LEAVE ME BROKEN AND BITTER
Nathan stood between his Mother and Brad. His mother was openly weeping, while Brad shook. Nathan put a hand on his friends shoulder.
The king, his queen and Prince Roald stood opposite him. All six were dressed in black, setting off their features. The King's sapphire eyes, the queen's pale skin, Roald's coal black hair, Brad's long, drawn face, Alexandria's flaming red hair and purple eyes. And Nathan's blond hair, so like his sisters, and the blue eyes that seemed almost violet today.
In the background, Brett stood, dressed in somber gray and black. Beside him stood Eliza, gripping his hand. She was dressed in lavender(a/n this is a Tortallan mourning colour-read 4th Song of the Lioness.), but did not seem sad.
The Priest of the Black God began the incantation, and Nicola was lowered into the ground. Nathan, Alexandria and Brad threw the dirt in. Brett could tell that Nathan was struggling to hide his feelings. Looking around, Brett realized that half the court was here, dressed in somber colours. He knew why. Nicola had been very outgoing and friendly. She'd befriended everyone-the king to the servants.
Finally the funeral was over, and Brett
went up to Brad.
Brad still had the shakes. Brett hugged his friend. Brad gripped his hand, in a
brothers of arms grip, his eyes full of thanks. Brett looked around for Nathan.
He'd left. Brett knew where he'd be. He excused himself from Eliza. He walked
to Andrew's rooms. The blood hadn't been cleaned off the floor, and Andrew
hadn't been back. Nathan stood in the doorway. His expression cold. Brett stood
beside him. If he closed his eyes, he'd see her, lying there. Brett bit his
lip.
"Hello Brett." Nathan's voice had no feeling.
"'Lo Nathan." Brett managed to mumble, trying to disguise the fact he'd made his lip bleed.
"Look, Nathan, I want to say sorry. I
want to say that you're right. I
changed. And I still want to be friends. Do you think we can?" Nathan shrugged.
"Dunno, I'm going away. I'll be back in
three weeks, for the trial. If you remember me then, maybe." Brett felt a
weight lift from his chest.
He looked at Nathan, but he was gone.
Nathan was back in his rooms. Nicola had gone, the real Brett had gone and left him with this stupid little prat. By the Crooked God, he was glad to be getting out of the palace.
Nathan and Mark rode their horses out into the royal forest, heading for Naxen, to visit friends of Marks. On the way, Mark tried to get Nathan to talk. But Nathan seemed to have developed a one-word vocabulary. "mmnn" was the only thing Mark could get him to say.
"You're angry at Nicola, aren't you?" Mark asked it quietly.
"Yes. I am." Nathan was surprised by Mark's question, and it made him speak the truth.
"I know the feeling. When father died, it was all I could do not to attack his corpse." They rode on in silence for a while, until Nathan said: "I hate the fact she's stopped me from feeling anything. I just feel empty, like nothing'll fill up the gap she's left. And the fact that she's left me." Mark nodded. Nathan stopped, and the rest of the journey was in silence.
It's not fair.
You never said you'd go.
You promised me safety
And left me bitter and broken.
When we were friends
Everything made sense
And now you've left me
And I'm bruised
The bottles don't offer any resolution
Cause when you're bitter and broken
Nothin' saves you from the pain
And I've tried everything
But I'm still
Lying in wait for you
Thinking only of the fun
But there's the untold nights of
Pain and black eyes
And now you've left me
Lying on the sidewalk
I'm bitter and broken
But I'll heal.
And Nathan knew he'd heal. Eventually.
A/N: That song wasn't written by JUST me. A friend, who wishes to remain anon, wrote some of it. Oh, and it wasn't the whole song. You'll have to wait until we get an album out. (if ever)
