Brothers

I don't have anything deep and insightful to say about Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, or Easter. At least, nothing that's already been said--see the Catholic blog roll on the right of this post.

Instead, I have some news.

I finished Part One of Felix. It's 79 pages long, something over 63,000 words, eleven chapters. Now, I have to work on Part Two. And then edit edit edit (later). And, and and.

Anyway, working on Part Two, I came to one of my favorite scenes. It was inspired by the picture "Dawn of St. Gabriel" that I found on DA, and it's one of the most touching Felix/Demetri brother scenes I've got in my head.

For it, I wrote an oath of fealty that Demetri and Felix say to each other--this time, Felix says it to a distraught Demetri.

I will always be at your back

and by your side

and I will place myself

between you and the Enemy.

I will defend you with my sword,

my word,

my body and soul,

and all of my heart.

I will follow you,

to the ends of the earth,

I will lead you,

through the gates of Heaven,

I will stay with you,

through the longest nights

just as you follow, lead and stay with me.

For I am your brother,

and I will keep your fears at bay

and just as you have served me,

and as we both serve our family,

and our God,

so shall I serve you.

And you,

in turn,

must never leave me

for without you I would no longer be.

If you were not at my side,

I would be nothing.

Were it to have been,

that we had never met,

I would be an empty shell, my voice a lonely echo,

and my life, it would have been short.

I am yours as you are mine,

our souls are bonded,

and with these words I entreat thee

depend on me, my love, my strength, and the fire of my heart.

For you are my friend, my blood, my soul,

O brother mine.