A Little More Than Kin-Chapter 10

"A Little More Than Kin"

Chapter 10

By: Crystalis Blade


Edgar couldn't believe it. Sabin had been watching the evening from that one lone corner and no one had noticed. Edgar turned and just studied his brother for a moment. There almost seem to be a lost innocence about him that Eddy couldn't explain But that was just Sabin. He never questioned it; he just knew that it was him. Edgar pushed his way through the crowd and went towards his brother.

Sabin noticed Edgar coming towards him and caught his breath. He dropped the curtain and slowly backed up to the door that led to an outer hall way, behind the throne, to avoid any more attention. But Edgar picked up his pace and followed Sabin out the door.

"Sabin," he called to his brother who was about three quarters down the hall.

Sabin stopped keeping his back to his brother. "Yes?"

"Where are you going," Edgar asked stepping forward.

"See. That's just it," Sabin said longingly. "I don't know."

"What do you mean, Sabin. I-I don't understand."

"Neither do I." Sabin turned to face his brother, still keeping his head down, looking at the ground. "I am not cut out to be a king, Edgar. I have been watching dad lately; and I know. He's not going to last much longer. I-I—" Sabin was lost in his thought as his shoulders began to tremble slightly.

"Ah" Edgar sighed walking towards his brother. Sabin finally looked up. Edgar knew he was on the verge of tears.

He walked over to Sabin and put an arm around him and Sabin leaned his head into his brother. "I know. It'll be okay. I don't think I can do this either, but fate will have a way of catching up to us"

Before Edgar could finish his sentence, a guard came running into the hall way. "Your Majesties!! Please, come quick," he frantically shrieked.

Edgar responded first. "What's wrong?"

"It is your father, Sires"

Sabin and Edgar looked at each other; they knew. "Where is he," Edgar asked as Sabin began to run past. Edgar shook his head. "Maybe a little too soon"

"His room, my young prince."

Edgar ran after his brother, who'd hastily pushed the door open and was working his way through the crowd of silent guests. They all watched the two brothers frantically run out of the room; one after the other.

Everything pounded at Sabin's head. Oh god, not tonightOne more day, dadthat's all I'm asking Don't leave us yet. Sabin just kept running until he was stopped by a group of guards in front of his father's room. Edgar had slowed down his pace down at the beginning of the hall. He slowly walked up next to Sabin and heard a guard say, "I'm sorry, your Majesties. But you can't see him yet."

"He's our father," Sabin yelled.

"You can't go in yet. I am truly sorry."

Liam was one of the guards by the door when he heard Sabin's voice arguing with the guard. He walked over and noticed the brothers trying to look over the crowd of guards, spectators and other castle servants.

"Please," Edgar earnestly pleaded.

Liam finally walked over and relieved the guard in front of the brothers. Sabin and Edgar thought they could pass now, but Liam spun his spear into a horizontal barrier to stop them; they looked at the guard thunderstruck.

"Liam," Edgar asked.

"Notyet, Eddy. Not yet."

Sabin, this whole time, had his vacant eyes on the door. He couldn't hear what they were saying; he didn't really care. His life thus far had boiled down to this one moment. Nothing would deter it, nothing would change itand nothing would ever be the same.

Edgar looked Liam straight in the eyes and read Liam's impassive sign. "I am so sorry, Edgar."

Their fate had been sealed with those words. Edgar knew. He looked to his brother who was still staring at the door. He noticed Sabin's body tremble. Was it fear? anger? sorrow? Did he really understand? Edgar would never know. He could hear people spreading rumor once more behind him. "It was the Empire! They poisoned the King!" "No fool! The King was sick." "What of the princes?"

"Who was going to be king next?"

Finally, the door open, catching Edgar's attention. Matron walked out and looked at the two brothers. She tapped Liam's shoulder. "You may see him, boys." Liam stepped back and Edgar let his brother go ahead of him; Liam and Matron followed Edgar.

The room was quiet. The chancellor was waiting with the castle doctor. The king was lying in bed with a rag on his feverish forehead as sweat beads ran down his face. Sabin had stopped when he entered and Edgar stood next to him, sharing the look of pain. Sabin couldn't move, or speak. He was numb.

