Alexander

My Uncle meets us just outside of the castle, returning from some errand of his. Immediately upon seeing the sobbing, injured woman in Illius' iron hold, his face drains of blood and he drops his parcel, running over to me. 

Sage's warning growl makes him think better of reaching to touch my face, and he withdraws his hands, running them through his hair instead. "What in heaven's name happened?" The strain in his voice is audible as he tries to keep the excitement from his tone, hyperaware of Sage's eyes on him. 

I place a hand on the Chimera's head and continue my advancement forward, following after Illius. "I will explain indoors, Uncle. I assure you, I am unharmed."

Lance trails slightly behind to avoid getting too close to Sage, as Bellamy has yet to budge from his place on my left side. "Bless that devil creature." I hear him mutter, seeming to address Sage. I recall him saying something similar that last time that she detained a threat to my safety, though it was several years ago. 

Once inside, Illius does not pause with us but continues on his way to the dungeon. Two of my Guardsmen, who were taking a break inside of the Dining Hall, see us pass by the doorway and curiously peek their heads into the hallway. Upon seeing the blood trail left from the servant woman's wound, they leap into action, immediately going to follow after their Captain. 

I hear Illius bark an order at them before Joshiah and Felix obediently fall behind and change their course for me. 

Felix is looking better than he did yesterday, though I still feel guilty for having him resume his duty early. His eyes shine with worry as they scan me over, searching thoroughly for any visible wounds. "My Lord," He greets, bowing his head and creating a fist over his heart that Joshiah mirrors. "Are you alright?" 

I have yet to take my eyes from Illius' back as he continues marching down the hallway, ignoring the woman's babbling please to be released from his tight grip. "Yes," It sounds unconvincing, even to my own ears. I feel drained of energy and wish for nothing more than rest, though I know that sleep will not come, even if I do attempt it. I feel restless and strange being at odds with Illius, something that I am unaccustomed to. My Captain has always been a steadfast place for me to seek out when I am out of sorts, so I have no idea how I should feel when he is acting this way. Though I know, logically, that he is angry with himself, I cannot help but feel as though I am the cause for his agony. I need for things to be sorted out with him before one of us collapses into ourselves from trying to bear the weight of our struggles alone. A structure will always crumble in time without one of its pillars. 

"You are not fine," Lance says, voice laden with frustration. "Please, tell us what has happened. Why is that Wolf behaving so aloofly? It is unlike him to escort a prisoner by himself, rather than staying beside you." 

After a moment of expectant silence, Bellamy sighs and speaks in my place. "Since you have chosen to be mute, I will tell them. Alexander was attacked today, though that woman that your 'Wolf' has in tow is as innocent as any of the bystanders in the marketplace. I doubt that he will take that into consideration, however, so I recommend you give him the proper orders before he begins torturing her."

My brow furrows and I cut Bellamy a glare that could freeze a lake. "He would never act so rashly without my permission. Do not speak of Illius as if you know him. You do not know either one of us nearly as well as you think you do." 

Bellamy folds his arms, taking on an amused expression. "Oh, is that so? I believe that every man here at present knows at least one thing about the two of you that neither one of you seems to be aware of." 

Felix clears his throat awkwardly, lowering his gaze to his boots. Joshiah, as usual, pretends not to be listening to the conversation as he surveys the hallway, keeping his gaze on any who walk past. 

I narrow my eyes, unpleased with the insinuation. "You have no idea what you are speaking about. I suggest that you watch your tongue here, Bellamy. You are a guest, do not forget." 

Bellamy smiles as if he has just won a game. "And you, my Dear Prince, would do well to remember why I am here. It would be most unwise to throw my sister and me out of your beloved kingdom, would it not? I would happily tell my father that you simply refused our aid upon further reflection."

"Brother! I am appalled at your behavior. Our father would clout you," Bethany's voice surprises all but Sage and Joshiah, who allow nothing to escape their notice. We turn to watch the Princess as she strides towards us, having emerged from one of the doorways nearby after overhearing the conversation.

Bethany wears a pair of riding breeches and brandishes her sword at her side as usual, though her long locks are pulled back into a plait. Judging by the pale hairs that cling to her attire, I assume that she has been outside of the castle already, no doubt tending to her horse.

