I won't miss

The pool beneath the waterfall was surprisingly warm. Aes did not spare a thought as to why that could be the case. He only needed to know that it felt good against his bare skin. That feeling had helped his body come to an ease as the weight of his duty lifted from his shoulders for a while.

A large sigh was let out to the side of him. His compatriot sounded as if he released all the pent up fatigue that had casually built up over all their encounters. 

"What are we doing here Aes?" Robbin asked after submerging his lower half into the pool.

"What do you mean? we are bathing." Aes replied in a nonchalant fashion.

"Not that! I mean why are we wasting time here when we should be giving chase to that jester. You said the bugger who slugged me told you we don't have much time right?"

"Hmm... Does that also entail we should run ourselves ragged without rest?"

"Fair point. I suppose I'm anxious about what her plans are in Eversun."

"As am I, Do you have any family in Eversun you have to worry for Robbin?"

"None that care to find me. I've been estranged from them for as long as I can remember... 

Hey Aes, can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"What is your history with that Jester? Why does she hate you so much?"

"There's... no simple answer to that. I suppose you and Morgan have the right to know of it. I'll tell you both that story when we make camp tonight after we're all done bathing. 

May I ask a question of my own Robbin?"

"Shoot."

"How are you faring as of late? After...Shadow. Want to talk about it?"

"I'm alright... I mean I didn't even get to bury him but I guess it doesn't matter now." Robbin voiced out loud more in attempt to convince himself than anything else.

"Truly?"

"No, I don't know why I lied. Between you and me, I'm still hurting plenty at his loss. It's odd. Looking back at it now; I was so full of rage. I needed an outlet, someone to blame. The Gods know how sorry I am that I took it out on you.

Don't get me wrong that Jester's group killed him, she will pay for that but I'm not blameless either. I was the one who put him in harms way.

I wanted to escape from the truth at all costs. The truth that in the end, it was me. I failed him. 

When my moment came to save him, this 'marksman' missed the easiest shot in the world. I was so scared of losing him Aes. I had never been more scared of anything in my life. The fear got in my head and I couldn't shake it loose. 

When it finally came down to it, I had thrown away my pride as a marksman." Robbin initiated straight face before his face grew teary eyed upon uttering how scared he was. He dug out all his pain he thought buried; confiding in Aes.

"I do not believe that for a second Robbin. You did all you could for him."

"Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. I still failed him Aes. I was the only one who could be there for him and I failed him. Do you think he hates me for it Aes?"

"What!? How could you think that?"

"He used to be some lord's horse y'know. *sniff* Rich bugger, had an entire stable of em. My horse used to be the black sheep of the bunch or black horse even heh, hence 'Shadow'. *sniff* Bad breeding stock my Shadow was. Prone to sickness. Course if you starve the poor thing, he's going to get sick. *sniff* He was wild to boot, Gods was he wild. Except with me.

After each of my 'Jobs' I would sneak my way in and feed him an apple.*sniff* Shadow would go crazy for them. *sniff* Sometimes I would get caught and spend a night in the cages before a few greased palms got me out. Each time I'd get an apple, just for him. *sniff*

One night in the cages, I hear low whispers. A lords gotten tired of his wild black horse, he was looking to sell it to some other lord for a pretty piece. Some far lord, a place far away.

Never seeing my buddy again? Not on my watch, I says. *sniff*

Dead of night; *sniff* we steal away into the woods, thick as thieves.

I know the risks of the trade, comes with the territory. *sniff* Shadow though? I tried so hard to keep him away from it all.  

I can't get it out of my head that if it weren't for me maybe he'd be eating hay holed up in some lords stable but he would be safe. *sniff* He would be alive.

Do you *sniff* think he resents me for taking him away from his home?" Robbin told his story somberly interspersed with a sniffing sound from his runny nose paired with his wet eyes.

"I think... the time he spent with you. It would have been the best days of his life. Even in his final moments, I don't think Shadow regretted even a moment at your side."

"Yeah... I think I can see that. *sniff* Thanks Aes, I just needed to get it out of me a little. I just have all this guilt that I don't know what to do with."

"As it happens I am the expert in that regard. 

The way I deal with it is to channel it, into the good you can still do. Into the people you have yet to save. So that no one has to suffer as we have. That is what my late mentor imparted to me."

"What about *sniff* those you fail?"

"It's possible to do everything in your power and still fail. It is just how life is. As to the handling the guilt of failing someone close. I suppose you just have to carry it with you. When I figure it out myself you will be the first to know."

"Gods above, look at us. A bunch of moping boys." Robbin admitted as he tried to clear the tears from his eyes.

"Well there is one other benefit to this pool." Aes voiced; a mischievous grin falling upon his face.

Aes splashed the water onto his friends face much to Robbins surprise.

"Oi! what's that for?"

"No one can tell if we were crying!" Aes stated laughing at a soaked Robbin.

Robbin stopped for a moment to wipe away the pool water from his eyes before letting out his own laugh in response. 

"HAHA! Ain't that right! I'll have you for that pretty boy!"

The two splashed each other for a while and somehow Aes had Robbin in a joyous headlock; the two of them erupting into raucous laughter before Morgan made her appearance.

"Just HOW LONG does it take for the two of you to bathe!? Be more considerate of the lady amongst you!" Morgan shouted as she watched the tomfoolery unfold.

"Ah! Busted! Looks like our times up Aes."

"How the time flies when we are having fun, eh?"

They both said as they unhanded one another before getting out of the pool. Each smiling as their lower halves were revealed in their respective ignorance.

Morgan's face went beetroot upon witnessing the two of their 'swords'. 

"Eep! You savages! At least wait until I turn my back before leaving the pool!!! How will I ever get married now!?" Morgan stated turning away; her hands covering her eyes.

"Aes." Robbin voiced for Aes' attention.

"Yes?"

"Next time, I won't miss."

Aes said nothing but gave Robbin a sincere reassuring smile. Nodding.