There To Protect.

They were in the living room when Ethan was explaining these things to them, and Emma sat Aiden on her laps, that was why he was able to hear all that his father was saying. And these explanations to them weren't 'cause they didn't know the Tuvalon Kingdom does pay tributes to two kingdoms.

Emma has been a native of the Tuvalon Kingdom for a long time, so she was aware of these things. Hazel was a little girl and was just 7 years old, but she's come to understand these things 'cause both of her parents had explained them to her.

So Ethan wasn't enlightening them about the paying of tributes, he was telling them what time he was gonna leave tomorrow and what the king told him. The king hadn't forgotten about what happened to Ethan's son months ago when four assassins tried to capture him.

And due to that, he started sending two knights to Ethan's house daily to protect his wife and son. But that stopped after the passing of some months. Ethan hadn't been promoted to either an average-ranked or high-ranked chief, so he hadn't gotten knights of his own.

But now that Ethan was about to embark on a long journey with other warriors, the king decided that he'll start sending knights to his house once again until he comes back. Since Ethan wouldn't be around for days, the person behind the failed attempt to capture Little Aiden might try to capture him again.

And achieving it would be so easy 'cause there wouldn't be anyone to protect him. But with the two knights around, they wouldn't be able to achieve their aim easily. The king thought about this, and he discussed it with Ethan, and Ethan relayed it to his family.

These were part of the things he told them in the living room, and Aiden was listening to and understanding all. In his previous world, he had read books about this ancient time stuff where a kingdom pays tributes to another kingdom 'cause they are mightier than them, and here he was listening to one.

Done explaining all these things to his family, Ethan went straight to sleep. As early as possible the next day, he had already woken up, prepared, dressed up, and was ready to head straight to the king's palace where he was gonna meet with the other warriors and knights before they'll start embarking on the journey.

He talked to Emma and told her to keep Aiden safe and be expecting the knights to come as promised by the king. Then he talked to Hazel telling her to stay safe and that he'll come back safely. Then he glanced directly into Little Aiden's eyes and cuddled him.

He was dressed in his normal warrior style, he was carrying a little bag with some essential things in it, and his sword was well placed in his scabbard. They watched him stroll to one of the horses on the compound, mounted it, waved at them, then rode the horse out of the compound.

Little Aiden just kept adoring his father, he loved the fact that his dad was a mighty man. A bender, warrior, and chief? He was playing important roles in this kingdom, that's some accomplishment. That morning after Ethan left, the knights arrived at their house, they were familiar with one, and they weren't familiar with the other.

One of them was part of the knights that do come to their house everyday before the king ordered for it to be canceled, that's why they were familiar with him. The knights were at their compound right now, and Emma was standing in front of them with Little Aiden in her hands, and she uttered to them,

"So, you both were sent by the king, right?".

"Yes, this has been done before. We'll be here every morning to watch after you and your children until your husband returns". One of the knights retorted, the one that they were familiar with.

And for that day, both knights stood in front of their house without moving that much. Aiden understood why the knights were here, he understood what his father told them yesterday before departing this morning...he can never forget what happened to him months ago, when it hadn't been too long since he was born into this world…

..Those assassins that tried to capture him, he can never forget it.

His life got endangered not even up to a week after his birth into this world. This was the reason why these knights were here and why they do come months ago...they were here to protect him mostly. The day passed little by little, Emma prepared lunch for both herself and her family, and the knights also.

That was how it was been done even when they do come months ago...unless they came with their food which they rarely come with. 

Late in the night, the knights were still standing in front of the house, while Emma was discussing with Hazel in the living room. Aiden was sitting on one of the chairs beside her while she was conversing with, Hazel, but she didn't bother to glance at him at all 'cause she felt he didn't understand what they were saying due to him still being a baby.

..But the truth was, he understood every single thing they were saying.

Hazel was asking Emma some questions regarding the journey her father embarked on. She knew about the paying of tributes stuff already, she was fully aware of it. She knew her father was a warrior and had been embarking on such journeys for a long time.

But she wanted to know further, she was asking other questions related to it, things she wasn't aware of. And Emma answered all her questions. Then before Emma knew it, Hazel had already diverted the conversation to affinities. The main four affinities a person could possess after awakening.

She was aware of the main four power elements, she knew not everyone gets to awaken a power element, but there were some things she didn't really understand. Some things about benders and other stuff related to it, she asked her mum about it, and Emma gave her the answers she needed.

Aiden just sat there listening to their conversation. And while they were talking about benders and abilities, he listened carefully, and he learned. 

The knights stood in front of their house until it had gotten very close to midnight, then they evacuated the compound after informing Emma that they'll be leaving.

The knights were there to protect Aiden mainly to avoid a repeat of what happened in the past. Who was the main person behind the capture of Aiden? Asher, Ethan's older brother. As of this moment, he knew Ethan had embarked on a journey along with the other knights and warriors to go pay tributes to the two kingdoms.

He was a high-ranked chief in this kingdom, these were things he was always aware of, among the first people to know. So, as of this moment, he knew Ethan wasn't with his family to protect them at all. If he wanted, he could make a move to capture Little Aiden again.

Some knights do come to protect them from morning till complete dusk. Close to midnight, the knights would leave. If he wanted, he could choose to send another set of assassins to go to their home and capture Aiden by force...Emma wouldn't be able to do anything.

But as known, he wanted to stay on a low for now. At the right time later, he might strike...why? 'cause he still hated, Ethan.

******

The journey to the two kingdoms wasn't much of a smooth one. Ethan and the other knights and warriors encountered dangers on their way to the two kingdoms. They weren't surprised, they were used to it, this wasn't the first time they were doing this.

They passed hills, wilderness, and so on. On their way to the first kingdom, that's the Mepaidian Kingdom, they came across magical beasts and dangerous animals. They had to battle different ranks of magical beasts in the forests.

They had to make sure none of the horses they were with died. They had to make sure all the goods they were carrying in the carriages weren't destroyed. All the things they were to pay as tributes to the two kingdoms were in different large carriages attached to horses that were being ridden by someone.

Once the carriages get destroyed by magical beasts, all the goods in them would scatter, and that would be problem for them. So they had to battle the beasts with sense and strategy so lots of things wouldn't end up getting destroyed.

They made sure not even a single one of them died while battling the beasts, they watched out for each other's backs. That's why the people needed for this journey were warriors and knights, strong ones. Each of them was a bender possessing one power element or more than one power element.