I don't know how long it has been since I last updated, but no ore than a
couple of weeks this time around I think! I'm so proud of myself! Anyway,
thank you for the reviews (I broke 250!) but I was so amused at the
conclusion that nearly all of you came to immediately - it's like you all
think that there is only one person with dark hair! I won't say anymore
lest I ruin the chapter. I had this written a few days ago, but the
computers at school were being really gay and wouldn't let me do anything
on the internet.
(P.S Sorry it's just a short chapter - I felt it would ruin it a bit if I added much more.)
I don't have time to write a comment to write for each of you wonderful reviewers, but thank you to:
Bojanglesbiscuit.
Kit49.
ShieldMaiden.
CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88:
Wildmage101.
FireMage6.
Lioness.
FrostFur3.
Erynwen.
Shadowweaver1.
Snakefeather.
QueenofCaonnaught.
Loss
The battle-sounds receded into the distance around the two of them until they stood alone, shrouded by a silent grief. Daine gazed, distraught into the strained face of her best friend, as dark locks of hair fell across hazel eyes filled with pain and a sad smile trembled wistfully on lips that fought to keep bubbles of blood from spilling over. Wavering shadows stretched between them, settling in the furrows of agony engraved in Miri's forehead. Her life stained the ground below her a deep crimson, spreading like a river of death. The sight of it tore an awful whimper of grief from Daine, and she pulled the dying girl into a desperate embrace. She tasted salt as her tears flowed and fell, sparkling onto Miri's cheeks. Against her neck she felt the young rider's breath become more ragged and her dry lips move as she struggled to speak.
"D-don't cry, Daine. I . I was doing my duty. S'best way t . . .to go." She smiled again as her eyes glazed over with the arrival of death, and with one last shuddering breath her body was all that remained in Daine's arms.
"No, no, no!" Daine whispered in horror, not believing that this motionless shell had been one of her closest friends, so full of life just ten minutes ago. Pain wracked her body and hot tears fled from her eyes, now bright with pain as she screamed her denial.
A hand touching her shoulder lightly brought her back to where she was, kneeling on the forest floor, covered in blood, dirt and rain. On the round there were several corpses of the renegades; the rest had their hands bound behind their backs and were tied near the horses. She was suddenly aware again of everyone else. Around her stood her rest of the Riders, some injured, but none dead and all their faces reflected the sorrow that resided in her. On more than one tears made tracks through the grime that covered their faces. Although they mourned their grief together, she felt separated in her pain until someone untangled her from Miri's body and drew her close to their own enveloping her in warmth and comfort. She wept against their shirt, finding no comfort in the hand that rubbed circles on her back.
Behind her Daine could hear the sounds of the Riders clearing up the area of the battle, but for once it was done in silence, the effort of speaking too much right now.
Overhead the shrill scream of a bird pieced the air and the darkened sky rumbled faintly as the storm moved on.
*****
Miri was buried a week later in Corus, surrounded by the Riders, her friends and the People, who shared Daine's grief. Numair watched the small ceremony at a distance, keeping a close eye on Daine who had taken the death of her friend very hard and had exchanged no more than a few words with him in the last week, coming to him only to seek comfort and shed tears.
Two priests dressed in simple robes spoke by the graveside of the young rider, thanking Mithros and the Great Mother Goddess for her life and consecrating her soul to the god of the dead. As the small coffin was lowered into the fresh earth a bugle sounded in the distance, holding the mournful note in tribute to Miri's service and the duty for which she gave her life.
Daine stood with Evin and Valene, staring at the grave without seeing it. Next to her Valene was inconsolable, held tight by Evin to no effect, but Daine was dry-eyed, having run out of tears days before. She would see Miri again one day, and until that day came she would think only of the Rider as the bright fifteen year old she had first met who had exuded vitality, not as the bloody woman she had held in her arms as she died a week ago. She wanted to blame herself for Miri's death, after all, she had survived the battle because her friend had died for her, but her final words rang in Daine's mind - "I was doing my duty." Miri would've given her life for anyone, because it was her duty. Blaming herself wouldn't bring Miri back, nor would it change anything that had already past. It only alerted Daine to how fragile and precious life was, and she intended to make the most of it, and have Numair by her side, always.
Kit unwrapped herself from Daine's legs and approached the grave, her scales the dusty black of grief. Scraping a handful of earth into her paw she threw it onto the top of the coffin, trilling piteously. Daine smiled woefully at her charge and followed suit, whispering a final farewell.
*****
Daine felt herself grow weaker as the days wore on, as if the loss of Miri had broken down her own resolve to live, broken it beyond repair. She knew what would happen sooner or later, and remembering her own thoughts from the time of the funeral, knew she could not waste whatever time she had been granted left in this Mortal Realm.
She crossed the training yards that night and entered the palace building, walking through identical corridors until she was in the one where the teachers might be found. Looking closely at the brass nameplates upon every door, she stopped when she found the one that said "Numair Salmalin".
Rapping on the heavy door, she waited and presently heard footsteps on the other side, and the sound of a lock being drawn back. Numair's face appeared in the doorway, half-hidden by the shadows as the door was eased open. He squinted in the fading light and smiled softly when he saw who it was who had disturbed him from his work.
"Magelet? Can I help you?"
She stepped forward and slipped her arms around his neck before he had a chance to protest about where they were. Raising herself on the tips of her toes, she murmured against his lips, "Help me forget," before claiming his mouth in a searing kiss.
