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It had taken awhile, but eventually the Amazon had tired, finally falling into a weeping heap by the river near where she had grown up. When the tears stopped she merely lay and breathed in the scent of damp earth, the smell of home. She dug her fingers into it, grounding herself in reality, pulling herself back to sanity. Pushing herself up she wiped the tears from her face, only to smear dirt across her cheeks. "What have I done?" she dipped her fingers in the clear water, watching the ripples scatter, "I've lost control of my destiny."
Looking around she was filled with sadness, she had brought Galain here on occasion, and the sound of his laughter still seemed to linger in the trees. He was such a golden happy person, so much love to give; the time they had spent together had lifted her heart, brought light to her dark existence. Their bond had filled places in her mind and heart that she had thought would be forever empty... and now they echoed with silence again.
Elyen... he was her soul mate, but their relationship was different from the one she had shared with Galain. The level of their commitment felt more.... serious. The bonds had both been as deep... just, different. For a moment she caught a remembered reflection of the Elen elf in the water, "I love you," she whispered, "My heart will always hold you close." Her promise to the White Witch rang heavy in her mind, she was never to share a bond with him again, her own Goddess had broken her heart.
Stripping down she dove into the cool water, closing her eyes she drifted beneath the surface, letting the feeling of weightlessness take over. Soon she would have to return to Deepwood, something was terribly wrong there, and her place was at Elyen's side. Reaching out she sought their bond, tripping over something else at first; startled she paused... a link, but not to Elyen. Suprised she breathed in water, kicking to the surface she choked for a moment.
She had clearly heard Galain's thoughts, not a bond, not anything close to what they had once shared. But there was a residual mental link, like an echo in the mist. Shaking it off she slammed it shut; the pain was still too much. Elyen? She sang out along the bond to her mate I'm coming back.
~*~The End of the Quest~*~
An'Thaya stared at the rift for awhile after it had closed, she wondered where Saya would end up. The Amazon seemed lost somewhere for a moment, till she turned to look at Galain, responding to the tingling sensation of the elf touching the last vestige of a bond they had left.
Memories filtered through her mind, a look, a touch, the sound of laughter and loving... a thousand years. Once he had called her his Melda... he had been her Sy’Rish for a millennia... Blinking back tears her emerald eyes flickered to Elyen, he was in truth her En'rish.... circumstance. Quietly she slipped out the door, laying her cold face against the cold stone wall in the stairway she shed a tear, "*Vŕquet melme, how bitter the taste." (*forbidden love)
Galain looked at Railen blindly for a moment, before barking out a hoarse laugh.
“Portal hopping can get a body confused,” he said. The other questions went unanswered for now and the elf looked up as An’Thaya left the room. His heart was crying out in frustration. He had more questions, yet this seemed the oddest time to ask them. He wanted to be sure the others were truly okay, that Saya was really gone. He had to put the Aeglos away somewhere. Away from his own father, yet close enough to keep the city safe.
And then he could ask his questions. He wanted to know why neither he nor An’Thaya had remembered what they shared, why no one had bothered to tell them, why the Amazon was reacting as she was right now. Couldn’t they re-bond again? Or had the White Witch finally clutched her chosen away from him while he hadn’t been looking? Anxiety gripped the Elen at this last thought.
“Excuse me… don’t touch this box. It will kill you.” Galain placed the box back on the altar and brushed past the others. Now was as good a time as any.
Railen was relieved to know that Galain was all right... at least for the most part. He saw the look in the other elf's eyes and decided it best not to ask.
Railen looked at the box as it sit there, wondering exactly what was inside, what could have been so powerful and important. For once he let his curiosity slip back down. He did say that it would kill, right?
His eyes traveled from one remaining person to the other, questioning what they should do. He didn't know how much time An'Thaya and Galain would need alone.
"Well, how about we get out of this rat hole and have a drink
Elyen smiled slightly as Galain looked at 'Thaya, the two sharing a silent moment. Those two were meant to be together, they were. The elf stood apart, then looked up at Railen's suggestion.
