#what do you mean 1523 was when it fell apart???

[doueverwonder]

i always think the Kalmar union happened a few hundred years later than it did and I don't even know why

[sanders-sides-fics]

A Fanciful Dream: Chapter Nine

Warnings: Survivor’s guilt

Masterlist

Ao3

Word Count: 1523

-

The castle had settled into unrest as they awaited Roman’s return from his expedition to kill the dragon in their northern region. The days following were quiet. King Thomas would check out the window for their return hourly, starting from when he woke in the morning, and ending when he got into bed at night. 

Virgil found himself doing something quite similar. He hadn’t talked to Roman again before the Prince left. And as the days went by, his guilt grew. Sure, he had valid reasons to become upset with Roman, but he should not have addressed them in the way he had. And to blow up, without allowing Roman to discuss the issue? It was immature of him. Just as he accused Roman of being.

Virgil glanced out the window.

And Roman wasn’t even the extent of his worries. He had magic! And now, he could no longer deny who he was. His memories were still gone, but he knew he was Virgilius. Virgil didn’t know what that meant though.

Remington, Remy, his brother, had been avoiding him for the last few days and talking to his father left him more anxious than he wanted to be, so he spent his free time wandering the halls. Logan was around on occasion, when he and Remy weren’t busy discussing the treaty with King Thomas, Remy having properly joined the discussion in his avoidance of Virgil.

In the halls, servants that once overlooked him glanced at him and straightened their postures, bowing on occasion. Virgil hated it. He didn’t know what he would do if he went back to Picais with Logan and Remy . . . The remainder of their court would never leave him be.

Virgil sighed and shook his head. Things weren’t going to return to normal, but Virgil wished they would. Before Remy came, things at least made sense, but now he was some prince. With a family, a kingdom wanting him to return home. Home? Virgil wasn’t sure where that was now.

The Virgil who called King Thomas’ castle home was a servant with no family or magic. Virgil was no longer that person. He had this whole other part of himself to learn about. Virgilius was a child when he was taken, what would he have grown to be if he stayed in Picais?

Would Virgil be close with Remin- Remy? Would King Dorian have taught him to understand his abilities? Would he even know his father? Or Roman?

Virgil would never know. He missed so much with his birth family . . . He couldn’t remember the voices of his fathers. The man he should know as a brother felt like a stranger.

As Virgil continued down the hall he glanced out the window, but the castle gates remained closed and Roman was nowhere in sight.

Roman went after the Witch’s dragon, which appeared too closely to their discovery of Virgil’s family for his comfort. Was he the cause of the attacks? He didn’t want to be. It would mean Virgil was at fault for the attacks on the villages.

There was no guarantee that the knights on the expedition would return unharmed either. No guarantee that Roman would return unharmed. What he wouldn’t give to have this visit never happened. No . . . Maybe? Virgil wasn’t sure. He was interested in learning of his family now, but if it came at the cost of innocent lives, it might not be worth it.

He took a shaky breath, “Everything’s going to be fine . . . Roman’ll be fine.”

“Sure he will, Vee.”

Virgil turned on his heel to see Remy striding down the hall, eyes focused on him. His brother looked better than he had in days, though in the last few days Virgil had only gotten glances of the man. Today, Remy didn’t cower or excuse himself from the room when Virgil appeared. 

“Though, I’m more concerned about you,” Remy spoke softly. “And Virgil, you’re not okay right now.”

Virgil raised an eyebrow, “That’s pretty obvious. I just realized your foolish fairy tale is real.”

Remy flinched and Virgil regretted his words. He took a breath and held out his hand.

“I think it’s time we talked this through. Just the two of us?” Virgil offered. “I don’t know how I feel about this and it’s weird, but I want to know what’s going on. And I think you need this too.”

Remy smiled softly at his brother.

-

The two were settled onto the couch, as they had days before. Rather than sitting far apart, they sat next to each other with a plate of scones on the table before them. Remy glanced at Virgil, who’s shoulder relaxed and he sat back.

“Logan told me what happened . . . The day we got separated,” Virgil started. “I’ve been trying to process it the past few days. But I want you to know that don’t blame you.”

Remy took one of the scones off the plate and picked at it, “I do . . . I should’ve held on tighter.”

Virgil frowned, “From what Logan said, if you had, the dragon could’ve taken you too.”

Remy paused, thinking over what Virgil had said. He stuffed a piece of the scone into his mouth and ate it slowly as he thought that over. What would’ve happened to his kingdom if the entire family had disappeared . . . The aftermath had been so terrible, his people were terrified and in mourning of their Kings and youngest Prince. Logan had worked so hard to keep things running, as he tried to recover from his injuries. 

And Remy couldn’t do anything. He was only ten when it happened. Their entire court looked to him when his fathers died. A burden that would’ve crushed him without Logan’s guidance.

But Remy also remembered toasts and prayers of thanks, that one member of their royal family was spared. He always hated hearing it. But it gave his people hope, because he had survived.

“You have a point,” Remy said softly. “I remember how grateful our people were that I survived . . . That they weren’t without a leader.”

Virgil pressed his lips into a thin smile, “I can’t remember that day, but I think it’s a good thing you fell, that you survived to inspire the people. If you hadn’t survived, the kingdom would’ve been thrown into chaos.”

Remy nodded, “I guess you’re right, Vee . . . Can I call you that? I didn’t ask, but I know you don’t like Virgilius.”

Remy used to never call his brother anything other than Vee. It was theirs. And now, he had his brother back. He waited for an answer as Virgil snorted in amusement.

“Of course . . . I told you how when Patton found me and needed a name, that I said Vee for the name, right?”

Remy grinned, “I don’t think you did. But really? You remembered that part?”

Remy’s eyes shone with excitement. Vee was alive and part of him still remembered being his brother. 

“It felt right,” Virgil answered. “I’ve never known why.”

Remy didn’t remember how the nickname started, he supposed “Virgilius” was too big a mouthful for a toddler to manage. But it held a lot of value for him. He loved Virgil. His brother was his best friend growing up. They did everything together.

Losing their fathers and Virgil, it was the worst thing to ever happen to Remy. He missed them everyday, cried for them for years, before the pain dulled. But seeing his brother alive, and standing before him with no recognition in his eyes, hurt as much as losing him the first time.

“Maybe, one day, you will,” Remy said. “Do you want to hear about our Fathers?”

Remy watched as Virgil’s eyes widened and nodded. Remy knew Logan had briefly discussed their fathers with Virgil, but Remy could do a better job. Logan didn’t know about their late nights with Baba as the man fiddled with potions, letting the boys watch as the smoke changed from white to red to purple to blue. Logan didn’t know how Dad made them laugh and discussed their nursery books with them.

“Baba loved magic, but he’d never let us try it. He always said we could wait until we were ten and able to test for the gift. I didn’t have it,” Remy chuckled. “I was devastated for about a week, before going back to my wooden sword. And you? You used to talk to spiders, I thought it was the coolest thing.”

Virgil paused, thinking back to how the spiders would leave the kitchen pantry when he went in for Patton. His Dad was terrified of the creatures, but they never bothered him. Odd.

“Baba didn’t like talking about how you could do that,” Remy stuffed another piece of scone into his mouth.

Virgil hummed, “He was worried about the Witch, maybe?”

Remy paused and looked over at him, awkwardly staring for a moment. Remy looked away and went to continue his tale.

“Maybe he was. I didn’t know he worked for her until I was King,” Remy admitted. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Yes,” Virgil agreed eagerly before launching into a story of his childhood with Patton.