Arise of The Heart-{Galahad+Tristan+Abigail}
She was pleading with him. There was anger and sadness in her voice. He felt a sharp pain deep inside of his chest. He felt the terrible drum of darkness inside of him. Because he knew that he was wrong in sending her away, he knew that it was a loss none of them could bear. But the weight of the burden of duty had been his birthright and regardless of any personal gain he knew that he had bore it proudly.
Could he bear her tears proudly? Her anger? Or her sadness?
He couldn’t look at him when she was pleading. He turned and looked at the fire again. The flames blurred and then he realized that there were tears in his eyes, smears and darkness. He blinked them away and they were cold on his warm skin. He felt shaken inside of him by her voice.
He took in a sharp breath. And that hurt. It hurt something inside of him. Something terrible and bad. She was pleading with him still. Begging almost. She had been his little princess, she had been a princess of dirt and running, of wild flowers and horse riding.
And now the king wanted to take her from him. Rip her from their home and make her princess of some other place. A world that did not fit her. A world that was not made for her. And he hated the king. But most of all Galahad felt as if he hated himself.
"You deserve everything, Abigail." he said, but his voice felt weak and broken. Like shattered darkness all around them. It was weak. He looked back at her before he stood up. He moved towards her and for a moment he thought that she was going to move away from him.
He reached and set his hands on her shoulders. Duty. He knew that he had already given agreement. He knew that he couldn’t recant. A king held your word tight, blood bound.
"Abigail…..I…"And his voice cracked again. "I’m sorry." But that didn’t say that he was going to recant. That didn’t mean he was giving in. That meant nothing. And that hurt. He wondered how much he had hurt her. "Please…do not hate me."
He had, instead of sleeping, gone about a few chores, allowing himself a momentary distraction. But when that proved more than fruitless he headed towards the house again.
Tristan knew not to interfere. Not with this. He also knew not to look with anger at Galahad. The man was his brother and he had been raised on ideals far different than his own. But Abigail was their little girl and if she was to be a princess she coulld be one right here.
So he wandered into the home in time to hear Galahad's final words. His heart sunk and something of trust in his friend wore off.
"So that is what is left of your fight, my friend?" he announced although he had told himself not to interfere. "Have you fought so many wars that you are willing to set down your sword now? I confess that I had more faith in you than that."
And with that he turned away. Would it be time to say goodbye?