Ghosts of the Past
Briar on the other side of the door heard the daggers strike and then moments later a muffled thump, the unmistakable sound (to someone who'd witnessed more than a few brawls) of a body hitting a wall. "They're fighting again." She said with a worried sigh.
Faith rolled her eyes, distracted for the moment from her argument with Asrai. The younger girl still wanted to interfere and while Faith was tempted, just to see if Asrai could calm them, it was more likely that a punch would land on her and the fighting would erupt again as they each blamed the other for their baby sister's injury. "I'll lay odds on the boss." She offered.
Briar's pink mouth twisted into an ironic grin for a second. Then she shook her head. "Andreas will pound him to a pulp. Sebastian will be worried he'll accidentally hurt his brother seriously, while Andreas is so enraged he has no such concern."
"Oh ye of little faith." The watcher grinned at her unintentional pun.
"I'm going to get Mother and Dad." Asrai declared suddenly sending a troubled look at the door from behind which foreboding sounds were emerging.
"I wondered when your common sense was going to kick in." Faith remarked. She hurried off after Asrai, calling back to Briar. "Keep an eye on the door."
The two girls returned quickly, the king and queen in tow to find Briar pacing in front of the door casting worried looks at it and wincing whenever she heard a piece of furniture break or glass shatter.
Amon frowned so forbiddingly that Briar curtsied as she moved out of his way. The queen spared a glance for the bard and her lips curved slightly until her husband opened the door.
The royal couple swept into the room to see Andreas holding Sebastian's tunic at the collar and drawing his right hand back for a knock out blow. Sebastian was not tamely allowing this, his knee was poised to disable his brother's equilibrium for long enough to end the fight. It was quite clear however, of the two brothers, which one of them had been holding back and which had clearly been having a free for all.
"Andreas Talone!" The queen's icy voice cracked like a whip through the suddenly still air. "Let go of your brother this instant!"
The young man whose name had been uttered moved, childhood instincts obeying the tone in his mother's voice.
The king did not bother to wait for obedience but strode forward and thrust them both apart, his large powerful hands splayed over their chests he pushed them both away from each other.
Sebastian immediately sank down against the overturned sofa and closed his eyes wearily. "Thank Nicodemus, someone has some sense still in this family." He muttered. From the doorway Briar uttered a horrified cry and rushed to Sebastian's side. Her hand hovered hesitantly near him, fearful that she'd cause him more pain by touching him. Sebastian wasn't worried much, he took her hand and kissed it, the pressure on his mouth making him wince, and then cringe at the pain wincing caused. "Will you still marry me if I look this awful forever?" He queried whimsically.
Briar offered him a watery smile and with her fluttering sleeve began to dab at the blood on his mouth. Her body hardened and she turned to face Andreas. Yet, she stopped as Sebastian with his last remaining strength reached out to place a hand on her arm. "No," he uttered simply and that was all Briar needed to keep from closing the distance between herself and the Crown Prince.
Andreas regarded his parents with hot angry eyes but said nothing. His chest heaved as he continued to take deep breaths up and down.
"What is this about?" Amon demanded. "Andreas?" His angry glare left no room for excuses.
"A slight disagreement." Andreas replied stiffly shooting a still furious look at Sebastian. "Personal matters."
"Sebastian Valmont Drakkar?" Amon's gaze turned to his second son, who did not open his eyes or reply.
"He…he is unconscious your Majesty." Briar offered in a shaking voice due not to the king's anger but her betrothed's condition.
"Andreas?" Sabine's voice was not nearly so loud but so cold it made Briar flinch. "Explain and none of your talented understatements this time."
Andreas turned and looked at his mother seeing in her a female version of Sebastian. His mind raced and connected with how much mother and son were alike when it came to those two. "Your Majesty." Andreas bowed with formal correctness. "I can make no reply at this time without undue insult to your person. So, if you'll excuse me." He turned and left the room, Asrai and Faith parting in the doorway to let him pass leaving behind a stunned roomful of figures.
