~For Angelwing Aeris~

There it is again...that look.

That mixture of fear, worry, determination, and dare I say it...pride.

This is one of those times when you wonder why, why was I chosen; why did she choose me?

I am right, aren't I?

And it is somewhat strange isn't it? I mean you dream about a knight in shining armor; a protector, as a little girl. I can't tell you how many times I stood on a barely there hill, which I pretended was a tall cliff by an ocean, calling out for my protector to come to me because I was someone of such importance that I needed a hero to stand by my side. The wind would blow just hard enough to make my hair sway and I would close my eyes and pretend that I was clothed in a beautiful dress so that as we walked side by side through the adoring crowds and the loud cheers I would look my best. You see my hero had defeated whatever big bad had tried to harm me and it was time to celebrate. Yes, it was beautiful walking together towards the rest of our amazing lives...always to be together. To start that happily ever after.

A little girl's fantasy.

There are times I am ashamed of myself for being so selfish, I should have the strength to relieve you of your duty, because sometimes I feel that I am a burden that you should never be responsible for. You never asked to protect me...I did.

Yet here I am...and here you are.

You agreed and you've never asked to go.

The way the future looks, you will probably be left here without me and one of my deepest fears is you will think you failed. But you should never think that, you made my life; however brief it may be... better. You gave me a gift even greater than your willingness to put your life on the line to save mine. Love.

To have fallen so deeply in love that if I had the chance to grow old...I would want to grow old with you.

There is still so much about you I don't know...things get so messed up and there is so little personal time. I must admit it is kind of humorous, when it's time for a battle I don't even have a moment of fear anymore; but when I try to get the courage to tell you how I feel, I find myself too scared to do so. I am afraid of you not feeling the same even though I have unique power; labeled as special, as having a gift...but my "gift" can't show me how you feel.

Why do you stay with me? Why do you continue to be my protector? It is probably a fool's errand. Especially now, with the choice I have made.

No, I shouldn't say that, but..will you forgive me for choosing to go and not allowing you to do what I asked you to? It certainly doesn't seem fair, not allowing you to do your job. I can only hope and pray one day you will understand...that I had to.

Sometime later...

I should have known, deep down I truly hoped you would.

That though reality has shattered parts of the fantasy made up so long ago, not all has been lost. And that is because:

You fought for me.

You came for me.

---

It's all over now, and isn't it just like me to not allow things that were preordained to go that way? Yes, I guess I always have been defiant in my own way.

I need you to know, the separation from you, it was the worst kind of torment. But that horrible time is over now...you now know...we will always be together.

And though it is long overdue, thank you for being my protector.

~End~

Epilogue:

Three heroines, separated by universe and time. Very different women, yet in some ways, very much the same.

The Cetra, speaking to her bodyguard

The Sorceress, speaking to her knight

The Summoner, speaking to her guardian.