"Not yet. There is still the original quest for Paladin..." murmured the elf in answer to Railen's question. Might as well start from the beginning....
The Amazon lifted her head away from the wall when she heard footsteps coming up behind her. She didn't need to look back to know who it was... she knew every move he made, the sound of his footfalls, the rustle of his clothing, the intermittent clank of his sword in its scabbard. The familiar feel of his fingers as he touched her shoulder brought a whimper of despair to her lips, "Please don't," she whispered, "By the gods don't touch me or it will destroy us both."
Keeping her face turned away from him she helplessly let the tears flow, "You are my heart, as I am yours, but the fates have chosen separate paths for us." She pulled away from his touch, shoulders shaking, "We both know where your future lies, this path is much less complicated. We will share a child, but that is all." She finally turned to look at him, desperately trying to harden her heart as she delved into sea green eyes, her fingers brushed over his bicep... unmarked skin where a tattoo used to glimmer.
Another quest? Well, his friends were all fun and adventure, weren't they? He whispered to the others, making sure not to disturb any revelations between the lost couple.
"Well.... what happened to him? Is it at all related to what happened here?"
He always felt like he was stuck in the dark.
Galain stiffened. This was not the reaction he had been seeking. He had reached out to touch her, to feel that sweet softness of her skin.
“Please don’t. By the gods don’t touch me or it will destroy us both.” She had said.
Stung, the Elen fell back, his heart constricting as he stared speechlessly at her. He watched her shake and then followed her gaze to where a tattoo had once resided upon his arm. He let his hand hover above hers. He missed its presence… had traced it countless times in quiet reverence for a love that he’d always been thankful for. He knew its lines, colors and significance and remembered the laughter that had accompanied it when she’d threatened to use needles and he had panicked. She had sweetly taken mercy and used magic to mark him. He had reveled in that moment… pleased to show her love on his body.
He ached now and rubbed his arm in a quiet agony. The tattoo had disappeared when she had been murdered… it had not disappeared on Elyen… but he had lived when she died. Galain had been undead. Undead and quite without a soul.
When he spoke it was slowly and carefully.
“Do we really know where our future lies? Who has truly decreed this future? Your White Witch? Does this mean we cannot re-bond? Is this really less complicated?” He truly didn’t know what had been promised and gazed at her beseechingly. So many centuries… could it truly be ended this abruptly? His heart leaped with sweet joy that somehow a child had been conceived; yet it wept with immense fear that truly that was all they would share again.
There was hope in the depth of his sea green eyes, and with dread she realized it was up to her to kill that spark... "I promised," her voice was the barest whisper, "I promised the White Witch on my life..." Why? Why had she agreed to such a thing? Was life worth this pain? This unending despair that meant she could not longer love him like her soul moved her too... "She... she demanded it of me, that I give you up for the return of my life."
Tears welled up again, eyes leaving his to examine the floor, "I would rather die than hurt you... perhaps I should have stayed that way." The Amazon wanted nothing more than to fall into Galain's arms and let him kiss the darkness away... but the light of their bond would bring the darkness of death. Perhaps she would have given in to that weakness, but there was the child...
Galain stood absolutely still. His heart thumped heavily in his chest as her words were driven home. She had promised so that she could live again. She had chosen right. Damn her goddess.
“You don’t want to die. Don’t say that, ever.” Galain’s voice was barely a whisper. “You have much to live for. So much…” Galain hesitantly reached a hand out to hover above the Amazon’s abdomen and then dropped away. She still didn’t look at him and he sighed.
“So it does end just like this,” he murmured then. His heart no longer thumped wildly and instead his chest constricted and he hunched over and turned away slightly. He had lost so much when he had let the Darkness claim him. He had grasped for life as well when Darian had cut him down… life for life.
He reached out and lightly touched her shoulder.
“I love you. I always will. Gods I am so sorry for what I did to you and what I did to Elyen.” The enormity of what he had done, of what had happened was hitting him again and he stepped back, his mind reeling from the evilness he’d allowed himself to wallow in.
