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Chapter Eleven

Zephyria looked in astonishment and then held out an arm to each of them. Zephyria was in a state of shock but knew they were well past shock.

Brenna quickly sat down on the bed, feeling dizzy. "No," she whispered. "I can't lose him!"

Christophe placed his hands on her shoulder. "Brenna, we are in the middle of a war. You know things like this will happen."

"My father's dying!" She shouted. "Isn't that enough? Isn't that enough?" she burst into tears.

"I can go in after him. I can say I am a gypsy. No one except you two and father will notice." Zephyria's voice was soft but determined.

"If anyone goes, it will be me," Brenna said, brushing her tears away. She decided she had cried enough.

"I can't let you go Bren. They would notice first of all and second you are expecting and it's dangerous." Zephyria was not going to back down this time.

Neither was Brenna. "He's my fiancé!" Her sister looked at her in surprise. "He asked me last night," she said. "Besides, they won't notice I'm gone. Not if Christophe keeps them busy."

"How exactly do you purpose he keeps them busy Bren?" Zephyria's voice was cracking she knew her sister loved Jesse but she was not willing to lose Christophe just to save Jesse.

"Just talk to them." She turned to Christophe. "Ask about your family. They won't dare hurt you, not until its official that they can take over the country without you."

"I could talk about many things Bren. I could make the announcement I wanted to make that night or I could have them go in the wrong direction for a bit. What do u want me to do?" Christophe was willing to even make the one announcement that no one would expect just to save them all.

"Just something. Please. I have to save him."

"Which will buy the most time?" Zephyria interjected," we may have to use both options but use the one that buys the most time first."

Christophe nodded, and Brenna looked at her sister. "We have to find someone in the camp that has clothes other then these," she said, gesturing to her pants. "If we're going to do this we have to be wearing skirts. I think pretending like victims of the war will work. We could use the clothes we started out with. If they're dirty enough. They should be they haven't been washed yet. And If they still fit me," she added as an afterthought, glancing down at her belly.

"Those are in Issaic's rag bin," Zephyria said then smiled, "and we have laundry duty today. We can get them then, Bren."

Brenna smiled in relief. "We have to come up with a plan. We can't just walk in. Maybe if you rush in, and say I'm in pain or something, and tell them I'm pregnant, they should let us in. After all," she grimaced. "One of women's jobs is having children."

"Alright, we can do that if you can act Bren," Zeph's eyes lit at the thought of escaping this prison for a bit.

"I have been hiding my relationship with Jesse for a year now," she said. "Remember the day I pretended to pass out so I could get out of going out of town for two weeks?"

"That was quite amusing," Christophe smiled then grabbed Zephyria's hand and kissed it softly. "Be careful and if you're going leave before nightfall."

"We will," Brenna said. "Zeph, we need to leave as soon as possible. Christophe, we'll be careful. I promise."

"I love you, Christophe and I promise we will be back before you know it."Zephyria's voice cracked she was not sure they would be back but didn't want to upset Christophe. "Let's go, Bren, we gotta leave."

Brenna hugged Christophe. "Bye," she said. She left with her sister. After laundry duty, which didn't take long, she and Zeph quickly changed into their now filthy dresses. Brenna's fit, somehow, though it was a bit tight. Loosening the strings on the back fixed that. "How well can you act, Zeph?" Brenna asked her. "You have to act hysterical."

"I did fine the night of the engagement announcement. Didn't I?" Zephyria had acted other times but that was the most recent.

Brenna nodded once. "Alright. I eavesdropped earlier. We're only about a mile from the village. That's not too far."

"Quickly, let's go before anyone notices Bren. Christophe is going to head them in the wrong direction first," Zephyria smiled at how brave they were all being.

Brenna took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing," she muttered, so softly Zephyria nearly didn't hear her. She placed a hand on her belly. "Let's go save your daddy," she whispered.

For a long time there was silence between the sisters. Zephyria broke the silence about half way to the village, "Hey Bren can I tell you something that no one else knows?"

She nodded, carefully stepping around a boulder. "What is it?"

"Ummm... Well actually Lukas was right Christophe will have a child soon," Zephyria said softly hoping her sister would take it well.

She stopped and stared. "You're pregnant?"

"Yes, I wanted to tell you first. I am so scared though I have no clue what to do and I am scared to tell Christophe," Zephyria placed both hands over her midsection and stared at the ground as tears streamed down her face.

Brenna sighed. "Stop crying," she said finally. "It won't change anything. We have to stay strong, now more than ever. There's no telling how long this war will end, and if we act like weak women, we will be treated as such. I don't mean to be harsh, but it's a fact."

"You do know that we are in the middle of nowhere with no one around but each other?" Zephyria went back at her sister. Had she not realized no one can see them but each other? "You want me to be hysterical for this well if it is real hysterics then I don't have to be a good actress."

"Just because we're alone doesn't mean anything!" She snapped. "Crying won't save our father. It won't end this war. It won't miraculously make us unpregnant!"

"Yelling at me won't bring Jesse back any faster," Zephyria turned away from her sister and back toward the village.

They walked in silence for a little bit longer. The village was closer now, and it was about time to start their act. Brenna could feel her heart pounding with nerves. "Zeph, I'm sorry," she said finally. "I'm terrified that we'll be too late."

"Its fine, Bren," Zephyria looked at her sister and felt the fear and hurt. "I shouldn't have been so cruel and I am sorry about that."

She forced a smile. "It's fine, Zeph. I just wish we didn't have to do this." She stopped walking. "Here this is close enough. You go get someone from the village."

Zephyria ran into the village crying and screaming, "Help, someone please help us!"

Two men exited a building. "What is it?" One demanded.

"It's my sister she is pregnant and she collapsed right outside your village in pain. We escaped the invaders and came here for help. Please someone help her," Zephyria's faced was covered in dirt and tears.

The men exchanged a glance. "Take us to her."

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