The war loomed over their shoulders. It was getting closer, those strategies, and those hypothetical situations slowly that became a reality. Everyone said that ignorance was bliss, but Peake had never had the chance to learn what ignorance meant. Be it in school, university, the Treasury or the Iron Hand, his mission had always been to know, predict, and prepare. However, now that Peake experienced just how powerless he was against that knowledge, Peake could only tremble. Rally the troops that did not obey nor could wield a sword, meet with noblemen that stared at their coin purses instead of their kingdom… it was all too much, sometimes. Sometimes there was no hope for salvation, and all a man could do was watch the castles fall, stone by stone, without being able to do anything about it. Ignorance was not bliss, as there is no excuse for ignorance. Ignorance was impotence.
Peake, wrapped in the Ouroboro Guard’s plates he found himself trapped in most of the day in, waited by the door of Celeste’s house, hoping she would answer it. Frown on his face and soul at his feet, he waited for his loved one to answer. He too had his regrets, and how their last meeting went… It was something he had to atone for, before she became a Venora, or before the war took him away. Because of this, Peake was nervous, to say the least. Thankfully, he had never faced his sister’s rage before, not counting the few temper tantrums of her childhood. Now… he was somewhat afraid of what to expect. If she was there, of course.
When the door opened, Peake knew Celeste was home – because she was the one holding the knob, obviously. Eyebrows arching as his head lowered, trying to imitate the look the poor boys gave the tax collectors, although it didn’t quite work with Peake as he was a towering giant that was likely to give any tax collectors a heart attack. Just as quick as she had opened, she spun on her heels and lost herself in her home, leaving Peake slightly confused, but not discouraging him from his purpose.
Making his way within the home, closing the door behind him, he’d dubiously follow Celeste, eager to see if she wanted to get something off her chest or do anything. Instead, she did none of those. Perhaps the conversation couldn’t start until the ice between them was eliminated, and Peake being its creator, he imagined he had to be the one to destroy it – if that was even possible. What Peake had done to his own sister was unforgettable, and perhaps even unforgivable. To treat her like a dog, or like any other woman… That was a sin he’d carry on his back forever.
Leaning against the border of the table, giving her his back as she worked on the kettle, Peake would sigh and ponder for a moment.
“Did I ever tell you about the day you were born?” He asked, with a soft chuckle. “It was this beautiful Saun night. It was so, so hot… I was eight, back then. Quincy was five, and Leeson was barely three.”
Peake crossed his arms, a small smile coming to his bearded features as he recalled the past. Not all of his childhood was bad.
<< The three of us were in my room, I believe. Right next to Mother and Fathers’. I remember that Quincy and I were trying to pinch Leeson, who cried like the baby he was, trying to swat at our hands. I don’t know what was so funny, but Quincy was almost dying of laughter. It was then when we heard Mother’s screams down the hallway, coming closer and closer, along with a horde of feet and voices behind her. It was scary, and even if I was the older one, I was very, very afraid, so we didn’t move until our Mother and all the panicking servants slammed the door next to my room. The three of us went out and sat below the wide open windows… You know, those gigantic ones? We sat and sat, for many breaks. None of us fell asleep, or moved. They had told us we would soon be having a new sibling, and we were excited - very excited, but also very scared. It wasn’t until Mother’s screams mingled with a baby’s wail that we remained on the spot. A few bits later, the three Andaris boys saw you for the first time. A sister, the first girl our parents had, and perhaps the smallest baby I have ever seen. The three of us fell in love with you. The next day, I held you for the first time. I was very thin, so I was scared of dropping you, so I held you very, very closely. It was then when you made a small noise with your noise, something like a wheeze of some sorts, and I, being as silly as I was, thought you were trying to say something. So I leaned in and… BAM! You sneezed, to which a large string of snot landed riiiight in my eye. >>
Peake chuckled, enjoying the melancholy of a good memory. Shaking his head, he’d exhale as he continued with the same nostalgic tone.
“I panicked, and after being laughed at by everyone, Mother took you back and I wiped my face with my sleeve.” Peake paused for a moment. “You know… I’ve seen you grow, I’ve seen you laugh and I’ve seen you cry. I remember many moments of your life I’ve never shared with you, because I value like treasures. I’ve seen you grow from a child into the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom. And in a single moment, I destroyed everything.”
“I don’t want you to marry him.” Said Peake, looking over his shoulder at last.“I want you to marry me.”
