Ethan feels her fall from their embrace, Rochelle's heavy body now lying in his arms. As strong as he is, he can't hold her up forever, and he gently lays her down onto the cold earth beneath them. One arm holds her head up, the other hand stroking her pale face. Green eyes, once vivid, begin to fade. Blue eyes fill with tears. Golden arrow, surrounded by blood projects out just right of her heart, life force spilling. She is dying now. They both know it. It is only a matter of time.
"Please don't leave me," Ethan whispers into her coal black hair, caressing her cheek.
She only responds by lifting her weakening fingers under his chin, and bringing his lips to hers. He can taste blood, but it is sweeter than anything he could have ever imagined. His tears mix with those now flowing out of her own eyes.
"I love you," she says in a soft voice, and Ethan is shocked at how scared she sounds, "Please never forget that. I have always loved you."
He nods, knowing that to forget her love would be like ripping out a piece of his soul, "I will love you all my life. Not a day will go by without you in my heart and mind."
Wiping the tears off her beautiful face, he kisses her again. Her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, her lips. With the remainder of her strength, she brings her palm up to the side of his face, and he covers it with his own, taken aback at how cold she is. Staring into each other's eyes, Rochelle's begin to drift closed.
"What happened!" Isabel screams as she runs up the mountain. She abruptly stops, and after taking one look at Rochelle lying, dying, on the ground, she runs over. He doesn't let go of her hand while Isabel places her shaking palms on Rochelle's chest. Her breathing has become shallower now, but her jade eyes still don't leave Ethan's.
Isabel's eyes cloud over, and Ethan's heart breaks as he sees her pull away her hands. She can't look him in the eye, as she whispers, 'There is nothing I can do.'
His whole body is full of anger as Isabel backs away, 'What do you mean there is nothing you can do? You are the strongest healer in the history of the Guard! How can there be nothing you can do!'
Her big brown eyes snap to mine full of moisture, 'The arrow tip was poison. It has seeped into her heart and therefore through her bloodstream and into her brain. I would need days to clear it out. She doesn't have that long. Say goodbye Ethan.'
Her voice broken, she gives one final heart wrenched look towards her best friend and stands up, moving back, as she sees the tears now falling freely from his face. Rochelle smiles at Ethan with the very last of her being, and he holds his palm against her cheek, whispering his undying love. Her chest falls and doesn't rise again. It never will. The tears stop, and taking her cold hand in his, he lies down beside her, stroking her hair.