Lorelei stopped dead in shock at the sight of her twin striding angrily down the hall. Dragon with her regarded his friend with speculative concern.
Andreas while having fared better than Sebastian in their fight still bore a few outward signs of their scuffle. Blood from a cut at the corner of his mouth was carelessly smeared over his jaw and shirt collar. His tunic was torn and his knuckles were bruised and bleeding. The grim line of his jaw sported the beginnings of a spectacular bruise and his side began to ache having been the recipient of a few punches.
"Sweet Selena!" Lorelei exclaimed, her voice stopping the distracted Andreas dead in his tracks. "Did you run into another assassin?"
Dragon commented wryly. "Not unless it was one who prefers bludgeoning his victims to slicing their throats."
Andreas snapped in annoyance. "Close but not quite."
"Who did this?" Lorelei demanded taking a step towards her twin.
"Sebastian!" Andreas let out. "Though I am the one who needs to be kept from killing him!"
"You don't sound very pleased that you didn't succeed in your first attempt." Dragon's eyes narrowed. "How badly off is he?"
Andreas paused trying to recall the last image before he rushed out of the room. With a shrug that showed his indifference, Andreas said, "He will live."
Lorelei put her hands on her hips, her expression exasperated. "Well come on, let's get you cleaned up."
"I-" Andreas said but was quickly interrupted by his sister.
"Don't start with me," Lorelei said stamping her foot. "Even if you're not seriously hurt, you still need to be cleaned up especially before someone sees you and tongues start to wag." Not leaving the decision anymore to Andreas, Lorelei stepped forward and grabbed hold of his sleeve, leading him away.
Andreas sat in one of Lorelei's wing chairs, impatiently enduring his twin's ministrations. Dragon stood off to the side, regarding the younger man.
"Turn your dark gaze elsewhere Dragon!" Andreas finally snapped in a testy voice. "I had enough of glowering from your sister!"
"I doubt it not, since you by your own admission came to blows with her future husband." Dragon rumbled. "How did Briar take that display of temper, by the way?"
Again at the mention of the incident that took place only minutes before, Andreas struggled to recall in his memory images. He felt so detached towards what had taken place. The pain still lingered over the deception played out on him but he could not recall immediately all he said or did. "When I left she was weeping." Andreas finally replied looking far off as he did.
"Weeping." Dragon repeated softly, his rasping voice testing the word. "How badly bruised was he?"
"She told my parents that he was unconscious." Came the prince's reply, his voice going soft as he put the words he just spoke to himself as the cause of his brother's condition. His voice was so distant that his sister stopped her work in shock to stare at him and Dragon growled in his throat.
"Exactly how did Sebastian so offend you that you felt the need for such extreme punishment?" The warrior mage's voice was considerably cooler.
When no reply came, Lorelei had to shake his her brother's arm. "Andreas," she prodded.
"What business is it of yours?" The Prince snapped, the venom in his voice making his sister reel back.
"It's my family Andreas," Lorelei said, clearly hurt by now becoming a target of his rage.
"And as one who once defended his sister's honor," Dragon growled, "by issuing a challenge, let me remind you that the feelings of two ladies' I love are now being hurt by your actions. So unless you want to be the one challenged this time, you will provide us some explanation."
"Maggie is one of his." Andreas spat, clearly disgusted and embarrassed by having to reveal the fool he had been played for.
"One of his Echoes?" Lorelei clarified softly. Her twin jerked his head affirmatively and she shook her head with a roll of her eyes. Yet, Lorelei withheld further comment and bit her lip to keep from doing so as she continued to administer to her twin's wounds.
"And?" Dragon waited and realized that this was the sum of Andreas' justification. He looked at the younger man incredulously. "Well that you were ignorant of it is obvious. But why would you be so enraged over this that you pummeled your brother well nigh into unconsciousness?"
Andreas looked at Dragon as if the older man lost all common sense. In a tone of voice that made him sound like a spoiled and distant noble speaking to a commoner, Andreas muttered, "You obviously wouldn't understand."
