Author's note: Wow, thanks for all the reviews! Because of them I'll probably extend this a little further. Hope you've got your box of Kleenex out for this chapter!
Angel of Death by Shelly
CHAPTER FOUR
Upon my return to the military, I worked myself back into the monotonous everyday activities that ruled our lives. I thought that after coming back I could put Meri and her sweet kisses out of my mind, but I missed her with a passion that ached terribly. The nights were the worst as she haunted my very dreams. In them I was with her, her soft laughter playing like music on the wind, and when I woke I would lie there with my body and soul aching.
How I loved her and missed her. But did she miss me?
Wanting to know the answer to that question I left and went back to that particular town, not surprised to see that it still looked the same. Those that remembered me greeted me nicely enough, but I kept looking for her until I finally found her. And when I looked upon her, my heart nearly broke as she was abed with fever, a fever that was dangerously close to claiming her life.
I stayed by her bedside and cared for her just as she had cared for me before, and soon the color was returning to her face as her fever began to subside and she seemed happy to see me. And when she had regained her strength, we spent even more time together, this time telling each other how much we loved one another. I never knew how happy I could be until I heard her utter those words to me, and now I knew how important they were as before I never believed in love, vowed never to fall within its grasp.
But now I embraced it willingly, and although I left to return to my duty, I always came back to her open arms, and soon I learned that she was carrying my child within her. I was stunned when she told me the news, and she was afraid that I would be upset, but I showed her otherwise as I took her in my arms and kissed her for what seemed like forever, telling her over and over how much I loved her. I only hoped that I could be as good a father to my child that my own father was to me, and I married her that day with the blessing of the town priest.
My happiness was short lived, however, as disaster struck from an unexpected corner. During one of my visits with my wife and unborn child, I was confronted by a superior officer that had been keeping an eye on me as a result of my disappearances. He accused me of providing the enemy with information, and attempted to arrest me on charges of treason. They took my wife into custody as well, and the soldiers that held her began making rude comments on what they planned to do with her.
Of course I was enraged and fought off my guards to rush to her side and take down her own guards, knocking them unconscious as I cursed their cowardice. As I asked her if she was okay, I saw her eyes widen and she grabbed me to pull me behind her. It was then I heard the crack of a shot being fired, and I heard her cry out as the bullet slammed into her from behind. She had taken a bullet for me in order for me to live.
As I lowered her body to the ground, tears were streaming down my face. Why? Why did this have to happen to me? What had I ever done to deserve this? It wasn't fair! I loved her! I couldn't possibly live without her!
I threw back my head and screamed to the unfeeling sky above about the unfairness of it all, of all the pain that had engulfed my soul at the loss of all that I loved and cherished. She was gone. Never would I feel the brush of her hand against mine or smell the sweet scent of her hair. Never would I feel the weight of my child in my arms or hear its voice call me daddy.
It was then that something snapped inside me, and my screams stopped. I no longer cared. It was like my heart had been turned to stone, or rather it had been ripped out of me by the deaths of my wife and child.
I saw the advance of the few men that had been standing nearby, and I rose to my feet with calm detachment. I slowly removed my dagger from my belt and attacked them, slicing into them and gaining a little satisfaction at their deaths. But I knew that a million lives would never be enough to pay for the lives of those I loved.
I buried my wife's body, saying goodbye to the small life within that would never see the light of day.
When I walked away, I started down the path which I now follow, my heart hardened just as my resolve was to create a new world and end all suffering and pain. I would just be doing it in a different way.
****************
*sniff* It's so sad! Hiltz was going to be a daddy and then had it ripped away from him. I guess that would be enough to drive someone over the edge. Thanks for reading! C-ya!
Angel of Death by Shelly
CHAPTER FOUR
Upon my return to the military, I worked myself back into the monotonous everyday activities that ruled our lives. I thought that after coming back I could put Meri and her sweet kisses out of my mind, but I missed her with a passion that ached terribly. The nights were the worst as she haunted my very dreams. In them I was with her, her soft laughter playing like music on the wind, and when I woke I would lie there with my body and soul aching.
How I loved her and missed her. But did she miss me?
Wanting to know the answer to that question I left and went back to that particular town, not surprised to see that it still looked the same. Those that remembered me greeted me nicely enough, but I kept looking for her until I finally found her. And when I looked upon her, my heart nearly broke as she was abed with fever, a fever that was dangerously close to claiming her life.
I stayed by her bedside and cared for her just as she had cared for me before, and soon the color was returning to her face as her fever began to subside and she seemed happy to see me. And when she had regained her strength, we spent even more time together, this time telling each other how much we loved one another. I never knew how happy I could be until I heard her utter those words to me, and now I knew how important they were as before I never believed in love, vowed never to fall within its grasp.
But now I embraced it willingly, and although I left to return to my duty, I always came back to her open arms, and soon I learned that she was carrying my child within her. I was stunned when she told me the news, and she was afraid that I would be upset, but I showed her otherwise as I took her in my arms and kissed her for what seemed like forever, telling her over and over how much I loved her. I only hoped that I could be as good a father to my child that my own father was to me, and I married her that day with the blessing of the town priest.
My happiness was short lived, however, as disaster struck from an unexpected corner. During one of my visits with my wife and unborn child, I was confronted by a superior officer that had been keeping an eye on me as a result of my disappearances. He accused me of providing the enemy with information, and attempted to arrest me on charges of treason. They took my wife into custody as well, and the soldiers that held her began making rude comments on what they planned to do with her.
Of course I was enraged and fought off my guards to rush to her side and take down her own guards, knocking them unconscious as I cursed their cowardice. As I asked her if she was okay, I saw her eyes widen and she grabbed me to pull me behind her. It was then I heard the crack of a shot being fired, and I heard her cry out as the bullet slammed into her from behind. She had taken a bullet for me in order for me to live.
As I lowered her body to the ground, tears were streaming down my face. Why? Why did this have to happen to me? What had I ever done to deserve this? It wasn't fair! I loved her! I couldn't possibly live without her!
I threw back my head and screamed to the unfeeling sky above about the unfairness of it all, of all the pain that had engulfed my soul at the loss of all that I loved and cherished. She was gone. Never would I feel the brush of her hand against mine or smell the sweet scent of her hair. Never would I feel the weight of my child in my arms or hear its voice call me daddy.
It was then that something snapped inside me, and my screams stopped. I no longer cared. It was like my heart had been turned to stone, or rather it had been ripped out of me by the deaths of my wife and child.
I saw the advance of the few men that had been standing nearby, and I rose to my feet with calm detachment. I slowly removed my dagger from my belt and attacked them, slicing into them and gaining a little satisfaction at their deaths. But I knew that a million lives would never be enough to pay for the lives of those I loved.
I buried my wife's body, saying goodbye to the small life within that would never see the light of day.
When I walked away, I started down the path which I now follow, my heart hardened just as my resolve was to create a new world and end all suffering and pain. I would just be doing it in a different way.
****************
*sniff* It's so sad! Hiltz was going to be a daddy and then had it ripped away from him. I guess that would be enough to drive someone over the edge. Thanks for reading! C-ya!
