One Hundred Tears In The Sunset

Chaptet Twelve

Where do we run?

Where do we sing?

Where do we find a smile?

Where do we find love?

Where do I find love?

If not in the arms of another?

*

It was when the night's warm summer air turned to ice that Brooke knew she was there. He didn't turn his back on the logs he was cutting instead he closed his eyes and clutched the axe in white knuckles,

"Brooke?" Her voice was soft and gentle, a warmth in the ice breeze. It wasn't real, He thought fiercely. She was all in his madness, "Look at me." He shook his head and brought the blade back down on the wood splitting it in two,

"You're not real, you're dead" Brooke muttered,

"Yes I am."

"Then leave me alone." He threw the axe on the earth and turned his back on the faded white figure of his imagination,

"Wait! I have to help you." Jenna's words made him stop but he didn't turn around, "You need her just as much as she will need you."

"Who?" Brooke grunted hating himself for speaking to his own madness,

"Your Princess. Look I've tried to stay out of your life. I know you think me of your madness. Perhaps I am but tell me this, if I am of your imagination then how is it I have cut down every rope you hang from?" Brooke shook his head again and stared into the woodland,

"The rope snaps. I need stronger rope." He grunted,

"You don't even believe that. I need you too trust me."

"And now I must trust my madness." Brooke sighed and closed his eyes waiting,

"If that is what it takes yes!" Jenna snapped, "Teyha is giving up. I will not let my niece die, she needs to live!"

"The Princess is nothing to do with me." He walked away but the ice wind followed his footsteps,

"Show her Brooke, show her she has something to live for."

"And what is that? What the hell has she to live for? What I have I too live for Jenna? How can you tell us to live when you took your life so quickly!"

"My death is not as simple as it seems Brooke. Do not judge me so fiercely."

"What do you mean." He frowned rubbing a hand through his black hair,

"No I will not speak of this now. Help her Brooke, no treatment or medicine will cure this fever."

"I don't understand." Brooke turned to look in the dark woodland but the white ghostly figure was gone.

*

She knew he was there before she even tried to open her eyes. It was not the hushed sound of her window opening, or the soft tap of his uneven step on the rug, or the gentle breaths he took. It was the smell of pine trees and hay. Of fresh summer days inside trees, of flowers that bloomed in a blazing sun. It was the scent that washed over the Princess that made her know Brooke had came at last. The last five days had been a rush of ice cold baths and sour medicines that made her vomit. Arthur had gone after the first day, she hadn't seen him since. Her uncle hadn't came back either but Teyha wasn't bothered by that in the slightest. He would be looking for Rose, the Princess hoped the maid had hidden well. Teyha had lost any strength she may have held back and she couldn't fight anymore, she didn't want too. Her body was shutting down, welcoming the long rest that would await it when her lungs stopped breathing, her heart would stop breathing. And now Brooke had came. She felt the warmth of his hand on her cheek. His rough skin was soft against her smooth pale face,

"Do you mind me being here?" His voice was so gentle. The Princess shook her head and opened her eyes to see his deep blue ones peering down at her. A shiver tingled down her spine. His look was intense, full of a meaning she didn't answer, "Are you strong enough to walk?" Brooke asked,

"I'm unsure." Her voice was dry and quiet,

"I can carry you?"

"Where?" She asked but he only shrugged and waited, "Grab my dress coat then." Teyha couldn't believe what she was saying. I should be resting! But part of the Princess wanted to go outside, wanted to spend some time with Brooke before the fever took her. He helped her sit up and she crawled her arms into the blue coat,

"Do you know the way out?" She asked. He nodded and carefully lifted her into his arms.

*

She was light and thin. In the last days she had lost so much weight it scared Brooke. Her skin was so pale and grey it matched her weary eyes. The soft smell of sweet lemons filled his world as he pulled her to his chest. She let him pick her up softly and carry her in his arms. Brooke held down a shiver and opened the attic door. The castle was the way he always remembered it. Red royal walls filled with paintings and oil candles, deep plush rugs laying under his old boots. The soft thud of his footsteps and her deep breaths was the only noise that filled the air,

"Where?" Teyha muttered softly against his chest. She was boiling hot to touch, her skin damp and yet the princess shivered,

"I want to show you something." He whispered and carefully walked down into the hallway, "Can you stand while I open the doors?" She nodded and clutched tightly to his arm as he pushed the wooden door. The cool air hit them when he lifted her outside. It was a warm summer night filled with the lulling sound of creatures singing and leaves rustling,

"It's nice to feel the breeze." Teyha blinked up at him from his arms. She looked so small against him. So weak. Brooke pushed the thought away and hurried towards the woods,

"Brooke? Ah there ya are I bin looking for ya." A loud voice rumbled from the shadows. The man almost jumped into the branches with fright when he saw the brown eyes peering from the darkness,

"Clarence. Get back into the castle." He said softly as the boy stepped towards them,

"Well ya got yaself a girl! I've bin thinking it's bout time too. I was starting ta think ya had gone ta liking men so it's..." The servant boy stopped talking and stared at Teyha in shock, "Ya gone and got yaself a girl 'ho looks like the princess." He laughed and then blinked, "Ah crap, that's the princess ain't it? Ya gone and stolen the bleddy princess!"

