This idea emerged during a conversation with a friend, and because of my reluctance to laboriously craft it into a fanfic, I presented it in this form:
Guilliman heard numerous rumors about the Lion’s return, but he struggled to believe it. Even before he entered the stasis field, he had already believed that the Lion was dead. Yet, he wanted the rumors to be true because of his overwhelming desperation for a brother’s companionship.
So, he once again captured a Tzeentch daemon and interrogated it，seeking truth about the Lion’s return.
The Tzeentch daemon affirmed that the Lion had indeed returned, untainted by Chaos. However, before Guilliman could find solace in this revelation, the daemon continued.
“He holds two distinct opinions of you, and you can guess which one is true.
The first: He is immensely relieved to learn that you are still alive and believes he is no longer alone.
The second: He thought he should have dealt with you and asked why could it not have been you who fell.”
The daemon pulled a sly maneuver, withholding context about the Lion’s words. It also conveniently changed the Lion’s true meanings, “why could it not have been you who fell instead of Sanguinius,” which Guilliman might have concurred with, and it also omitted that the Lion had also wished he had died in Sanguinius’ place.
Guilliman was quick to conclude that only the second statement held truth. Given his understanding of the Lion, he reasoned that the Lion had never held him in high regard and was very likely upset with him.The Lion may believe he should be held accountable for the current state of the Imperium.So it’s logical that the Lion wanted him dead.
In theory, Guilliman should have accepted this reality calmly, but he found himself unable to do so.
Imagine you awaken in a nightmarish world, utterly alone, burdened with the responsibility of saving everyone, yet no one could save you in return. Your father appears mad and treats you like a tool, and you lack a confidant to confide in. Amidst the ceaseless toil and isolation, a glimmer of hope emerges when you hear that one of your brothers has returned.You two weren’t close before, but you’ve been alone for too long. You’re so exhausted and you want to talk to someone. Despite past misunderstandings and disputes, he could be the sole person who comprehends your solitude and shares your burden.
But this brother, the only person in the world you can rely on and trust,thinks you’re better off dead.
Thus Guilliman crumbled.He had a will as unyielding as steel and rock, but he had already pushed himself to the brink. And this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.He could have continued to endure all the loneliness and despair, had the Lion not denied the value of all his effort and his life with a single sentence.
Meanwhile, the Lion was making preparations for his impending reunion with Guilliman. During his time with his sons, he felt that he should understand Guilliman’s perspective beforehand. He turned to Azrael, inquiring if Guilliman had ever spoken about him. He was told by Azrael that when Indomitus Crusade fleet delivered primaris reinforcements to the Rock,Guilliman admitted to Azrael that he had always admired the Lion. Despite not sharing a particularly close bond, the Lion had always been the one Guilliman looked up to among all their brothers. This left the Lion both moved and reassured.
Therefore, when the Lion and Guilliman finally met again, the Lion tried to express his brotherly feelings of reunion, but Guilliman reacted with extreme indifference and restraint. The Lion was puzzled and annoyed by this and suspected that Guilliman thought he was trying to usurp power. The misunderstanding between them deepened.
Eventually, the Lion could bear it no longer. He used his forestwalk ability to reach the Honor of Macragge and wanted to have a sincere conversation with his brother. However, when Guilliman spotted him, he misconstrued the lion’s intentions, believing that the lion had come to assassinate him. He instinctively raised the flaming sword in “self-defense.” When the lion attempted to clarify that he had no such intentions, Guilliman questioned him, “Aren’t you the one who wished I were dead?” The lion was speechless, as he had indeed uttered those words. A confrontation between the two ensued, but Guilliman eventually abandoned the fight midway due to overwhelming heartbreak.
This is the very first time when Lion witnessed Guilliman shedding tears. Even after the siege of Terra, when all were in mourning, Guilliman had immediately embarked on the task of reorganization and reconstruction.At that time,he was so driven that he seemed almost insensitive and indifferent.So all his brothers, including the lion, thought he’s cold or strong enough to never be swayed by emotion.
Now,Lion realized that Guilliman even remained oblivious to his own tears,still convinced that he sounded resolute and intimidating to Lion.Suddenly, the Lion comprehended the relentless battle Guilliman had waged against despair,but he couldn’t hold on any longer.And it’s because of Lion.
I haven’t figured out how this is supposed to end.My hope is for them to reconcile sincerely. However, I’m uncertain about how the Lion could offer solace to Guilliman and gain his trust again.Even he had changed a lot,I still think he is not good at comforting…and Roboute was devastated.
Any ideas ?
