Well, here comes again a new chapter of the story, for you to read, which however goes pretty bleak.
There is no suitable listening music to this chapter either. My apologies.

****

Julian was awakened from his sleep, sleeping chamber door bumped close. After a while he had imagined was dreaming, when he saw a dark figure disappear through the door. But his ears are accurate, however, heard footsteps outside the door, so he realized that it was not a dream and sat up. When he was fumble a moment he found a tinderbox and a candle. Kindled a candle, which dim light, he saw the parchment on the night table.

Brow furrowed, he watched the parchment. It was certain that it hadn't been a bedside table as he went to sleep. Someone had brought it and that it was probably someone who had just disappeared out of the room.
Julian took the parchment in his hand and read the message. His face turned pale with fright, when the content of the message revealed to him.
"What have I done", he gasped in horror and rose from the bed, so that the coverage went as the floor. He knew that it was in a hurry and cared nothing about his own safety after the rush of that man, who had been leaving a message.

Candle in his hand, he ran out of the room and came to a plateau, but too late. Julian saw how the three men attacked that thin man who was wearing his royal clothes and sank the sword in his chest over and over again.

"No", Julian said quietly, and he realized then that he could not just stand there and watched how defenseless man were beaten, "Guards!" He roared so loudly that his voice echoed dreary along the silent castle and saw how those three ran away, after hearing his voice.
 

He didn't hesitate, but ran down the hall and directly to Erik's creates, who lay motionless in place next to the wall. Gendly Julian turned him on his back and saw how Erik's horrible pale face looked horrified. He saw how terrified Erik was, but he had no time to talk say anything to him, when he heard running steps, which was approaching fast.

"My lord, you called", Said breathless guard, who was arrived at the scene running feet, and the second came soon after him.
"One of you get the best healer of mine here as soon as possible and the other goes into alarm. Those men must be get caught", Julian shared the orders at a fast pace. He knew that it was in a hurry.
"Happens right away, my lord", Soldiers belt out to one mouth and run fast to carry out the given orders.

Julian waited, and it felt like a long time, when he tried to stanch bleeding wounds that Erik had a lot of his midriff.
"How didn't I realized earlier", Julian said quietly, and felt a twinge in his heart. That man had saved his life, although he had been cruel and nasty to him. "Erik." He said quietly.
"Forgive me, this is all my fault." Erik slurred barely louder than a whisper and Julian saw how this raised his hands to protect himself, like he would expect to receive a clip on the ear. He put his hand on Erik's hands as a gesture to calm him down, because he saw how terrified he was.
"It's me who should apologize for you", Julian said, not knowing how to get Erik to understand, that he didn't want to hurt him anymore. "Don't try to move, you're badly wounded", he added that what was true.
Julian had concerns about all those deep wounds that Erik had been on his chest. He saw that they were deep and deadly. Nevertheless, he expressed the hope that Erik would survive.

"I ... I have to clean up this mess. "Erik slurred and tried to get up.
"No, you will need to lie still, cleaning isn't hurry now", Julian said, and in the same time soldier came back, with two physician, who at once rushed to help Erik.
"Good, and now you'll go and wake my son Lucius. I have a mission for him", Julian said, turning to the soldier side.
"Immediately, my lord", Said the soldier, and ran to seek Lucius.
 

Healers brought Erik to stretcher and carried him to infirmary, folloed by Julian. He wanted to be there and hoped that healers success to save Erik's life, even there wasn't much hope.

After a while, Lucius walked into the room, soldier behind him.

"Father, you wanted to see me", Lucius said, and looked at his father. He didn't know what father wanted, and the soldier hadn't told it either.
"Yes I wanted to. You must find Brother Ignatius to your hands, he is the only one who knows where Erik's wife is", Julian said and tell where he could find Ignatius.

"Why do you want her here?" Lucius asked puzzled.
"Maria is the only one who now can to infuse will of life to Erik", Julian replied.
"Very well", Lucius answered, even he didn't quite understand what father meant, and left.
"Hurry up, time is of the essence", Julian said, before Lucius disappeared through the door.
"No... no... Please... I pray... Let Maria to be", Erik applied for and all the feelings that he had had to include so long, broke out. Tears rolled down his face rampant, "please, not Maria... Please be so kind, not Maria", he slurred inconsolable crying leave, it was afraid of what Julian would do to Maria.

