Author's note: Inveleth drew a wonderful picture of Zevran grieving after the sacrifice of his beloved Warden, and felt inspired to respond. You can see it here, if this site likes links at the moment: art/I-m-always-with-you-454534830
You remember light that burnt
me away from you. The dragon's blood
thick and stinking on the air, the ashes
of good men about us. The death roar
of the Archdemon was softer
than the thunder
and terror of your pulse.
You fell back, blinded,
and it was the mabari's howl
that told you I was gone.
No one knows death
like you, assassin, yet
you cradled my body (as you had so many nights
of hot-breathed desire, and mornings
of gently woken love) and you
called me to come back, you begged
that it could not be so, you refused
to believe me dead.
In the end
you fell silent. My heart
would not beat for you, no sigh
passed my lips, and my blood
cooled on the tower's stones, on your hands.
Listen, my love: I am
only dead. I have not left you
and there is no need for farewell.
Love is too great a promise
for the universe to break.
Pay attention. You'll feel my kisses
in sunlight
on your golden skin. Behind the rainfall
you'll hear my voice. The fire will heat
with the passion we shared, and the winds
will tug your hair for me.
Don't grieve for me, assassin –
a girl likes to know she's missed
but only when she's gone
and I will never leave you.