Chapter3: Life is A Game

CL 10/09/12

Series: Casting Crowns

Ark: after Tabenarian

Character: Galysh

Galysh had always wished that he had more time. It seemed to be a curse in his family, his Father was murdered, his eldest brother would soon me poisoned if you believed USAU's prophecy, both of his sisters could be considered insane, his second eldest brother was a branded traitor and his younger brother was only interested in the throne. Add on to that his unnatural lung disease and you had the perfect family. "I mean really, where was the fairness in that"! He often thought to himself. But still no matter how much it hurt inside he spent his time smiling and laughing as if it where all just a game. Maybe it was to him at least, a game where you flirted with death. He laughed bitterly inside before turning to grin at a passing servant. Is this my life? Is this what I was born to do? Is my purpose in this world to be the good son not to say my brothers aren't good, but am I to be the martyr? The middle one always keeping the peace? If only!

The thoughts wondered aimlessly through his head as he pulled himself up onto a large window sill. He sprawled out lazily on his back and stared pensively at the passing clouds. They floated by in endless rows seemingly so close but really so far away. They felt just like his life. Sitting right next to him, beating away in his chest but each time he tried to reach out and grasp it, it fled, laughingly, slipping out between his tightly clenched fingers and disappearing. Like the wind dissipated the clouds.

It seemed that as more and more time passed he began to regret more and more the days gone by, where he was still a child in body, soul and mind. Now he was just a child in body. Every breath that slipped past his mouth brought him a step closer to his demise. No matter what people told him, he knew he would not survive, he saw it in the eyes of his brothers, in his sisters frowns and the sudden anger sparking through his team mates eyes. As they realize just how weak and pathetic he'd become. He would have liked to think that they were angry because of the injustice in his life but he honestly doubted it.

The lunch bell tolled loudly in the distance and he yawned tiredly before slowly swinging himself off the sill. He wasn't particularly hungry but ever since his family had heard of the proportions of his sickness they panicked when he didn't show. He yawned again, not bothering with his hand and strode off towards the dining hall. The doctors had warned him just last week that what he had seemingly started off as just a simple head cold but would rapidly transform into a glue you to your bed case off coughs. But that was just the beginning because though would grow into blood coughs and soon he would be unable to either eat or drink. From then on he would either die of starvation or suffocation, which ever came first.

He guessed he had just under a year left to live, 'cause the coughs had started a couple of days after the doctor's had left least week. Talk about timing, he sighed bitterly and entered the dining hall. It was unusually full. Loud laughter rocked through the air and happy voices hollered out tidings. Galysh hesitated in the great stone doorway, wondering if he should just go to the kitchens and grab a snack there. He turned to go before someone noticed him and promptly ran into his little brother Gabriel, newly returned from the wilds. The latter glanced up at him distastefully before spitting out "pray tell me you weren't going to try and run away where you"? Galysh snorted at him, before spinning on his heels and striding into the hall, the pest on his heels.

There was of course dead silence in the hall, before a delighted yell of "Commander!" was heard. One second he'd been walking the next he was flat on his back with a midget on his chest. He sighed half-heartedly and said with a smile "hallo, Star". The denominated Star scrambled off him, before proceeding to babble out the report to their latest mission. Galysh slowly sat up but stopped when a hand presented itself in front of his face. He followed it up into the dark and serious eyes of his lieutenant Seqteur.

This time a real smile graced his face and he allowed the Tabenarian to heave him to his feet. "So Sect' he drawled out what brings you up here"? Star grabbed his hand and pulls him towards the table his troops have claimed for themselves. They where all there, from the tenebrous Silver to he fun loving Ace. He laughed delighted that they had left him a seat and delighted that they where back in the castle. Star pulled him to her seat and he slipped in between her and Ace. Wrapping an arm around his other unit mates shoulder for a brief hug, before digging into the meat gracefully plopped into his plate by Star.

He ate as heartily as he could while listening with one ear to the conversations around him. Sand was once again talking about her little brother Shard, who would be starting Staryn soon. Romeo was lending her a tolerant ear, a smile playing across his face as he watched Jade tease Seqteur. Maryk and Alyce who'd renamed herself Tornade where arguing again, something to do with their latest game of Bait. Ripple and Silver where talking quietly, he decided he really didn't want to know when he saw Ripple's ears g bright red. Galysh shook his head smiling to himself before standing up and offering a toast the success of the past missions that had kept his generation away for a year.

They all lifted their glasses and grinned up at him, Tornade asking innocently "you will come next time wonch'ya Commander?" Galysh hesitated for a second before nodding his head determinedly. "Of course" he course he answered. The cheers that shook the hall put crying babies to shame, and it was suddenly a great brouhaha. Galysh slumped back into his chair, rubbing his chest uncomfortably and thinking that he really needed to find a good excuse if he wanted to get out of the castle. It was rare that the entire generation went out on a mission, it was usually just one or two units depending on the divisions orders. Eventually they filed out and headed outside to relax and goof off before evening reports where do. Star hitched a ride on his back and he laughed spinning her around. Orders be damned, he was in this world for however little time remained: to have fun!