Richard was surprised to see Lambda. In a body of his own. In front of him.
Of course, Asbel had written to him about how Pascal had showed up out of the blue with a humanoid hull that she had created. According to his friend, it was a response to some challenge or other. It had taken months, but he had managed to persuade a reluctant Lambda to accept his new body. Ever since then, the creature had lived with them, adjusting to life in Lhant.
But the Lambda before him was like a stranger. He was short, for one, and he looked... human. Like a small child. Not the monster that had wanted to destroy the entire world.
The last time they had spoken, Lambda had sounded different from what he was used to. Calmer- not angry or scared any longer. Back then, he had promised to repay his debt to the man who had saved him.
A man that had saved Richard as well.
"I came to see Asbel," he managed, trying to inject some warmth into his voice with a smile.
Lambda shifted uneasily, a small frown creasing his brow. But before he could reply, someone called out from behind him, "Lambda, who is it?"
"King Richard." The voice which came from the humanoid's lips was soft and child-like- not Lambda at all.
But the initial surprise at seeing him was incomparable to the consternation that came with the use of his title. Lambda had never needed titles; not with him.
Lambda's wary eyes never left his face, even as the door was flung open.
"Your Majesty." The person who greeted him was Frederic, the Lhants' manservant. The elderly gentleman dipped in a bow, then straightened- all poise. It all seemed normal; save for the suspicious humanoid, peering out from behind Frederic's legs. "I regret to inform you that Lord Asbel is currently out, but you are always more than welcome here. I'll have someone tend to your entourage. Please, come in."
Richard frowned, even as Frederic ushered him inside. Some part of him had assumed that Asbel would be at home. Still, it was a little too late for second thoughts.
Almost as soon as he stepped in, the warmth of the nearby fire brushed away the chill that had clung to him. The scent of earth and flowers pervaded the little country manor, sparking nostalgic memories from a time long ago.
So this is what Windor truly looks like, he remembered thinking once, when he passed through these doors as a child. But unlike that time, there was no loud-mouthed red-headed child demanding his attention. "How long will Asbel be out?" he asked.
To his surprise, Lambda stiffened at the question. He hadn't been the only one to notice- Frederic arched an eyebrow at the humanoid. Yet, instead of addressing Lambda's nervousness, the manservant replied, "I can't really say. You just missed him. He and Sophie left yesterday when monsters came down from the Fendel lowlands. There have been reports that they are attacking the roads in Lhant. Very vicious, or so the reports say. Naturally, Lord Asbel decided he had to deal with the situation himself."
Typical Asbel, Richard thought. Still, "Monsters?" Few monsters would pose much of a threat to his friends, no matter how vicious they were.
"Well, yes, I suppose they should be home soon," Frederic replied with a knowing smile.
"I apologize for the lack of warning," Richard replied. It was just his luck, but it wasn't as if he couldn't wait. The assassin was captive in Barona, and Dalen was more than capable of handling the day-to-day affairs of Windor- for a while, at least.
"Not at all, your Majesty." Frederic's laugh was bright. "I meant no jest when I said you were always welcome here."
Richard smiled. "Thank you then, Frederic," he answered. "And you as well-" He turned to Lambda, only to find the spot where the humanoid had been empty.
Seeing Richard's look of consternation, Frederic gave a weary sigh. "He does that, sometimes." The old manservant shook his head, then gestured down the hallway. "Come, your Majesty. I'm sure it's been exhausting. What say you to some warm tea and snacks?"
"That sounds lovely."
The manservant bowed low, then gestured down the halls. As Richard followed him, he felt the tension leave his muscles, and his thoughts drifted to lighter things: company, dinner, peace.
Yet, even here, he couldn't shake the tight feeling in his gut.
As it turned out, Asbel wouldn't be home that day. But Pascal had done more than just leave Asbel with Lambda's hull. Thanks to a small, Amarcian communication device, Asbel had Frederic relay his apologies for his absence. The lord promised to be home soon- but the beast they were after was a tough one to track down.
Richard didn't mind. Lhant was comforting, after Barona. In some ways, the lazy country town was everything he wished Windor to be.
Was this was what it was like, to not be king? To not bear the sins that he had committed in a moment of madness?
He paused in his step; shook off that train of thought.
He was in front of Asbel's study. The door was left ajar, as if someone hadn't closed it properly. He didn't expect trouble here, but he gave the room a cursory glance. At first, he didn't spot anyone, but as his eyes adjusted to the darkened room, the king made out a small figure, resting in the dim moonlight.
A strange pit opened in his stomach. Lambda sat upon the window seat, head leaning against the glass. His arms curled around his knees as he peered out onto the streets.
Small and frail, silhouetted by a window that was far too tall.
