The darkness had begun to swallow him by the time the cell door opened a second time. On the brink of sleep, the noise startled him. Forgetting where he was he leapt to his feet, only to be dragged back down by the shackles around his wrists.

Swearing as new pain ricocheted through old wounds. He let out a growl, struggling to see in the pale light. "Who's there?" He was cautious, unable to decide if this newcomer was a friend or a foe.

When the scent finally hit him, he couldn't decide between the two.

"Robert," he spoke quietly, careful with how he chose his words. "What are you doing here?"

It was a stupid question, a simple one considering the circumstances. Yet in the moment his mind had gone blank and his heart had grown heavy. At how much had changed it felt like they were worlds apart.

We are, Charlie reminded himself of the painful fact that they could not be more different.

Five years his elder, in that moment Robert looked little more than a child. The sharpness gone from his features, the wisdom fled from his eyes. Leaving behind a small boy. "I don't now," he admitted. The one thing that didn't go, the calmness to his voice.

Charlie heaved himself to his feet, this time remembering the boundaries. He backed himself into the corner of the cell, regarding his brother carefully. In spite of the urge to run at him and hug him.

That was impossible in more ways then one.

Leaning against the wall in a terrible attempt to appear calm, casual. He gave up on trying to sound calm. He didn't speak for a moment, his gaze dancing from Robert's boots to his head. As far as tasting the air, trying to familiarise himself with the scent of the man who had once been his brother.

"Sit?" offered his brother after a moment, as he too settled down on the cold ground. Crossing his legs, even from the lower position. He watched his brother with a careful caution, but not without care.

For a moment he hesitated, uncertain. Then he followed the actions of his brother. Wincing a little at the pain from his leg.

Robert narrowed his eyes when he saw his brother wince, "Is that still hurting you?" He reached to touch the leg, then remembered himself and stopped.

Only shrugging, "It's nothing I cant tolerate." A slight lie, but that wasn't the topic of conversation he was wanting. He watched his brother for a moment, silent. Trying to think of what to say, how to say it.

In the end, it tumbled out in one great waterfall of words. Once the flow began, he was unable to stop it. "How are you?" He had wanted to say so much more, but he feared that if he didn't stop now, the emotions would come pouring out.

Even if he felt like he was going to explode with them, he knew it wasn't a good idea.

Apparently Robert too had been taken aback by the question, he paused for a moment. Shifting a little to become comfortable but finding it difficult in the cold. "I'm well, thanks. We all are," he said. As though talking to a stranger, not a brother.

The next question was the more difficult one. "How much has changed since..."

"The last time?" Robert offered, not sounding annoyed, instead trying to be helpful but ended up sounded frustrated or impatient.

Nodding was the only thing Charlie could think to do before his voice broke and the words poured out.

Without bothering to sugar coat his words, Robert replied. "A lot."

Charlie smiled, it was a small one but a smile all the same. "I guessed as much, how dare you change?" The challenge to his tone was masked by the laughter. "I expected you to stay 24 forever. I'm hurt, Rob."

Despite himself, Robert smiled a little as well. Though it wasn't the same one Charlie remembered, it brought light to the older man's face. His eyes lit up even in the darkness of the cell.

It was a face, that despite a decade's difference between them, Charlie recognised it.

He hadn't recognised anything in a long time.

"Like what?" he asked after a moment, eager for information. No matter how bad it might hurt.

Something sparked in his gaze, as though he suddenly remembered something. "I have a daughter!"

"You'll do well to remember that in the future," Charlie told him chuckling. Using humour as a means to replace the astonishment building up inside. It's been ten years, he told himself. Yet he still found it hard to believe the difference. "With who? Anyone I know?"

Robert paled, every drop of colour draining from him in one swift motion. Like he'd been painted white. "You... could say that."

His eyes narrowed a shade, more with curiosity then anything else. "Who's the lucky lady?"

The guilt on Robert's face was palpable, a blind man could have sensed it. "Evie."

Years ago the sound of that name would have made Charlie flinch, but it didn't. He only smiled, it was a pained smile but a genuine one.

But it was the look in Robert's eyes which concerned him.

"I'm sorry."

Charlie hadn't expected that to be his response, "Are you happy?"

Apparently Robert was equally surprised by Charlie's reply. "She was yours first."

Snorting at this, "Have you told her that? Because clearly you're not in any position to have further kids if you have."

"Very true," Robert said with an affectionate sigh. "I love her."

He forced himself to his feet, getting as close to his brother as he could with the extent of his chains. He placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, entirely honest as he spoke. "Then I couldn't be happier for you."

For a moment no one spoke, Robert closed the distance between them and took his brother in his arms. Hugging him tight in the first proper human contact that Charlie had had in years. He pressed closer, returning the embrace before they parted.

"Her name is Lyra," Robert said after a moment. "You'll have to meet her sometime."

