a fight for life [open]

[David Van Estra]

David walked into his bedroom and sighed, feeling dejected. There was this air that had been hanging over him for such a long time, it was abysmal. Everything he'd ever lived for felt so fake. His silk bedding felt fake. He himself felt fake. WHy he had this feeling in his soul he did not know, but it wasn't disturbing enough to see a witch doctor - yet. His stomach twisted with thirst, this throat burned for the warm pulsing liquid that eased his pains. He closed his eyes and layed face down on his bed. He wished not to open his eyes ever again. Why did he feel this way? Was it a spell he had been too distracted to notice? Maybe it was a curse for having fallen in love with the dang witch. Why did she have to be so painstakingly beautiful??

He wondered if Brone had figured out yet. He could never keep secrets from his elder brother, he knew better. Maybe Brone knew but he hadn't brought it up out of pity. David twisted on his silk sheets and turned so that his back was on the bed now. He sighed again and opened his eyes wider. He let the light filter in from the dark corners of the room and let it touch his soul so that he might feel at least a little happier. David wondered if he should confide in his sister...then he scrunched his nose at the thought. She wouldn't understand. No one would ever understand David. He was the younger child, the less important less potential child. The one who would eventually fall among the peasants himself one day and be forever forgotten, even by his own "loving" family. He waited for death to encompass him on his bed, although he knew it was pointless due to the fact he already was dead. David sat up and scowled to himself. No more sulking, he was going to do something with himself instead of sitting here aimlessly pouting. He opened up his window and looked about his kingdom. It was his father's but he still had pleasurable thoughts of himself being king. Of course that was useless as well, dear Brone was taking that spot from him. Why did he have to be damned as the young one??

[Brone Van Estra]

No one really remembered David.

No one really thought about him, he was just another player in the game. All the privilege in the world and zero attention. If he disappeared, his father would never even notice. He could be anything, anyone he wanted. His power gave him that right--the means, and his anonymity gave him freedom.

What Brone wouldn't give to trade places with David.

Brone had never been exactly eager to be king, though he knew he would make a good one. He hated lessons, but that was trivial pain. Anything was trivial compared to his life recently. He had been falling for a witch, in hopes to dismiss it he ended up with Serena. His scapegoat became his love, and then----it seemed he wasn't supposed to have her. Some insignificant part of her blood line had magic, and that was enough, Brone was important enough for that to matter. He could not be with his love, nor his unborn child because someone in her family had been a witch.

He felt helpless, alone, mistreated.

David must have always felt like that.

That was why, Brone had to see him. And his fist came down hard upon the wooden door to his bedroom, shying from his position, which would have allowed him to come in without warning.

[David Van Estra]

David stirred at the sound of a knock on his door. He lazily slumped out of his bed and grabbed the handle on the elaborate hand-carved wooden door and pulled. He blinked in shock as he saw Brone standing there. He wasn't expecting to see his elder brother for quite sometime, yet here he was. David cleared his throat and looked at Brone with curiosity. "What is it?" His tone was soft as he asked the question, he didn't want to sound cruel after all his deep thinking, it was easy to slip. David traced the day and realized that he hadn't spoken at all that entire day...and it was almost nightfall. Huh. How quickly time passes when you don't care.

David wasn't sure if Brone wanted something or if he was just here to ask a favor, or if he wanted to talk...his mind continued to wander, wondering why his brother had knocked. He realized Brone was going thorugh a lot too. New postions were in order for him to be...king. The words hissed in his mind. That and the apparent new guest they had locked away downstairs...

No, he was going to be kind to Brone whatever his reason for visiting, as they were brothers as they should treat each other as such. There was a fine line between enemies and brothers, which bouced back and forth with David and Brone. But tonight, they would be brothers, friends, trustees. However jealousy managed to seep through the seems whenever he saw his brother. What he wouldn't give to be where Brone was, in complete control, ready to change this kingdom for the better and end this damn feud between species, it was getting old. But, of course, David had no say in what was to become of the Kingdom.

His mind popped back to the present and he leaned against the doorframe waiting patiently for Brone to answer. He looked...miserable in a word.

[Brone Van Estra]

Brone could see David's mind was far away. Brone and Jon usually fought, they almost never talked without fighting. He got along with David best, out of his siblings. But that wasn't saying much, he was the most reasonable to talk to somehow, despite his age. Jon and Mina were immature. And While David often had underlying feelings about Brone, the prince was willing to look past them as he tried to get along with his young sibling.

Before answering, Brone stepped though David's door and shut it behind him. If prying ears wanted to hear---and they could easily, he'd at least like to put a wall between them, and him. He sighed softly. He could not let his guard down, not in front of anyone. Serena was his refuge, where he could be only himself, no title attached. With Mina, he'd slipped, abut he would not here. Not again. But despite himself he said, "I wish I could trade places with you." he said them almost bitterly.