The lord stood over Lantash. The sky opened up and torrents of rain poured down from black clouds. The day turned cold and bleak. The lord went away quickly, back to the fort, driven by the bad weather.
Sam ran franticly to Lantash. As the heavy raindrops hit the ground hard splashing mud over Martouf's face and skin, she knelt down and pulled up his head wiping the grit gently, lovingly off his face with her hands. She looked at his wound and cringed. He'd been shot through and through. Her eyes stung; she closed them and wept.
His warm blood pulsed out over his body and the soaked ground. He shivered then smiled as he looked up at her.
Someone precious, slipping through her fingers like water.
His breathing came in gasps, his eyes turning up.
"Lantash! Can you hear me?"
He forced his eyes back down to look at her forlorn face.
"It doesn't hurt" he whispered as she looked over him.
"Not even a little?"
"Not even," his body shook violently.
"You're a bad lier," she accused trying to appear calm.
His smile was genuine as he chuckled, but he closed his eyes. She couldn't help but use the moment to kiss him softly, as though she could draw the pain from his body.
She lifted herself a little, waiting a moment, expecting him to open his eyes again eventually. She watched, waiting in terror for what seemed like an eternity.
"Lantash?"
Not even a flicker.
"Martouf?"
She tentatively placed her fingers against his neck and felt complete stillness as her eyes searched for movement in his features.
He's gone, a scared voice within her whispered.
She shook him.
It can't be true.
Again, shaking roughly.
He's gone.
"Martouf," she pleaded.
He's not... alive. He's DEAD.
She broke down on the ground.
It's not fair... It's not fair. I can't go on. I can't breathe without him near. Without him. Without my love.
My love is gone. My Lover...
I'm nothing.
The same dirt he lay dead in covered her face and hair splashing up in the bruising rain.
This is my place. Lying dead beside him.
It was freezing cold, pitch black. She lay over him drawing his arms around her and held his body, feeling the little warmth that was still in his lifeless limbs.
She kissed him deeply, her passion rising.
Is this kiss a trespass?
She imagined the happiness that they would now never have. She needed him. It wasn't fair.
MURDER!
She clung to his skin like a wet leaf.
MURDERED!
Trembling as his arms slipped off.
MURDERED!
She found his zat in the grass and picked it up.