Of Marcus, Coran, and Lillian

(revised)

excerpt from The Fall of the House of Arkady.

Now, Samuel Arkady XLVIII was a wise man, well versed in all the lore of his people. He was old even by Dentiochan standards—being the last of his generation—for the Arkadians had not gone to war for many, many years. But seeing his age, and knowing the end of his time to be near, he often drew together his children, and their children, and told them all the many stories of their forebears and even of the Four themselves. Ever and anon would the Arkadians gather around the house-fire to hear another telling of some heroic ancestor or of the wars and endeavors of their predecessors.

But upon one special day of the year, when Samuel's store of tales was almost empty, he determined in himself to at last tell the great legend of the forty-eighth generation of the House of Atheniton. This tale was especially dear to him, for he had, in fact, lived to see it.

His grandchildren, sitting eagerly at his feet, were silent with anticipation. Even their parents stayed close, always more than willing to hear another great and wondrous tale of valor or love. But none of them were prepared for this tearful legend of loss.

"It was in Philadelphia," Samuel Arkady began solemnly, his eyes staring emptily into the flames of the house-fire, "during the last decade of the twentieth century, that Jana, wife of Thomas Atheniton XLVII, gave birth to her three children—Brendan Atheniton XLVIII, Marcus, and Coran.

"Life was simple, then, for the family of the Atheniton's. Hostilities in the once great United States were not yet as high as they would be in future years. But still, Thomas Atheniton was called away often in his duties to the House of Dentioch. In his absence, his sons, living so far away from their kindred, came to think of themselves as simply normal people.

"In the innocence of their youth, the three Atheniton sons played often with the neighbor children, not considering such to be thought ill of. For in those days, people were bereft of prejudice against the descendants of Dentioch, believing them to be little more than an abnormality of nature. But such people would soon come to think differently of their own misperceptions. Still, one cannot blame the people for their hate, when it was we who gave it to them." The old warrior's thoughts seemed to stray uncertainly. "But such tales are for later days, when you children grow old enough to understand them fully.

"Now then—there was one girl among all the other neighbor children whom Marcus and Coran favored most. Her name was Lillian. The three of them could be seen so often together, playing and running gaily about the neighborhood. So innocent were they! Coran and Marcus would, from time to time, take Lillian to their grandmother's house—their mother's mother—just down the street from their own homes. This woman…whose name I cannot now recall, was known for her marvelous assortment of baked cookies and all manner of sweet things. And the children greatly enjoyed their time there.

"But it all too soon came to pass, that the power of the Arkadian's grew to great extents, and all of our kindred were called together for fear of the retribution of that government. The Atheniton's, loyal to the end, answered the call without pause. They gathered together their necessities and set out for Los Angeles, where our House was then living. Marcus and Coran mourned the loss of Lillian, but Coran soon forgot about her. Marcus never would.

"The years passed. And with the three Atheniton sons living now so close to their kindred, they learned, as all their kin did and do, of war and combat. They excelled most proficiently in such things, as all Dentiochans do. For who can claim that we are not the most well versed of people in all the ways of battle? Is that not indeed why we were born unto this world? Still, the Atheniton's, of all the Four Houses of Dentioch, have always been so full of heart, more so than all of us combined.

"The sons of Thomas Atheniton were just then in their late teen years when they were told of their grandmother's death—Jana's mother, whom they loved so greatly. Their father, compelled by the compassion so prevalent in his forebears, allowed his wife to take her children back to Philadelphia for her mother's funeral. Thomas did not go with her, however, for his sense of duty, his loyalty to his kindred Dentiochans, surpassed everything else his heart may have desired.

"Despite what you might think, though, my dear children, Thomas was a good man, a fine soldier, and a great warrior, as well as a loving son of Dentioch. Truly, he was the pride of his House. But he is not the subject of this tale. His deeds and heroisms hold their rightful place in the Annals of the Wars.

"Let's see now, where was I? Ah, yes—the funeral. Well, the funeral went as all funerals do, I suppose—much weeping and exchanging of condolences. But the funerals of the world—most, at least—are not like ours, mind you. When a Dentiochan dies, we send him to his grave with festivities and recalling his deeds of valor. But never mind such things. You will learn them, all too soon.