Dragon seemed about to object when Lorelei looked from her twin to her betrothed. "He is angry because Sebastian is younger but he always seems to be taking care of Andreas. This makes Andreas feel as if he needs Sebastian but Sebastian doesn't need him."
Andreas looked shocked and Dragon nodded his understanding but before either of them could say a word in protest or agreement Lorelei said softly. "And also, my twin wonders if Sebastian would be a better king than he. Andreas is a little afraid of that because Sebastian is so good at what he does while he still has doubts about his own abilities. And because, no matter what, Andreas wants the best for Cormyr, so if Sebastian would be a better king then he should be. But, this thinking then leads to Andreas wondering what good is he and where his place is," Lorelei finished.
Andreas swore fluently in surprised annoyance. "And how do you think to know all that?" He challenged.
His twin looked both scornful and affectionate. "Oh don't be any dumber than you can help." She chided him. "Andreas you are my twin. You knew before I did, that I was in love with Dragon. Do you think I do not know you just as well?" She finished by laying a gentle hand on her brother's cheek and it was all he could do to close his eyes and fight back tears.
Andreas could say nothing for a moment absorbing all that his sister was so adept at concealing, a trait which ran deeper in their family than simply Sebastian and their mother's profession. That she knew him so well and read people so easily argued further that they were all in their own ways children of both parents.
Dragon inclined his head in respect towards his betrothed. "You are very wise my etrielle." He said gently. "And you Andreas, though I love you like the brother you will be, have behaved like a royal fool." Andreas snapped his eyes open and scowled as even Lorelei smiled her rueful agreement. Dragon simply looked at the prince. "You truly have no idea how much your brother loves you and needs you."
"He doesn't love me!" Andreas said sharply. "There has never been any affection between us." The pain beneath his anger was more apparent.
"No?" Lorelei's eyebrows arched in an elegant query. "There may never have been words spoken to reveal the feelings he has for you, but certainly there have been actions. You didn't see him when you were nearly killed."
Andreas looked at Dragon who nodded his confirmation adding, "He was like a man possessed." The warrior mage chuckled. "Your parents were at your side and Sebastian took charge of making sure all of us were safely within the castle. He did very well, ordering and organizing, and also keeping us all from having mass hysteria. I thought he would not be a half bad king."
Andreas made a face and Dragon looked at him sharply. "But," His voice rasped pointedly. "I must have been thinking a bit too loud, because before I could voice that opinion, he turned and looked at me. And he snapped in the most annoyed confident tone in the world that he would not be king, that you would be wearing the crown not he, that he wasn't suited for the task." The scarred man shook his head with a reminiscent smile. "When you were recovering his attitude when we were all together was, 'thank the gods he'll be all right… oh thank the gods I won't have to be the king!' He would be good at it, but he'd hate it, and he is right. He's really not suited for it, no more than your mother could rule alone and have any joy left in her."
Andreas rolled his eyes and sighed. "Well he might be thankful he's not going to be king but as the future spymaster that still doesn't give him the right to try and run my life!"
Lorelei looked at Andreas curiously. "What on earth are you talking about? For as long as I can remember Sebastian has done his best to stay out of everyone's life, while working as hard as he can to protect us. I think he worries more about his future position than you do yours sometimes. If he fails at it, he not only fails his country, fails his duties, but he fails his family and it could cost him more than honor or his life, but one of our lives. And he took that burden up gladly."
Dragon nodded. "He would willingly walk through the ninth level of the abyss for you Andreas."
"Don't either of you see what he did as being wrong?" Andreas snapped having had his fill of how wonderful his younger brother was. "Do you not as a couple understand the privacy of those that are intimate? Even if they aren't to be wed? You keep telling me how noble, and loving and honorable he is. It's not noble or honorable to spy upon your family, or manipulate us, or watch us constantly." He pounded his fist on a nearby table. "I'm sick and tired of hearing how wonderful he is. I'm tired of how everyone justifies everything he does by saying, 'oh, he's the future spymaster, he does it for our own good.' Some things are not justifiable, they are just wrong! He's not perfect. He has everything but he's not perfect."