"Clarence shut up! I am just taking her to the far side for some fresh air." Teyha lifted her head up and stared at the servant boy. She reminded Brooke of a kitten outside for the first time with her round grey eyes staring at everything in wonder,

"Yeah. Some fresh air, sure ya are. Ah no Brooke ya gonna get yaself killed by 'er uncle."

"Are you going to tell him?" He asked softly. Clarence shifted and turned away his gaze,

"No of course I bleddy won't, ya know ya can trust me."

"Good." Brooke muttered and then he carried on walking into the woodland,

"I just hope ya know what ya doing." The servant boy called after him. I am listening to my madness, Brooke thought silently as he limped carefully through the trees.

*

It had taken all her effort to get up the wooden ladder. Her hands had been shaking and her skin aching when she reached the top but now as she sat in the bench and stared around her Teyha was taken away with the beauty that surrounded her. The bench was fixed onto a huge platform of wood that sat on a large tree like a tree house without a roof. Green twists of shining ivy spiralled around her, branches with rustling leaves played a soft music. Honey suckle vines climbed the huge tree filling the air with their soft sweet perfume,

"Are you cold?" Brooke sat next to her carefully leaving a space between them,

"No more than usual." She whispered and tilted her eyes up to look at the gazing stars, "This place is amazing."

"I made it a long time ago." He shrugged and also cast his blue eyes up at the sky. Teyha shivered again and closed her eyes. Now that Brooke had her beside him, he was unsure on what to do, or what to say. He ran a hand through his hair and started with a simple question,

"Tell me why you didn't get it treated Teyha."

"I thought you knew." She mumbled,

"I want you to tell me." For a moment he thought she wouldn't answer,

"I...I miss them Brooke, everyday." He knew who she meant,

"But your parents would want you to live Teyha. They would want you to be happy." He turned his gaze on her and watched as she looked at the stars. Her blond hair fell behind her face showing cheeks which had turned a faint pink,

"I know they would. I just feel so alone Brooke."

"You are not alone." He took a breath, "I am here. I always will be." He couldn't try and distance himself from her anymore. Even if it was for their own good, he couldn't wait days to see her, couldn't be nasty to her just to make Teyha hate him,

"You can not be with me every moment of every day." She muttered and turned her grey eyes upon him. Brooke realised with a sudden start that tears were forming in them. Her usual mask was stripped and a look of pure sadness filled her pale face, "I am so lonely Brooke..."

"You don't have to be." He closed the distance between them and grabbed her small hands staring into her eyes.

*

Teyha felt a wave of heat fall upon her skin when Brooke touched her. She was crying, small tears leaking down her cheeks yet she was too weak too stop them. He had said she didn't have to be lonely but how could she not be? How could she be anything else?

"Don't leave me Teyha." He muttered the words so soft that she wasn't sure if she heard them,

"They can not find a treatment that will work anyway Brooke." Teyha told him. It was true, her body hadn't reacted to any of the medicines the doctor had gave her,

"That doesn't matter. You will get better if you find the will to live. A fever is only the bodies way of killing an infection, and it seems you have already gave up the fight." His blue eyes were so close now, small flecks of soft deep oceans filled her. They were blazing into hers, for a moment she felt dizzy. The Princess's whole world was made of blue soul searching eyes. Her skin trembled, her breath coming faster,

"I have nothing to live for Brooke." She muttered softly. Brooke closed his eyes for a moment and leaned forward so they were inches apart. She found herself gazing at his lips, imagining them on her own. A boiling wave of pure heat pumped down her skin as Brooke began to close the gap. He is going to kiss me. She realised in shock,

"Brooke!?" A loud voice hammered into the air and Teyha pulled back in surprise, "God damn it. Where are ya?" Brooke held her eyes for a long silent moment. They were both breathing hard,

"Here! Clarence? What is it?" He got to feet slowly and stared down from the tree bench,

"Bleddy found ya, he's coming..."

"Who?" Brooke questioned,

" 'Ho the the hell do ya think? Mr Blairs! 'E's out in the woodland! I saw 'im by ya house banging down the doors."

"TEYHA?!!!" The loud roar of Mr Thomas's voice rang out into the woodland,

"What do we do?" Brooke muttered aloud,

"Bleddy run" Clarence said softly.