Chapter 10 – A Brother’s Love

Where was it? Belecthor, sitting on the floor of his room, rummaged around in his drawer. He knew he had brought it with him from Ithilien, but where was it? He finally slammed the drawer with a grunt and sat back on his heels, drumming the fingers of his right hand against his chest as he thought. "Maybe Hirilian knows where it is," he mused aloud.

So thinking, he set off down the hall. He knocked on his sister’s door, but when he received no answer, he stepped on in. "Hirilian, have you seen . . ." he stopped, shocked to find his sister crying. "Hirilian," he said softly, closing the door quietly behind him and crossing the room to her. "What is the matter, sister?" he asked quietly, sliding his unbound arm around her shoulders and pulling her to his side.

"Oh, Belec, I am sorry. I have been like this ever since you came back from battle. I know I am weak, but I just cannot help it."

"You are the last person I would call weak, dearest sister, strong-willed rather, but tell me, why do you weep? I have never seen you cry, not since you were in your sixth year!"

"It is very hard for me to tell you, my brother," she said tearfully, hiding her hot face in her brother’s shoulder. Ever had she loved her older brother, he had been her guiding light throughout her entire childhood, and now he was a man. It grieved her even as she was proud, for she knew that they could not always be together anymore.

"Could you try? Remember how when we were both little, you would tell me all your secrets?"

"Yes," she whispered, wiping her eyes.

"I know we have both grown older since those days and the telling of your troubles may have grown difficult, but I am still your brother and I still love you. Do you wish to tell me?"

The tears began to roll unchecked down her face again. "It is about Ceorl," she said flushing.

"Ceorl? Surely his wounds are not the cause of your somber mood?"

"But they are, Belec. You see, I am afraid he shall never awake, and the thought is enough to drive me mad."

"I love Ceorl as a brother and his suffering is painful to me, as his death would be, but why should they distress you so?" Belecthor gently questioned his sister.

Wordlessly she reached to her bedside table drawer and pulled out Ceorl’s letter. Silently she handed it to her brother who bestowed her with a curious glance before opening the billet-doux. He read it through twice before turning to her. "Were you there when we left?" he asked quietly. She nodded, the tears once again glistening in her eyes. "I see. I suppose you have not given him an answer as you have been unable to speak to him. Correct?" Again she nodded, blinking back her tears. "Do our parents know about this, Hirilian?"

"No. Other than ourselves, Princess Elfwyn knows, she was the one who delivered the letter. She said that Eorl wrote it, so that is five people who know that anything is going on. Should I tell mother and father?"

"You know how they are, they may already know. Mother can read right through all of her children and father knows everything mother knows."

"You are right, Belec, but still, do you think I ought to tell them?"

"I think it would be best. I hope everything goes well for you." He kissed her gently on the forehead as they stood. "Dearest sister, I shall miss you."

She glared up at him in mock anger. "Belecthor! I am not married yet, not even betrothed!"

He grinned, "You will be soon!"

Her smile dimmed, "If he lives," she whispered.

"He will," Belecthor said forcefully, more to reassure himself than to assure her. "I have met his mother and she will heal him if anyone can. She would suffer no healer to touch him, and seeing with what they treat their patients, I do not blame her."

"Let us pray you be right," his sister answered as they walked out.