“Kris, I’m surprised to see you out here.
Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the banquet?
It starts in a few hours.” Arthos said as he casually approached his almost-sister.
“Hey Arthos.
Neva was supposed to help do my hair but got sucked into a meeting with Wain and the counselors over the treaty implementation.
I’m glad this is over…sick and tired of hearing those two talk about treaty clauses.” Kristan grumbled.
“Yeah.
I really don’t like that stuff either.
I feel a little guilty that I pushed all that onto Neva and Wain to handle…but they seem to love that stuff.” Arthos said with a face of relief.
He continued, “Hey, umm…I didn’t get a chance to talk to you privately.
I’m very proud and happy for you and Wain.
Buying a condo together and moving in together.
That’s a big step…and I’m honestly happy for you both.”
“Cut the crap.
I’ve known you since we were kids, and I know you are a terrible liar.
Besides, Wain and I talked last night.” She said with a slightly smile.
“And?” Arthos asked curiously.
“And let’s just say our problems got resolved…vigorously resolved many times.” She said with a satisfied smile.
“Oh my!
Don’t tell me…You know what, I don’t want to hear it!” Arthos said covering his ears.
Kristan laughed…and honest and deeply amused laugh from the soul.
She said, “pillow talk does wonders for the truth…it’s probably the best truth serum there is.
Wain…he umm…he told me about you and Neva.”
“Oh, he did?” Arthos said somewhat irritated.
“To be fair, Neva also talked to me about the same thing…she is really worried about you.
She truly does love you…but she feels that you are quietly pulling away from her.” Kristan said with a voice full of concern.
“It’s complicated for me.
I’m stuck here in this world.
She is on earth.
I don’t want to hurt her or make things more complicated for her.” Arthos said weakly trying to explain his feelings.
“That is a bunch of crap!
And you know it!
That’s not the reason…I know you…and I think you are afraid.
What are you so afraid of?
Letting her down?” Kristan said aggressively.
She had a way of approaching problems like a tank…head-on and with force.
“I’m not afraid…I love her and don’t want her to get hurt…that’s all.” Arthos replied as he struggled to keep his voice and emotions from flaring.
“Coward!
You fight the most terrifying beasts from the darkest hell holes…but you don’t have the courage to admit the truth.” Kristen pushed back with force.
“I’m not afraid!” Arthos’s voice trembled with anger over the accusation.
What is it then?
Is there someone else?
Do you not love her?”
Arthos shook his head with revulsion over the idea of there being someone else.
Kristan continued her merciless onslaught, “then what are you so afraid of?
You are going to lose her you know.
She basically a princess…she is rich, smart, ferocious warrior, beautiful, and she is smoking hot…I’ve seen her completely naked and let me tell you…you are missing out.”
Arthos dropped his gaze in shame, no longer able to resist the pressure from his sister’s interrogation.
Kristan continued her relentless “tough love.”
“I’m telling you…you are going to lose her!
Is that what you want?
To see her with another man?”
“Ok!
Ok!
Enough!
I’m afraid, alright.
Are you happy?
You want to hear me say it?
I’m afraid ok.
I’m scared out of my boots, wake up at night drenched in sweat afraid.” Arthos said as he finally broke down, tears trickled down his face.
He had been repressing these feelings deep down for a long time…and like a pressure pot, they were ready to burst.
“Afraid of what?” Kristan asked in a whisper…as if talking any louder would materialize the fear into flesh and bone.
“I’m afraid of the truth!
Ok!
I’m afraid of the truth.
All this time, I believed my mother died when I was a baby.
What if that’s not true?
What if the truth is far worse?” Arthos said softly.
“What do you mean?” Kristan said as she put her hand on his back for support.
“Avalor was destroyed…everyone died.
What if I am the last decedent of the king?
How will I keep everyone safe?
How will I keep Neva safe?
Wain and Percy…and you?
How will I protect you, sister?” He stopped talking for a few seconds as he took a deep breath and steadied himself…breathing felt oddly difficult, like pulling air through a straw.
He continued, “I’m just an orphan…I’m no king!
The way the shopkeeper, Kay, Elencia and King Isandor look at me…I feel their gaze heavy with expectation.
What if I can’t?
What if I fail?
What if I am no king?
How will I face them?
How will I face Neva?”
“and my parents…my real parents…what if my dad was a terrible man?
What if he instigated this Great War that claimed the lives of millions including my family?
What if my parents never truly loved me?
What if I was abandoned?
I don’t know…so many questions.
I’m afraid of the truth.” Arthos said as he broke down and sobbed.
His muscular body trembled and quaked…like something inside was cracking and the insides were spilling out.
It was raw and unpolished, the sounds came from deep within his soul like a thunderstorm surrendering its content.
Too tired and exhausted to pretend, Arthos let the tears roll down…some silent, others trembling as they fell.
It was a release, a release of a lifetime’s worth of emotions and doubts.
Kristan wrapped her arms around Arthos and placed his head against her chest.
She held him tight while she gently combined his hair and kissed his forehead for a long time.
“Brother.
I love you.
Neva loves you.
We all do.
I can’t think of a better king than you.
If there are enemies, we will defeat them all together as we always have…never feel like you have to do things alone.
You will always have our support.
We are your family now and we will never abandon you…and about your parents.
Did I ever tell you that my mother was a prostitute?”
“What?” Arthos asked in shock.
“Yeah…not something a person talks about.
She was a mistress for a rich man.
He had many women and my mother was one of them.
Once she found out she was pregnant, she fled.
She put me in an orphanage as soon as I was born.
A few months later she was found dead…probably killed by the rich man.” Kristan said in a detached voice.
“I’m sorry…I had no idea.” Arthos said as he hugged her back.
“It’s ok…really…It’s in the past.
That’s the point.
Our parents and who they were…it’s in the past now.
What matter is right now.
What we do now.
Regardless of if your parents were good or bad, you have the power to help so many…don’t throw it away.” She said sternly.
“Thank you…you are right.
It’s what I needed to hear.
I know what I must do.” Arthos said with renewed energy.
“Oh.
Perfect timing here comes the Princess’s handmaid.
See you at the banquet.” Kristan said as she walked away.