"At any rate, Jana and the children went unto her mother's house to gather her things together, and it was here that Coran again saw Lillian. He stood silently at the front window, trying so hard to remember lost memories of this place, but nothing was forthcoming, that is, until one figure came near to the house. He watched her with silent awe as she walked aside the street. Something about her seemed so familiar to him, yet so distant. Nevertheless, he knew in that moment, he would love her for the rest of his life.

"He would have gone out to her then, to ask of her name and if they had indeed known each other long ago, but he did not. For even as he moved for the door, he saw Marcus running up to her, and those two embraced warmly as though they had never lost an ounce of friendship over the years.

"Coran would always swear that he had lost something dear to himself in that moment. These words he would only speak to Julius Arkady—that he grievously regretted his split-second of hesitation, as though it had cost him everything he would ever know. But Coran would never have taken it back, for he loved Marcus too greatly. That love preserved him, for a while."

Samuel Arkady paused for a moment, seeming to be searching for the words to properly convey what needed to be said. He continued: "How the next few years came and went is now fuzzy to my memory, for I was then of an age to be more concerned with the business of our family." He sighed deeply. "As time passed, Marcus, Coran, and Lillian were together more and more frequently. The best of friends, they were, as it had been when they were younger. And Lillian soon came to love Marcus deeply, most deeply. Unfortunately for Coran, Marcus returned her love in kind.

"I pity Coran still, how he looked upon her so affectionately. I will not say that he deserved her more than his brother, but he truly loved her as much as the other. Still, when Marcus and Lillian were at last engaged to be wed, Coran said nothing. He loved Marcus too much to voice his feelings. Alas, he was always silent thereafter.

"The wedding day came. Coran was the best man, and Brendan gave away the bride, for her father had died the year before. It has always struck me painfully, what Coran spoke at the wedding reception.

" 'A more joyous day could not have been asked for by any,' he said. 'I see happy faces. I hear rejoicing. I sense…love. I have foreseen this day for several years, yet, honestly, I did not picture it so wonderfully. Other wedding days and other marriages will come and pass, but we shall always remember this one. Two beautiful people joined together in one perfect life. My brother, my new sister, be happy,' he spoke to the wind, 'for today you are truly blest.' "

The old warrior was silent once again, a tear appearing in his eye, though few could see it in the dim firelight. "So strange," Samuel voiced in barely a whisper, "that he would speak so beautifully on one of the most painful days of his life." He breathed in deeply then, studying the faces of his still spellbound crowd. "Would that it had simply ended there, but alas, it did not.

"The years, it seemed, passed swiftly for Marcus and Lillian. They moved to a small house outside Philadelphia where they lived peacefully. Though they never had children, they were content simply to be with one another. Every free moment of their days was spent in each other's arms. Softly they spoke to one another, never in words or tones of hate or anger. To those who knew them, it seemed as though every ounce of their being had been made for the other.

"Coran came often to their home, sometimes to fetch his brother for Dentiochan duties, and other times simply because he wanted just to be near them both. Silent was he now, speaking less and less as the years waxed and waned. He always seemed despairing, though his frequent smile attempted to discourage such thoughts. Nevertheless, Marcus and Lillian greatly enjoyed his company.

"Times were different then, it must be said. We Dentiochans were still a people of war, and our hearts yearned always for more than mere peace. It was of this spirit and mind-set that we began our last great campaign for the world of the living. The Arkadian Wars they were, and are, called, for we were the ones that set all those things in motion. Were it not for the love and loyalty of the other three Houses that bound them to our cause, we surely would have been cast down in defeat. But those are other tales, which I have already told. As I have said, it was the year 2018 when we launched the Precinct Assaults and began our war. Soon thereafter, all the Four Houses were called together.

"It was early spring, I think, when Coran went to Marcus to summon him away. Lillian was greatly grieved at the news that Coran bore and his purpose at their home. In her despair, she turned away from him, unable to look upon him. And at this, Coran was broken at heart. Mournful though Marcus was to see his beloved wife in such distress, he answered the call to arms without hesitation, for he was a Dentiochan first and always.

