Caim wasn't fond of smiling. In a different age, in a different world, in a different time, it would have sufficed. He probably could have smiled his way through all of the conflicts rather than drawing his sword and having to train purely for the sake of protecting Caerleon. Probably could have. In those youthful days, he really only liked sharing the curve in his mouth with his family.
And Inuart, who might as well have been family, in his own little way. And if not by law, then certainly by practise considering how the three of them had been damn near inseparable.
Momentarily he missed those days. It happened on the rare occasion. Caim had plenty of time to think and to wonder. To try and piece together former times by hypothetical situations, actions, and overreactions. To see if the world would have changed any differently if he had reacted in a way other than how his history had carried him. And he ventured to assume that no matter what he would have done, they would have met the same end. If the Goddess had not been Furiae and some other woman, Caim imagined he still would have had to get involved. At some point in time the Empire and the Cult of Watchers would have come for their kingdom.
And there was still the merciless slaughter of their parents to consider. That had wounded him deeply, far deeper than anyone else could have known - save Furiae.
He felt his heart lighten a bit when she leaned into him. And as if to thank her for pulling him from his thoughts, he slipped an arm around her, not forgetting that night beneath the mistletoe. He doubted she'd forgotten either and while he had no plans to pretend it didn't happen, he still didn't loathe her or find her tainted or impure. He was still as fond of her as he was before, still as protective, still as caring, still as brotherly and unbrotherly as he could have been for the beautiful princess that was his sister.
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And Inuart, who might as well have been family, in his own little way. And if not by law, then certainly by practise considering how the three of them had been damn near inseparable.
Momentarily he missed those days. It happened on the rare occasion. Caim had plenty of time to think and to wonder. To try and piece together former times by hypothetical situations, actions, and overreactions. To see if the world would have changed any differently if he had reacted in a way other than how his history had carried him. And he ventured to assume that no matter what he would have done, they would have met the same end. If the Goddess had not been Furiae and some other woman, Caim imagined he still would have had to get involved. At some point in time the Empire and the Cult of Watchers would have come for their kingdom.
And there was still the merciless slaughter of their parents to consider. That had wounded him deeply, far deeper than anyone else could have known - save Furiae.
He felt his heart lighten a bit when she leaned into him. And as if to thank her for pulling him from his thoughts, he slipped an arm around her, not forgetting that night beneath the mistletoe. He doubted she'd forgotten either and while he had no plans to pretend it didn't happen, he still didn't loathe her or find her tainted or impure. He was still as fond of her as he was before, still as protective, still as caring, still as brotherly and unbrotherly as he could have been for the beautiful princess that was his sister.