Screams rang in her ears. The sounds, sights and smells of war numbing her senses along with the aching exhaustion that sapped her strength. In a voice hoarse from use, she screamed along with the others. She didn’t even realize that she was screaming. Her sense of self was totally focused on the advancing hordes pouring over the hills in front of her. She was vaguely aware of the deaths of her friends around her. She didn’t see the bodies falling in front of her. She tripped and stumbled only to pull herself upright and continue the charge.
She readied her dwindling reserves, pulling them together for the spells that would kill. She only had a few seconds before the demons were upon her. She could feel the other Shadow Runners pulling power from the aether as well. Could feel the lag in its answer. Then it burst forth in blinding lights of purest blue, red, and purple. It burst like a burning rainbow upon the demon horde in front, incinerating those it touched, only there were fewer that it touched this time. The black of the Dark Mages swallowed it in far too many places. Swearing under her breath, she reached for the sword strapped to her back. Magick would be useless now. Snarling as fiercely as the demons she attacked, she threw herself into the fray. Vaguely aware as she did so, that the others had joined her in close combat.
Black, burning blood flew from her blade as she ripped it through a demon. The finely wrought blade slid through the creature’s body neatly, with little resistance. She nimbly avoided the falling corpse, kicking it out of her path, and ducking, she swung at another one. This one side-stepped her swing and returned one of his own. She slipped on the soaked ground giving the creature the opportunity to score a hit. She groaned slightly as she felt the burn of the creature’s talons across her chest. It tore through her armor and dug into her skin. She screamed in anger and swung at the creature’s head. Satisfaction filled her as it toppled to the ground. She didn’t have time to gloat though as yet two more took it’s place.
She lost track of time as the battle continued on. Day gave way to night and by mage-light the fight continued until the faint blood colored rays of the dawn broke through the dark. Just as suddenly as they had attacked, they were gone. Dazed, she stared around her at the bodies littering the ground. She turned to retreat to the tents in the distance, but her body wouldn’t obey her. Her feet were lead, her arms falling weakly to her sides, the blood stained sword falling from suddenly nerveless fingers. Confusion replaced exhaustion as she saw it fall to the blood soaked ground, bouncing blackly-bright against the bodies surrounding her. Numbness receded; replaced by a pain so intense, she could only gasp. It was then that she felt the agony of the wounds taken in the battle. Wounds that adrenaline and power had masked, and with their going, now sapped what little strength she had. She swayed, and sank slowly to her knees, ears becoming deafened to the anguished cries of the other wounded.
She brushed the film from her eyes with a bloody hand, one covered in red blood not black, she noted distractedly. It wasn’t film she wiped from her eyes, it was blood…hers. She looked at herself in the early morning dawn, red and black intermingled but the red was gradually gaining on the black. I’m dying. she thought. A muffled laugh broke from her lips. Oh, he won’t like that.
A cry from the distance caught her attention, drawing her eyes from the blood patterns, to the figure of a tall man making his way through the littered field to her. To her horror, she felt her tears begin. He is going to be angry with me. the irrational thought caused her to giggle, the giggle turning to a cry of pain as the burning of her wounds increased. Poison, she knew. Demon claws were poisonous, and she could tell from the burning that she had many gashes from those claws. The slow burn of the poison in her system, it’s insistent pain, told her all. There were too many to be healed. A shadow fell over her, and she tried to look at it’s source, but the effort was too painful, and she cried out again.
He fell to his knees beside her with a cry of shared pain. His black cloak hiding the black blood. His dark hair dripping with sweat and ichor was plastered to his pale skin making it even paler in color. Gently he gathered his bondmate into his arms. He could see the glassy pain in her eyes, could feel it in the bond that they shared. He could feel her life slipping away and it terrified him.
“Beloved.” he whispered. His voice like soft velvet, only caused her to whimper.
“For-give me.” she managed the words. He closed his eyes in anguish. She asked his forgiveness even now. He shook his head, crystal tears falling from night dark eyes.
“Nay, tis I who should be forgiven.” he whispered, cradling her body gently in his arms. He wiped the pain/sweat from her face. It’s flesh was chilling rapidly, her violet eyes glazed with the poison of the demons. He didn’t know if she could still hear him or not, didn’t know if she could feel him at all. Their soul bond was fading rapidly, her loss a coldness in his being that threatened to overwhelm him. “I have been such a fool. Do not leave me. Not now. Please, beloved, stay with me.” his words spilled out rapidly, he poured his love and strength into the bond they shared. Holding her tightly, he tried desperately to keep her soul from slipping away.