Charlie's heart dropped at this as he realised, that such would never be a possibility. He could never put a child of his own flesh and blood at risk. He would never forgive himself if something were to happen.

"Sure," Charlie answered. Not wanting to ruin the happiness of his brother with the hard truth.

Leaning against the wall once again, Charlie thought for a moment. Searching for more questions, not wanting his brother to leave just yet. "Are you two married?"

"It will have been 6 years in October," Robert replied.

"You got old, Rob." Charlie tried to mask his sense of sadness with a laugh, but the pain was still there. He had missed a lot. I cant stay around long enough to change that. Charlie told himself firmly. "I never thought you of all people would settle down."

Robert simply shrugged, unoffended by what Charlie had insinuated, they both knew it to be the truth. "Things change."

"Tell me about it." Almost nothing has changed for me in a decade, I'm still the same nutter. He didn't say it out loud for both their sakes.

Only realising now, despite the fact that he had travelled with Arthur for little over a day. He knew nothing about how his other brother's life had changed in the decade. "What about Art? Much changed with him?"

"Some things will never change, no matter how much the ladies try to convince him. I'm not certain he's aware of what girls are." Robert's voice was affectionate, almost amused as he spoke.

Perhaps it's for the best. It wasn't Charlie's intention to sound morbid, and he'd never have said it aloud considering his brother now had a family of his own to think about. War is coming, he might not have the chance to see his kids grow up.

A lump rose to the back of his throat at this idea, an urge grew to hug his brother again, but he didn't give in to it. No matter how bad it hurt, he wasn't going to show his brother the strength of the pain. Both emotional and physical.

Silence spread between them again, but desperate to keep his brother here and talking. Not wanting to be left alone in the darkness again to stew. He continued as quickly as he could before Robert made a move to leave.

"How's Vi?"

Violet was the third born child to the King and Queen, as well as their only daughter.

"You can ask her yourself, she should be back by morning, tomorrow evening at the most. She went south to negotiate with some troublesome nobles."

"Still the silver tongue then?" Charlie asked, a slight smile slipping onto his lips.

"I'm pretty sure we could cut her tongue off, and she'd still be able to talk the pelt off a cat."

Again the quiet fell between the two brothers, and Charlie sighed. Preparing how he was going to say goodbye, without becoming too emotional. His lips had all but said the words when Robert had suddenly interrupted him.

"I wasn't going to ask this, as it didn't seem like the best idea..." Robert began after a moment of silence. "A few of us are going to the square to welcome Arthur back, he's been gone a while. Do you want to come."

Part of him was desperate to say yes, to agree immediately. To both get out of the hellish cell and to see the people he had said his final goodbyes to a long time. Yet he couldn't let his head rule his heart. No matter how bad he wanted to for once.

For the better part of a decade he had been letting his instincts rule his head and heart, not by choice. Now he had somewhat of a will in the matter, he wasn't going to let anyone suffer from the damage.

Charlie simply raised his hands, showing the tight bands of silver wrapped around his wrists. "Even if I wanted to, I don't think it's going to happen any time..." He held his hands up in defeat, a sigh coming from his throat.

He wasn't able to finish his sentence, before Robert removed the dagger from the sheath on his belt and struck clean through the bindings. Shattering it immediately, and freeing Charlie once again.

"Thanks, but it doesn't change much. It's not a good idea for anyone," he insisted. "Especially not for your wife and mother of your child." Charlie was all too aware how much of a low blow that was, but if it worked to get his brother off his back. That was what he was happy to resort to.

"Evie is capable of taking care of herself, child or not." The growl echoed across the cell, sending a shiver down Charlie's spine, but he forced himself to stand strong in spite of it. Robert didn't want to give in that easily, he shook his head. "There'll be a few of us, and at the first sight of trouble we'll get the hell out of there. Promise."

Unsure of whether Robert had simply lost his mind, or didn't understand how dangerous the situation could become. Charlie shook his head firmly. "Seriously Robert, please. It wont end well."

"You'll get to see everyone again, Arthur, Evie. We're all going to be there, all the people from the old days. The good old days."

Charlie and Robert seemed to see the old days very differently.

"We'll make sure nothing bad happens," Robert seemed genuinely upset that Charlie was refusing to come. "Evie will be so happy to see you again."

Sighing heavily, knowing he would probably live to regret this. What's the worst that could happen, they know how to keep an eye on me. It's not a battle zone.

At last Charlie nodded his head with a shrug, "Fine. But there's no way I'm going to be drinking, and only for a couple of hours."

Robert nodded, smiling now he knew that he had managed to get his way. "Of course. You have my word." He promised.

Pulling himself away from the wall, Charlie nodded for Robert to lead the way. And once again, Charlie was out in the world, in freedom. How long it would last this time, there was no way of telling.