Jessi: Hey ya everyone! As part of my new drive to write as much as I can on the weekend (yey) I've written another chapter. It was delayed by the site's upgrades but it matters not!

Vale got off her horse stiffly and streched, winching at the pops and cracks that her spine made. No wonder horses had never caught on amongst her people. After fifteen years Chel still wouldn't ride one, he flew everywhere just like at home.

Chel was currently standing at the border of the forest, almost impossible to see without elven eyes. The full body cloak once again covered him and his distinctive hair. He did not like crowds such as the one that filled the inn.

Vale, remembering the winged elf's depression, turned. Yes, he was still there. She waved to him and she could almost see those sad, pale eyes beneath the wide hood as he waved back.

Chel watched as one of the twins, he knew it was Samera by the gash on the left side of his armour, touched the young cleric's arm and lead her into the inn. Kemi was behind the paladin, as though he was using the aasimar as a shield. He looked scared.

But then why shouldn't he be scared? After spending all his life in near-invinability it must naturally be distressing to lose that power.

The winged elf settled down, his robe spread out like a woman's gown, having no wish to join the crowds at the inn, having their eyes on him, always watching. Chel was tired of it. His hand reached up to slid underneath his collar, to touch that reminder... The reminder that he would always be hated and dispised for what he was... How many years had it been? How many years had he been carrying this reminder?

These thoughts made him to cry, but no... The large pale eyes that possessed that permanent haunted look had only shed tears once... and never would again.

"Are you sure that you'll be alright?" Vale sat with Chel on one the two beds in the room they shared.

"Yes, Vale I am fine now," he kissed her cheek, "Go enjoy yourself."

She smiled and murmured a promise that she would, then left the room to eat with the paladins and Kemi, her cheekbones carrying a slight flush. She smiled at him as she shut the door behind her.

Chel's smile faded as soon as she was gone. He was not alright. His fustration, all the pent-up emotions had not lessened... unless. He hand went to the small knife that he always kept on his belt and drew it, noting the way the light played on its keen edge. The winged elf had always taken care of the blade.

He had promised himself... that for Vale, for everyone, that he'd stop this.

But... was not his need greater than theirs? But... but...

A dream-like expression crossed Chel's lovely face as the sharp knife edge parted the silver flesh of his arm. The emotions seemed to drain away as he did this and a sigh of contentment and relief escaped him. The wound started healing as he made another cut beside it... and another... and another...

A while later Vale climbed up the stair to the inn's rooms. The crowds had dispersed now so that there were only a few patrons left, most coming from the village just down the road. Maybe Chel would join them now, even if he didn't want to eat.

She pushed open the door,

"Chel, I..." her voice trailed off. Chel sat cross-legged on his bed. He was bare from the waist up, having discarded his robes. His right hand held a knife loosly in its grip as it made a slow journey down his chest, parting the flesh to leave a deep wound. His pale eyes seemed misty and unfocused and his head rolled slackly on the end of his delicate neck with lips parted slightly.

Abruptly he turned to face her, an expression of shock on his face, his arms going to his sides, the blade leaving the wound,

"Vale!" the knife fell from his grip, embedding itself into the wooden floor, and the wound sealed instantly, as though he was trying to hide what he had been doing.

But it was too late for that. Vale turned away, hand clamped over her mouth, trying not to be sick. After a few minutes, stomach under control once more, she looked at him again, taking deep breaths. His head was cast slightly downwards and his expression was one of deepest, darkest shame. Vale was speechless.

Neither of them spoke for some time.

"Vale..." finally Chel began to speak, his voice so soft and quiet, "I never, never wanted you to find out."

"B-but why? Why?" Vale was nearly in tears and when she spoke again her voice was chocked, "Is it my fault?"

"I... I... Tiamet's mercy I'm so pathetic!" Vale watched as Chel placed his head in his hands. When he spoke again she had to come closer to hear his muffled voice, "Of course it's not you fault. It's mine. I am the one to blame... Oh... oh my god..." his fingers slid into his hair and a moan of despair escaped his throat.

"Chel... please don't cry," Vale sat on the edge of his bed and cupped his face in both her hands. His eyes opened,

"You see... that's the problem... I can not cry..."

"What...?" Vale frowned slightly but the winged elf had began to speak again,

"Vale... I have a lot of problems... I am sorry... but I can not be the strong guardian that you deserve... I feel that... perhaps you would be better off without me..." He withdrew from her touch and fell onto his side limply, facing the wall.

Chel closed his eyes, waiting for the sound of Vale's footstep leaving the room. He was surprised therefore to see Vale lie in between him and the wall.

"What kind of person would I be if I left you like this? Let me help you... please..." for the second time that day she hugged him to her.

"You would help me?" Chel, face-to-face with Vale, seemed to warm towards this glimmer of hope.

"How could I not? You've already done so much for me. I love you," she kissed him.

"Thank you..." he wisphered to her softly before leaning closer.

Their kisses were sad and sweet and tears fell freely from Vale's eyes. Yet the eyes that could not weep were the saddest there.