"With Brendan beside them, Marcus and Coran went bravely into war. Those three fought valiantly on battlefields across the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, and Britain. And of these battles, I have spoken to you in great detail already; thus, I will not expound upon them further. But it was the Battle of Calais, in northernmost France, which brought tragedy unto that generation of the Atheniton's."

Samuel closed his eyes in silent reflection, almost regretting now that he had begun this particular tale. But he would not stop now, for the story was too important to him still.

"The House of Atheniton was charged with taking Calais," he continued, "while the other Houses moved to take Normandy and Brittany. Truly, the Battle of Calais was one of the bloodiest in all that war. The French had moved the mass majority of their troops to that city, and they were even reinforced by battalions from Belgium. But despite the fact that they were so vastly outnumbered, the Army of the House of Atheniton refused to surrender or turn back. O woe to the bravery of our bloodline!"

Samuel could no longer hold back against the tears that began streaming down his face. But still, his words continued: "Even now I can see the streets, the blood flooding the sewers, the screams of the dying who lay under the dead. No, I was not there, not until the battle had already ended. But even then, the carnage was undeniable. And I could not turn away from it. No, I am glad I did not.

"But it was Marcus who lead the valiant charge that ended the three day battle. With his brothers beside him, and his most loyal soldiers near behind, he ran into the thick of the enemy, dropping bodies faster than any other. But in the heat of that fight, Coran was severely wounded, for he had come into a well entrenched enemy position. He fell, and Marcus saw it all. With a fire unequaled that day, Marcus rushed to his brother's aid, battering soldiers on every side. Outnumbered though he was, the enemy fled before his fierce onslaught. But as his bloodlust dimmed in the eyes of victory, he realized his own wounds, and they were many. But from here, I must be explicit:

"Marcus sat atop the rubble of an obliterated house, only a few feet away from Coran's unconscious body. His eyes strayed, though they acknowledged the victory of his House and the heavy price it had cost them. Brendan, now seeing his brothers' dire conditions, ran fearfully to them. He found that Coran was still alive, though his life-signs were faint. Marcus, however, was already dead."

Samuel paused once more as he recalled the sight of those three Atheniton brothers. "Marcus' body was sent back to Philadelphia," he continued mournfully, "and Coran went with him. Though his wounds healed, it was many months before Coran was able to return to the wars. Yet, he did not, then.

"I do not know how agonizingly Lillian cried out when she looked the last time upon the body of her beloved husband. I was not there to see her weep so painfully, as she must have. Only Coran knew how great was her grief, for he shared every second of it. Simply being near to her then invoked great tears of sorrow for Coran and all those who looked upon her. Never have I seen such despair, and I pray I never do…"

Samuel dropped his eyes to the floor, unable to meet the gazes of his family. "Pray to God, my children, that He take your heart from you, if ever you meet a fate like that of Lillian. I know of myself that I would not be able to bear it."

The old Dentiochan warrior raised his head once more and said, "But alas, I must continue: Coran, for love of his brother and Lillian, remained with her as she grieved. Truly, her sorrow was painful for him to bear, and he could do very little to ease her despair. For weeks, she did little else than weep for her lost beloved. It took all Coran's power of encouragement simply to cause her to eat. But even then, tears often stained her food. Broken though he was at the sight of her, Coran refused to leave her side, for she had no one else but him.

"It was months before Lillian left her house. But when she finally did, she would walk aimlessly amid the pastures and fields near her home. Her thoughts at such times were often consumed with memories of when she had walked these same places with Marcus close beside her, when she was happy. But always, Coran was near behind, just out of sight, watching her as she went. Seldom were the days when he left her alone.

"Lillian soon came to lean upon Coran, as it were. He was her only anchor to sanity and reality…and he loved her. But he cared for her only. He put away his own desires and allowed his purpose in life to become her caretaker. And he was always there when she needed him most. When she found herself alone in the darkness, she would go to him, and he would comfort her, but nothing more. Never did he take advantage of her, and never did he push her away. She bound herself to him as a sister to a brother. And he returned the sentiment. Where she went, he was there also.

