Hey ya'll. Sorry this is SO short but the next chapter just couldn't be split up and if I added this in it would be WAAY to long. So I hope you enjoy this little sibling scene. I know one of you was looking forward to it!
"Will." Emma hissed, pulling her brother aside as the distance between the siblings and guards increased.
"What?" Will looked startled by Emma's sudden appearance.
Emma glanced around, making sure no one was around before ducking into a small room, pulling her brother behind her. "I need to talk to you about something very important but you can't tell mother or father."
"Why?" Will looked confused.
"Because if they ever found out what I am telling you they would never let me participate in this war, and I need to or everything we know will be lost."
"Find out what?" Will asked. "Emma you're scaring me."
"It's all very complicated." Emma sighed, unsure of how to explain this all to her little brother. She didn't want to place the weight and responsibility on his shoulders if she could protect him from the reality of the situation. "There's been a prophecy."
Will raised his eyebrows. "A what?"
"It's complicated and in all honesty it's not something you need to concern yourself with." Emma shook her head. "What it comes down to is this war… well it's about me. It is being waged across all the realms because of me and… I might not come home."
"What?" Will's mouth dropped open. "What do you mean might not come home?"
"No one can predict the outcome of this war because there is too much power surrounding the situation to see clearly." Emma tried to explain, knowing it would be mostly lost on Will. She barely understood it herself and she had been raised around magic. "There are a lot of variables involved but one thing is clear, there is a very real possibility that I may not survive this."
A look of understanding crossed Will's face as what Emma was saying registered. He shook his head slowly, unwilling to accept what she was saying. "Emma no, you can't go. You can't die…"
"Will." Emma took his hands into hers, trying to calm him down so she could finish what she needed to tell him. "You need to calm down and you need to listen to me. This is your first lesson in being a good leader. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions to protect those you love, to protect your people. To be a ruler is not a just a gift, it is a responsibility. It is your responsibility to protect your people. And sometimes that means sacrifice. Not unnecessary sacrifice, never unnecessary sacrifice. Although mom and dad would not agree in this case, they believe in sacrifice too. They would never admit to it but this is a sacrifice that need to be made."
"They wouldn't want you to do this." Will shook his head, tears filling his eyes at the thought of losing his sister.
"That's where sacrifice gets a bit tricky." Emma gave a small smile, trying to provide Will with comfort that she could not give herself. "You're willing to do it for those you love, but when the thought of your loved one sacrificing themselves for you… well its not something you would ever want because you couldn't live without them. But that's the thing. Sacrifice isn't just about one person. It's many people. Because the people who love that person making the sacrifice have to learn to live without them that is their sacrifice."
Will's voice cracked as he spoke. "I don't want to live without you."
"You have before." Emma reminded him gently.
"But I didn't know you then." Will argued.
"You will be ok Will." Emma assured him. "You are stronger than you know."
Will couldn't handle it anymore, throwing his arms around his sister. "I love you Emma."
Emma was shocked by her brother's actions but instantly tightened her arms around him. "I love you to Will."
"You've taught me so much." Will's voice was muffled. "You've made me a better person."
"No…" Emma pulled away, looking into her brother's eyes. "You made you a better person… I just helped you find your way."
Will looked up at his sister, wondering how he had liver without her. He was thankful for the opportunity to get to know her, even for a short while. "You are the best big sister ever."
"You need to listen to our parents Will." Emma told him firmly. "I know you think you are ready to help with this war but you aren't. You can't go off half-cocked and have them trying to track down you while they are trying to organize an army. You have to stay put."
"I will." Will promised.
"No you won't." Emma shook her head, knowing her little brother too well to expect he would listen to easily. "I know you will. You're passionate and impulsive which makes you stupid sometimes. I'm the same way. But you need to learn from my mistakes and understand that sometimes those with ore experience know better. But above all you need to stay here for one very important reason."
"Which is?" Will asked, his voice filled with reservation at the thought of hearing the answer.
"One of us needs to survive." Emma said gently. "One of us needs to be here to carry on our family's legacy."
"Emma no…" Will protested.
"Listen to me. It is a very really possibility that I will not return. And if I do not do you know what that means?" Emma prompted, needing to know her brother understood what she was saying.
Will swallowed hard before looking at his sister, resolve filling his eyes. "I become king."
"You become king." Emma nodded. "Someone needs to live for our blood-line to continue."
"I don't like this part of being a ruler." Will looked down at the ground.
"It's not always fun." Emma empathized. "But sometimes you have to do what's right… not what you want."
"But…" Will began.
"You need to promise me something Will." Emma shook his shoulders gently but firmly.
"Anything." Will looked at his sister intently.
"Listen to our parents. Learn from them. You have it in you to be an incredible ruler. Don't be the boy you were when I came here. That's not you Will. You can't rule like that. Our people deserve better, whoever you choose to be your wife deserves better, you deserve better." Emma dropped her hands from Will's shoulders. "Promise me you will do everything to become the best ruler, and man you can."
Will paused before reluctantly answering his sister's plea. "I promise."
"Good." Emma pulled her little brother into a hug. Relief filling her because she knew their families legacy was secure in the man her little brother would become. "I love you."
"I love you too." Will pulled away after a moment, looking up at his sister. "I promise I'll become a better man, but I won't be a king."
Emma's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why not?"
"Because you're coming back Emma." Will said firmly. "If I know anything about our family it is that we always find our way back to each other. You are more like our parents than I will ever be. You're going to come back, I know it."
Emma smiled sadly as she ruffled her brother's hair. "It looks like you inherited all the hope that skipped over me."
"Yea but you inherited all the confidence." Will pointed out. "And then some. I wish I could be as brave as you are."
"I'm not as confident as I seem." Emma promised. "You'll keep my secret?"
"Of course." Will nodded, managing a smile. "That's what siblings do right? Have each others backs."
"Right." Emma nodded. "Now come on. Torrin will notice you're missing soon and you know how badly that goes over in this family."
"Em." Will called quietly.
"Yea Will?" Emma turned back from the doorway.
Will regarded his sister quietly for a moment before speaking. "I like not being an only child anymore. Even if you are annoyingly perfect." A cheeky smile filled his face.
Emma laughed as she gently shoved her brother. "Well I like having a little brother, even if you are a brat sometimes. Just remember, no matter what happens, I'll always be your sister."