"He has everything?" Lorelei looked at her twin strangely. "Dragon?" She looked up at her beloved and he regarded her questioningly. "Would you mind coming and sitting behind me? You can keep me from smacking some sense into our future king." Dragon complied with a grin, wrapping his arms around her waist and feeling a shiver run through her at his touch in spite of the circumstances. She turned back to her brother to see him with the strangest look on his face. Envy and pain and longing, and anger were all there in his eyes with love for her and Dragon.
"Andreas." Dragon said quietly. "I won't tell you how wonderful your younger brother is. I suspect that further praise would fall on deaf ears anyway." He regarded his friend with a concerned gaze. "And yes, I understand your point about the privacy of intimate moments. But, I ask you to look at the reasons Sebastian may have for having done what he did. I suppose you haven't fully understood yet as a ruler what you may have to do but there may be times when you have to sacrifice the feelings of one person or put them in jeopardy to do more for the many. If Sebastian by knowing who would warm your beds some nights was safe could rest easily that his nation's future king was safe. Well, I do not understand why you can't acknowledge that fact, even if you still don't like it."
"And as for having everything," Lorelei interjected. "He doesn't have everything. Because he doesn't seem to have your love or respect, and that's one of the things he wants the most. He needs a brother, Andreas. We all do. But, I'm not sure what he has now in you...or what any of us have." Her voice nearly cracked now and tears were forming in Lorelei's eyes.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Andreas asked in an almost exasperated voice.
"Andreas, what is wrong?" Lorelei asked in a shaken voice. "You've been different ever since… Ever since your return from the Western Heart." She took a deep breath and nearly glared at her twin. "There I said it. I referred to the war. I've said what everyone else has been biting their tongues over for years. You shut me out, as much as Sebastian used to, and you and I have always been close. You become angry, so quickly, more so than you used to. Not too long ago, you became violently angry with Dragon, over something so trivial in comparison to the extent of your rage. And now, you beat our baby brother into unconsciousness. What has happened to you? Where is the big brother who used to juggle fruit in front of Asrai when she got sick as a baby because it made her feel better? Or presented flowers to Mother by making them appear with sleight of hand? Did that war take my twin along with the others I loved? Because that's what it feels like Andreas."
Dragon's own expression grew worried as he listened to his love catalogue Andreas' strange behavior. "You are behaving in a way very unlike the man I love like a brother." He said gently. "You are on the furthest edge of what I know you to be. You are a good man. Have you forgotten that?"
Andreas at first appeared to be on the edge of a breakdown as he listened to two people he loved speak to him of his behavior. His facade nearly crumpled his eyelashes sweeping down slightly, and his lips trembling. Then, his face froze into a stiff polite mask, the same expression he wore when he was in court more than he cared to be. Rising he bowed and took his sisters hand, not seeming to notice his own fingers were trembling, kissing it gently. "If you will excuse me, I had best change my clothing. Thank you for cleaning me up sister."
The Prince exited leaving behind two saddened people as Lorelei buried her head into Dragon's chest and began to weep.
Briar wiped her tears off her cheeks and impatiently pushed her hair out of the way. Sebastian had yet to awake and it was nearly half an hour since he'd lapsed into unconsciousness. His father had carried him to his room with Sabine and Briar trailing behind him. It was not difficult to see that the king was extremely worried. Even as he paced back and forth he stopped and looked at Sebastian now and then as if his son would wake without his father's notice. Conspicuous by their absence were both Asrai and Faith. The two had disappeared after Sebastian had lost consciousness and been carried to his room.
A knock on the door and then that portals opening distracted the older man for a moment. One of the upper footmen handed him a note. "Damn their eyes!" The king swore vividly and then sighed. "Sorry." He apologized to his wide eyed audience. "I cannot stay. You will let me know when he awakes?" Anxious blue eyes regarded both Sabine and Briar.
