Dreamer

Chapter 11: Mael

It didn't take long for the tears to dry. They left a salty smell on his face and a dry feeling on his skin. Even if the sun was slowly starting to set in the celestial realm, Maels eyes were burning from the aftermath. Why do you keep messing everything up? Ludociels words still echoed through his head, like light reflected in a labyrinth of mirrors. How come, you can't even kill a helpless, unarmed little demon brat? He clenched his fists, his gaze locked onto the horizon. The last sunbeams of the day drowned the realms golden fields in a red light, making everything seem even warmer than it was yet. How come, you are so incredibly weak?

The tears were back before he knew. Blurring his sight and letting the scenery dissolve into one thick, red mass. Mael pulled his knees closer and buried his head in them. Quiet sobs sounded from his throat, became louder and louder, until he was shaking and the cloth at his knees wet from salt water.

His brother was right. He was absolutely pathetic. He hadn't even been able to help Gwen, to explain everything properly. He had not done a single thing, when Ludociel had imprisoned her in an arc. Nothing. And now he would never see her again...

"Hey there!" a voice ripped him out of his thoughts. Mael startled around, too surprised to hide his tears and red eyes. As he saw, who stood there, his heart skipped a beat. "What are you up to all alone?" Lady Elizabeth asked. "Did you get in a fight with your older brother again?"

He was unable to respond, like someone had stolen his voice away and replaced it with pure silence. The expression on Elizabeths face was kind and calm, yet concerned. "I- I'm just-" His attempt to talk was drowned by the tears. Quickly he turned away and hid his face behind his wings. A pitiful sob escaped his throat.

Elizabeth sat down next to him, but he couldn't look into her eyes. "Mael." she said in a comforting tone. "It's alright. I'm sure Ludociel didn't mean it..." Yes he did, he would have loved to scream, but he couldn't let his frustration out on her. That wouldn't be fair.

"He always means it..." Mael croaked. And he has all right to. "Plus, I really messed up this time..." Suddenly Elizabeth embraced him in a hug and carefully stroked his hair. He didn't resist, just silently continued to cry into her shoulder.

"That doesn't matter..." she said. "He's your brother. He will always love you, no matter what you do. That's just how it works with siblings..."

"How can you know? You don't have any siblings..."

A little blush sneaked onto Elizabeths face and she smiled awkwardly. "I don't actually..." she admitted. "But I have friends who do. And it's the same with them." Mael turned away and sighed. In that case his brother probably was the big exception. "Pretty lame cheer up, huh?" the princess mumbled sadly and let go of him.

"No- No!" he stuttered quickly and turned back to Elizabeth. "I mean- thank you I- Uhh- I a- appreciate the afford-" As he saw the sweet smile on her face, Mael shut up.

"Do you want to tell me what kind of mission my mother had given you?"

He looked down to the ground and scratched the back of his head. "I'm afraid I can't... It was a secret mission..." Luckily it was. Like this nobody outside of the archangels and the queen would get to know of his failure. This little audience was bad enough though. Not to think of, what Lady Elizabeth would think of him, if she knew...

"You did the right thing." she said and smiled at him.

Mael avoided her gaze. "How can you be so sure about that?"