West Wing (Warwick Castle) 06.30 p.m.
-William- a voice boomed inside the room.
Dickon Dustin was currently reading one of the books he had discovered in the room he shared with his brother. His slender body lay neatly on top of the greenish blankets and thoughtfully sat there, reading with his wood - coloured eyes every single word printed on the white page.
William Dustin, also busy reading of a different book, did not give much importance to the recall of his twin, at least until he finished reading the page.
The latter's body also lay on the bed, placed next to the opposite wall of the room. He was sitting against the thick wooden back.
-Yes, Dickon?- He finally decided to answer, leaving the book closed on his legs.
William's gaze fell on his brother, who in turn had turned his gaze towards him.
- I was thinking ... - Dickon began to speak, turning his thoughtful gaze to the ceiling - I was thinking about our cousin ... -.
William seemed almost surprised, so that his lips parted in a grimace of astonishment.
Normally the two were so similar that it happened more than once to think about the same things as if they were the same person.
At that precise moment, however, he could not feel what his brother felt and it was strange.
Was it possible that their growth was robbing them of that particular and magnificent capacity?
No, it could not be, and he did not want to believe it was true. On the other hand they were monozygous twins, they were William and Dickon Dustin, counts of Southern Ireland and the most terrible troublemakers in those lands.
-Why brother? - Asked the one, looking at the book again.
Dickon from the other bed placed both of his arms behind his head ruffling his red hair.
-I mean, we practically grew up with her, almost as if we were brothers and sister ... -.
William stopped reading him, almost as if troubled by his brother's unexpected speculations.
-Do you mean, brother, that you fell in love with our cousin? -.
Dickon suddenly blushed, smiled and threw one of the pillows in the direction of his twin, who dodged it with exceptional agility.
-I don't mean that, silly you!- he said coming to his senses and taking back the unusual seriousness, which had never been their characteristic -I mean, she is just so young, I don't think she is ready for big commitments like marriage, children and things like that-.
William thought about what his brother had just said and replied with interest.
-In short: growing up is something that sooner or later everyone does ... - the twin nodded again, turning his gaze to his brother.
-Except us, we would forever remain young and foolish, right?- joked Dickon ironically turning his body in a composed pose on the bed.
William hinted a slight smile at his brother's statement and turned his body so to exchange a look with his.
For many it was almost astounding to notice two people looking the same, like looking at one's image in two matching mirrors, but for them being the same had never caused problems.
They had never been selfish and had never developed their own personality, they were used to it and almost loved the presence of the other, so much so that they felt incomplete when they were far away.
On the other hand, they were the only twins known within their family, both on the paternal and maternal side.
They had two older brothers: Preston and Warren and an older sister: Meredith.
They had a fairly old father and a beautiful mother, yet within their family the only case of twin birth was theirs.
They were born when their father was already in his sixties and their mother was in her thirties.
They had both been born during the night, from a delivery that had lasted more than three hours of gestation, except that William had been born ten minutes before Dickon.
They had inherited both red hair from their mother and their dark brown eyes from their father. They had always been close, both before birth and during their childhood.
-Hey William ... - after a long silence Dickon began to speak, returning to look at the white ceiling.
-Yes? - asked the curious brother, continuing to caress every word written on the page with his fingers.
-The fact is ... do you think we would always remain like this? -. These words came out of Dickon's thin lips almost as a whisper.
-What do you mean? - repeated the interested brother placing the book on the side of his bed.
-I mean, I like to spend time with you, brother, but for us too there will come a day when we will have to get married, start a family, things like that ... - Dickon admitted, caressing the cover of the book next to him with his agile fingers. - I really like this life, and I don't think I want to leave it ... -.
For a moment William fell silent, taking his gaze away from his brother and returning to look again at the old book to his left.
-William- his brother returned to call him with a weak voice, so much so that he instantly turned the other's gaze away -promise that we will always remain so close, please ... -.
William looked at his brother's pale face, at his lips parted in a grimace of fear, at his dark eyes filled with transparent tears.
It was like a squeeze in his heart, seeing his twin so worried, almost as if he could finally experience the same feelings, as if they could finally be the same person again.
In no time Dickon's body was covered by that of his twin, who, close to him, lay together on the bed.
-Stupid jerk... - William admitted as the first transparent and salty tears fell on his cheeks.
William's fists clenched against his twin's back, so much that he firmly grabbed the white shirt he was wearing.
Dickon breathed, smelled the scent of the oil used on his brother's red hair, smelled, behind that scent, his own smell.
They hugged each other, and their bodies, close to each other, gave the two some sense of greater security and protection.
Both of them were saying to each other, in that whirlwind of emotions, things that neither of them really believed.
They loved each other, they were the same, they had the same feelings, they were both equally attached to each other, and they were equally incomplete on their own. They would never accept to be separate.