"Immediately upon his waking." Sabine assured him and with a quick kiss to her forehead her husband was hurrying out the door. She began to pace, more slowly before the fireplace and shook her head, thinking about her youngest daughter. "What is keeping the priest?" She wondered.
"Only your permission to enter Your Majesty." The black coweled man said from within the doorway.
Sabine nodded and gestured to her son, still motionless on the bed. The priest shook his head in dismay. "You ought to consider keeping a priest on hand at all times." He remarked obliquely. "With as often as we are called these months." Briar didn't appear to hear him, but Sabine's eyes narrowed at that and she looked at the priest and then at her son with speculative eyes. "The worst of the damage is mended." The man said after a moment of chanting. "When he wakes I will take care of the rest."
Sebastian opened his eyes and sighed. "Rose." He whispered through his swollen mouth. His hand fumbled for hers and she clasped his fingers gently. "Don't cry my Rose, I will live."
The priest bent over him and laid his hand on Sebastian's head. Some of the swelling along the prince's jaw receded and his breathing seemed easier as the pain in his ribs eased. "Enough." Sebastian said finally, feeling as if he deserved to suffer. Maybe it was right that he pay a price for all the secrets he held. "Don't waste your prayers on someone who has time to heal on his own." He pushed himself up and found breathing was much easier though moving was still a bit painful.
"As you will it." The man said quietly. "Your Majesty." He bowed his head slightly and exited the room.
Sabine regarded her younger son with a speculative gaze. "So what was that about?" She inquired folding her arms.
"Do you really want to know?" Sebastian asked wearily. He leaned back against his pillows
"You tell me." His mother said quietly. "Do I?"
"No my queen you do not." Sebastian said in a low voice, his sapphire eyes going darker with emotion.
"I am not asking as your queen," His parent said in a firm but gentle tone. "I'm asking as your mother."
Sebastian looked up at his mother and shook his head. His adoration of her was apparent, as was the pain his quarrel with Sebastian had caused him. "And as someone who cherishes both, you do not want to know." His mother simply looked at him and Sebastian sighed. "The short of it is, I underestimated how difficult it would be to keep Andreas ignorant of Maggie's status as one of my Echoes." He said finally.
"And obviously the extent of your brother's anger once he learned of it, also." Sabine said dryly. "But that is not all of it. It cannot be. I know my children better than that I think."
Sebastian whispered softly. "More, I am unable to share with you." He looked up at her. "Do not ask me again Mother."
Sabine regarded him sadly and shook her head. "Very well." She said quietly. "I will let you keep your secrets. But do not forget my son, to ask for my help, or your father's should you need it." She glanced at the door. "I must let your father know that you are all right. Or at least that you are awake. The sight of you will infuriate him."
"I will clean him up Lady." Briar said softly. "Perhaps without all the blood…"
"Yes." Sabine nodded and grimaced. "That would improve his appearance." She bent and kissed her son's forehead tenderly. "If you are able, please attend the evening meal if not court." She requested before she left the room.
Sebastian waited until he heard the outer door of his suite close before venting his ire. "That insufferable, self righteous, self involved prig!" He practically spat the words. "That moralizing two faced spoiled brat!" He winced as his lip started bleeding again and then ignored it. "Damn him!" He seethed. "That arrogant fool!"
"Sebastian, close your mouth." Briar told him sharply. "The more you talk the worse you make it." She began to dab at his lip with a wet cloth. When she turned to moisten it again she looked at him sharply. "Not a word." Tear marks still streaked her pale skin. "I have to clean you up." She took a deep steadying breath and concentrated on cleaning the blood from his face. Tears began to trickle from her eyes again as she soaked the cloth and wrung it out, blood turning the water pink.
"I should have killed him." Sebastian muttered. "For your tears alone."
Briar shook her head. "You don't have it in your soul to do him serious harm, or he would have fared worse in your fight today." She whispered. "I just don't understand it. Why?"