And he’d done it again with Saya though perhaps not to so great a degree. He stared at An’Thaya for several long moments before he spoke again, his voice still barely audible.
“She has quite a plan in mind for you, doesn’t she.” He was referring to the White Witch and he let a small bitter smile curve his lips. “So much so she will sacrifice anything to make sure it comes to fruition. I wish her luck. I wish you luck. Thank the gods for Elyen, eh?” He touched her shoulder again, a brief caress filled with brittle emotion. His hope was indeed dead. There was no denying An’Thaya’s goddess and he knew it better than most. He had never hated a creature so much than he did in that one instant.
“Come, we still have unanswered questions about Paladin. And I have to find a place to hide the Aeglos.” He turned An’Thaya toward him, his eyes catching in hers for one shattering moment. He couldn’t allow himself to speak and he could no longer bear to touch her. It would take a while for him to completely come to terms with what she had told him and he wondered if he ever truly would. His hand slid away and he backed into the room, turning to face the others then, his face devoid of emotion.
“I’m glad you all came,” he said simply.
Paladin went missing, and we had originally set out to look for him," explained one stripe-haired elf to another as Elyen looked on at the strained interactions between 'Thaya and Galain. "Unfortunately, there was the slight problem of the Aeglos to tend to..."
When Galain walked over, his face desolate of expression, Elyen looked over the elf's shoulder to see a mirroring despair on 'Thaya's face. The gods were cruel... to be more specific, a goddess was cruel. 'Thaya, he offered a mental version of a hand, understanding if she would not accept it. He'll be there to support her. He always will.
"Galain," he looked the elf in the eye and repeated an earlier question. "Are you okay?" Will we survive this nightmare?
Galain blinked and stared at Elyen.
“No, not really,” he said, then shivered and looked down at himself. He’d lost his clothes when he’d gone dragon originally. “You got a change of clothes you could spare? What happened to the mage who caused all this?” He was on autopilot, on the verge of breaking down and desperate to keep moving.
~*~After Paladin is sealed away to guard the Aeglos~*~
"I'll travel with you," Elyen said to Galain. Gotta make sure you get back in one piece, added he to himself. "An'Thaya, will you..." He looked over the elf's shoulder and raised a questioning brow.
An'Thaya's emerald eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked up at Elyen, "No... I don't think it’s a good idea," she murmured. "You go ahead," her fingers flickered over his tattoo for a moment, "I'll be at my cabin if you need me, just think of it and the tattoo will bring you there." She stood on tippy toe and kissed him, then turned and looked at the others with a half smile, "I'm sure our paths will cross again soon, may the Fates walk with you." She stepped back and opened a portal, her eyes catching Galain's just before she stepped through. Someday they would come to terms... but for now... Goodbye...
Galain watched An’Thaya leave, hearing her goodbye across that tenuous link of theirs. He brushed a hand through his hair and closed his eyes for a moment, swaying.
“Let’s go,” he said to Elyen and Marion, flicking a glance at Chez and Railen. “You’re more than welcome to come. And no, Marion, no mirrors. About the closest thing to one is the lake. You’ll find my home is very much a bachelor’s pad. And I hope you all don’t mind walking… it’s not so far… perhaps a day or so and with Saya gone things will be quite safe.”
And peaceful. He needed to touch the trees again and feel the wind on his face. He needed to leave this place.
“Shall we?” He inquired with a false brightness before he led the way out of the tower and out into the sunlit day.
Don't go alone... He wanted to say. He... he'd promised. But Galain might need...
You're a silly goose, El... He chastised himself then looked up at 'Thaya's leave-taking. "I'll see you later, melda," as if they were parting for the night. He would detour at Galain's place then make his way to the Amazon's hut. Somehow he got the feeling that this separation would not be for long.
He turned to Galain, inclining his head slightly. "Shall we go..."
Railen watched the Amazon leave, feeling a bit of pain for her and Galain over what had happened. There must be a way... or at least he liked to think so.
"Yeah. Let's get out of this place, eh?"
He patted Galain on the back and nodded as they walked towards the door.
"You did well."
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