Chapter Twelve: Castor's Return

He comes back to Modet and...

Chapter Twelve

Castor’s Return

It was much like the day he left. Children were laughing and playing. The sun was shining. The difference was that then the players were just arriving. Now they were packing to leave. Then the Sugar Weavers were decorating the castle. Now they appeared to have retreated to the forest once again.
Castor hung his head. He had failed them, failed them all. The Prince would not be set free. His bride would never get to see her kingdom, and her subjects would never get to see their princess. And now Modet had no royal family. No ruler. The closest ruler now was- his brother.
He had explained in broken sentences what had happened that day to Morin. That the servant beating, cold hearted, manticore loving villain that lived in Luan Manor- was his brother. He was ashamed. He knew it was his fault that his brother had become the monster he was.
The Lion Prince.
Villain.
John.
Brother.
He saw Mabel running towards him. He saw her yelling his name, to numb to hear. She was attracting attention now. People were turning and staring, most of their faces lighting up as they ran to him. Probably to ask when their Prince would be returning. When they would see their new princess. The baby.
He couldn’t face them. Couldn’t see their disappointment when they found out he let them down.
He turned his horse to go straight into his workshop. He saw Mabel make a final push through the crowd and run to catch up to him. He turned his back on her and rode home.
Once there he put his horse in the stable and went inside. Mabel was still there trying to get him to listen.
“I have something important to tell you!” she tried first, but he kept walking. “It’s so secret that I can’t say it here. Only inside!”
Maybe she thought the secret part would capture his attention. He kept walking.
“Castor-please-listen!”
He entered his workshop wordlessly and slammed the door before she had the chance to follow him in.
“Castor, please open up!” she banged on the door. “We need your help!”
Banged and banged. Harder and harder. She wanted him to listen, needed his help. Why did people only ask of him? Right now, he needed someone to listen. He needed quiet. She banged and banged. He covered his ears with his hands and put his pounding head down on his desk. Closing his eyes, he willed her to leave.
Finally, all he heard was a sigh. He could imagine her hand drooping as she wilted, and turned quietly to walk away.
But that was not what happened. Mabel was as determined as ever. She turned again and ran, this time in another direction. Maybe he wouldn’t listen to her, but she knew who he would listen to. Even if only from a messenger.
Again she banged but on another door. Solin had not relaxed at all. If anything he looked more paranoid. He sagged with relief at the sight of Mabel. He passed a hand over his tired face as if to wipe away the worry.
“Castor’s- back,” she said through gasps of air. “Won’t- talk. Need Calleo. And- Glandias.”
Solin understood and she followed him into the living room.
“Glandias!” he called out.
The little brownie came scurrying over, abandoning the candle wicks he had been trimming.
“We’re going to need you to carry a message. Can you make it to Castor’s place?”
“On market day? He’ll be crushed!” Mabel exclaimed. “I’ll take him. Castor just needs to know that it’s coming from Calleo.”
Glandias threw her a grateful look and a weak smile. She smiled warmly in return. Solin walked through a door that blended in quite well with the wall, and when he came out, Calleo was by his side. He now had eyes only for Mabel.
“He’s back? Castor’s home?” he asked briskly.
Mabel nodded.
“But no one knows what happened. He shut himself up in his workshop and won’t talk to anyone,-you know how he does this when he’s upset,-and I figured the only person he would listen to was you.”
“But I can’t go out there,” Calleo pointed out. He barely even knew Mabel and he was taking her for her word. Trusting her.
“Glandias will take a message. As long as it’s coming from you he’ll listen. I would do it myself but I can’t tell him it’s from you unless he’ll let me in. Anyone could hear. Glandias can slide in under the door,”
She added this last bit because of his look of confusion, probably not knowing how someone else could get in but not her.
He nodded, and strode quickly over to Glandias. He whispered urgently to the brownie, who must be memorizing every word that was said. This only took a few seconds, then Calleo straightened up. Mabel held out her hand and Glandias climbed up onto her shoulder.
“Give my best to the princess.”
She bowed and left.

Author's Note

Whatever you thought I would love to know! ;)
I'll add the picture later...

Reviews

[BrynnaW.]

Very very exciting! A great chapter. I really hope to see more soon! Keep on writing!

[Black]

I think John has more to him then it seems
and that he just doesn't want to show that he is vunerable.
a great write,

[TheElfPrincess]

Ohh this is getting very intense. The Lion Prince sounds fierce, yet John seemed like a good person. Two-faced prince. I like Castor, he's a strong character. Well done, another great chapter.