A tall, sun-tanned young woman stood staring down at a small mound of dirt. A hand carved cross was positioned in the centre of the mound and a small clump of feathers lay at its base. Aly silently crumpled to her knees as tears started to fall down her cheeks. She'd been strong. Had meant to keep being strong. But it was all too much.
Letting the tears fall unheeded, Aly sat and lost herself as memory overcame her mental struggle to forget.
A quick, teasing grin in a dark, handsome face.
Her lips moved of their own accord and she sighed his name. "Nawat."
His eyes sparkling like those cursed stones, impatient for the fight.
Her hands bunched in her lap, knuckles turning white.
Turning to her, embracing her one last time, pressing a fleeting kiss on her cheek.
Blood dripped to the sand from small crescent shaped cuts in her palms.
The arrow quivering in his chest. His look of surprise as she tried to reach him.
A large hand fastened itself over her own. Gentle fingers prised her hands open, stopping her nails from digging deeper into flesh. A soft voice whispered reassurance as strong arms lifted her from the ground. Leaning her head against the body she found herself held against, Aly let go of awareness and gently floated off into the blessed darkness of sleep.