"No, Erik. Now you've got me wrong. I don't want to hurt her, I want her here to help you", Julian said, and tried clumsily to calm Erik down, who clearly was terrified and feared for his loved ones.
"You have to leave now", Another healers said because she understood that the patient wouldn't calmed down, before Julian left the room.
"All right, but please come soon to tell if there is any changes in his condition", Julian asked, emphasized that, before walked out of the room.

Julian felt a deep guilty for what he was done to Erik and now began to understand what kind of man he really was. Down in the dumps, he walked over to the throne and hardly noticed at all that his wife arrived at the site.

"Julian, what's going on?" Margaret asked, and received the Julian cringe.

Margaret was awakened noise and noticed that Julian wasn't by her side, as usual. That's why she had risen and come to see what was going on.
Julian was first silent, and looked thoughtfully at his wife, who stood still a few wrinkle caused by concerns on his forehead.

"I have done something unimaginable evil, and it may take noble man's life", Julian said quietly, and felt how tears escaped from his eyecorner and rolling on the cheek.
"Then what have you done?" Margaret asked, and looked at her husband, which she had never been seen like this.

Penitent, and in a quiet voice he explained to his wife what he had done, and what farther he got, the more Margaret's facial expressions changed.
"Why on earth did you do that?" Margaret asked at last, but Julian could not answer.

He bowed his head down and felt a deep guilty and repented yet more deeply-making that was so shameful and cruel that he should never have to do it. Margaret knelt down next to her husband and took this hands her own. She looked at the serious face which now drew their outline in deep furrows.

"I know that you have a whit of goodness in you, otherwise you would have been so kind and loving to me and your children", Margaret said, and lightly stroke the light ringlet off her husband's face, "You just have to be adapted to your sins and ask for forgiveness to Erik. I know that you do all you can to get him into shape and make up for him all the things you've done to him", she went silent and Julian nodding barely louder than significant.
"He's just so horribly out of shape, I don't know, he will survive, whether he even see the morning", Julian said, looking to his faithful Margaret, "I sent Lucius to get Maria here. She is the only one who might be able to help him", he went.
"I knew that there is something good in you", Margaret said, and pressed a gentle kiss on the her husbands forehead.

****

On the other hand Lucius rode like gust of wind way forward, towards the monastery, the location of the father was told. Trees teemed in his eyes and the horse's hooves drumming country steadily, taking him to fast-forward.

It was dark, but somewhere far away on the horizon began twinkle the light of day. Only a small thin stripe, it was yet, but as soon as it magnifies and the sky met all of the red and gold colors.

The sky glowed rose-red when he finally reached the monastery yard. He landed almost swing down off his horse and went almost the same way for the monastery to the door, which he start to bang hard. It took a moment before the door was opened, and in the doorway stood a monk, who looked at him confused.

"What's the matter?" Brother Fransiscus asked, and wondered how someone was so early in the move.
"I ... I should need to see Brother Ignatius now", Lucius said.
"Why?" Fransiscus asked, but let Lucius inside.
"Since I have things to him, and it can not wait at all", Lucius replied impatiently and strode inside behind the monk.
"All right. Wait here", Fransiscus said, and disappeared to search for Brother Ignatius, who was preparing the morning worship.

Ignatius stood in front of the altar and studied the Bible, wondering what he would spoke to the people this morning, when monk, who had opened the door to Lucius, came running to the scene.

"Brother Ignatius, I'm sorry to disturb your peace, but one man wants to meet you", Fransiscus said.
"Why?" Ignatius asked, sensing that something wasn't right now.
"He didn't tell me, but he said that it is urgent", Fransiscus answer.
"Very well, I will come right away Brother Fransiscus." Ignatius said, and made a quick sign of the cross and strode after the monk.
Fransiscus gave a brief Lucius, and soon they came to the lobby, where the monk was Lucius left.

"You wanted to see me." Brother Ignatius said, and looked at the young man, who seemed to be very nervous.
"Yes I wanted to, because I need to find Maria MacBear right away." Lucius said.
"What you need her?" Ignatius said, and began to discern evil.

"Her husband is badly wounded." Lucius replied, wondering could he make the monk believe.
"Are you talking to now certainly true?" Ignatius said, and felt a longing slip in his stomach. Something very bad had happened, and this is certainly not end well, he thought.
"Yes I do." Lucius said, and began to despair. Who knows what father would do if he were to fail now and would return back with empty hands.
"All right, but if this is a ploy, your father is not going to happen very well." Ignatius said the deterrent tone. After all, he certainly would do anything himself, because it was not the church's responsibility to share your judgments, but of God.

