TW: Violence, death

13 years prior

Oriad, Elvangmort

Mother must have seen me ride into our stables. She was waiting for me in a plush armchair as I entered the parlor. Eudora was petting her kitten, purring in her lap while sitting at our mother's feet.

It was one of the most beautiful days of the year, and the weather was pleasant. The curtains were bunched to the side,  sunlight streaming into the room illuminating the chairs and individual threads on the rug. The light shining off my mother's bun and my sister's twin braids made their black hair appear brown. It was the least that could be done to give my sister the impression of being outside. With the Blackwoode manor lying on a hill, surrounded by forests on three sides—the parlor being one of the rooms to be facing the forest—there wasn't any risk of my sister being spotted from the outside here.

"Graeme, it's wonderful to see you again, dear. Take a seat, I've already summoned for tea." My mother greeted me warmly with a smile that I couldn't help but return. "See, no need to always be so dark."

"I'm not dark," I mumbled, sitting in a chair opposite from Mother.

"It seems that all the clothes you own are black. Even your father has attire in different hues."

There was no point in arguing when my outfit was completely black today. "Is father home?" I asked, bluntly changing the subject.

"You know his duties as a general. He's out, but he'll be home for supper."

I nodded, glancing beyond my mother into the forest beyond our home. The sunlight was filtering between the leaves casting a green glow on the forest floor. There was a path from our home to a sheltered lake. Eudora came to my side and glanced into the forest with me.

"Is it... nice out there?" She asked me, the words coming to her eventually.

"Yeah, it's nice. Sometimes though, it can be exceptionally hot. Imagine a temperature similar to fire. And, during the winter, it can be freezing. It's fortunate to stay inside the house sometimes," I answered Eudora's question. I would always try to make it seem that the outside world wasn't much better than the world she knew inside the manor. I wanted to make her feel like she wasn't missing anything.

"Why can't I go out?" Eudora asked the same question nearly every day, and it was evident that she longed to experience the fresh air, and the sunlight on her face.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair before answering. We never wanted to tell her the truth, but it hurt to continue feeding her lies. "Remember, Eudora, you're special. The world isn't ready to face someone like you. You're sweeter and fairer than the Queen, and we can't have the people worshipping you instead. They'd likely have me hanged."

Mother tutted me before speaking, "Graeme, what did I say about being so dark all the time? Don't scare your sister."

"Sorry Mother," I mumbled before standing and making my way toward her. I leaned close to her ear and whispered my plan. "It's midday, and Father isn't home. I'm here to supervise her, are you certain I can't take her into the forest? The path to the lake is secluded, no one knows of their whereabouts except for our family." I didn't want to raise Eudora's hopes in case Mother said no.

    I always had wished to bring Eudora outside, but there was never a suitable time if Father was around. I felt that Mother shared my desires, and even though she seemed to be in favor and regretting her decision, she gave me affirmation. "If you hear traces of anyone, hide. When the Sun starts setting, be sure to come home, and quickly. Heavens know what your Father will do if word reaches him that Eudora was brought outside.

"Yes, Mother. I'll be careful," I muttered, but I was already making my way back toward Eudora, a spring in my step. "C'mon, I'm going to take you outside," I told my sister.

Her face lit up, and her eyes opened wide. Her mouth stretched into the widest smile I had ever seen from her, and she immediately sprang up, with no regard for the kitten which had been lying in her lap.

"Really, Graeme, I can really go?" she delightedly spoke while excitedly clapping her hands.

"Yes, you can really go. We must be swift though." I confirmed, holding out a hand to her.

She placed her small hand in mine as I led her to the stables. As we were about to leave the parlor, I glanced over my shoulder toward Mother, who gave me another approving nod, a small smile on her face.

_

My sister had rarely been outside, certainly not in the sunshine. Almost as soon as we had begun our journey, she was gleefully laughing, taking everything in. She was sitting in front of me on my horse her head swiveled in every direction.