"Often did Coran look upon Lillian and see that great sorrow that ripped out his heart. Ever and anon did he long to embrace her as Marcus had and steal away her pain, but it was beyond him to do so. He would live his entire life for her yet never fill the void in her soul. For she had been his brother's wife, and she had loved Marcus with a love that no other mortal could even hope to touch. Always unto his death would the words ripple through Coran's mind and heart painfully, 'If only I had been the one to die.'

"Take heed now, my dear children, for these next words were spoken to me by Julius Arkady himself, even as he sat upon the throne of the world:

'Lillian went to him one night, not wishing to be alone in the emptiness of her room. She tapped softly on his bedroom door and opened it lightly. Coran was there, sitting on the foot of his bed. His empty eyes gave no heed to the television in front of him. But he noticed her there in the doorway and gave a faint smile.

' "Couldn't sleep?" he asked, though he already knew the answer she would give.

' "I never sleep," she replied. "I always wake up, hoping to see him there next to me again. I grope for him in the dark, thinking I might just be blind. In my dreams I see him, but he is not there."

'Coran sat silently, lost in beloved memories of Marcus, and Lillian. She quietly seated herself next to him and reached for his hand, taking it in hers. This awoke him from his reminiscences. He looked down at their clasp and was reminded once again of his great love for her. But it can never be, he thought. She was not meant for me.

'They sat together in the silence of the room, lost in thought. But Coran could not put his mind at ease. Just this once, he said to himself, I will look into her eyes and attempt to glimpse her pain. And so he did. He peered into her eyes, into her heart, her soul. But what he saw there haunted him the rest of his days. He saw her heart weeping uncontrollably. He saw her soul screaming in sorrowful agony. And he realized then why it was that he could not save her from her grief—she was already dead inside. His own pain was now consummated. And he would never again look into her eyes.

'Despite all his subtleties of observation, Lillian still perceived his glance. She looked up at him then and saw that her heart and soul were laid bare before him. Being now so vulnerable, she no longer held back the pain. She burst suddenly into tears and fell upon him.

' "I cannot let go of him," she admitted amidst her endless sobs. "It is beyond me. Even in death he is dear to me. I will always love him, Coran. With my dying breath I will love him. I cannot live without him." She paused for a moment, trying to regain her breath. "I only wish…that I could have kissed him…one last time."

'Coran spoke naught. There were no words of comfort he could utter to calm her. There was nothing he could do but hold her. And he did.

'She cried herself to sleep that night. When Coran knew her consciousness was far gone from her, he lifted her in his arms and carried her back to her room. He laid her upon the bed and covered her up. Unable now to frown, smile, or even cry, he simply stared at her tear-stained face. He wished so desperately that there was something he could do to aid her. Oh, how he longed to give her but a moment's relief from her sorrow! But he knew he could not.

'He returned to his room and sat in the darkness throughout the remainder of that night. There was one single moment amidst the seemingly endless hours when he believed he saw Marcus sitting on the bed beside him. But the premonition vanished before it had ever even existed. And he merely stared into the emptiness of the room.' "

A tear rolled down Samuel's cheek as he thought about the next words he was about to say: "Lillian died the next night. Having never recovered from her grief, she gave in to death. And now, she rests in Marcus' arms once more. Coran mourned her death, greatly, more than any other, for he had lost his only love and his reason for living. Oh, what a sad life was given to him!

"Still, he refused to surrender himself to her fate. Within a few weeks time, he had completely rededicated himself to the war. On the battlefield, and sometimes off, he fought with vicious savagery. His skill in combat was unequaled by any. And his ability to ignore his wounds was unquestionable; even his most serious injuries did not slow him down in the least. When he should have died, he lived.

"Whenever he returned from a battle, he departed immediately for another. Every day gave him a new scar, but he did not seem to notice. Wherever the fighting was the fiercest, he was at the forefront of it. In truth, we Dentiochans won many battles off the tip of his bravery.

"But we all knew why he threw himself into the face of death every opportunity he found. We understood why he sought such destruction and chaos. We saw how he fought, how he moved amongst his enemies as though he were toying with them, how he would slit their throats just to watch them suffer to death. We knew, and we did nothing. And why should we? we asked ourselves. We were winning, and that was all that mattered. We did not care if one of our own was being tormented inside for it. It was a price we were more than willing to pay. But really, we were not the ones paying it."

