39: His Own Worst Enemy

It's difficult. Trying to figure out whether Lucius was asleep or just lying down completely still. Though, I was just glad to see the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. I took a seat opposite him on a chair, saying nothing. But then the first tear slips past. And he wipes my tears.

"Lucius," I gulped.

He sat up, leaned against the wall and regarded me. A gruff sound came from him.

"No," I said, "you don't have to say anything. Just listen to me."

He nodded.

"Thank you," I began. "I know I should apologize" – he shook his head – "but, saying sorry does nothing to reveal your good heart. So I say thank you, because I'm grateful to have such a kind, selfless, sweet person as my friend. And I will never forget what you did for me. No matter what happens."

We met David outside where we thanked him again and as many times as I could.

He simply smiled and said, "I know its best you keep details of your journey to yourselves, but if it's any help, if you go far enough right through the woods, you will reach a road. May the gods watch over you children."

But as we turned to leave, he called out to us. "Wait." We watched him disappear behind a door and reappear with a coat. He handed it to Lucius. "The bandages stand out quite a bit."

Lucius shook his head and waved his hands about.

"This coat belongs to my grandson," David explained, "well it belonged to him, before he passed. I don't think I have anything that'll fit you. But you have similar heights so I thought..."

I nudged Lucius. He looked to me. "The bandages stand out," I whispered. "They could still be out there."

He hesitantly accepted the old man's offer. And as David had suspected, it fit perfectly. Again we thanked David and finally we left.

By midday the woods lost all its eerie aura. Though I was still on my guard the whole time, anticipating attacks all around, I couldn't breathe freely till we stepped out of the woods onto the road. But bordering the opposite side of the road was the woods, again, stretching far and beyond. Lucius and I started down the road, hoping to find a familiar path or a familiar face, at least.

"Do you remember passing this way last night?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"Me neither," I sighed.

We probably walked for an hour before we decided to take a break. But not for long when we got to our feet and continued down the road. If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought we were walking in circles, but then we saw the first sign of tall dry grass.

"Grass, Lucius, grass!" I cheered and ran down the road, dragging Lucius along, though he was a fair bit taller than me.

I had never been so happy to see grass. The bristly blades brushed against my skin as I ran through the prairie, though I knew I'd itch like crazy later, I gladly welcomed their prickly little leaves. Lucius followed closely behind. I halted abruptly when a familiar voice reached my ears. Lucius stepped forward, listing his head.

"Do you hear that Lucius?" I whispered. "It sounds, it sounds like Philip."

He hesitated then nodded slowly.

"Philip!" I shouted, pushing the grass out of my way, stomping over them, desperately trying to make my way to him. "Philip! Are you there!"

"Mo!" Came his voice. "Mo, is that you!"

"Philip!"

"Mo! I'm coming!"

And then the grass parted before me and there came a grinning Philip. But over the grass I caught a glimpse of someone who didn't need to have heard us, Xon. Pushing Philip forward, I dropped onto him as he dropped onto the grass. I looked behind me to find Lucius missing.

"Couldn't wait, I see," Philip said smugly under me.

"Sshh, he'll hear you," I scolded. "Didn't you hear Xon behind you?"

He smirked. "No need to make excuses, I know you missed" – I clamped a hand over his mouth.

That's when we heard him. "Dave?" Xon said. "What? I don't understand you. Where's December? I don't understand what that means—whoa! Hold up!" The sound of grass swishing here and there accompanied by footsteps.

"Dave! Where are you going?!" Xon's voice slowly grew quieter and quieter till we couldn't hear him anymore.

I sighed and pushed myself off Philip, only to have him force me onto him again in a hug.

"Where were you?" He murmured into my ear. "I was worried sick."

His heart thrummed beneath mine, resonating our bodies, merging our warmth. I couldn't have felt any safer in his arms, with him, but I was scared. Scared that one day this moment would melt into a dream and then nothing. I shoved those thoughts aside and listened to his hammering heart beat, glad to hear such an assuring sound.