Sebastian lifted his hand and touched her cheek. "There is so much anger in him." He said quietly. "He hid it well for years after he returned to us, but now…it is boiling over, like a kettle too full, and as the first person to do him an injury, I became the target." He shook his head. "I'm still mad at him though. Just because I understand how it happened doesn't mean I'm not pissed off." His betrothed pressed her lips together firmly and refrained from saying anything. Determinedly she unlaced his tunic and helped him out of the rest of his clothing.
Sebastian winced as he lifted his arms and took a deep breath, nodded slightly when his ribs ached slightly but not terribly. "My Rose, he didn't kill me." He tried to make light of his injuries when he saw the expression she wore on viewing the bruises covering his ribs.
"Not for lack of trying." She muttered and began to wash his hair, carefully cleaning the blood out of the golden curls.
Sebastian sighed. "Thank you." He breathed finally settling back on the pillows. "Come and sit with me." He tugged at her hand. "Don't worry you won't hurt me." Briar gave him a doubtful look but complied, carefully sliding up onto the bed and leaning back with him against the pillows. The prince sighed and tugged her closer, resting his head against her silky hair and shoulder. When Briar looked at him again, her betrothed was asleep.
The door moved slightly as if with a breeze and Briar looked at it with a sharp eye. One hand squeezed Sebastian's hand while the other slid her dagger from her belt. Her gaze never left the door as she balanced the blade in her hand.
When the door opened and the king's blue eyes smiled down at her Briar blushed at her foolishness. "My apologies Your Majesty." She murmured.
"Don't concern yourself about it." Amon smiled slightly. "Its good to know that my new daughter knows how to protect herself." He studied his son. "Sabine said he was awake earlier. I see you managed to get him cleaned up."
"Yes Dad, my future wife knows how to use a dagger very well, almost as well as Mother actually." Sebastian muttered and opened his eyes. "And yes, you have her to thank for the lack of blood on my face." Wearily he regarded his father. "I'm not dead. I can't believe you thought I wouldn't wake up when you opened the outer door."
Amon shrugged. "I had hopes that if you slept, I wouldn't disturb you." He sat at the foot of the bed. "Your mother says Andreas found out about Maggie, and that he was upset." Briar's eyes glittered furiously but she refrained from speech. "I can see your lady's opinion of the matter in her eyes. Are you going to tell me anything more than you told Sabine? Or do you want me to keep my nose out of it?" Irony dripped from his tone.
Sebastian sighed. "If there was any way you and Mother could help, believe me, I would ask. I'm not infallible when it comes to my family." He rubbed his forehead wearily. "Andreas is upset by more than Maggie, it has something to do with me, more than it does her, but I have no idea what."
Amon nodded his understanding. "Well right now, you seem to have everything he wants." The king remarked. Briar blinked and Amon smiled at her. "I don't mean that Andreas is enamored of you Briar, but Sebastian is in love with you. You two are to be married. Andreas doesn't have that."
Sebastian nodded. "I think that is a small part of it Dad. But I'm damned if I know what to do about it."
Amon shrugged. "Neither do your mother and I." He said quietly. Briar shook her head and nearly ground her teeth together to keep from speaking. A soft laugh emerged from Sebastian's throat as he looked at her.
"What is it Rose?" He murmured. "You look like you will burst."
The bard looked at the two men and snapped furiously. "He is a spoiled brat!" She blew her hair out of her eyes and shrugged. "And he needs to grow up, or have his tail kicked over his head a few times."
Amon nodded. "An accurate, if simplistic diagnosis." He commented. "I'll bear in mind your recommendation for a cure." Rising he bowed ironically. "Get some rest, dinner is in a few hours. I won't expect you at court afterwards though Sebastian."
"Thank you." Sebastian sighed closing his eyes again.
Amon regarded Briar with a frown of concern and she shook her head. "Don't worry sir. I won't go armed around your older son. I know when my temper is running hot. I'm adult enough to control myself."
TBC