But Edgar wasn't. "Father," he said stepping towards the bed stricken man. The King opened his eyes.

"Edgar," he whispered. "Where is your brother?"

"Right here, dad," Sabin said stepping towards the bed.

The King smiled, then closed his eyes in pain once more. Edgar sat on the bed and took his father's hand. "Shhit's okay. We're here now, dad," he said squeezing his hand. Sabin walked around to his father's head and re-soaked the rag, and placed it back on his father's head.

"Are you two alright," the King asked.

"Don't worry about us. Worry about yourself," Sabin said.

Everyone in the room watched in silent awe of the two brothers. Even now, they still sat and held a regular conversation with their father; laughing and joking, like nothing had ever changed. But they knew; it was killing them inside. Edgar held his father's hand while Sabin washed his forehead. They sat there for another hour until the King's energy had really begun to run out. He looked up at Edgar and heaved out, "son, would you" he took another breath. "Would youyour brother and I to talk?"

Edgar nodded and bent down to kiss his father's cheek. "Sure, dad." He released his hand and looked over at Sabin who didn't know what to do. Edgar gave his brother a reassuring look and left. Everyone outside watched Edgar come out; he had such a pensive expression. Someone was going to ask him a question, but Edgar just looked up at them, and they silenced.

Meanwhile, Sabin sat looking down at his father.

"You wanted to talk, I take it?"

The King giggled. "You always could make me laugh, Sab." He gently reached up and touched Sabin's cheek. Sabin just leaned into it.

"I know you understand what's going on; you have from the start. But I don't want you to worry, son. Things will come together, I promise you."

Sabin only nodded and let a tear roll down his cheek. His father wiped it with his thumb. They kept talking for a few more minutes until the King finally looked up at his youngest son and finally asked, "promise me one thing."

"Yes," Sabin asked inquisitively.

"Keep your older brother in line, would you?"

Everyone in the room laughed. "I'll try dad," Sabin said with a mournful grin and a small sniff.

"Speaking of which, would you send him in."

Sabin nodded. He bent down and hugged his father, gave him a kiss on the forehead and said, "Love you, dad."

"I love you, too, Sabin." He held his son as long as he could. Then Sabin stood, smiled and exited to retrieve his brother.

Edgar was leaning against a column alone with his arms crossed and head down. He was looking down into nothingness. Sabin walked over and gently touched his shoulder. Edgar softly lifted his head and wiped one more tear from his brother's eye. He walked passed Sabin without a word and Sabin walked to the end of the hall alone, staring out the massive windows.

The crowd parted to let Edgar through. He placed his hand on the door and lightly pushed it open. The room was still exactly the same, just one less brother. The King was speaking to the chancellor about something; Edgar didn't care at this point of succession or the kingdom The King noiselessly turned his head towards to his approaching son. The King was starting to heave by now as Edgar sat down next his father and took his hand again. He put his head down.

"AhEddy, Eddy, Eddy" the King started. "It will be alright."

Edgar let out a small laugh, still keeping his head down. "Heh, I just told Sabin that" The King smiled.

"I want you to look after your brother, and this kingdom. I know that you can, and pleasetruly look after Sabin," the King said squeezing his son's hand.

Edgar could barely squeak out, "I promise." The King smiled and closed his eyes and gently squeezed Edgar's hand again. The room was hushed. The only sound was the labored breathing of the King. Edgar finally lifted his head and looked past the pooling tears towards his father; probably for the final time. The silence was finally true. The King gave his last death rattle and released his son's hand.

It was over.

No one spoke, save Edgar. He kissed his father's hand and said, "Sleep well" He held the hand one final time and gently released. He stood up and looked over at Liam and Matron on the other side of the room with the chancellor one step ahead of them. Matron put an arm out to Edgar and he took it in a hug.

"Shh" Matron said hugging the trembling boy. She stroked Edgar's hair and let him just sniffle in her neck.

The chancellor rubbed Edgar's back for a moment and then left. The crowd outside the door was dead silent. They made way for the chancellor; they knew who was going to. Sabin hadn't moved the whole time. He was still looking out the window with dry eyes. The chancellor heaved a sorrowful breath and walked over.

"Sabin"