"Lucius was injured," I said. "But he's alright now."

He lifted me by my arms, as he searched my face, his own morphed in concern. "What happened? Are you alright? Were you injured too? Who did it? Who was it?"

I couldn't help chuckling. I squirmed out of his hold and sat beside him. He sat up, facing me. "I'm fine. We got caught by some guards. Lucius got shot in my place. But we found a kind old man who was able to treat Lucius."

He rubbed my fingers as he stared into my eyes, relief alight in his. "I'm just glad you're okay."

I detached his hands from mine carefully and avoided his eyes. "Philip," I began. "I know, I've asked you this before. But, why did you choose to help me? You had never met me, you couldn't just trust me, why did you really?"

He folded his legs over the other as he rubbed his stubble. "Because, I saw what you did before your match. And after. When Kent mistreated that maid, you were the only one who stood up for her. When the fire trapped those people in there, you were the only who helped. You're have a good heart. That's why I chose to help you. But now, I've come to realize that you're an even better person than I thought you were. I know you've had a tough life, I of all people would know, but I've never heard you speak a word against anyone who has wronged you."

"If I ever wrong you Philip, will you ever forgive me?"

"Why would you ever?"

"I'm a broken person Philip. And you're the first person I've admitted this to. I don't know when I could do something I'll regret, but I hope at least you would forgive me." Maybe we didn't start out as friends, but when we did become friends, he became my first.

"Whatever it is you could ever do, I know I will forgive."

"Thank you, Philip."

"You're welcome, Mo." He smiled, and I couldn't believe someone could ever smile that way for me.

I stood dusting myself down. "Well, we should get going. Lucius won't be able to fool Xon forever."

"Right." He came to stand at my side.

"Uh, no, we can't both return at the same time."

He nodded and stepped away. "You go first."

I waved goodbye and went ahead when he called for me again. "Yeah?"

"I'd have been heartbroken, had you not returned." He winked.

I hid my smile with a hand. "Then I must be special."

~~~

Xon found me easily. He interrogated me, asking what, and how and all of that. I told him the truth as I had nothing to hide. When he was satisfied after grilling me harshly he accompanied me back into the forest. I had just met Xon but I had already seen more sides of him than I needed. One minute he was strict and sarcastic the next he's all mushy and sloppy and then he's back to being his severe self. And I had a feeling it had something to do with a certain banshee.

In any case, what Xon said next stole all of my attention. "Cyr has something to announce, and he desires our attendance."

From the forest floor we travelled farther than the first level of houses, we passed the second and third, the fourth and then we finally reached the last level of houses. These houses were fewer and quieter than the rest. Though the largest of the buildings was brimming with people at the moment. I found familiar faces in the crowd, Brise, Lucius, Rapio, Nareem and many other faces of the levels below.

"How does Cyr know Tobias?" I cautioned.

Without looking my way he said, "Cyr helped Tobias build this place from the ground up."

I hesitated to ask anymore.

We crossed the bridge to join the crowd. The building had a large enough verandah capable of holding us all. The crowd faced a podium, quietly whispering among themselves. I pushed my way through the crowd to Brise. I greeted her but she replied, almost disappointedly, "oh you're not dead."

"Unfortunately," I said, sarcastically.

"The first one goes out tonight."

"What?"

Brise scowled and leaned towards me. "The message," she whispered.

I gulped and looked ahead.

All sound seemed to cease as the door to the building fell open. And onto the podium walked Cyr in the flesh. The first thing that caught my attention was his unmasked face and its resemblance to a certain someone. Everything that I had overlooked, soon fell into place. Tall and thin, dressed smartly. His dull-pink hair. And maybe even his voice.

"I bring good," Cyr hesitated. "No, I bring great news. It seems the king does well in defeating himself. He is of course his own worst enemy." He smiled, and I knew where I had last seen that terrifying grin, Eve. Though that was the least of my concerns when I heard what he said next. "For his majesty King Arthur has dethroned his own nephew!"

a/n: hehe.