"That's that, then," Bridget said as Andrei fell to the ground, an arrow protruding from his chest. "Come on, Edain, after we take out Lord Langbolt we're ready to wrap this up!" Edain closed her eyes.
"Just give me a moment, sister," she said. "There's something I need to do first." Bridget looked worried, but nodded and ran off to help Midayle and Levin take out the ballistae by the cliffs.
Once alone beside her brother's corpse, Edain sank to her knees on the blood-soaked grass and bowed her head in prayer.
"Andrei," she whispered, "I don't know what evil possessed you to commit such horrific deeds, and I wish it hadn't had to end like this. If there is a life beyond this one, may you be granted the wisdom to take the better path."
As she finished her eulogy, she became aware of soft footsteps behind her.
"Edain?" Azel knelt beside her and laid his hand on her shoulder. "Are you going to be all right?"
She slowly brought her gaze to meet her husband's. His gentle face was filled with concern for her, and she could swear he looked like he was about to cry. Such was the nature of Azel, when something hurt his loved ones he couldn't help but want to share the burden with them. Sighing, she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"No," she confessed, her voice thick with emotion. Azel's arms wrapped snugly around her, one hand coming up to wipe away the tears that she just realized were streaming down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I wish there was some way we could have saved him...even if it meant going back in time to stop him before he did what he did."
"Oh, Azel..." She closed her fist around a handful of his cloak for comfort, and he tightened his embrace. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this."
"Me too," he said. "You're such a good person, you don't deserve to hurt like this..." He trailed off and just sat there, stroking her hair and letting her soak his shirt with her tears. "It's going to be all right, though...we're going to be done fighting, we'll reunite with our children, and we'll go home. It'll all be worth it."
"Mm...you're right," she murmured. "Even in the darkest hour, there's always light." Now more than ever she was glad she'd let herself fall for Azel of Velthomer.
Even in her darkest hour, she knew she was loved.
