Please, Daddy Please!

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day and there's still work to do
She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited
and I need to practice my dancin'
Oh please, Daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone~

- Steven Curtis Chapman "Cinderella"

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In order to spare their children from the horror of war and from falling into enemy hands, the knights are to send off their children to another world. It could be decades before they see their children again, and for each of them it's effecting them a little differently. Of all the families, Cae and Zaid's is perhaps the most tormented by the war that's spread across the realm.

Zaid has only one blood child: Zahira. He's not exactly the type to want a lot for himself, he lives for others, even perfect strangers. However, all his life he's wanted a large family. Unfortunately, children become targets of prominent figures during war. He'll likely never have another blood child, so Zahira is the center of his world. Unfortunately, he's not been able to spend the last year with his daughter. A battle breaks out here, an ally is in trouble there, and he and his wife have no choice but to leave their family to perform their duties. Now they have to sacrifice their time with their children in order to serve their king and realm itself.

Cae and Zaid seriously have some of the most tragic things happen to them. XD; I had to do a touching pic of Zaid and Zahira. In a way, this little plot pocket is very personal to me. I grew up as an Air Force brat and I cannot tell you the pain of watching your daddy walk onto a plane to go fight in a war. I know how it feels to wait for weeks, months, even almost two years before seeing him again. Military families sacrifice more than blood, sweat, and their lives. They sacrifice precious time with those they love for the greater good. The children sacrifice, the parents sacrifice. I can't imagine how my dad felt when he returned from Saudi Arabia to find that his little girls were taller, older, and to know he had missed out on so much. I wanted to try to capture the warmth and love between a father and his daughter, even in the shadow of knowing they are to be separated.

Zaid belongs to myself! Zahira belongs to
:3 I hope you like it, DLF!