Work Text:
“You knew.”
Adolin stared at his father, horror and disgust straining his features. Faceplate gone, his tears left bare streaks in the grime staining his cheeks.
He glanced back at the crumpled figure on the ground. At the Voidlight weeping from the shardplate, scarlet flickers that barely held the armor in place. At the broken helm, and the dazed, gentle features of his younger brother. Renarin shook his head, screwing his eyes shut.
The duelist trembled slightly. He looked back at Dalinar, and something broke in his expression. Questions - and answers - seemed to flash behind his eyes.
He strode toward his father, blade in hand, as Renarin watched in horror.
Adolin spun his sword, slamming it into the ground. He stared at his father with a mix of rage, and grief, and regret.
He turned sharply, striding back toward his brother.
“The Contest!” Dalinar shouted. “If you forfeit-”
Adolin knelt before his brother, pulling off his own helm.
The breeze tossed his blond-black curls. He cradled his brother's cheek in one hand, tilting his chin so he could meet his eye.
“Please.” Renarin whispered. “Please just kill me. Please, Adolin, the only other way is-”
Adolin shook his head, bowing his forehead to his brother's and closing his eyes.
Renarin reached up and seized his hand, shaking. He stared at him, frantic, panic threatening to overwhelm him. “Please, I'm not strong enough -”
“You are.” Adolin said softly. He opened his eyes and stared into Renarin's, calm certainty there.
He pulled his brother into his arms and embraced him.
“It's ok, Renarin. I understand, now.”
Renarin clutched at him, face wrenching as pain beyond tears ripped through him. Fingers knotting in his brother's hair, he drove the knife through his heart.
Adolin jerked once, then fell limp against him. Blood poured forth in a hot torrent, and his body grew heavy in his arms.
Somewhere, distantly, he felt Odium shatter. A sound like a thousand violin strings twisted to breaking filled the arena, and the air fell still.
He laid his brother on the ground, his blue eyes vacant, a last, calm smile frozen on bloodless lips. He bowed his head to his chest, trying to drown out his father’s scream.
Victory at last.