Child of the Moon.

~Chapter Fourteen~

The stone door closed with a loud thud. Hector sighed heavily. Since Lance was still present, the warrior couldn't let his feelings be fully shown. He didn't want the other man to panic or break down; he'd seen enough tears that day. So, instead, he simply sighed and turned to go sit down with his sister. Hector was positive that Adira knew the consequences of Rapunzel destroying the Moonstone, she had to! Then again, the woman had been known to overlook unpleasant parts of her plans before. But if she really didn't know, she would be sure to ask what all of Eugene's crying had been about, and she would find out then. Hector was also sure that if she were to find out about their imminent death, she wouldn't act rashly, panic, or do anything of the sort. She was just as tired as her brother, and she had never feared death. Hector, however, wasn't so sure about himself.

It wasn't that Hector was terrified of death or that he was scared to do anything that might cause him to die. He was just unsure. He was unsure of what it would feel like. Would it be painful? Would it be instant or would it be long and drawn out? Would he be scared in the moment? He was unsure of what would happen after. Would he simply cease to exist? Was he destined for some place good, or was he to be damned to Hell?

Not that I wouldn't deserve it.

In his head, the list of the warrior's wrongdoings went on and on and on. All he could see was the faces of each and every person he had ever killed. Each one had family or friends. Each one had dreams and futures. Each one had a life laid out in front of them, and yet he'd taken it from them, all the while trying to convince himself that he was in the right.

Heaven, Hell, Nothingness, death, it had always seemed so far away, and now it was staring Hector in the face. He soon wouldn't have immortality to hide behind, and it was foolish to think that it would stay. A thousand years of war and violence would all pile up on him, his life would be stripped away with nothing to show for it but a broken kingdom and a broken soul.

"Hector."

The warrior jumped back with a snarl and flicked out his wrist sword. He hadn't even moved a step after turning towards his sister and had been lost in thought. King Edmund stood in front of his brother, completely calm.

"Hector," he repeated. "Please, put that down. I'm sorry I startled you, but we need to talk."

Hector hesitated for a moment before drawing his wrist sword back into its place in his left glove. Edmund smiled and beckoned the warrior to follow him over at the front end of the room, by the entrance door. The king looked around and made sure no one else could hear them before speaking.

"Hector, I... I know we don't have much time, so I will try to make this as brief as possible."

Hector waited patiently for his king to finish, his mind racing.

He knows?! Of course he does; he's not stupid!

Hector was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace. The warrior tensed. Edmund kissed the top of his brother's head, his body shaking and his eyes beginning to water.

"I-I'm so sorry!"

"Your highness," Hector said, starting to worry. "You've already said that! I'm fine! They're just a few scratches!"

"No!" - The king pulled away and grabbed his brother harshly by the shoulders. - "Not that! I'm sorry that-that I kept you there! I could've told you... I-I could've-"

"Your highness, what are you talking about?!"

"The tree, Hector! The Great Tree! I never told you, but after you arrived at the tree, I told my crows to keep an eye on you. I had one report back to me almost every day. I've been watching you this whole time, and I never told you! I've seen your pain! I saw how badly you wanted to leave and how miserable you were staying there. I watched the Heart torment you, and I did nothing! I could have sent you a message and told you it was alright to leave, but I didn't! I let you suffer because I was a paranoid old fool who wouldn't let his last warrior stand down. I forced you to stay in a place that was killing you from the inside out because I was a coward. I was the one who you kept you in torture and kept you away from Adira. It's my fault you lost who you were for so many years! It's my fault you suffered so horribly! It's my fault you hated your sister! And...brother, my precious brother, I am so, so sorry..."