Disclaimer: Don't own any of them….
She Loved Him
"She loved him, you know."
"Did she?"
"Yes," she replies softly.
He glances at her and then back at the railing where his hands rest. "Then why did she never tell him?"
"Would it have made a difference?" She frowns.
He's looking at the sky now. The sun painting golds and reds as it sets. "It might."
She pauses and then asks hesitantly, "Did he…?"
He moves and she wonders if that was a flinch.
"He used to." He frowns and then shakes his head. "He did. Underneath all the hurt and anger, it was there."
She studies her nails and then crosses her arms. "She didn't want to"
"Then why did she?"
She looks away and then back. "She was told she was a peace bride."
"A peace bride?" His voice betrays his contempt.
She nods and rests her arms on the railing. Her voice is low and she sounds sad. "An alliance between two of the strongest fighters on either side. They told her to win his trust. To make him love her."
He turns back to the sea. "He did." There is a pause before he continues in a softer voice. "He did love her."
"And when the order came to kill him, it was too late. She had fallen too deep." Her voice sounds a little strange now, not as strong and sure as it normally is.
"She could have chosen not to." He's looking at her now. The first time their eyes have met since he stepped onto the balcony to find her.
"Love over duty, Colonel?" She smiles as though mocking him and then turns away as his eyes darken.
He studies the railing for minutes.
She looks at him and then tilts her head up, searching for the first stars of the evening. "I can still feel the echo of her mind. Her voice is gone but the emotions and thoughts, they left behind their mark."
"I know."
"All the pain and anger and frustration. The love and passion. The hurt and fear." Her voice wavers but does not break. "They've imprinted themselves."
She turns to him. "Do you think I'm going mad?"
He looks away and shakes his head. He knows there's a good chance neither of them will ever be free of those emotions.
She reaches out a hand towards him and then draws it back. "Did you…did he know?"
He smiles a strange, bitter smile and then replies, "No, he thought she'd set him up from the start."
She closes her eyes. "He should have killed her when he had the chance."
He looks at her and then down at his hands. "You know he couldn't do that."
She nods. "I hope they're at peace now."
"I'm sure they are." He's not sure whether he's trying to convince her or himself.
She gives a low laugh before speaking softly. "Life is going to be very strange."
He turns to her. "Do you think we-?" His words stop as he sees her raise an eyebrow.
He shakes his head and its a few minutes before he continues. "They chose us for a reason."
"I know." She looks at him steadily and then nods as though she's found what she was looking for.
He smiles. "I'm glad I didn't kill you."
She starts and then turns away to look at the sea. "She'd have killed herself soon after."
He sighs. "You know, there were other women there…other men too…it was because we already had…"
She's looking at the sea and shaking her head. He knows she doesn't want him to continue but he tries anyway.
She stops him, her voice low but strong. "Let's not go there Colonel."
He thinks her face looks as though she's trying to hold back tears but then the shadows shift and he wonders if he thought wrong.
She turns to him then with a smile and he thinks it's more bitter than sweet.
"Duty calls." Her voice is soft and then she walks away.
A/N: Don't forget to leave a review telling me what you thought!