"This is not anything like that, and if we're wavering here longer, I don't know if no one can help anymore", Lucius said.
"In that case, we assume without further delay", Ignatius said, though felt little doubt within him. He still hoped to Erik's because of that all would be well, because he had been in his life, enough of adversity.

They didn't discuss any more, but went out to where the horse was imported for Ignatius. They rise on the horses back and set out. During the trip, Lucius told Ignatius all he knew about the incident, which wasn't much, since he was awakened from his sleep, when soldier had come to awaken him. and either father haven't told him much.

Some time after Ignatius slowed steed canter to walking, Lucius making the same. He didn't know why they slowed down, until he saw before him a square surrounded by thick forest, were was a small cottage. In the cottage yard was two boys who were practicing fencing, or so it seemed at first in Lucius's eyes.

Then he looked at another boy in more detail and something disturbed him. The second was definitely a boy, but the other seemed somehow more feminine. Features were softer and slender, but otherwise, the two were so looking so much each other. Lucius estimates for those two to be at least fifteen years old.

"Who are they?" Lucius asked, and stared at the other boy, which he realized now after seeing closer was a girl.
"Erik's and Maria's, twins. Edmund and Elisabeth", Ignatius answer.
"Erik's children", Lucius said quietly.
"Yes", Ignatius said, and thought, wonder if Erik cope for so long, that would have time to see his children at least once and his wife, which he wasn't seen in years.

Edmund and Elisabeth had stopped fencing, noticed entrants. Each will found the young man out of curiosity, but they were silent. Elisabeth saw face and the essence of Ignatius, that something was wrong. Ignatius came down off the horse and young man followed him. They took the horses pen aside and walked to the cottage door, when the twins were followed them silently.
Ignatius knocked on the door politely and then stepped into a small huts, young man, and the twins.

"Good morning, Maria. I am sorry to disturb you so early, but something serious has happened. "Ignatius said, warmly saluted first, Mary and guide her to sit.
"Ignatius, what has happened?" Mary asked, looking searchingly man's gentle, solemn faces. Only then will she saw Lucius and got up.
"You," she yelled, and looked at the young man, eyes sparking with fury.
"W. .. what? M.. Me? "Lucius stammered, frightened and confused. He didn't understand why the woman reacted so strongly.

"After all those years you dare to show your face in here!" Maria screamed and her hand rose. She did not have time to hit, when Ignatius grabbed her wrist caught and brought back to sit down.

"Calm down, Maria." Ignatius said softly.
"But..." Maria began and Ignatius understood. The woman was confused Lucius to Julian, which he certainly reminded very much.
"He is Lucius, Julian's eldest son", Ignatius said.
"Lucius", Maria said, speaking calmly, "I still don't want to see him or his descendants here. Not after what he did", She went, her sound shakeing emotional power.

"I'm really sorry about my father's actions", Lucius began humble and continued, "my father sent me, because we need you", he went and looked a little scared that strong-willed woman, whose face time and internal woes had taken their toll.
"What does he want? Where am I needed for?" Mary asked coolly, as she was sworn in her mind that she wouldn't help Julian, even if he was dyeing, because he was done so badly to Erik and his parents..

"He said that you are the only one who can help", Lucius said gently.
"Tell me just one reason why I would help your father", Maria said.
"No, now, you understood me wrong. My father doesn't need help, but our servant Erik", Lucius said.
"Erik?" Maria said, and felt a nasty slip in her stomach. "What happened to Erik?" She asked and felt bad.
"He was attacked and wounded very badly", Lucius said, and told what he knew about it, and what his had heard from his father.
"Noh." Maria gasped and felt how tears began to roll on her cheeks. She was afraid to Erik's behalf, and hoped that he'll survive or even cope even that long, that he could even see his family for the last time.

"I am very sorry", Lucius tried clumsily to comfort, but saw that it would not make the situation any better, "I know that my father is to blame for this and I would help you if I could. I ... I like Erik. He is so kind, helpful and friendly", He tried.
"That is Erik." Maria said, and sob inconsolably.
"Well, it is a hurry, so don't we would go already." Ignatius suggested because he saw that Maria need something else to think about.
"What about me?" Elizabeth asked, and it seemed that would come along, even if by force.
"You too." Ignatius said, because it would be good if Erik could see his children, although these began to be almost grown. The girl had already marriageable.

