tw: sickness, character death

( 10th century — kingdom of norway )

It was barely a year later when Elric became sick. They had no idea what brought him on. One moment he was as healthy as a werewolf... the next he was fainting and coughing so hard they believed his lungs would come up.

Alix was taking it hard. She adored her father with every breath. He taught her how to widdle and create beautiful paintings for Esther when she was young.

Regina was taking it harder. She could feel the love of her life slipping away. Could feel as he got worse. Every healer she could find had been to see him all with the same result. He would not get better. Regina had practically begged Erika to take a look—to save her husband.

While they weren't on good terms at the moment, Erika could not stand by a let her friend suffer. So she took a look, but she could not do anything either. She could extend his lifeline by a little, but that would only prolong the man's suffering.

Elric got worse every day.

Alix tried to stay strong for her mother. She had read stories of past Castillos losing their person. It tore them apart. Some killed themselves, some were shells of themselves. Others only kept going because of their children, finding their person in their children and living off that. Alix had no idea if that would happen with her mother and if she'd be able to survive without Elric.

She hoped endlessly that she would, but she did not wish for her mother to live with such agony. She could not even begin to know what that pain would feel like.

Esther stood beside Alix, comforting her as best as she could. She offered no words, she knew that's not what her girlfriend needed. She remained a steady presence beside her, offering a shoulder to cry on when Regina and Elric had finally gone to sleep.

"What if I lose them both?" Alix whispers to Esther one night as they're looking up at the stars. It had been a particularly rough day. Elric had been coughing nonstop and pleading with Regina to just end his misery. He screamed and begged and cried for it to end. Regina had trembled terribly as she held him, apology after apology spilling from her lips as Cyprian and Erika tried to calm them both. "I don't think I can lose them both."

Esther inhales deeply, holds it, and then lets it out. "Then I will be there. At your side. We will get through it. You will get through it. I promise," she whispers back, letting Alix curl around her. Holding the redhead tightly. She wasn't alone and she never would be. Esther would make sure of it.

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Elric dies on a Tuesday about four months after the beginning of his illness. Esther awakes to her parents rushing out the door and a grumbling Dahlia glaring at the redhead curled into a tight ball against the blonde. Esther is only half-awake when she realizes Alix is with her and then fully awake when she realizes why.

Esther holds the redhead tightly—tighter than she ever has. She lets the redhead soak her sleeping gown with her tears as she mourns her father. Esther lets a few tears slip, Elric was an amazing man and deserved every single praise he was given. He had helped her so much through the years and it was hard to believe he was gone.

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Later on in the day, Esther takes Alix out of the house at her parents' request but to also get away from the scathing glares Dahlia sends them. Esther never understood the grudge she seemed to have against Alix nor why she decided to act like this at Elric's death.

She couldn't even act like she cared for one day? It made anger simmer in Esther's belly, threatening to lash out.

She swallows it though when she sees Alix's pale face and red eyes. Alix needs her more. They go to Regina's home where the woman sits, sobbing in a corner. She's clutching her heart like someone had shoved a knife and twisted.

The agony in her cries sends shivers down Esther's spine. Alix goes to her mother as soon as they enter the doorway. Regina clings to her daughter as though she is afraid Alix will disappear too. The two Castillos cry together as pack members go in and out, helping wherever they can to make the transition as painless as possible.

Esther stays out of the way, hovering beside Regina. She's out of place, not knowing what to do, but also not wanting to disrupt anything. That's when Regina shifts Alix in her lap and gently pulls Esther onto her lap too. The blonde doesn't speak, just sinks into the embrace, letting her own tears fall as Regina holds them both tightly.

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Later that night, when Regina had finally fallen asleep, Esther and Alix sneaked out to their spot. They sit together in silence, staring up at the stars in the sky. Esther is curled up against Alix, playing with the redhead's fingers.

"E..." Alix murmurs and Esther looks up, humming in acknowledgement. "I still have you, right?"

Esther gently pulls Alix's head down to meet her eyes. "Of course you still have me, Moonshine... you'll always have me." She presses a gentle kiss to the redhead's lips before they settle and continue their star-gazing.

AN: I am trying to get chapters going because I wanna start on the main book so much LOL, but I also wanna give you guys backstory. 

wc: 942