Ello. Here's more story...sorry it's a bit short and sorry it's been coming out over such a long period of time. I promise I'll try to finish everything up quick (if you get bored just reread it, I know my writing sucks at the beginning but it gets better).
Anyway, here's another chapter. Read and Review!
Ch 21
Hours passed, the rain gradually let up and Larka remained where she was, cradling Krillan's lifeless body and crying balefully. Try as she might the tears wouldn't stop and they seemed to flow from her, yet no matter how much she cried the awful sadness wouldn't go away. Her warriors stood around her, grieving for Krillan and for the deaths of the other warriors. Several people had begun to tend and heal the wounded and others made funeral pyres for the soldiers and warriors. Llilith stood near Larka somberly, watching over her mournful friend as she cried, refusing to let her dear friend go.
Night was falling and the pyres had been lit and the bodies burned. Those who were injured were well enough to walk again and still Larka remained hunched over, her tears long since dried up yet she remained, face hollow and expressionless bent over Krillan's body. The warriors were unsure what to do and milled around awkwardly and silently, waiting for their War Leader. Eventually Llilith went up to Larka and gently touched her on the shoulder. "Larka, I think it's time for you to return home." She whispered. The sound of Llilith's voice seemed to jolt Larka out of a daze and she looked up at the Winged Twilight, her gaze stricken with grief.
"No…please…" she murmured. "Just let me stay here…"
"Larka, they'll be waiting for news." Llilith said. "You must return."
"I can't…he's gone…he can't be gone…he just can't!" Larka said hollowly.
"You need to return to the tribe." Llilith said. "Think of Liam, and Tyrade… and Taka."
"…Tell Taka that I love her." Larka echoed softly. "I have to tell Taka he loved her."
"Let's return home." Llilith said.
Larka merely nodded and slowly stood, lifting Krillan's body as she rose. She carried him with the utmost care, almost as if she expected him to wake up at any second and make a joke as to why she was carrying him as if it was their wedding night and she was the groom. "Keep fighting." Larka murmured as she walked through the Ashlands, her and Llilith at the lead, the warriors following somberly.
They were an eerie procession as they made their way home, Larka with Krillan in her arms, her face a mask of intense sadness. Every once and a while she would look down in confusion, almost as if refusing to believe that the body of her first and most beloved friend was in her arms. But each time she looked up from his pale and cold face her eyes became a little colder, a little more unreadable. She was changing once more.
The lights of the tribe came into view and Larka's step faltered. "Llilith, I can't do it…I can't go back." Larka whispered. "I'm scared."
"I must say, I never took you for a coward Larka WinterStar." Llilith said putting her purple scaled hand on Larka's shoulder.
"I'm not a coward." Larka said stonily, beginning to walk once more.
"Larka! Larka and the warriors are back!" WhisperWing called. Oh Azura, Larka thought, how can I ever face them again?
"Larka, we were so worried we thought that…" Taka said running towards them but stopping short when she saw who was in Larka's arms. "Wait…no, that's not Krillan." Taka said, uncertainly stepping back. "It can't be…"
"Larka, what happened we thought for certain that something horrible had –" Liam said running out of a hut Tyrade in his arms. He too stopped short at the sight of the emotionless Larka, Krillan in her arms. She kept walking till she reached Taka, who was recoiled in disbelief.
"He told me to tell you he loved you." Larka said her voice as emotionless as her gaze.
"Oh Azura…no, please no!" Taka cried, sinking down to the ground, her body wracked with sobs. WhisperWing ran to Taka and crouched with her, cradling the heartbroken Bosmer in her arms, tears streaming down her face as well. Larka gently sat Krillan at Taka's feet. Taka reached out a trembling hand to touch his face and was soon overcome by her grief, collapsing on his body with sadness.
The warriors began silently walking away to their own families, returning to their huts to mourn for their companions who had died in the battle. Larka stood by Taka and WhisperWing who were still sobbing but try as she might no more tears would come. Liam approached her and touched her arm. "Larka?" he asked unsurely. Larka turned to face him and she could see the sadness in his expression, Krillan had become a dear friend to him.
Tyrade was sitting quietly in Liam's arms but gently nudged at him and he set her down. The small child tottered on unsure feet over to Krillan's body and with the lightest of touches stroked his cheek and touched each of his eyelids with her finger. Tears fell from Tyrade's eyes and she stumbled back to Liam who scooped her up in his arms and held the toddler close. He knew the child had been touched by death and had just grown jaded beyond her years.
"I hope you won't mind putting Tyrade to bed for me, I have things to attend to." Larka said matter-of-factly, not bothering to wait. "Oh and Llilith, you may go now."
"As you wish…" the Daedra said, exchanging a concerned look with Liam before disappearing.
Larka stared at Krillan's body and then, very gently so as not to disturb Taka in her crying she bent down and picked up his shock enchanted war axe. She stood and hefted it in her hands, looking at it appraisingly before giving it a satisfactory nod and starting to walk away. "Larka? Where are you going?" Liam asked, both WhisperWing and Taka were looking up at her questioningly now as well.
"To train." She said without looking back as she walked into the darkness of the training arena.
"Oh Gods… we've lost her." Taka whispered through her tears, staring after Larka, who was now a mere shadow in the dark.