I imagined each flower was as beautiful as a gemstone to her. The forest creatures scampering beneath our feet were as mythical and intriguing as dragons or fairaes. She had questions about everything, from "What's this?" to "Why is that shaped funny?". I answered each of her questions, enjoying her company and the cool summer air tousling my hair.

On horseback, the lake was no further than ten minutes away, but as we rounded the bend that would reveal the lake, I noticed something peculiar. Instead of a narrow path with thick brambles and the dense forest surrounding it, the land was cleared. The trees had been chopped down and poles were stuck into the ground. It gave the impression that some party was setting camp, yet had abruptly stopped. Something was wrong. Dismounting, I gave Eudora a hand while surveying the area around us.

"Wow, I've never seen so much water in one place. But, where have all the trees gone?" Eudora loudly asked, me cringing from the volume.

She would have alerted everyone in the surrounding area where we were. She didn't know any better, but it made me uneasy."

"Hey, keep it down for a moment, yeah?" I gently told her, straining my eyes to see deep into the forest, "Stay right here and don't move, I need to look at something."

"But, I want to... ex-explore. How do those flowers smell?" She asked, motioning at a tangle of buttercups a few feet to our right.

"I'll tell you later. Just listen to me, okay?"

Unsheathing my sword, I slowly crept to the right of the path where there was a larger quantity of stumps. I heard my heart hammering in my ears. I was unarmored with only a sword to defend myself against, likely several others. My sister was behind me, one who was completely oblivious to the situation. I had to protect two people at once,  something that wouldn't be an easy task.

When I felt a stinging pain in my side and peered down to see a streak of blood beginning to soak my shirt, I knew what had happened, and I knew what I had to do. I saw the outline of a bow now and lunging toward the archer before he had another chance to fire, my sword sliced through his stomach, the archer slumping forward. Seeing something I desired, I spun around and raised the shield to block the incoming arrow before charging in a new direction.

I sliced and stabbed my way through the men, only focused on blocking arrows and attacking my next target. I only felt raw emotion when fighting. The pain and exertion would come later. Irritation and anger flooded my veins as I barreled into the men, only stopping once the remaining survivors fled into the woods. Wiping my sword against my pant leg, it was only then I realized the physical damage of the battle.

Along with the initial sear against my leg, another arrow had badly sliced my left arm, and another had embedded into my foot. I can't imagine what anyone was doing, aiming at the floor, and this is a rare opportunity where it did any good, I thought while pulling the arrow out.

As I turned to assess my sister's condition, I felt time freeze. Shock seized my heart, tangibly hurting it. My feet felt like lead and I couldn't bring myself to move any muscle in my body. I didn't cringe as my sword, still bloodstained, slid from my grasp and fell onto the floor.

My sister lay in a puddle of her blood, slowly dying beside the buttercups. She hadn't listened to my instructions and had to go investigate the new element. A stray arrow lay in her neck.

This is your fault. You asked to bring her here. You knew the risks of bringing her into the forest, yet you did. She's going to die because of you.

Those thoughts seemed to awaken my body as I ran to her.

You had to fight. Instead of bringing her back, as you should have, you needed closure. You were itching for a fight, and it cost her life.

"No, no, no, no, no." I knelt to her side, softly holding her hand in mine. My heartbeat was louder than I had ever heard, I felt each pump in my chest as it sounded like a gong in my ears. Everything else was muted as I tried to comprehend the situation, tried to wake myself up, and tried to find a solution that didn't involve Eudora's death.

And, how the Hell are you going to explain this to Mother and Father? Can't you imagine Mother's heartbreak? Can't you see Father's disapproval, his anger? You're the one to blame, he'll see no other reason.

"G-Graeme, t-the flowers smell so beautiful. I never knew... that life held this beauty but it's also p-painful. With all the pretty flowers and... shimming lakes, there's ugly things like p-pain." Eudora's breathing was labored, but she had a content look on her face. "I'm so happy I got to see it all before I died."

"Hey, you're not going to die, okay? I'm here with you, I'll be here to protect you."

"I know, Graeme, b-but it hurts so much."

