323 BRAINSTORMING

THIS IS THE FIFTH CHAPTER OF VOLUME 5: THE QUEEN OF TERRA. FIRST TO FOURTH CHAPTER ARE ON THE LAST PART OF VOLUME FOUR. SORRY FOR THE MIXED UP. I COULDN'T EDIT THEM ON INKSTONE. :(

"Your Highnesses!" A voice from nowhere disturbed their conversation, making them separate from each other in a fraction of a second. 

"It's the mother of Era!" Zoe exclaimed as she drew near to them. 

"Things looked hopeful for Terra now that you were both here, your Highnesses." She smiled at them before motioning with her hand. "The Hous are hiding in the grotto together with your family. Come, I'll take you there."

Raigon was wary at first but he followed after Zoe went with her. Indeed, they were there, surprisingly comfortable even with the chaos going on outside. 

"You prepared for the worst, my lord." Raigon bowed to Lord Hou while Zoe, Erin and Madame Lin embraced each other.

"You shouldn't have come back. It's anarchic here." Erin swatted Zoe, making Azra clear his throat and pointed at Raigon with his lips.

Erin gave a quick look at Raigon and added. "But it's a good thing that you're here. Our Prince seems to be back to his old self."

Everyone in the grotto agreed as they gazed at Raigon. Zoe looked at them and wondered about the details that took place that made Raigon give up. 

"Now can anybody orient me what is going on?"

It was Lord Hou who spoke up since Raigon came in late too. "Seeing the internal issues within the royal family, Lady Wiktoria took it as an opportunity for her long term plan. She led the intruders to come into Terra and brainwashed the people with her lies."

"Wait… Long term plan? Brainwash?" Zoe reiterated, which Azra answered this time.

"As we studied about the books from the vault, we learned that the Lims were with the Three when they settled here. But since he has a contrasting view with the Three, they banned him from Terra. We didn't realize that they managed to sneak in back again and dwelled among us."

"What is his view then that the Three banned him from Terra?" Now it was Erin who asked as the Hous never mentioned it before They were probably waiting for this time for it to be opened up. 

"He wanted to open the Tree of Egdelwon to the world. The first Lim must have probably passed it down to his grandchildren until Madame Wiktoria and Lady Thana finally revealed it into the open."

"Talk about long-term goals." Erin couldn't help but blurt out. 

"Wait, what happened to the Tree now? If Lady Thana knew how to get to the Garden, why didn't they go after it before?" 

Zoe asked feeling sad that the Tree's peaceful state for centuries has been disturbed by the evil schemes of these people.

"My guess is that the Lims are not just after the Tree but the destruction of the royal family as well. Perhaps their way of revenge for ostracizing them."

Zoe's eyes widened as she realized how everything has been played from the start. 

"Could it be possible that Lady Wiktoria provoked the rivalry between Queen Rose and my mother?"

"It is possible." Lord Hou rubbed his chin as he contemplated. "I even thought it was Duke Andras who would marry Queen Rose. They were the ones who were close at first before Lady Asha came into the scene."

"That explains why Duke Andras is jealous of the King's success. It's not just with the throne. But with his love life as well." 

Raigon nodded his head as he seemed to have a clearer view of why Duke Andras was so angry at his father.

"But wait. If the Duke has feelings for the Queen, then why would Lord Vigo have planned to assassinate her?" Zoe asked again as she paced back and forth thinking that it had no sense.

"Maybe the Duke has no idea about it. And Lord Vigo planned it by himself." Azra reacted as a muscle in his jaw clenched, recalling how they blamed him for their misdeeds.

But Raigon's eyebrows furrowed at his statement. "Could Lord Vigo have other intentions also aside from stealing the throne?"

"Maybe it was Lady Thana's idea and Lord Vigo just covered her up!" Erin's finger shot up.

Everybody furrowed their brows as they tried to make sense of what is going on. Seeing that they weren't going anywhere, Zoe stood up and tried to refocus everyone on what is happening at the moment.

"Let's forget about the past and move on to what we can do now. The past will either destroy or build up the present depending on what we will choose to do about it. Trust me, I learn this the hard way."

Everyone nodded including Raigon as his face brightened up. It seemed that he had overcome his feelings of condemnation as he stood up with her.

"She's right. I apologize to everyone for being sidetracked. But now I promise to give my best to win Terra back." 

"That's our Prince!" Erin clapped her hands as she motioned Azra to do the same. 

Instead, Azra bowed his knees to him and spoke out loud. "I am at your disposal, your Highness."

Lord Hou knelt too, And so did Madame Lin and Erin. Zoe bowed her head up to her waist. And all of them uttered the same.

Raigon bowed down to them too. 

Zoe lifted her head and smiled as she watched her husband rise up again from the ashes with his faithful followers pledging their unconditional devotion to him.

"Lord Azra, order all the men that were still loyal to Terra to meet at the Blackvine Forest. I will also try to talk to some people that could help us. The more people we have, the more chances we will have of taking back our land."

Azra bowed and was about to leave immediately when Erin stopped him. "Take care of yourself." Then she massaged her belly making Zoe's eyes wide in surprise.

"Congratulations!" She jumped and embraced Erin making her giggle in response.

"Let's do this. For the future generation of Terra!"

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

Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.