I emerged with nothing but my senses and the cold to call my own. I was weak, but one foot in front of the other took me to where my mind could not reach. I was possibly the walking dead to others. I had been too ashamed, too sad to come back before. But now I was moving, because it was the right thing to do.
I left him behind. His body floating out at sea. I would have guarded him til I could not breathe. But he was dead. Hell, we were both dead. And I left my soul to him. My life was his.
And the sun went black. Another day without his insults, his orders, his beliefs. I kept my eyes ahead. Even though there was nothing there, I could still feel his presence leading me. I was happy to be his shadow. It was who I was always meant to be.
The kingdom was still there. Like I left it. Like we left it. She met me at the gates but I could not meet her eyes. She must have already known for the sadness reached her questions. And new tears were brought to my quivering answers. He's dead; I'm so sorry; he's dead, Gwen. I couldn't protect him.