Write a description of one character by another in no more than 500 words. (Final word count�500!)
It was the sound of the rich laughter that drew his attention as he strode down the passageway. For a moment, the demigod paused and leaned against the stone embrasure as he gazed down into the small courtyard below at the simple scene of a man entertaining children, with stories and songs, teasing them or tickling them into laughter. For a moment, his blue eyes softened in memory as he gazed upon the golden curls glinting in the sun. For all the years and all the pain they'd known, that laughter could still ring out, so uncomplicated and pure, so�joyous and innocent. He remembered those years so long ago, when they'd been children themselves. The games and the hopes they'd shared. The friendship that had been the most important thing in his life�and still was.
'How has he kept himself so intact?' the Son of Zeus wondered and frowned in thought as he studied the man below. Others, weaker men, would have been destroyed by the years since. Would have taken off, screaming, for the hills. 'Where does he get the strength to stay with me?' For all that happened, for all the unpredictability and often the horror, he had endured and not been beaten. Oh, he'd changed, certainly, over the years. But�he exhibited a rare courage, and even compassion, certainly a gentleness, that nothing had been able to extinguish in his soul. He was still resilient, and had the ability to adapt, to think quickly in assessing a situation for danger, a chameleon-like quality to melt into the environment or stand out as the center of attention�a determination, perhaps, not to be defeated, to never give in and lose a sense of himself, of who he was.
Oh, he knew fear�the demigod had seen it in his eyes. More times than he could count. But he'd also seen that fear endured stoically. Fear hadn't ever defeated him. No more than had pain, or the unpredictability of his life. He bore his hurts, the bruises, the scars, without complaint, as if they held no interest for him, no real meaning. Certainly, he never let any injury slow him down.
He didn't know why he was counted as being special, as someone the demigod couldn't imagine not having in his life. He didn't understand that he was irreplaceable. That their history, and the love that had grown between them as children, allowed a rare comfort in the younger man's life. He didn't know that his value couldn't be counted with gold or silver.
A child noticed him watching from above and pointed wordlessly. For just a moment, as he looked up, that golden smile illuminated his face, remaining bright for a single heartbeat�and then it faded slowly, almost reluctantly, as he turned and led the children away.
Scowling, filled with unspeakable anger that he could not control, with a grief that tore at his soul, the Sovereign smashed a fist into the wall and then stomped off down the hall.
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