The castle was in an uproar, people running about shouting but Keith heard nothing as he walked down the hall. His body felt numb as his legs took him to who knows where. He had to leave Shiro, he couldn't bear to hear his brother's suffering anymore. He couldn't begin to imagine what he must be feeling. Except he does. It was Keith's fault Adam is dead. He sent Lance to his home with a target on his back. It was his fault Adam is dead and Lance may be too. Keith stopped and looked out the window to his right seeing he frozen pond and the icy bushes of the gardens. The gardens Lance waltzed through only days before. Guilt was eating away at Keith's soul. Guilt for causing Shiro pain, for ending Adam's life far too soon, for caring so much about Lance and if he's okay. He should be consoling his brother but he can only think of Lance. He can only hope Lance does not share the same fate. He feels guilty for so so much. It's all his fault.
"I'm impressed. He's lasted much longer than I'd have imagined in his condition." Haggar mused watching the Druids lift the dead limbed boy from the ground where he had fallen once they unrestrained him from the chair he had been strapped too. Lance could only hear the blood rushing through his ears at this point. His whole being was so numb but he could feel the vibrations of voices, and footsteps. He blinked slowly a pair of shoes coming into focus. He had no fight left in him, his arms and legs completely useless. He saw the ground move as he was drug way and he closed his eyes fighting the urge to throw up. It wouldn't have been the first time. It only took a few hits to the head during their latest game to cause him immense dizziness and nausea. He wasn't even sure he was alive still. He felt nothing but cold. It hurt to breath the very little he could at this point. Ribs were broken for sure. He kept his eyes closed pretending and wishing it was the eternal darkness he'd been begging for the last few hours. Days? How long have they been slowly breaking hm. Doing everything known to cause him pain? How long has it been since Adam was killed? Did Keith know? Oh Gods.. did Shiro know? Lance wanted to cry but nothing came. He was dropped to the ground and he opened his eyes to see where they were and to see what they had planned next. He was in a large room with one wooden block seated in the middle. What drew his attention was the large man holding a blade as tall as Lance was. His heart stopped knowing what was coming. He knew his death was staring at him in the face yet.. He did not fear it. He welcomed it. He felt himself be hauled up again and saw the wooden block coming closer and closer, already red and dripping of someone else's blood. Had they wanted to die too? He wondered as the Druid holding him let him fall to the ground. Lance watched one more drip fall to the ground before closing his eyes and allowing them to lift him up and position him onto the block. He smiled a bit and a few tears managed to slip out and mix with the blood pooled already. He would miss Keith. He had really wished he had more time with him,. He knew hell awaited him, he just wished he could see Keith one last time, to have been able to spend more time with him. He would be devastated knowing about Adam. Hopefully Keith would move on quickly. Lance didn't want Keith to mourn him. He didn't deserve it. He gave the poor farm boy more than he ever deserved, he did not deserve sadness for all of his kindness. The hands left Lance and he assumed it was time. He didn't feel the pain anymore. Maybe death would not be so painful?
"Your Majesty…?" A soft voice drew Keith's attention. He realized he had been standing and staring out of the window.
"Huh?" He said his mind finally coming back to reality, and such a harsh one at that. Cardinal Hunk looked at him with a deep sorrow in his eyes and helped lead Keith to a nearby chair.
"Are you alright?" He asked as Keith sat down. He could only shrug. Was he alright? How could he be in the face of such tragedy. He had never been taught how to handle this.
"Drink" Hunk instead holding out a goblet of water. Keith took it and sipped it. He needed to be strong, he was their King. He needed to know what to do. But he didn't he felt more like a small child now more than ever. Wishing his parents were here to hold him and tell him it'll be alright. To help Shiro grieve and make it through this. He needed help. He wasn't strong enough for this.
"Let's get you to your Chambers. You need to rest." Hunk helped him stand and Thomas was by his other side helping.
Keith did not sleep. Everytime he closed his eyes Lance was there. Next to him, in the Orchards, singing to his damned sheep. The way he slept so peacefully that day, a dandelion tucked into his overalls pocket.. Holding him as they danced. He never wanted to open his eyes but the dreams were too painful to have so Keith laid awake trying to sort out what he planned to do when the sun rose and his kingdom would want justice. Deserved justice.
"Is it done?" Zarkon asked as he stared out to the shore. Haggar stepped up beside him her grin wicked.
"Yes Sire. The package is ready and on route to its destination." Zarkon grinned and nodded to himself.
"Good. If seeing the head of your lover does not bring Keith to his knees. I would say nothing would." Haggar only nodded in agreement and watched the sunrise on what would soon be an extension of Daibazaal.