"you have to live"
the voice woke Loras from his fevered dreams, surmounting him once again on the edge of anguish, like he was riding a wave about to crash over and engulf him.
"for me"
He squinted up at the ceiling, eyes failing to focus. he took an unsteady breath.
"who's there?" his voice croaked with under use, like gravel grating at the back of this throat. that voice, so soft, familiar, but no, it couldn't be...
He raised himself to one elbow, sweat sliding across his forehead, slowed ever so slightly by the ocher locks plastered to it. he swallowed hard,waiting for the pain that had been waking him every so often, for a period of time he had no idea of what length. but nothing came.
"who's there?" he said again, slightly louder, failing to penetrate the gloom around him. his head swam with the effort of holding himself up.
"i may only live on in you..."
Loras gasped, closing his eyes as the voice rolled over him, so soft, like velvet. this couldn't be happening. but how he hoped, oh how he hoped...
"for me Loras, do it for me"
Warmth began to spread across his eyelids along with the familiar prick of tears, tears he only shed for the man he had loved, still loved. this could not be real.
"how...Renly, tell me how..." eyes still closed, a single tear slid down his smooth cheek, stopping momentarily at his trembling lips.
"be you, for me, just be you..." the voice was fading, being swallowed by darkness.
"Renly, i miss you, i need you, don't go" he clamped a hand to his mouth, trying to halt the imminent sob he knew deep down he could not stop. after a moment, he whispered;
"I love you"
and then, he was engulfed by his lovers kiss, as if phantom lips were being pressed against his own. eagerly he leant forward as the sensation disappeared.
"just try..." the voice was nothing more than i faint whisper.
"i love you" He breathed back, yet more tears joining the first making his face the image of hopelessness.
the presence left him, the room once again feeling empty and hostile. it was all he could do to hold himself together. He had to live. he had to try. for him, for them.
For Renly.