Tale of Four

Issac stared up at the banner of his family, listening to the sound of approaching footsteps. Turning around, he flashed a kind smile that was rare on his aloof face and walked over to the three approaching people. "Brother." Helen handed the baby she held in her arms to the man next to her and ran over to Issac, throwing herself into his chest, taking him into a deep hug. Issac closed his eyes and hugged the fourteen-year-old girl back, his breath shaking as he did. She was a young girl, more cute than pretty, still carrying her baby fat. Her brown hair was long, flowing down her back, stopping just above her waist. Isaac looked into his sister’s eyes as she looked up at him with a thin smile. Unlike his own orange eyes, which were like a burning inferno, hers were gentle, like a fireplace made to keep a child warm.

From behind Helen, Justin walked over and placed a hand on his chest, lowering his head slightly to keep a firm hold on the baby. "Brother." Issac looked at Justin. He was a carbon copy of himself when younger, a boy with short brown hair and a sharp jaw. Unlike him, however, his eyes weren’t a burning inferno. Rather, the orange was lighter than everyone in their family, looking white when it caught the sun. It was like fire made to be purely destructive, too hot for any other purpose.

"Justin." Issac broke the hug with Helen and walked to the boy who was sixteen, rubbing his head, "There is no need to be so serious." Justin tensed up, feeling Isaac’s touch, but quickly melted and leaned into it. Softly chuckling, he finally looked down at his young son, the sleeping baby, Christian.

Taking the young boy, he rocked him back and forth, looking down at his face, his eyes, filling with a kind light that tamed the inferno that always existed. "Follow me, you two." Handing the baby back to Helen, Issac led the two deeper into the manor, into a section only he had entered in the last year. Pulling out a set of keys, he opened the door and let the two in, closing it behind him and locking it.

The two siblings teared up ever so slightly in the room, both remembering a time their parents were alive. Issac walked over to a covered painting, pulling the sheet off, revealing the painting of his parents, him and Justin, their mother pregnant with Helen. His hand moved behind his back and, squeezing them into fists, he sighed.

"I have to leave soon." Issac quietly said, staring at the painting, not looking back at his siblings, "The banners have heeded my summons."

"Brother." Helen softly said, going by Isaac’s side, taking his hand, "Why? This is the king’s war, not yours." Issac looked down and bitterly smiled.

"When the Desert invaded our hills, the King was the one who fought for us and held them at bay. I must repay a debt and must honour my pledge of loyalty." Issac said with a deep tone, letting go of Helen’s hand. Stepping forward, he turned to face them, the painting of their parents watching them, "Justin, whilst I am away, you must take on my responsibilities. If I fall in battle." Issac went silent for a moment and looked down at his sleeping son, "I have written my will. You will succeed me over Christian. All I ask is that you keep my boy safe. Make him your heir, don’t, I don’t mind. Just look after him."

Justin went to speak, but the words got trapped in his throat. All he could do instead was look away and nod. Smiling, he turned to Helen, "Your Lady Sunflare, Helen. Help your brother, support him. Your name, your words, carry as much weight as my own; never forget that." Helen forced back the tears, clutching the end of her dress. With a weak nod, Issac pretended not to see the tears she struggled to contain streaming down her cheeks.

Crouching down, he beckoned the two to come closer. Both did and lowered their heads so Issac could rub the top of their heads. "War is hard for everyone. Food will run out eventually. The commonfolk will come to your door every day begging for help. The banners will argue and complain each day it drags on. I need you two to be brave and to do what is required of the name you carry."

Pulling his hands away, he rested them on his knee and looked Justin in the eyes, "You may need to take to the field during this, Justin. I don’t want you to. I have sworn to take that responsibility for us, but your duty may force you to." Standing up, he stepped an inch closer to Justin and looked down at him and grabbed both his arms as firmly as he could. Justin ignored the slight shake in his brother’s hands. "Do not be scared if you must. Be brave, be true." Issac paused and placed his hands behind his back to hide their shaking, not knowing Justin had already seen. "Please do not die. I can die, but you cannot. Be smart, don’t lead from the front. If you must..." Both could see Isaac struggle to say the next words, "Let them call you a coward, if it means you live.

"No." Helen quietly said, "You can’t, Isaac. You’re not allowed to die"

"Helen. War is nothing like the stories. I can die, war is death." Seeing her burning daggers at him, he chuckled, his tension easing, "Relax, I don’t plan on dying, silly girl." Lifitng a finger, he flicked her forehead, "But you both need to understand, I may never return, that this may be the last time we ever see each other. I don’t need to tell you what that is like; we have all experienced it. All I can say is I’m sorry if it happens."

"But..." Helen said defiantly. Issac stopped her, taking her into an embrace, careful not to squash Christian.

"I don’t want to die, Helen, but I know I can. I fear leaving you three alone, but more than that, I fear having to watch you three leave me. I can die, but none of you can." Issac said, breaking from the hug and taking Christian. Lifting the boy up, he placed a soft kiss on his forehead, making the baby stir and open his eyes. Meeting Isaac’s gaze, he made a small sound of excitement and reached towards him. Issac moved his hand close to Christian’s face, the baby grabbing his finger and babbling. With a happy laugh from the depths of his soul, he held the boy up and spun him around, making the baby squeal in delight.

After a second, he fixed his appearance, realising he had let his demeanour as a Lord slip. "Helen. If, for whatever reason, I have fallen and Justin has as well, you will become Lady of the Hills and be forced to lead the family and the Hills. My will has been made clear on this." Issac calmly said, poking at Christian, making the baby giggle, "Let no one look down on our family, but also, make sure you are happy if this happens. Don’t think foolish things about joining us. Live a long and beautiful life. Have many children, fill these halls with the laughter of children. They will judge you unfit because you are a woman or because you are young. Never let their words touch you."

"Brother," Helen said, wishing to cry but unable, the tears having dried up. Justin looked away, hiding his own emotion, finally seeing the burden Issac was carrying after having taken the family from their parents, the numerous terrible fates he had been forced to imagine and prepare for. "I can’t. I never learnt. I don’t want to."

"I didn’t want to be Lord of the Hills so young. I wasn’t ready." Issac said with slight bitterness, "We can’t decide these things, Helen. The sun is both kind and cruel. It burns all the same." Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the painting of his parents and chuckled, handing Christian to Helen, finally moving away from it. Going over to a cupboard, he opened it, pulled out a dusty bottle and took three glasses. Blowing it clean of dust, he walked over to the balcony and took a seat overlooking Helios, a grand city that sat atop the largest hill of the land. Helen and Justin joined him, taking seats as Issac poured each of them a glass of the alcohol their father loved.

Sliding each a glass, he took Christian back and raised his glass towards the sun, sipping, letting out a satisfied groan at the taste. Justin drank next, making a face, trying to hide it so as not to embarrass himself before the two. Helen finally drank, coughing, spitting the drink up, and making her brothers look at her before laughing.

"You never stole any of Father’s drink before, Helen." Issac teased, getting an angry look from Helen. The anger was momentary as she broke down laughing, her sadness washing away as she blushed in embarrassment.

"I could never reach it. It was always on the top shelf." Helen said, her voice getting quieter after every word and her cheeks redder. The two brothers laughed again, taking another sip. With a final snort, Issac let out a deep sigh and looked out at Helios, closing his eyes, hearing Justin and Helen begin talking, as if his previous words and worries had faded from memory, occasionally replying when they spoke to him. With a peaceful smile, he took another sip, burning the moment of peace into his mind.

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