Page 83 of Theoden
We four brothers looked at each other, but remained silent.
“Well then, let this stand as a lesson to each of you, what will happen if you betray me. I love you all, but I will not abide disloyalty. For although it will rip my heart from my very chest to kill you, I will do so if you cross me. Do you understand?” Ara asked, and his gaze fell upon us. We all nodded.
“Yes, Father,” we said.
“Good. Théoden, set him afire and send him to his doomed love, Adan,” Ara commanded, and I obeyed.
I lifted my hand and conjured my fire, setting my brother’s corpse aflame. We all stood for a few minutes, watching him burn, and then it was Ara who turned and left first. He was followed by Titus and Nolan next, leaving only Karim and me to watch the flames devour the flesh.
“I know you loved him, Théoden,” Karim said.
Again, I wiped tears from my eyes and nodded. “I did.”
“But I am proud of you. You could have let him escape, but you proved your strength and loyalty by returning him to Father,” Karim said, and I looked at him. He smiled and nodded. “It was not easy for you, I know. But you did what you were supposed to do. Never let anyone get away with betraying you or your family.”
I nodded. “Yes, Karim. I won’t.”
He patted me on the shoulder before giving me a hug. “I have to go, sun is coming up.”
I gave him a slight squeeze and nodded. “I know. Go.” I released him and he vanished into the palace as the sky grew lighter. I was the only one who stayed long enough for the fire to die down. The sun was high in the sky before Raphael’s corpse was charred to ash. It was then that I left him to join Ara in the bed, taking my place beside him as I always had.