She turns her striking gaze to me, expression apologetic. "Please, forgive my brother's audacity. He forgets his place."

I cut Bellamy a glare, noting his silence since his sister's arrival on the scene. He seems ashamed to be scolded by his twin, though he does not make an attempt to defend himself. Perhaps this woman is the only one who is able to make him feel remorse for his juvenile actions.

"I am growing accustomed to this. Your brother may be a nuisance, however, he has been of great use to me today. I harbor no grudge against him for his personality. "

"I stand right here, " Bellamy pouts, refusing to be ignored. "My personality is not vexing."

Bellamy folds her arms and gives her brother a chilling look. "It is, actually. You can be quite the annoyance. You are lucky, however, that you are my brother and that I love you so, regardless."

I turn to face my Uncle, addressing him with a look at the bickering of the twins continues. "Please send for the Magic-User named Serilda. I request her presence here at first light." 

Lance looks at me for a long moment, seeming to wish that I would have asked someone else. "I truly do not wish to leave you in this state, Nephew. I am as fit to protect you as your Guardsmen; I am the one who trained them, after all." 

I rub my index and middle fingers over my temples, hoping to massage the pounding in my head away. I wish for nothing more than to hide away in the darkness of my bedchambers, where it is quiet. "I have not forgotten," I glance to my Guardsmen, observing Felix's state and comparing him to his freckle-faced counterpart. Felix seems well enough now, however, the last time that I sent him out on an errand, he was attacked. I still feel guilty for it, though I know logically that I had no way of preventing such a thing from happening.

 I swallow before deciding which course of action I will take, feeling no will to argue with Lance at the moment. "Very well; Joshiah will go."

Joshiah snaps to attention and bows at the waist, willing to accept the order immediately. "As you wish, Your Highness." I appreciate his inclination to follow orders without question, even if he is aware of the situation. He does not argue or request to stay beside me; he simply does as I ask him to. 

I watch Joshiah march purposefully down the hallway before disappearing,  silently praying that no unfortunate fate awaits him at the end of his leash as it did for Felix. I feel suddenly as if the castle has become very cold, cutting effortlessly through the thick tunic that I wear. I know that the sudden chill has nothing to do with the temperature of the hallway as I gaze in the direction that Illius went.

Sage heaves a whining sigh, gazing up at me with concern. I give her a reassuring pat before turning to my companions. "I will go to my study now. I have some paperwork to tend to." 

Felix follows obediently as I begin to walk in the direction of my study, but Bellamy's voice pauses me in my steps, ringing throughout the hallway with accusation. "You will not go after him?" 

I turn my head just enough to look coldly at him over my shoulder. "Of course not. Illius is a free man; he may do as he wishes." 

Bellamy mutters something beneath his breath, but I continue walking without humoring him, leaving his tantrum to his sister. I will feel bad about this interaction later, I suppose, however, I cannot bring myself to feel regret for my actions just yet.

-

It is dark outside of the windows to my study by the time a familiar sequence of knocks taps against the door. The gentle sound of his knuckles against wood tells me of his remorse before I can even see Illius' face.

Lance insisted that he accompany me inside, rather than waiting outside of the door as Felix does. He does not recognize the pattern of rapping and takes a defensive stance, putting a hand to the hilt of his sword as he stands from his chair.

Sage does not bother to leave her place from beside my seat, only lifts her head to observe Lance's sudden movement. She growls softly at the hand that my Uncle has on his belt, even despite the opposite direction that he faces. The attack at the market must have done quite a job at working up her protective instincts.

I quell her with a though and reach to touch the back of her neck, feeling her muscles relax beneath my touch. " It is only Illius, " I say aloud, also calming Lance with my explanation. "Let him in."

My Uncle casts me a glance but does not relax his stance. "It may be an imposter. It would be easy for someone to learn your Captain's secret knock."

He makes a good point, of course, though Illius is no fool and neither am I. I tilt my head and point to the door with the quill in my hand, waiting for the next sequence. "He will knock in a new sequence momentarily."

It is only natural that Illius would feel the need to confirm his identity after such an incident as what happened earlier, and I am not disappointed. 
These knocks come in pairs, then a single before a set of thirds.

