Castle

[Tifa Lockhart]

The hand the Stephan did not hold his fathers with was clenched so tight blood dripped from the gouges his fingers had made. He was so stupid.... had he listened before this had happened... the kingdom would have a sensible leader to look up too... instead they would have an irresponsible juvenile who couldn't contain his own anger.
He swallowed, the saliva in his mouth struggling its way down his tightened throat, he had clenched it, and his jaw, so tight so he could stop the tears he wanted so much to shed... but no, he had to be strong.

[Sparkles]

The king however had noticed Stephan's shesitation when he opened his eyes. "You don't have to be strong Stephan" he said quietly, "I have confidence in you... ANd so does you sister... and your mother" he swollowed also as he mentioned his wife; it was time to tell them, otherwise he would have no chance at it. Figuring out a way to say what he must, the father was muted momentarily.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Stephan refused to cry, even with comforting words from his father. he couldn't. He needed to be strong for himself. At the mention of his mother a fire ignited in Stephan's eyes. He HATED his mother... for abandoning them to cope with this alone... if he ever found her... if he was king, she would die by the cruelest way imaginable. Harsh sounding i know... but you have no idea how betrayed Stephan felt.

[Sparkles]

"She was taken" he let this fall to there ears heavily, another thing he wished he had told them sooner. "I do not know how or by whom but three months ago I was given a letter stating that if anyone was notified of this then she would be no more" he knew they could understand his reasons... or at least hoped.

Tarsha imediatly looked up and forgot everything... not about her father currently being put to rest but that she had hate for her mother; it was gone and she felt extremely faint, but did not interupt him like she wished to so badly.

He continued, "For the time she has been without us, i fear she is weakening also. You see... our family has greater ties to this kingdom then you'd ever know my children... though you will find out soon enough" he tried on a smile and waited, calm but feeling an explosion in hi chest, being extremely tight... he had so much to tell them... so little time left.

[Tifa Lockhart]

The hate was still there... nothing in the world could make it go away. He didn't care if she'd just left, or abandoned them, she was still not there when they needed her the most.
But something in his head distressed him so, his hand tightened on his fathers as if clutching him tighter, as if that would make him stay. He had to say something to his father before he left him forever, but the words would not come to his mouth... he was lost in silence, not wanting to accept the horrid truth that soon he might as well be called an orphan.

[Cloud Strife]

Shikir's hands were trembling as they covered his face, and as Lithren approached the elder male could do nothing but allow silent tears to fall. For well over 15 years he served the man that was now lying and waiting at death's door. He could almost consider him a friend, had the king/servent relationship not gotten in the way. The king was his master, his lord, and now he was being taken by means of which had no cure. The elf was at a loss...and as his sister knelt before him, all he could do was sit there and weep in silence. In the end, he was unable to aid the King...But never fear! Shikir would place a brave face on when it came to helping the siblings..he had to.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Lithren's face was sad, her eyes deep with feeling for her brother. She placed a cool, gentle hand on his cheek and kissed his forehead.
"Cry all you need brother... this has been your home my whole life... that king accepted you into it... you just have to remember the next will too... you did raise him after all." My my my, wasn't Lithren a smart one for her age? Do remember to keep in mind that she is only thirteen by human standards.. which, while not 13 in elf years, is still a mere child compared to other elves.

[Sparkles]

The king held on t there hands for thet moment longer. "Tarsha... reach into my robe. Get the necklaces" he nodded to her as if to say in that snall moment that she was not looking at him, he would not leave them.
With her free hand Tarsha did as she was told, but she wished to do so much more; she felt helpless. She then held her father's elbow so as he could do whatever he wanted and placed the necklaces into his palm; not paying them much attention until he smiled at the sheer feel of them.
"These are for you" he decided not to say, 'your mothers and mine' for specific hesitation he had again picked up. He spilled one out of his hand and placed it in Tarsha's, then the same to Stephan; however hard it was to find any space or make it. On the chains, as they would see, are two halves of a clear key with a small liquid pool of purple at the tips of each. What they'll also see is that when he dies, the purple will go completely.