*****
That's all for now, folks. Warned you it would be short - hope you're not too disappointed, but there will be more soon IF YOU REVIEW!! IF NOT I'LL NEVER UPDATE AGAIN! HA! (Is that threat effective, or one you'd rather I'd
actually do?)
(P.S Sorry it's just a short chapter - I felt it would ruin it a bit if I added much more.)
I don't have time to write a comment to write for each of you wonderful reviewers, but thank you to:
Bojanglesbiscuit.
Kit49.
ShieldMaiden.
CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88:
Wildmage101.
FireMage6.
Lioness.
FrostFur3.
Erynwen.
Shadowweaver1.
Snakefeather.
QueenofCaonnaught.
Loss
The battle-sounds receded into the distance around the two of them until they stood alone, shrouded by a silent grief. Daine gazed, distraught into the strained face of her best friend, as dark locks of hair fell across hazel eyes filled with pain and a sad smile trembled wistfully on lips that fought to keep bubbles of blood from spilling over. Wavering shadows stretched between them, settling in the furrows of agony engraved in Miri's forehead. Her life stained the ground below her a deep crimson, spreading like a river of death. The sight of it tore an awful whimper of grief from Daine, and she pulled the dying girl into a desperate embrace. She tasted salt as her tears flowed and fell, sparkling onto Miri's cheeks. Against her neck she felt the young rider's breath become more ragged and her dry lips move as she struggled to speak.
"D-don't cry, Daine. I . I was doing my duty. S'best way t . . .to go." She smiled again as her eyes glazed over with the arrival of death, and with one last shuddering breath her body was all that remained in Daine's arms.
"No, no, no!" Daine whispered in horror, not believing that this motionless shell had been one of her closest friends, so full of life just ten minutes ago. Pain wracked her body and hot tears fled from her eyes, now bright with pain as she screamed her denial.
A hand touching her shoulder lightly brought her back to where she was, kneeling on the forest floor, covered in blood, dirt and rain. On the round there were several corpses of the renegades; the rest had their hands bound behind their backs and were tied near the horses. She was suddenly aware again of everyone else. Around her stood her rest of the Riders, some injured, but none dead and all their faces reflected the sorrow that resided in her. On more than one tears made tracks through the grime that covered their faces. Although they mourned their grief together, she felt separated in her pain until someone untangled her from Miri's body and drew her close to their own enveloping her in warmth and comfort. She wept against their shirt, finding no comfort in the hand that rubbed circles on her back.
Behind her Daine could hear the sounds of the Riders clearing up the area of the battle, but for once it was done in silence, the effort of speaking too much right now.
Overhead the shrill scream of a bird pieced the air and the darkened sky rumbled faintly as the storm moved on.
*****
Miri was buried a week later in Corus, surrounded by the Riders, her friends and the People, who shared Daine's grief. Numair watched the small ceremony at a distance, keeping a close eye on Daine who had taken the death of her friend very hard and had exchanged no more than a few words with him in the last week, coming to him only to seek comfort and shed tears.
Two priests dressed in simple robes spoke by the graveside of the young rider, thanking Mithros and the Great Mother Goddess for her life and consecrating her soul to the god of the dead. As the small coffin was lowered into the fresh earth a bugle sounded in the distance, holding the mournful note in tribute to Miri's service and the duty for which she gave her life.
Daine stood with Evin and Valene, staring at the grave without seeing it. Next to her Valene was inconsolable, held tight by Evin to no effect, but Daine was dry-eyed, having run out of tears days before. She would see Miri again one day, and until that day came she would think only of the Rider as the bright fifteen year old she had first met who had exuded vitality, not as the bloody woman she had held in her arms as she died a week ago. She wanted to blame herself for Miri's death, after all, she had survived the battle because her friend had died for her, but her final words rang in Daine's mind - "I was doing my duty." Miri would've given her life for anyone, because it was her duty. Blaming herself wouldn't bring Miri back, nor would it change anything that had already past. It only alerted Daine to how fragile and precious life was, and she intended to make the most of it, and have Numair by her side, always.
Kit unwrapped herself from Daine's legs and approached the grave, her scales the dusty black of grief. Scraping a handful of earth into her paw she threw it onto the top of the coffin, trilling piteously. Daine smiled woefully at her charge and followed suit, whispering a final farewell.
*****
Daine felt herself grow weaker as the days wore on, as if the loss of Miri had broken down her own resolve to live, broken it beyond repair. She knew what would happen sooner or later, and remembering her own thoughts from the time of the funeral, knew she could not waste whatever time she had been granted left in this Mortal Realm.
She crossed the training yards that night and entered the palace building, walking through identical corridors until she was in the one where the teachers might be found. Looking closely at the brass nameplates upon every door, she stopped when she found the one that said "Numair Salmalin".
Rapping on the heavy door, she waited and presently heard footsteps on the other side, and the sound of a lock being drawn back. Numair's face appeared in the doorway, half-hidden by the shadows as the door was eased open. He squinted in the fading light and smiled softly when he saw who it was who had disturbed him from his work.
"Magelet? Can I help you?"
She stepped forward and slipped her arms around his neck before he had a chance to protest about where they were. Raising herself on the tips of her toes, she murmured against his lips, "Help me forget," before claiming his mouth in a searing kiss.
*****
That's all for now, folks. Warned you it would be short - hope you're not too disappointed, but there will be more soon IF YOU REVIEW!! IF NOT I'LL NEVER UPDATE AGAIN! HA! (Is that threat effective, or one you'd rather I'd
actually do?)