Richard let go of his breath, and Lambda's gaze shot to him at the sound. Panic flashed like a cornered animal in those blood red eyes.
"It's just me." Richard held his hands up instinctively. Yet, when greeted with Lambda's now-still, blood red eyes, his throat tightened.
This was once his friend, he reminded himself. So why did Lambda look at him as if he were… not?
Lambda broke the tableau, relaxing his posture as he turned to look elsewhere. "How long were you standing there?" he asked, his words- though softer and lighter in tone- still sharp and cutting.
"Not that long," Richard answered. He hesitated, before asking, "Were you watching for Asbel?"
The slight turn of Lambda's head was answer enough.
It was obvious from the silence that Lambda wished for him to leave. But seeing Lambda's pale form fading almost into the shadows... he looked neither threatening or dangerous. Just lonely.
"Would you mind if I watched with you?" Richard blurted out.
Red eyes narrowed in a frown. "Why would you-" Lambda began, only to cut himself off halfway. Agitation ran across his features, before he finally asked, "What is it that you wish of me?"
"What do you mean?"
"I am no fool," Lambda muttered, before fixing the king with a stern glare. "After everything I've done- why would you-" He hesitated. "How can you bear to speak to me?" He broke eye contact. "I can sense your fear, Richard. It's clung to you ever since you arrived."
Richard winced, though he wasn't surprised. One didn't share a mind with another without learning about the other person. But just as Lambda knew of his thoughts, Richard had some inkling of what Lambda was feeling right now.
Breathing slowly, he lowered his hands, took a step forward. "I'm not afraid of you," Richard said, keeping his voice soft.
The humanoid eyed him. "You have all the reason to."
Richard lowered his gaze. "I've never blamed you for what happened... to us."
Lambda stiffened. Faintly, the creature asked, "How could you not?"
Richard's frown deepened. Without a word, he moved to sit by the humanoid's side, trying to ignore the way his companion flinched at the proximity.
Emotions swirled in Lambda's eyes. Feelings that he once drowned in. Bile rose in Richard's throat, and he turned away. When he glanced at Lambda again, the humanoid's face had returned to a glassy calm as he stared out into the darkness.
Richard hesitated. The words had been swimming around his mind for months, but now that he had the chance to tell Lambda the truth, it took all his courage to force them out.
"What happened to us... wasn't entirely your fault," he told him. "What we did, we did together. When we were together, we brought out the worst in one another."
"So we're both to blame?" Lambda's tone was disdainful.
Richard let his gaze float towards the road. "In a matter of speaking."
The silence stretched on for a while. Although Lambda sat right next to him, he might as well have been alone. Though they were mere inches apart, it was as if a gulf separated them.
"Leave me be, Richard," Lambda said at last. "You owe me nothing."
It wasn't a rejection, but neither was it an acceptance of his apology. Richard swallowed. Then, quietly, he said, "I owe you this much, at least."
Lambda's eyes widened- a movement so small Richard almost missed it. The humanoid fastened his lips in a thin line. He turned back to watching the path. "Do what you will," he said.
The words were not as sharp as they could have been.
So Richard sat, silent, as his once-friend continued to stare out into the night. It reminded him of the few peaceful moments they had, before they had drained Gloandi. When things between them could have been normal; when Richard still thought he could save Lambda.
Save Lambda…
There was a look in Lambda's eyes. Something downcast, something troubled- something he wasn't saying. After all this time, the king couldn't expect him to. They weren't friends anymore. Just two lost souls that almost destroyed everything around them- even one another.
Lambda didn't shiver, sat lifeless in the dark. Still, it was far too cold for any child- human or no- to be watching for a friend that would not come.
Richard hesitated, then he unfastened his cloak and threw it around the humanoid's shoulders. The act seemed to catch Lambda off-guard, and he turned to him- maybe to admonish him. But something in Richard's expression stopped him. Instead of saying anything, he dipped his head and turned away.
They sat in silence- but unlike the cold nights in Barona, there was a comfort in it. Lambda's expression seemed to ease, his fingers pulling the cloak close.
As the night dragged on, Richard's eyelids grew heavy. He shifted his position and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes for what he swore would only be a moment.
He didn't know how long he stayed that way, but then a hesitant weight shifted onto his side. Someone crawled next to him, cautious not to disturb him, and a tentative head leaned against his shoulder.
He tried not to show any sign of his surprise as he stole a glance at his companion. The humanoid had his eyes closed. Even if his body did not need it, it was obvious that Lambda's spirit and mind were a different matter entirely.
Richard managed a small smile. As he rested, Lambda looked just like a normal child, curled up beside him. Just like the friend he once knew, an age ago.
Careful not to disturb his companion, the king closed his eyes and let himself drift off to sleep.
