Kneeling by the bedside, Ashe's tears continued to stream down her soft delicate cheeks onto hard unforgiving castle floors. Her husband, Lord Rasler, lay silently on the bed, his breathing slow and his eyes closed tight. Still in the armor he had worn when he left for Nalbina Fortress, she stared longingly at his physique, foolishly hoping he would move any second. Flecks of blood disgraced his pure ebony chest-plate and his innocent skin; the marks of war.
She cursed the Archadian Empire when she discovered Rasler's state, hitting Captain Basch's chest feebly while yelling out insults into an empty room towards Emperor Gramis. Her beautiful eyes stung with tears as she slid to the floor, crying out for someone to save her husband from death. But their reply was that his life was in the hands of fate, that medicine had done all it could. When she looked around the room, she could tell from everyone's faces that Rasler was doomed to an early death; their eyes avoided hers. King Raminas had stood, solemnly proud but filled with sorrow, while he too cursed the Empire under his breath. Ashe's initial state was anger; damning the Empire, Basch and even Rasler for what had happened. If her husband wasn't so noble, so devoted to his country, he would still be here holding the Princess soothingly. It wasn't fair! But, no matter how hard she tried, there was no one she could solely blame; the Empire didn't know he was someone's husband, Basch had brought him back so she could see him one last time, and Rasler…she couldn't blame Rasler. He had done what Ashe would have if she were in his position; attempted to protect his homeland.
Clutching his cold lifeless hand, Ashe looked onto his face, onto his lips, remembering what he had said to her before he had left: 'I'll return to you, my love, I promise.' Those words still echoed within her mind as clear as if he said them a moment ago. Without a doubt she had loved him entirely and without him, she seemed an empty souless vessel, drifting out to allow time to drag her away.
Closing eyes tight, Ashe kissed Rasler's slim fingers and bowed her head sadly. "You came back to me, just like you promised."