[it symbolises magic and all chaos ignites ^^;; j/k... it'll take a lil' bit]

[Tifa Lockhart]

Stephan clutched the necklace briefly, before putting the chain over his head and letting it dangle around his neck. Something told him, if he'd listened to all he had to learn when he was younger, the kingdom and its workings would not be such a mystery to him, like it was now. So many repercussions had come from his childish mistake....

[Sparkles]

Tarsha did the same and clutched the rod of the key, sliding it back and forth in her cold hands. A replicer of what she felt like and only Stephan could possibly find that emotion. It felt like it was just about her father, but it was oh so much more. She let go of the necklace and found her brother's hand, squeezing it tight; she now had her father and her brother... how could anything bad still be happening?

[Tifa Lockhart]

Feeling Tarsha's grasp broke Stephan, a tear ran down his cheek, followed by another and another. His grasp on both her and his father tightened to white knuckle point. He didn't want to let go, not of his sister... nor his father. As a child he'd made his father promise they'd be friends forever... after getting older Stephan realized this was his childish naivety, and that this moment would come eventually, but not now.... not this soon... Stephan wasn't ready to face it.

[Sparkles]

Tarsha felt a small warmth in between there hands and realised it was blood that he'd drawn unintentionally himself and she also squeezed harder... which ultimatly lost her feeling in her fingers but made no point to remove her hand for either reason.

The king was glad to see both of his children finally letting go. He lay his head back on his pillow and a single tear rolled down his cheek. "Alone... you can conquer the world. Together... you can conquer the universe" he squeezed there hands one last time and brought them up to kiss them with his last energy. "Together...you are... invincible" his last testimony before his hands lost there tightness, his breath could be heard being pushed from his lungs and his body loosening any cramped muscles. His face put to a calm peace.

Tarsha stared at her father hard and with accumilating fear. no... he wasn't gone, he couldn't be gone. He was strong, stronger then her and she wasn't gone... how could he be? She stroked her fingers across his warm hand, expecting it to suddenly tighten again and him to laugh and say somehting like, 'fooled you' but he sayed still and the tears welled up. They only had a few seconds for realisation.

[Tifa Lockhart]

As his father's hand lost their tightness so did Stephan's on his sisters, all his focus going to his father's calm face... his hand tightened on his fathers. Stephan had said nothing... he had never really let his father know how sorry he was for being the way he had been all these years... and now he would never be able too.... all he felt was regret... no happiness for seeing him finally at peace... just regret for all the things he didn't say. He didn't want to be brave... but he wanted to for his fathers sake... Now this kingdom was his, and he wanted to protect it with all his life.
He finally released his fathers hand and grabbed Tarsha into a warm embrace, knowing she would cry loudly any second... and then Shikir would know... Stephan somehow knew his mentor waited outside the door.

Lithren looked away from her brother briefly, towards the kings bedchamber door... her heart began to ache... something told her it had happened... and it would surely only be a matter of time before something confirmed it. Then, a strange sensation rippled through her mind, anyone with any sense of magical prowess would have felt it... like something that had always been there had vanished... and then something else... more powerful had taken its place... this sensation however, drowned out a feeling that could best be described as an evil laugh....

[Sparkles]

Tarsha began to breath heavily for a few seconds before she was taken by her brother. "n-no" she felt hot and her head hurt. Pulling her eyes from her fathers body and removing her hand she wrapped them around Stephan's neck tightly and wept softly, followed with staggered breaths. Her stomach was in ruins and her vision was blury beyond all purpose. "he... he's gone" she said to try and convince herself, but this just made her weep harder and tighten her grip on Stephan, she would never let him out of her sight! never!

[Tifa Lockhart]

Stephan held his sister to his chest, knowing she needed him now more then ever. He knew what she was thinking, exactly what she was thinking.
"I'm not going anywhere Tarsha." He whispered in her ear, his none bloody hand stroking her hair gently as he rocked back and forth, shushing her as a father would his wailing child.
"Wail all you need... no one will care... you're more important then any of them now... they cant stop you." It seemed Stephan had taken more then one new responsibility onto his shoulders with the death of his father, he would take care of Tarsha... help her cope... even if he couldn't himself.