She was slipping rapidly away, could feel it. Her soul longing to flee the agony of this flesh, the pain of betrayal, the pain of never being loved… she could hear his voice, he was speaking to her but she couldn’t understand the words. Through the hazy fog of death, she thought she heard him beg her to stay but that must only be the cruel dream she had held onto. He had never loved her, never wanted her despite the bond they shared. Now at last, she could give him what he wanted most. His freedom.
She tried to tell him, to set him free, but the poisons were too strong and she was too weak. She could only look one last time into the eyes of the man she had loved so fruitlessly for so long. Look and wonder, for there she could see tears…he never cried, not in all this time. But then the pain ceased and she found peace at last in the arms of death.
His scream filled the morning, silencing all other cries, it echoed through the valley. He screamed in agony until he could scream no longer. His lieutenants found him there still cradling the stiff, cold body of his mate, in the morning light. He didn’t look up from her face at their approach, didn’t react when they tried to talk to him, he only stared into the dead eyes, mind and soul turned inward in a feeble futile attempt to pull her back to him. But she had fled. Too late, he knew, he had been too late.
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Heads snapped upright and eyes widened at the sight of the Warrior striding into the camp. It was rare that these ever ventured out of the darker shadows. Mages whispered among themselves, whispers dying away as he passed. He spoke not, his goal evident, the large silent tent in the center of the camp. War-hardened men shivered at his passing. Some grasped talismans and whispered prayers of protection in his wake, for death walked closely with this one. The presence of the black blade on his back, the knives tipped with poisons, his armor, all the trappings of the ultimate killing machine. Whispers spread quickly through the camp. All knew the reason for his coming, knew it and feared him the more because of it. One brave soul dared challenge his path. The Warrior broke stride long enough to stare at him. The man paled as midnight blue eyes, darker than the night sky, looked into his own. Just as quickly, he stepped out of the Warrior's way. He watched the Warrior pass through the camp until he was at the opening of the large tent. Then, shaking, he continued on his own way.
The warrior swept open the tent flap and entered. He let it fall and stood staring at the tableau before him. Lord Naelyn knelt beside her still body. He was silent, tears of anguish coursing unchecked down his face. Her hand still clasped in his own, he looked up and into the face of Death.
"Rael." he spoke. "I should have known you would come." his voice was hoarse from his screams.
"Do not speak my name." the Warrior's voice carried through the tent. Hatred and anger gave it strength even though the words had been whispered.
"I have lost her." Naelyn continued as if he didn't hear. He turned back to the still corpse on the cot. He traced his finger over the cheek pale in death.
"You failed her." the Warrior stepped further into the tent. He towered over the kneeling mage and looked down into the face of the woman he had sworn to protect with his life and his soul. Her passing had pulled him from his task, bringing him to this place. His eyes looked upon her, not a flicker of emotion crossed his lean scarred face.
"You cannot take her." Naelyn said rising to face the warrior. "I will not allow it."
"And you do?" Naelyn spat in anger. The quiet Warrior's words were a knife in his already bleeding soul, their truth lacerating it further. Rael bent his gaze on the mage and spoke softly, his voice like iced steel.
"I loved and served her. More than you can ever understand or accept, Mage." He bent and gathered the cold figure to himself, her weight barely giving him pause. "Out of my way."
"You have not the right, Warrior." Naelyn said pulling himself upright. His dark eyes challenged the Warrior.
"You dare to question the Rite of Charge?" Rael hissed. His eyes glowed for a moment, Death lighting their fires. Naelyn's face grew paler but he stood his ground, his anguish and loss making him reckless.
"I should kill you now, Mage." he whispered. "I should have long ago but she loved you. I was weak and would not see her grieve."
"And now?" Naelyn's whisper was just as deadly. His answer came, not in words but in the depths of Rael's eyes. He felt himself shiver inside at the promise there. Rael brushed past him and was gone. Naelyn felt the warrior's promise of life like a knife in his soul. He would have to seek his death elsewhere for the Warrior would not end his pain.
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He moved swift as the shadows he often pursued. The weight in his arms neglible but the weight of his heart heavy indeed. His eyes, acustomed to the dark, saw the path he followed as if lit by the sun. His blade bounced gently against his back as he travelled, he would not need it on this path. His mind turned inward as he ran, carrying her to the Grove.
