#cedric eventually makes him stay in albion

[captainkingsley]

There’s something of a snap, a sound akin to the link of a chain finally breaking. Tension suddenly floods away, years of darkness finally begin to fade as the curtains part and the lights come on. In the center of it all stands Logan, former king and tyrant, watching as black ichor begins to break apart and float from the ground around him and his soldiers. The shadowy humanoid creatures that had been fighting them suddenly begin to fade into nothing more than dust, the living suits of armor that had towered over them topple to the ground and begin melting into the ichor and fading just the same. 

The noise of the people around him fades away into nothing as Logan’s mind clears. No longer does it feel as though there’s something hunched over his shoulder, no longer does his body feel weighed down by feelings of terror and anxiety. The hold that the Crawler had on him is finally broken, its claws leaving deep marks in his conciousness that, now presented as fresh, open wounds, may now heal. All of this comes as a sudden revelation to Logan as he feels the breaking of the link. Thoughts come hurtling into his mind, overlapping as he comes to realize just what being freed from the Crawler's hold must mean — 

( 'he did it, he did it', 'where is he', 'please let him be okay,' ), 

and all Logan can think about is that his brother set out to defeat the darkness and now he must have, he must have done it! 

A year ago, all Logan would have thought Cedric capable of was talking about how he was going to prevent the darkness from falling over Albion. Now, with the haze cleared and the evidence presented into his mind and his heart, he knows better. He knows Cedric will manage the kingdom as a kind, benevolent force that Logan failed so terribly at being. There's guilt in the back of his mind as he realises just what he'd done over the past five years, how he'd ruined so much that his parents had set up for him and Cedric both. 

With a quiet click, Logan's sword is sheathed and his hand comes to rest upon the hilt. His soldiers have done much the same, beginning to clean up the mess around them and unbarring doors for the people still in Bowerstone. 

The streets are hesitantly quiet as the soldiers begin cleaning up the rubble and the mess caused by the fighting. Logan begins heading across the bridge as his men continue their work — none bother him, seemingly fine with letting their commander turn away and leave them behind. For some reason he’s drawn to the square, partially blocked by stone fallen from one of the larger buildings. He pushes past a snapped wooden sign and sees a group before him. 

At the center is his younger brother, the king, holding a very still Walter. It’s as though a switch is flipped, turning on the sound as he hears the first sob, the breaking of his brother’s voice as he says Walter’s name over and over. Beside him is Benjamin Finn, his hand pressed against Cedric’s back. Ben looks up momentarily as Logan approaches — Kalin steps aside and Page does, as well, making room for him as he approaches and crouches down in front of Cedric and Walter.

Cedric’s eyes, now the same gray that their father shared, turn to look up at Logan.

“He’s gone.” Cedric says, throat tight with another sob as he does so. Logan feels the way his own cheeks match the wetness of his younger brother’s and says nothing.

Ben’s hand pulls away. Logan reaches forward and brushes Cedric’s hair from his face —

the same way he used to when they were young and Cedric cried —

and there’s recognition in Cedric’s eyes that Logan is beginning to be himself again, that the darkness that had festered in his heart is gone. But Logan can’t help but feel ridden with guilt ( for the first time since leaving Aurora ) that the cost of finally feeling again, of being family to his younger brother again is Walter. 

Walter, who’d taught them both how to hold a sword, who’d been the teacher that their father didn’t have the time to be.  Who Logan had betrayed so terribly and lost the trust of. 

If only — if only he'd been able to apologize properly. But the past isn't going to allow him to do so any time soon, so Logan tilts his chin up and stares at his brother, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He can't bring himself to speak. 

But maybe that's alright. Maybe what Cedric needs is simply the company of family. 

Logan hopes he can be that.