Lucius was also noticed her to and as his eyes wandered stealthily girl over and over again. Elisabeth also looked curiously every now and then to Lucius. She wasn't met many boys, in addition to his brother. None Of these weren't her peers. Sunday school were only a few younger boy and one much older boy. None of them had aroused any kind of feelings in Elisabeth, because she had already known them since she was started Sunday school with her brother.

But after watching curiously Lucius, Elisabeth felt something quite new, which has not yet been felt ever before and that feeling wasn't just a curiosity.
Ignatius also notised those looks that young man cast to the girl, and vice versa. He thought it would be good to discuss the matter with both of them, as long as the Erik's matter get managed first.

That small group get the horses, which of two had to be prepared, before they got to go. But when the hand was more pairs, they were soon ready to go.

So they raced forward, landscapes scurry past them. First there was the forest for a long time, until the trees began to thin out and become a hilly terrain, lush green land. They took everything out of their horses as they get, because each of their mind banged, that time was becoming increasingly less, and less.

***

Julian walked restlessly back and forth in front of the sick house door, and waited anxiously for news about Erik's condition. He expressed the hope that the man survived this ordeal, or even cope hang on to edge of life until his wife would have time to come the castle.
The opening of the door switches Julian thoughts and he stopped, looking expectantly to Nadia, who had come to tell the news. He saw a woman's face, that the news, wasn't very good.

"Well, how is that? Is he going to survive?" Julian said and looked at her expectantly.
"If God wants, he may survive, but I regret to say that the wounds he received are too deep and a few have been hit by a very bad place, thus undermining hopes of survival", Nadia said. "But we will do everything we can, so that he would be comfortable", she went, leaving at the end floating in the air like a dark storm cloud.
"How long... before?" Julian asked quietly, and felt a heavy weight come down on his shoulders and it was guilt.
"I don't know. Maybe hours, maybe day", Nadia replied and looked at Julian's face serious.
"Thank you", Julian said, barely louder than a whisper. He had never before felt so bad, as it is now. He didn't know how to offset against to that injustice what he had done. He was just trying to do the best that Erik's final time would be pleasant as possible and with minimal disruption, "can I... Is it okay for me to go to see Erik?" He asked, feeling very humble and penitent.

"Yes, but I must ask that you do not under any circumstances unnerve him any more. He has experienced enough of thrill", Nadia said.
"Thank you”, Julian said, and walked behind the Nadia to the infirmary.

He didn't really know what to say to a man that he had so long plagued and which is unlikely to want to be a friend, even that he did a noble act that would perhaps requires his life. Julian sat down on a chair and looked Erik, who was lying on a bed so very pale.

"Well ... Um ... I wanted to come and see how you feel", Julian finally said, awkwardly.

Erik didn't answer, just looked back and Julian could see the fear in his eyes. It doesn't abated away. It was as if a man would have expected to receive a stick, or perhaps spaces. The moment was very quiet, and Julian didn't know what to do. He wanted to help this man, but didn't know how, and how should understand this. He knew that it was going to be difficult, when Erik was so long accustomed to being the one who was pull apart, threatened and punished, sometimes even for no reason.

"I ... er ... I want to apologize", Julian said, breaking the profound silence, "I do not know how I could replace you with all the things I have done to you. I now understand what a great and noble man you are. "He went on and felt piece stuck in his throat.

Erik still didn't say a word, but just watched Julian, which weighed down his eyes.
"I know how you feel now, because at the moment I am ashamed of myself", Julian continued breaking the silence again, "I am ashamed of what I've done and I know I can't undo it. I don't to be forgiven", he went quietly, feeling the familiar tingling in his eyecorner.
"This was my choice", Erik said quietly and put his hand on Julian's hand.

Julian felt how cool Erik's hand was, and how the work hardened and roughening.
"But I drove you to this." Julian said. "It was my actions that make this happend", he added miserably.

Again became silent, and neither a single word was said. They did not know what to say. Julian felt weak pressure in his hand, as Erik was trying to encourage or cheer up. He wondered how Erik continuously be so kind to him, after all that, what he had done to him. Pressure, which had been the already weak, weakened more and Julian saw how Erik's eyes began to droop almost forcibly closed.

