[PK] A Pained Goodbye

[Jayphynph 279]

Spoiler

 

Charles Reye had long been ill by the time of his death. Although changed frequently, the bloodied handkerchief in his pocket served as a constant reminder of his ailments, and the encroaching promise of eternal rest. To his own dismay, Charles sometimes found himself wishing for the end to finally come. Sometimes, the pain of coughing up one’s lungs became just too much, and sometimes he found himself wishing to see his loved ones again, of whom he had lost so many.

 

But Charles had been blessed with a fighting spirit. Even in his youth, which by now he often found himself thinking back to, he’d feast on maggots and leaves whenever he couldn’t hunt, sometimes due to a lack of animals, sometimes due to the threat of the gamekeeper and his nose. Sleeping outside in the wet and cold, hungry and thirsty, built tough nerves, but it was hardly good for one’s health…

 

In the twilight of his life, amid the pain and rotting lungs consuming his very being, Charles even participated in the siege of New Valdev alongside the Númenedain. Perhaps he was hoping to die with honour and glory, or perhaps he just wanted to help. In any case, it was here his body finally broke beyond repair. Burned by boiling oil, shot in the thigh and stabbed in the stomach by the Mountain’s minions, Charles, barely hanging onto life, crawled back home to Silasia to die. There, with the help of Valencia, he clung to life for another excruciating month. Falling in and out of consciousness, struggling to find the thread of reality, coughing up bloodied bits of tissue from his lungs, heart, and throat. The final moments of Charles Reye’s life were not particularly pleasant.

 

---

 

Charles, in his by-now common state of disrepair, was lying in bed trying desperately to sleep. Valencia walked in with various medicines and some food, although he did not initially register her presence. 

 

 “…Failure. . . Camila. . . Val…” Charles’ words were as grim as they were unhinged, not much more than the ramblings of a dying man. Still, she’d attempt to reassure him.

 

“Charlie… You did no such thing”

 

Charles' eyes were glossed over, filled with tears, not seeming to process much, if any, information. He paused his rambling, asking a single, trembling question.

“C-Camila? Where is your mother, I need to speak to he-” He cut himself off, realising something. “No… No, you're dead… I killed you, it was my fault.” 

 

Suddenly, the half-blind man became enraged, reaching to the dresser for his aurum dagger, determined to kill the ghost before him, yet, he failed. He kept scrambling for the instrument, every time failing to reach it. More tears only filled his eyes, as Charles began sobbing. 

 

“I'm so sorry, my daughter. I failed you” 

 

“You didn't fail me. I promise” regardless of who she was speaking as, herself or Camila, the words were true. 

 

His sobbing turned to a cough, growing increasingly violent until a small pool of blood had formed on the sheets. It mixed with Charles’ tears, forming a diluted stain which both of them tried to ignore. He looked to Valencia, a hint of recognition dawning on his face. How much recognition was tough to tell, but Valencia would most likely notice an expression which the marred, harried face had shown her so many times over the years. Love. 

 

“I should have married you,” he whispered, breathing heavy and staggered. 

 

Valencia took Charles’ hand in hers clasping it tightly, bringing it over her heart. 

 

“But you did. In here.” She thumped it once. “You're my husband, and I'm your wife. We always have been.”

 

“I don't want to leave you, my love.” Charles, now lucid again, could feel tears well in his eyes once more. “I don't want to die, not yet….” -  “I can't stop thinking about our daughter, Val. I should have been there for her, I should have protected her… Now I'm leaving you too, and I don't know if I can do that. And Felipe… GOD, that poor boy.” 

 

“There is nothing you could have done to save her” - “You aren't… leaving us. You are just taking a different form.” 

 

“A different form… I like that,” he chuckled. Valencia aiding in wiping his tears away, clearing his throat with a few more, thankfully blood-less, coughs. “I- I should get some rest,” he mumbled. 

 

“Thank you, my love. For everything you've done. I'll see you in the morning?” 

Charles then shuffled around, attempting to get comfortable amid his burns. He fell asleep with his hand in Valencia’s and died in her arms.

Spoiler

Thank you to everyone who helped shape Charles into one of my favourite characters. A special thanks goes to @Bethinwonderlandfor being such a good friend over these past months, and for helping write and format this post.

 

[Bethinwonderland 2213]

Valencia mourned for a time, in her own way. Adding a candle for him to the ones she lit each night for her fallen family and friends

 

Spoiler

Sad to see him go, though I look forward to the next characters you make

 

[Skyhiromoshy 36]

Upon hearing the news. Felipe would do a small prayer and light a candle like his mother taught him. Tears falling down his face as he falls to his knees after lighting. Losing yet again someone he loved deeply. Let alone the only father he came to know!