He could see her as she had been on their last encounter. Her violet eyes had shown with sadness as she laid the map of the region out on the small camp table. Her movements had been slow with exhaustion, and she had winced from injuries taken in the first wave of battle. Yet her soft voice had been strong as she had outlined the strategies. He had watched from the shadows guarding her with just his presence. He had seen the contempt of the other mages, felt how it had hurt her. She was too young to be Leader, in their opinion, one supported by the one whom should have trusted her the most. Naelyn's contempt had shown, and she had hidden her response well, but his eyes had missed nothing. He had seen the pain, quickly hidden and his anger had turned once more to the mage she was soulbonded with. Her strategy had been brilliant but instead the other mages had turned to her second in command, Naelyn. His plan, the one they chose to follow, had resulted in losses that they could ill afford, bringing them all to this point.
Ahead of him, he could see the soft light of the Grove, his destination. His steps slowed and the weight in his heart grew. His compatriots joined him as he crossed the line of Trees guarding the entrance to the grove. They came out of the shadows flanking the trees, walking with him into the light. None spoke, it was not their place, but he could feel the sadness infusing the ranks of the Warriors. In the light of the Grove, the black uniforms of the Warrior clan were a stark reminder of the Darkness threatening all. They laid aside their weapons, stacking them carefully outside the circle of stones in the center of the light. Only he remained armed, as was his right this time.
"We grieve with you, Warrior." the voice of the Great Dragon reclining in the Circle broke against his mind. "Bring her to us."
Rael approached the dragon, his eyes downcast in the presence of the Avatar. He carried her to the feet of the dragon and stood holding her tightly. Tears began to pool in his eyes and he could feel their unfamiliar burn pulled at his throat. His clan arranged themselves around the circle silent as always.
"Give her to us." again the Dragon spoke. Rael held her tighter and shook his head. He couldn't speak, his pain taking the words from him.His shoulders shook as silent tears began to flow. "Come, Warrior, it is done. She must be returned to the Fire."
At the Dragon's gentle words, Rael's grief poured out of him, his knees collapsed and he sank to the ground, holding the still corpse as he screamed his pain. Around him, the Clan began to shuffle uneasily. A Warrior should not grieve so for a charge lost, bodies died but souls remained. His grief was understandable, but to show it this way... many muttered softly among themselves. The rumors had been true then, a Warrior who loved his charge, the evidence was before them. The Dragon bent it's head and peered at the man bent before him in agony.
"Didst you love her so much then, Child?" gentleness tinged the deep voice. Rael's cries were all the answer it needed. "Perhaps we did you a disservice then in keeping her as your Charge. Thee will not be able to continue the path of the Warrior in this manner."
"Great One, I failed her." Rael's voice was hoarse and tears still coursed down his face as he looked into the deep azure eyes just above his head.
"Nay, Child, you did not. You served her well." the Dragon continued to speak. "It was not your failing that betrayed her." The great head raised and the Dragon snapped it's jaws in a show of temper. "That failing lies on the soul of her mate."
"Please, do not take her from me." Rael stared intently at the Dragon. His heart knew fear at the thought that he would lose her. The Dragon looked deeply into his eyes but Rael didn't flinch. He felt the Avatar's touch on his soul and he felt the weight of Power invade his body. As the presence lifted, he felt the chill of the air and the pain of her loss became dim.
"Nay, we shall not. She is your Charge and shall remain so, although it shall not always be so." The Dragon lifted it's regard and grew distant once more. "Hear us now, Warrior Clan, let it be known among you that this was spoken in the Circle. We give this promise to the Warrior Rael. There will come a Dawning, Rael, when she shall be yours. Not as Charge but as a Bondmate. For that will be your strength. The day will dawn when the Warrior path and the Mage path shall be as one."
Rael felt himself quiver at the promise in the Dragon's voice. He felt the change in his future as it settled on his soul. The promise of that future lifted the searing agony from his soul and he laid her gently on the ground at the Dragon's feet. He brushed a soft kiss against the cold lips of the woman that he loved and whispered his promise to her. He stood and drew his sword from it's sheath. Carefully he bared his arm and drew the blade quickly across the vein he had exposed, blood spilled to the ground and onto her body. Calmly he repeated the gesture on the other arm. Two of the clan came to him then taking his weapons from him.
Rael died as he had lived, quietly stoic his eyes never leaving the face of his dead love. His body was carefully laid with hers. His weapons would be returned to the Warriors' armory in their mountain fortress, waiting for him to return to hunt once more. The Dragon inhaled and blew it's fiery breath gently on the pair at its feet. The pale blue fire burned hot and bright, returning the bodies to the Fire from which they had been born. The Clan stayed until the dragonfire burned no more, then they silently vanished from the Grove. The Great Dragon remained as always watching the events beyond with azure eyes, seeing battles yet to be fought, with the Promise shining as a bright star in the darkness it knew was coming.