Coward's Song II: Smile

Instructions

"You've lost two, haven't you?" queried the new Feylord, tilting his head and staring into his cousin's eyes, watching the pain there. "I-" Kellin's feystars dimmed a little, "Aye." "I feel your pain." Keltäs said, his eyes softening as he placed a hand on Kellin's shoulder, "Is there anything I can do?" "It was four decades ago, my friend. It does not matter anymore. I have Leila now, even if I lost Alyss and Ascar, and Leila's such a... such a sweet child." Kellin smiled, shifting slightly away from Keltäs. Yes, his cousin was nice enough, but he didn't appreciate questions about his other children. Some songs peter out, some songs... vanish, never to be sung again. All songs end, but some end too soon. "I could give you a promotion," Keltäs whispered, "How, my dear fellow, would you like to be Captain of the Guard?" "Oh-" Kellin gasped a little, "I'm sorry, my lord, but... no, thank you." A new light came into Keltäs's eyes, a new, darker tone came into his voice, "Did I say you have a choice?" "Sire, I-" "'You' nothing." To anyone else, it would've looked like a friendly conversation, the benevolent Feylord placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, smiling slightly. The pressure on Kellin's shoulder increased until it was almost painful. " Keltäs, what's wrong?" "You will address me as Feylord, and as Feylord I say you don't have a choice. Don't you want to be like your namesake, the fearless First Captain?" Kellin was not fearless. His grey-blue eyes flickered around nervously, and he smoothed his braided blond hair with one shaking hand. "I think we've had a misunderstanding." The Feylord's smile wasn't that of a villain in a film; it wasn't saying 'gotcha'. It was far more terrifying than that, because it said, 'we're friends', it promised, 'everything is alright', but you didn't have to look very far to see the, 'so long as you listen to me'. What could Kellin do other than accept the promotion? *** "...and the prince and his princess lived happily ever after," Kellin whispered, finishing the story. That was how he always ended it, even if there was no prince and princess in the tale. He smiled softly, pulling his child onto his lap and stroking her milkweed-soft, golden hair. "Tell us about you," Leila begged, head rested on his chest and she sucked her thumb, her blue eyes growing wider, "Tell us about Kellin and the Seeker's Stone. Tell us about being a hero." "I'm not a hero just because I bear a hero's name," Kellin said softly, and it was true. Kellin, it must be admitted, was handsome. He was tall, even taller than most of his kindred, and his gold hair hung braided down his back, contrasting with his green robes. His grey eyes were kind, and his feystars were odd- merely small specks of light, scattered along his cheekbones. He looked the part of a hero. He wasn't. That afternoon had more than proved that. "You're gonna be a warrior now," Leila murmured sleepily as he stood up, gently setting her down on her bed and winking as he snuffed out the lantern.