to eternity. Death cannot kill what never dies.