"Although it would have been easier on you to hear my say that I would be leaving for a while, I couldn't do that..." Elana said quietly as he looked at her daughter with a calm smile. "I was planning back up plans with other nations in case that the war didn't lean towards us.. If people found out that I was doing that, they would be after me to insure that the invaders would win, and then they would go after you to bring Greenspring to the ground... I couldn't let that happen, Anastasia. I coulnd't go about knowing that youe life was at risk. That's why I assigned Samsul to guard you, and for Gerald to give you lessons so that you would have the royals on your side."