I felt a lump forming in my throat as my vision began to wave, my eyes tearing up. Hurriedly, I wiped the tears away. You're Graeme Blackwoode. You don't cry. Crying shows weakness and you need to be strong now, for Eudora.

"D-don't cry, Graeme. You should be happy you let me experience-" Eudora never finished her final statement as her eyes closed for the final time, death overtaking her.

The lump seemed to settle in my stomach as I took in her body. As I raised a hand to wipe the tears, her final words seemed to settle inside me.

Don't cry, Graeme.

I slowly stood, bending over to pick up my sword.

Don't cry, Graeme.

The sadness began morphing into a new emotion, one even more powerful.

Bloodthirstiness.

I was going to make this group pay. I wouldn't stop until I was certain I killed every single member that had been affiliated with the men that had killed my sister. Rage filled my body as I studied their trails, ready to begin my hunt.

All emotion numbed as my senses strengthened. The footprints in the soft mud were as clear as looking through the clean water of the lake. I noticed every snapped twig or trampled bramble. Most people were so clumsy when they ran. There were clues everywhere—such as footprints or torn cloth—and I doubted they would outrun me when I was angry.

When I heard their pounding feet, their heavy breaths as they tried to outrun a predetermined fate, it was then I smiled.

My revenge was served.

I only began to calm again once I neared the edge of the lake. I had only been expecting to clean my blade which was dripping blood. It felt like lightning had struck my heart and coursed through my body once I saw my reflection.

I was coated in blood.

It looked like I had run through a downpour, but instead of the sky raining water, it had been raining blood. Bloody slashes and droplets of red colored my clothes would never be recoverable as I doubted the blood would ever wash out of them. It wasn't as if I would want to wear these garments again.

The fact that I wasn't wearing a helmet made everything worse. Splatters of blood had covered most of my face.

It was then I truly comprehended the blood. The metallic taste filled my mouth, and my nose, and it was so overwhelming that I felt like screaming and weeping at the same time.

The only distinguishable feature that it was me, not some monster, was my dark eyes staring back at me.

That's not right, is it? You look like a monster and have the eyes of a monster. Dark, voided orbs. You are a monster, just like Father. Your sister is dead because of you. You murdered nearly twenty men without a second thought until now.

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵

    I had cleaned myself and wrapped Eudora in my mantle. If I avoided the wound mark on her neck, she would have been so peaceful, that I could almost imagine she was sleeping. Yet, that wasn't the truth, and I had to face Mother and Father.

    The manor, which had always been a place of hospitality and warmth, had never seemed too dark and uninviting to me. I could see Mother and Father inside the dining room, the fire ablaze. Father would be drab and annoyed eating his supper. He was never in a good mood, and it would be even worse if I had taken Eudora out. Mother would be ashamed of letting us go, yet worried that we hadn't returned yet.

    Once I told them everything, I could see Father's anger. I had only seen him truly angry once, the day after he had learned that the King had withdrawn troops from a recently conquered territory—against Father's will—causing an uprising and killing hundreds of innocents. He had locked himself in his study, and from the sounds of destruction coming from inside, it was evident what was happening. It was the best way to deal with his anger as he couldn't take it out on the man who had caused it. Yet, I feared this situation would be different

    Even though that was the likely outcome, I feared another outcome. What if he would be... proud? He never expressed any love for Eudora, and the prospect that I had not only taken revenge on her murderers but had decimated so many men, exiting the situation with minor injuries could be something he admires in his sick mind.

    Despite what Father thought, I knew Mother would be anguished. She would never look at me the same way. I could see her shutting down, living the rest of her days wallowing in the past when Eudora was still alive.

    I never would have imagined what happened because as I entered the dining room, I saw my parents slumped in their seats, their suppers still set out in front of them.

    Even a fool could assume what had happened.

    The same rage from earlier, the rage I felt when I was hunting Eudora's murderers resurfaced. The feelings weren't for Father though.

Whoever poisoned Mother should start counting their days, I thought as I drew my blade and started toward the kitchens.

QOTC: What's your opinion of Eudora?