"Tell me something, anything you want, as long as you're talking to me and stay awake", Julian said, and grabbed Erik's hands, but not very hard, because he didn't want to hurt Erik any more.
"Why can't I fall asleep?" Erik asked in a quiet voice, "I'm so tired... so very tired and I just want to sleep", he continued voice almost disappears into nothingness.
"I can't let you fall asleep, because I'm afraid you'll never wake up", Julian answered truthfully.
"When did you begin to fear for me?" Erik said quietly, and chuckled in small ways.
"Then, when you saved my life", Julian answered truthfully and looked Erikiä earnestly.
"All right", Erik agreed, and began in a low voice to tell about himself and his live, when Julian listening him.

The farther Erik proceeded his story, the worse Julian felt, because he knew he was to blame for all the suffering that Erik had his life been suffered. Now he really knew how much he was ruined Erik's life and how much Erik had been forced to give up. Here's how to take hours and Julian listened to Erik's quiet, weak voice, which told the story of his life, in spite of all the evil which could accommodate some very happy moments.

"You know I wished for when I was still free, that I could be like the others, just an ordinary man. I didn't even my dreams imagined, that I was a noble descent, and I still can't believe it. I was hoped a life without that mark in my hand. That no one would no longer calling me names, throwing me stones or kicked me out", Erik said and unpleasant memories of running like a dark shadow in his eyes, "I hoped that I would have had my own family, and perhaps my own house, even if only a tiny shack in the woods, and maybe a tiny coin of land, which to cultivate, but I never received it. I got a family, even if I didn't have long to keep my family with me. ", He added, and sighed heavily.

Julian was silent and fell down a guilty look. He realized how little Erik would have been content, and how little wished for himself, even though he deserved to get a lot more.

"I am very sorry”, Julian said with a thick voice, and realized now how much Erik had had to give up because of him, "I know that I can't entirely replace everything I've done wrong to you, but I can say from my heart, that I'm very sorry and I'll try my best to pay my debt to you", He went and swallowed.
"If... if I hadn't been in your dungeon, I would never have met... Maria", Erik said quietly, "so, indirectly, you helped us to meet each other", he said, and a small little smile came on his lips when he remembered Maria.
"I've done wrong to you more than any good", Julian reminded bleak.
"Yes", Erik said wearily, "I have long wondered why you did, like you did? Why me?" He asked then.

"Because I was a power-hungry fool", Julian said truthfully, "I wanted power, I wanted something that even wasn't belong to me, and I opened my heart to evil, so my eyes couldn't see the evil, which I did to get access to what I wanted most", he went quietly.
"The devil always comes up with a way to get people to do as he wish", Erik spoke quietly and remembered what Ignatius had taught him, "but if you know how to ask for forgiveness, you will also forgiven, it is what our gracious lord taught us", he went and pressed weakly Julian's hand.
"I don't understand you", Julian said, "I've been a monster to you, and yet you are friendly to me."

"Since our Lord has taught us to be merciful to all, even to those who have done wrong", Erik replied quietly, "he also taught that a good deeds you make good and evil to evil. Good deeds to outweigh the bad", he continued kindness and warmth in his voice.
"I still haven't earned your goodness", Julian said. "I know where I go when my time comes to leave this world. I don't avoid that judgment, for I have put myself in that soup", he continued.
"Let the past be, when we can't no longer change them", Erik said a peaceful, conciliatory in tone.

"I see now that you are a true king, inherited, as by nature and that is why I want to return this back", Julian said, and then took the crown of his head and fell to the small nightstand next to the bed.

"I think that I'm not going to enjoy it", Erik said quietly, "I know that my time is running out", he added, as he felt pain, which is roasted in the entire torso.
"I'll do anything to get you into shape and then we'll go to one tavern to beer and have fun together", Julian tried to cheer up Erik.
"It could be a lot of fun", Erik smiled, though he knew himself, so that would never happen.

They continued their discussion for a long time, hours rolling by slowly. Day began to turn to for the evening and the shadows lengthened. Serene sky began to glow golden, red and orange tones by the setting sun.

Julian saw how Erik became more and more tired. Erik looked like it would have been increasingly difficult to keep his eyes open and his voice began to be choppy. Healers were a couple of times to exchange pandages and Julian had asked of a them, whether after all, was a small chance that Erik would survive, but they weren't given any hope of recovery.