#flameswen

✘ — ; Although it ached against the bones of his chest – Clive couldn’t help but chuckle in response.  “Did they now?” He groaned with a lighthearted tone. He felt a tad bit foolish, having been caught trying to get out of bed by his younger brother. They all knew him too well; a workaholic who had more wounds and scars than hours in a day.  Joshua’s mere presence forced him to retreat from his prior endeavors; he kicked his feet up and rested his back on the mattress.  There wasn’t a part of him that wasn’t sore. His muscles felt as though they were on fire; raging with the pyre of the battles from the dawn.

Yet, the brisk night air seeping through the open window did little to alleviate him. He glanced for a moment, as he finally allowed his head fall deeply on the pillow – at the moon above.

Its soft silvery light kissed his exposed bruised skin; accentuating the curves of his every muscle and scars alike. For a moment, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He never noticed how exhausted he truly was until he finally allowed himself to be. His blade lingered upon his fingertips, the shape of its hilt was so easy to imagine. It had become an extension of himself and now with it gone and away, it felt as though he had lost a limb. He brought his empty palm before him and opened his eyes to stare. At first, he observed the many calluses etched upon hardened skin. But then Clive felt the trembling spell of fire claw away at the numbness of his bare digits.

Tightly, he clasped his hand closed and turned his attention to the white bandages wrapped around his bare body before looking at Joshua. Despite his unbecoming appearance as the young man’s sworn shield, Clive couldn’t help but smile seeing him.  

“I pray you did not trouble yourself too much with tending to your older brother’s wounds?” He hoped knowing he did so in vain.