A Little More Than Kin...Chapter 13

"A Little More Than Kin"

Chapter 13

By: Crystalis Blade

The candles had burned themselves down to nothing, letting their white remains drip down the iridescent black liquor of the piano. And that was all Edgar found. He had hauled all the way from his room to find no one in the music hall. Had Sabin stopped playing that long ago? Edgar questioned himself.

He walked over to the piano stool and sat; it wasn't warm anymore. Edgar gently placed his fingers on the keys. He wistfully ran a few scales and then began to play a simple concerto that his brother had taught him. In all honesty, it was the only thing that Edgar could remember how to play. By the time he'd finished the song, the lights finally went out. He sighed and got up. He's probably in bed; it is late.

Edgar stood and ran his hand along the gloomy finish of the piano. He was debating between walking to his brother's roomletting it go. Letting it go was starting to become a very bright idea, but Edgar knew better

Edgar also knew what he was doing.

He headed towards the side door of the music room. He took deep breaths to keep himself calm as he walked across the sand. His bare toes sunk downward as he walked and left his footprints behind him. The full moon lit the iridescent sands ahead of him, so much he could see the small dunes and other footsteps left by the guests. He very much wanted to follow their tracks out—

away. Anywhere but here.

"Anywhere," he silently whispered to himself.

He kept walking until he arrived his brother's door. He stopped and looked at it for a moment. He reached out towards the handle and couldn't grasp it.

His hand began to shake. He closed his eyes and opened the door.

All was silent. The lights were out and the only sound was the muffled sounds of Edgar's younger brother sleeping. Edgar walked up the dark stairs that were barely illuminated by the blue moon of the season. The stairs seemed to stretch for an eternity! Edgar felt this impending burden as he walked, and it didn't relieve itself once he reached the top. He took another deep breath and turned towards the bed.

Edgar noticed his brother hadn't even changed; he'd just pulled his shoes and armor off along with shirt and cuddled into his bed. The sheets hung just slightly off Sabin's hips as he slept on his side with his back to Edgar, and he was sleeping intolerantly. His face would move every so often in what look to be a small contortion of painor was he weeping? Edgar couldn't figure it out, but nonetheless, he stood and watched his brother's restless sleep.

He walked over to the bed and looked down at Sabin. He saw Sabin contort once again and watched a tear fall from his eye. Edgar narrowed his eyes in mournful pain for his brother and wiped the tear off his brother's cheek; Sabin's face was warm. He's been crying all night! Edgar reflected. He kneeled down and put his arms on the bed followed by his chin on his arms. He watched his brother breathing and then he saw Sabin tremble yet again. Edgar reached out his arm and began to gently rub Sabin's and it calmed him down. Edgar gave a loving smile at the result.

Sabin suddenly gave a sniff and turned his head to his brother. It startled Edgar; he almost fell.

"Edgar," Sabin tiredly asked as his hair fell past his eyes.

"Yeah, Sab, it's me," Edgar whispered back. "I'm sorry I woke you."

"It's ok." Sabin yawned. "I'm sorry I hit you."

Edgar rubbed his cheek and smiled. "That wasn't a bad right hook." Sabin gave a weary smile at the half-attempted joke.

"Wha-what are you doing here," Sabin asked.

"I" Edgar put his head down for a moment and then tapped his brother's back. "Move over," he said. Sabin did as told and Edgar hopped in bed next to him. He let out a small laugh. "Doesn't it remind you of when we were little and had to share a bed?"

Sabin sniffed again. "Yeah. And I used to kick the crap outta you."

"That you did."

"'Member when I hit you off the bed," Sabin asked smiling.

"Yeah, squirt. I do," Edgar said poking his brother's shoulder blades.

"Hey! You were snoring so loud I couldn't sleep." The two let out quiet laughs.

"Heh," Edgar sighed as the two sat in nostalgic silence. After a few minutes, he could feel Sabin tremble again, so he rubbed his brother's back; it didn't do much good. Sabin began to sob quietly again. "Ah, Sabcome're." Edgar moved so he was sitting up as Sabin turned into his brother's chest and began to cry. Edgar rubbed his brother's back and stroked his hair. He didn't try to calm him, or hush him; he just let Sabin cry in his arms.

"II can't do this, Eddy. I-I can't! I don't want to be king" Sabin ranted through his sobs. "I d-d-don't want, want to haveth-thousands of people d-depending on me I-I-I d-d-d-don't want ta-ta-to fail them" Sabin took a deep breath and began to wail.

"ShhSab." Edgar kissed the top of his brother's head. "You wouldn't fail them. Shh. You'd do fine. You haven't failed them in the past, and you won't fail—"

Sabin interrupted his brother's pep talk. "I'm a-a-afraid that I'm gonna fail you." Edgar tightened his arm around his brother even more; he hadn't expected that.

"Sabin," Edgar breathed and that was all he could do.

"Most of all, I'm afraid to fail dad." It was the only stable thing that Sabin said and then he lost it once again. "I miss himso, much."

Edgar hugged his brother with both arms. "So do I, Sabin." It had totally slipped Edgar's mind what he came to do until Sabin spoke again.

"Edgar. Would you please, uhm, give me some time alone?"

Edgar looked down. "Sure."

Sabin let go of his brother and Edgar climbed out of bed. He walked over to the steps and stopped. "Sabin. Meet me up on the battlements in about an hour. Good night." Before Sabin could ask why, Edgar had already walked down the stairs and out. All that was heard was the silent brush of his cape.