The storyteller's eyes seemed to burn with flames, anger seeping into his soul. "Curse our loss of compassion! The Arkadian's did not forge the Empire; all the Dentiochans did! But we let our kindred atone for our wrongs! Yet, there is still time, my children. Someday, the House of Arkady will be given over to retribution, and in that last battle, we shall be redeemed from our evils."

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes searching the emptiness of space trying to recall his thoughts. "Coran. Alas, my forebears never explained to their sons why we die, for maybe they themselves never knew. But I know the truth now, and it is made evident in Coran.

"He had lost his love, and I do not speak merely of Lillian, though she was a part of it. You see, my dear children, it is love that allows us Dentiochans to succumb to death. You may deny it if you wish. You may even say to yourselves, 'I shall never love, and thus live forever.' But when your day comes, and you stand atop your last battlefield, you shall remember what it is to love, and in that last moment of your life, you shall find peace.

"That, I believe, is what happened to Coran. In his despair, he had bound himself to his sorrow. He had tainted his grief and turned it into a weapon. But love is never truly forgotten.

"For seven years, Coran fought alongside his Dentiochan brethren. They campaigned all across Europe, Asia, Africa, and even Australia. But alas, it was the Middle East that took some of our bravest sons. In our bid to dominate all the world, we threw ourselves into the heart of conflict, for in truth, we had begun to think ourselves invincible. Oh, but what fools we were, and are!

"Yet still, who could have known that we would find our most sorrowful tragedy in a ruined little city called Baghdad? Much have I described to you all of the ferocity of the fighting in that city, how we often engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, and how many lives were lost. But our greatest loss of that battle would come at its conclusion.

"On the tenth day of battle, Coran had taken two squads of soldiers straight into the heart of the enemy's defensive line. His sudden charge had been unauthorized and, thus, was without reinforcements forthcoming. But Coran did not care; he never cared. I believe that, in his ever-surging bloodlust, he had remembered Marcus' valiant advance at the Battle of Calais. And he hoped to copy such an impressive feat. But the enemy he faced now was much different.

"As I said, he charged them head-on. And that fight was brutal and devastating. But lo, even as the last of his brave soldiers fell around him, Coran was stricken unconscious and taken prisoner. His captors saw that he was a Dentiochan and knew that he would make a brilliant bargaining tool." Samuel chuckled to himself as he considered this idea. "Oh, how often do our enemies underestimate us!

"When the next dawn came and the enemy offered us negotiations, we knew that they believed they had gained a strong advantage over us. So, we accepted their offer to negotiate. But when they showed us Coran, bound, gagged, and bloody, we knew they had made a grave mistake. Still, we agreed to leave Baghdad forever in exchange for Coran. Yes, we lied, but only in such times as those do we.

"As night fell that same day, Coran and Brendan took the rest of their soldiers into the city, but they moved silently and swiftly now. Their actions that night devastated the enemy, in number and morale. I do not know what all happened in that city, for I myself was not there with those two brothers, and Brendan would speak very little about it when he and his battered soldiers finally returned. But I saw his eyes as he carried Coran's body in his arms. His grief was only exterior. In his heart, he was truly happy. And I know why.

"I heard Brendan that evening as he spoke with his father, the last time he ever did. 'It was Coran's bravery alone that saved us from defeat and annihilation,' he said. 'I watched him fall, and I saw into his eyes as they searched the stars above. And I heard the last word that would ever usher forth from his lips. Lillian. He was smiling when he died, Father. He remembered, and he was smiling.' "

Samuel Arkady fell silent once again, but this time, his eyes glistened with happiness. "The Houses of Alexandros, Audric, and Arkady all have different tales of Coran's last stand and how his bravery saved us all from defeat at Baghdad, and even the entire war. But only the Atheniton's know what truly happened that night, and the only answer they will give you for the asking is a teary-eyed smile.

"But you see, my dear children, love can never be fully forgotten. Coran remembered his love at the last, and it gave him peace in death. 'He remembered, and he was smiling.' "