"Zianna, please. I'm busy," Garte said, not looking up at me, but down at his paperwork.

"Garte, please, just talk to me." I say, getting a little flustered.

"Zianna," he looks up at me. "I'll talk to you later. Just... not right now."

"You say that every time! And, every time, you never do talk to me!" I say, tears beginning to flood my vision.

"Why do you think that is?! Being a Lord of a powerhouse isn't easy, you know!" His voice was raising.

"Practically being a single mother isn't easy either!" I say, one tear slowly streaming down my face. I wipe it away.

"I'm trying to make it easy for you and the boys!" He says, now standing up.

"Then be their dad, not just this man who is occasionally in their life!" I, too, yell.

"I've tried, so hard! But you can't accept that I'm trying to make it safe for you and our sons!" His pale face was now red with anger.

"Whatever. I'm done, I need to leave," I say, beginning to leave.

I turn towards the door to his office and turn the golden knob. A strong hand wraps around my arm and holds a gentle, yet firm grip.

"Zianna, wait, I'm sorr-"

"Let me go," I say sternly, tears flowing down my eyes.

"No, please, I'll-"

"Just let it go, okay?!" I yank my arm out of his grip. "Irene, why did I even marry you?!"

I run out of the office into the bedroom. Tears keep slipping out of my eyes. This has happened too many times. Sometimes, I want to leave. But I don't want to leave my boys without a mother, especially Zane.

"Mommy?" I feel a tug on my sleeve.

I look up to see a four year old Garroth, his big blue eyes looking up at me in concern. He resembled his father, that's for sure. That wasn't helping at the moment, but I know he's not his father.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

"Yeah, Garroth. I'm okay." I say stroking his hair.

"Okay...?" He raises an eyebrow, but doesn't question it.

I kiss his head, "Mommy's gonna go out for a bit, okay? I'll be back before dinner."

"Okay." He smiles.

"I love you, GarGar." I say.

He gives a small giggle, "Love you, mommy."

I get up, ruffle his hair and step out of the room. He's such a sweet little boy, accepting of whatever comes his way in his little world. I love them both so much.

I walk downstairs and grab my cloak off the hook. Snapping it shut and carefully putting the hood up, I run outside.

I keep a steady pace and keep to the side of the stone and wooden walls. If I ran, people would suspect. But if I stayed in the middle, guards would see me and tell Garte. I can't let that happen.

I approach the gates. One of the guards, Leo, is standing there. He's fairly young and is a good guard with an amazing reputation.

"Leo," I whisper. He gives me a confused look. "Keep it down. I need you to let me out."

"M'lady, you know if I let you out I have to tell Lord Ro'Meave." He says.

"Just say you let an unknown woman out, okay?" I ask.

"What if he finds out I lied?" He asks timidly.

"Then we'll deal with it then. For right now, just tell him that," I say.

He hesitates, "Alright, m'lady. As you wish."

"Thank you, Leo." I say.

Leo pulls a lever. The gate slowly opens. I run outside. It closes behind me, and I won't be able to get in for a while, or at least until I ask.

Which won't be for a while.

I run, and keep running. I want to forget all the fights I've had with him. I want to forget that I even married him. I wish I had to do it over. He doesn't care anymore.

Eventually, I get tired. I decide to sit down by a tree. I bury my face in my hands. I don't cry, I don't make any sound. I just sit there, face in my hands and ready for what comes next.

"You ran away?' I asked Garte.

I was thirteen at the time, he was fourteen. I saw him in the forest with dirt covering his face and a scratch on his left cheek. He ran away from home because he couldn't take stress anymore, he was done.

"Yeah, why?" He asked, trying to start a fire.

"Your mom's gonna miss you.." I say.

"Yeah, right. She helped cause all of this." He said.

I sat down beside him, "I'm gonna miss you.."

"You barely know me," he sighed, throwing the stick and rock on the ground. He was unable to make a fire.

"I know you well enough. Please?" I ask.

Then he walks over to me. He gives my shoulder a light grab and begins to shake it. His eyes stare at me with concern.

"Miss, miss. Can you hear me?"

"Hello? Miss? Are yoy okay?" A male voice asks.

I look up to see a man with brown hair, relatively tan skin and vibrant green eyes. I tilt my head, fairly confused.

"W-Where am I?" I ask, rubbing my eyes with the heel of my hand.

"You're in the middle of the forest. Are you alright? Are you hurt?" His emerald eyes show deep concern.

"Y-Yes, I'm fine." I say timidly.

He gives me a hand. I take it and pull myself up. His grip is gentle and his hand is strong. I smile at him, and he gives a soft smile back.

"My name is Zianna. Zianna Ro'Meave." I say.

"Nice to meet you, Zianna. I'm Theodore." He extends his hand. I shake it.

"Theodore Reynolds."