Half Moon Rising-Chapter 3

Notes:

• I’m not exactly satisfied with the chapter title. I had a really good one, but then I wrote the chapter and it became…irrelevant. And messed up the pacing. So…if anyone has a better idea, let me know.

Links to previous chapters are at the end.

Chapter 3 Lost

The brothers stayed together on the bed, clinging to each other, oblivious to the passage of time. The bright, breezy weather seemed to mock the terrifying grief that pulsed through Artham. The awful drowning feeling was mostly gone, but reality was almost worse. His mind rushed through all the things this would mean, and Esben’s grasp forced him into reality. It forced him to realize that this was actually happening. Esben sniffed and wiped his eyes, hugging Artham tighter, which forced him to realize that he was needed. No survivors. Esben’s words were clear in the dark, swirling emptiness of Artham’s heart. It was like those words tore away Artham’s foundation, leaving him lost and confused. They meant that the two boys on the bed, the only remaining Wingfeathers, were all each other had. The only remaining Wingfeathers. Thinking that, putting it into words, Artham almost panicked. He felt the sinking again and that terrified him even more. One of his hands reached out and seized the bedspread, grabbing it so hard his fingers hurt. Esben took a shaky breath and sat up, breaking the brother’s embrace. He looked at Artham, and his gaze hurt. Artham saw everything he was feeling reflected in his brother’s eyes.

“What are we going to do?” This time it was hardly a question. The words were empty and distant, filled with a despair that scared Artham even more. He scooted over on the bed and hugged Esben again, hoping he was somehow comforting him from the emotions swirling in his own chest. The panic and shock was still rushing through him, but he shut his eyes and shoved it away, just far enough away so he could say something, anything to Esben, to stop the despair that weighed down his brother’s voice. Everything he had ever been taught as a Throne Warden came back to him. Protect. But how? This wasn’t something that Artham could ward off with his sword, or block with his shield. This was something that was living inside of him, swirling and churning with pain. The whole thing was so terrifying and unreal that Artham wasn’t exactly sure he wasn’t having his worst nightmare ever. Protect. He swallowed, but when he spoke, his voice was still hoarse.

“I don’t know, Esben.” His voice cracked in the middle of Esben’s name, and he gritted his teeth in frustration. He took a deep, shaky breath and continued, trying as hard as he could to keep his voice steady.

“But you don’t have to do it alone, okay? I’m here for you. I…just want you to know I’m here for you.” Esben glanced up at Artham gratefully, but looked down again, hiding his face as he leaned into Artham. Artham felt the weight of the grief start to push back. He struggled against it, trying not to let it flood into him again, but he didn’t know how to stop it. It was almost a relief when he heard someone gently knocking on the open door. His head whipped up, and his eyes met those of Bonifer Squoon.

“Excuse me lads, I do hope I’m not intruding. Would it be more…suitable if I returned later?”

“Oh, don’t worry, Bonifer, you can come in,” Artham said quickly, relieved for the distraction from the panic and sorrow he felt seeping into him again. Bonifer entered the room and sat rather stiffly on a chair near Artham's bed. He looked sadly at Artham and Esben, who now sat leaning against each other. Artham was looking at Bonifer expectantly, while Esben’s head remained bowed. Bonifer glanced around him awkwardly and finally said to Artham,

“Given the present circumstances, I can assume that your brother has already told you what happened?” After Bonifer spoke, Artham felt anger and confusion start to build up inside of him. Then, he realized that Bonifer was probably the only other person in Anniera who knew of his parents’ death.

“Yeah, he told me,” Artham said quickly.

“Bonifer, how did you find out about this? I mean, are you absolutely sure there’s no chance my parents could be alive? Were you at the wreck? Did you see for yourself? They can’t be dead!” Artham had gotten up in the middle of his speech and was now pacing frantically around his room. His shouts dropped to a mutter and Bonifer looked at him, slightly surprised as he talked to himself and ran his hands through his hair over and over again. Esben was watching him too, his face stamped with an unseeing grief.

“My dear boy, please sit down. I can explain the entire situation to you.” Bonifer said, his voice calm and even, though it was full of sadness. Artham whirled around and glared at Bonifer for a second, frustrated at how calm he seemed.

“I can’t sit down!” He said, then, seeing the confusion on Esben and Bonifer’s faces, continued.

“Look, it just…helps me stay calmer to be moving around, okay? I can listen without sitting still.” Bonifer looked slightly annoyed for a split second, then shook his head and began speaking calmly.

“A Hollish trading ship passed by last night. The captain came up to the castle as was customary to alert us of any shipwrecks they had encountered. He told the counselors and myself of the wreck of the Sea Queen, but as he was not in the Hollows at the time of the King and Queen’s visit, he did not realize that it was their ship he was reporting. He was positive there were no survivors. The ship had already sunk. He could see the figurehead through the water, and described it to us, which was how we knew it was the Sea Queen.” He paused for a moment,searching the faces of the brothers.

“No one else knows of their death. I am…deeply sorry for your loss. If you have any questions about what must happen after this, do not hesitate to come to me. Of course, there must be a proper period of mourning before we begin any official proceedings…”

“Bonifer, what in Aerwiar are you talking about?” Esben asked, looking up and speaking for the first time since Bonifer came in. Artham stopped pacing, looking at Bonifer in confusion, trying to work past the demanding, confusing thoughts and emotions in his head to figure out what Bonifer could possibly be alluding to.

“Why, my boys, I was sure you would have thought of it by now,” Bonifer said, from Artham to Esben, sadness and slight surprise written on his face. The brothers looked at him in confusion, waiting for what he was about to say next.

“You two are the heirs to the throne. Anniera’s future High King and Throne Warden.”

Previous chapters:

https://thethwaphouse.wixsite.com/thwap-house/forum/spoiler-fanfiction/half-moon-rising-chapter-1

https://thethwaphouse.wixsite.com/thwap-house/forum/spoiler-fanfiction/half-moon-rising-chapter-2