I tap the sequence on the surface of my desk with my knuckles in unison to Illius', to further prove my point. "We have a complex system, Uncle, do not worry. He also has his own key, which he will use to let himself in if you do not."

Lance looks from me to the door, expression baffled. He eventually relaxes and releases his grip on his sword hilt, then gives a defeated sigh. "You two are quite the pair, " he mutters, shaking his head with disbelief.

My brow furrows in annoyance but I return to the last of the paperwork on my desk, attempting to ignore my offense. I listen to the door open and footsteps draw nearer, though I continue to sign my name onto the bottom of pages with precise care as if the curves of each letter are all that matters in the world.

I feel Illius standing in front of the desk, though he says nothing. His silver eyes burn into me as he silently waits for me to acknowledge him, though he seems as bent on keeping mute as I am.

I finish signing the document and set it on top of a thick pile of similar ones, before moving immediately to the next blank paper. I pause to read through it thoroughly, taking my time with each word that I scan. It is a simple inquiry for permission from a fisherman who wishes to move his boats to a certain area of the ocean, where he seems to believe it to be a richer fishing ground.

I sigh through my nose before signing it, taking as much care with every letter as I had before.

Lance is the first to break the long silence. "How long will you ignore him, Nephew? Will you not even look at him?" 

I finish signing my name but pause before reaching for the last document. "You may take your leave, Uncle."

Feeling the ice in my tone, I see Lance stare at me from the corner of my eye before throwing up his hands in disbelief. "Yes, very well. Call me if you need anything before dawn."

I wave a hand in dismissal before listening to him go. I do not acknowledge Illius until I have examined and signed the last document and set it aside. I lean back in my chair and raise my eyes to my Captain's fair face, but startle at the sight that they find.

Illius stands resolutely before me, his fists clenched at his sides and shoulders slack as if the will has gone out of him. He wears the same clothes as this morning, though they are now sodden and disheveled from being in the dungeon. His sleeves are stained red with the servant woman's blood from where he bound her hands, but there are no other traces of the substance on his person. I knew that I was right to trust him, despite what Bellamy believed. The state of his apparel is not what surprises me, but the small streams that dampen his cheeks are what raise me from my chair.

I come to stand in front of the desk to get a better look at the tears, in awe at the appearance of them. Illius has not cried like this for so many years that I had assumed that he never would again. It seems, however, that today's plethora of events have been enough to break the dam he has worked so hard to build up against them.

Illius seems as surprised as I am at the dampness of his cheeks, and reaches to touch them in shock. He looks at the moisture on his fingers before turning his gaze to me, eyes wide. "Sandy, I..." He trails off to swallow thickly, curling his fingers into a fist. His complexion looks even more pale than usual, as if with fear. "Do you resent me now?"

"Of course not, " I assure him without hesitation, reaching to touch the fist that he makes, worried for the bones in his hands. "What is this? Why do you weep?"

Illius leans into my hand when I reach for his cheek, making an attempt to wipe the tears from it. He closes his eyes and relaxes his fist beneath my other hand. "What if Sage was not there today?" His voice is barely above a whisper as he tries to imagine the tragedy.

"You were there, " I remind him, heart aching at the sight of his turmoil. Has he been this way the entire time? "You reacted in time to prevent any harm coming to me. You did well, Illius. If anyone is at fault, it is me. I should have considered how you were feeling before going to the market. I am sorry."

Illius shakes his head at my quick forgiveness. "It is my duty to look after you, no matter the situation. It will not happen again, Sandy, I swear it."

"I know, I have no fear of it, " I pause, wondering if I should even ask the question that is on my tongue. I told Bellamy that these secrets that Illius now has are his, and his alone to keep. If the burden of these memories resurfacing is putting him in a state such as this, however, I feel guilty for not even offering to lend him my ear, should he like to talk about them. 

"You are welcome to confide anything in me, Illius. If you rather keep some things private, however, I will respect that."

Illius nods and reaches to touch the hand that I have in his cheek. His eyes are clear now that he looks at me, no longer brimming with tears. "It is very confusing; It is as if I am seeing the memories of someone else. Seeing life before I came to live with you is surreal. What is even stranger, however, is how you are in them, even back then."