And a new chapter. Mwahahahahaha. o.O
Raine: -Sigh-
Chin up! It's all fun!
Raine: For those not dying.
...Meh.
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Her own cough sent a jolting pain through her middle, and that alone woke her up rather rudely. She came around with a quiet yelp, clutching at the strips of cloth that still rested against the wound. It was...so hot. Was she now feverish as well? It wouldn't be a big surprise, considering her damp surroundings and weakened state.
She shook her head feebly, reaching for the letter. She had to hurry.
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I hope my hand-writing is still legible for you. I'm afraid time may be up rather soon, and so I must finish quickly...Here goes.
We had gotten a room at the Meltokio Inn, and we stayed in it all night. The next morning, they had me don the shifty disguise again, and we made our way toward the Colisseum. Wein explained to me on the way. "You are to enter the singles tournament as Miss Leene Collins." Who else?
"I figured that much out myself," I told him, drily. "When do I meet this 'contact' of yours?"
"He will be your final opponent - which means you must win the other battles up til then. However, you will lose the fight with Ril. He will have our second item on him the entire fight, and at the end will slip it into your pocket before rendering you unconcious."
Unconcious? I didn't particularly relish that thought...Not only would I have to be their go-between, I'd have to suffer for it. My expression turned sour under the mask. "And if I refuse?"
"You really don't want to. I'm sure of that. After all, I know you wouldn't place your husband, his town, or your very marriage in jeapordy." This was Tudok, with his infuriating smile that would have seemed friendly on most anyone else.
That silenced me. He was right - I didn't want to see you or the Lezareno hurt. Though our marriage was falling apart anyway at that point. I had left you, hadn't I? Such harsh words, but painfully true.
So we reached the arena, and I was forced to enter as Leene. They said the matches would begin in an hour or so, and that gave Wein and his possy the opportunity to drag me along to the weapon shop. Apparently they wanted to take no chances in my reaching the end, as they placed a new, sturdier staff in my hands. I don't remember the details of it, my thoughts are a little hazy on specifics, but it was definately stronger than my favored one.
It was this day that you and I actually did see eachother for the first time since I'd left. And that's how I knew that you were looking for me then. Of course you didn't know it was me, that was the point of the disguise.
I was walking through Meltokio accompanied by Tudok, just wandering until I had to fight in the arena. You caught my gaze, walking in the opposite direction with an anxious look on your face. I guess you'd found out from the dock that I'd headed for Meltokio, supposedly to meet you for some time off. And while it had been a couple of days since then, you never have given up on things very easily.
We just about ran into eachother when you were looking away, distracted. You reached out to steady me once the near-collision had brought you back to reality, and I could hear the start of an apology. But you stopped, and just met my gaze. I'm glad I looked somewhat familiar to you, at least. And I tried to say everything with my eyes, the only bit of my face you could really see.
"Raine," you murmured, as though remembering some old dream.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken, sir." Tudok put a hand to my shoulder, smiling at you. "This is Leene. She's entered in the Arena, scheduled to fight in fourty-five minutes. Came all the way from Flanoir just to compete - but I'm afraid she cannot speak. Tragic childhood accident...or something." He looked over at me, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Again, I had to lie to your face. I nodded stiffly, wanting to pull down the hood, take off the mask. I wanted to reach out for you...but I couldn't. Oh, I'm so sorry.
"I...apologize," you said, shaking your head. "You just look...very much like someone very close to me." You were still watching me, looking almost transfixed.
I bowed my head to you, trying to look sympathetic. But my throat ached out of a different kind of sorrow. So I reached up to lay a hand to your shoulder for a moment like someone trying to offer comfort, and gave another bow before walking past you. It hurt - like I was telling you right then and there that I hated you. Saying directly to you that I was leaving forever.
That encounter sapped any remaining motivation I might have had to go through with these plans. I was rather melancholy the entire remaining time before the fight. But it did come at last, and I had no choice but to go through with it.
The battles were not difficult at all, and I got to the final spar without much trouble. Of course it did help that I could heal myself. So I brandished my staff, awaiting Ril and his appearance. When he did come out, I looked over him thoughtfully. He was a major contrast to the previous opponents - he actually appeared challenging.
And thus the fight began. I "put up a valiant defense" in the words of Wein, afterward, but I remembered my job. I reluctantly alowed him to close in, and he murmured something. "My apologies, My Lady." Apologies, hah. With that, he twisted around to stand behind me, slipping something into my pocket very skillfully and very discretely, before I felt him use the hilt of his sword to hit me - between the shoulder blades I think - and send me to the realm of unawareness.
You don't know how much I wished none of this had happened. And I wish we hadn't met in Meltokio, either. Maybe it would have made things a little easier. But now I just want to see you, to hear your voice. One more time. Though I know it's impossible. I doubt you'll find me at all, let alone before I die. So maybe you'll never find this letter. But I'll toss it out of the cave when I'm finished. Maybe it'll catch your eye sometime.
I do miss you terribly, and I wish I were with you. Even if I were still in this condition, I want to be with you and know that everything was alright between us. Because I am so sorry. And I do love you, more than anything.
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How many times had she written the words "I'm sorry" in the past several days? Countless, she was certain. She knew she sounded somewhat pathetic - but then, it matched how she felt, didn't it? She coughed again, and it was followed by another cry.
Looking down, she noted that the wound had started to bleed again. Though not nearly as heavily as before. She grimaced, pressing the cloth closer to stop it again. With her free hand, she set aside the materials, and whispered something to herself in Elvish.
Ai eis mysia.
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That means literally, "I am sorry."
Raine: Surprise, surprise.
Oh, get over it. Geez...Keep watching!