First Well chapter ten

Okay….so here is chapter ten……and uh, not sure when eleven will come out 😅

Hopefully before the New Year! But uh, Spaghettes (can I call you that?) and Lili, I’ll try to get eleven out sooner than later 🙃

Oh, and please…enjoy 😏

Artham felt consciousness returning…and it wasn’t exactly a pleasant thing. Number one, his whole body ached. Secondly, he was exhausted. Thirdly, he was starving. And finally, he was cold. Though that was mostly due to the cold stone floor on which he was lying.

But he wasn’t alone. He sensed that from the beginning. That was why he hadn’t moved. He was not fond of the idea of waking up some beast.

But, he could not lie there forever. Slowly he opened his eyes and beheld another person. His eyes were glued on his, and it made him shiver slightly. That look was far too…personal for a stranger…and it was terribly familiar.

The gaze made him sit upright (slowly!) and study the facial features…..and then it dawned on him, and he gasped, paled, and his breathing increased rapidly.

The man came a little closer…..and Artham slowly exhaled, looking up and trying to muster the courage to speak.

“E-E-Esben?”

His voice was barely above a whisper. How could this be?!?! He was-dead….right? No, he wasn’t. Had it been a mistake? Or had the Maker sent him back?

A thousand thoughts raced through his head…but one kept coming back. He had failed Esben. The way Esben was…it was his fault.

He couldn’t take it. The tears started and wouldn’t stop. He bowed his head in shame. His body shook as he sobbed, and he blubbered out words he barely knew the meaning of. He blubbered out the most heart-felt apology there ever was, and the man..Esben..looked at his brother in shock.

He had never seen Artham cry, and there he was, sobbing his very heart out.

Esben looked out at the cell, and then back at Artham.

“Artham….I-I don’t know what to say?”

Artham looked up. “How could you not? I completely failed you.”

Now understand, dear reader, I typed this very clearly, though Artham said it between sobs.

“Failed? I was the one that…..failed you.”

Artham scoffed. “How?”

“When I tried to go back for that stupid….you know,” he whispered.

Artham seemed to understand, but there was one thing he could not. “You did not have to protect me. I was the one that_”

“Yes, you left, but I always wanted you too. My children needed you. I was a lost cause.”

“But-but you looked so-“

“Disappointed? I was….in myself.” Esben leaned back. “As a father I failed, as a husband. All because I thought I could…save the world by…who knows what. I’m sorry Artham.”

Artham laughed a bit. “When our parents died…..I think we are the worst monarchs ever….we both failed…but I was…way worse.”

Artha,s wiped his face and placed his head in his hands. “I’m so sorry, little brother.”

“Arth, the Maker….he spared me. I never….I don’t even…but I know I was never….gone. I just felt like—We can get out of here if we try. But I need my Throne Warden.”

Artham turned his head slightly.

“I need my brother. My big brother. I need my best friend.”

Artham looked up, and Esben had tears in his eye.

Artham wrapped his arms around his brother, and Esben buried his face in Artham’s shoulder…..just like he did all those years ago when he found his parents were gone.

“I will get you out of here, my King,” Artham whispered.

“I know you will, brother.”

GaSp….what did Esben need?! AhhH! You’ll find out later…..much later. I hope you liked!