003 - Fragmented
The deed is done.
His hands fumble through the darkness. The witch sighs against him while his fingers dance upon her back, the palm of his hands eventually resting against her skin. He pulls her closer, but she stops him with her hands on his chest.
"Don't," she whispers to him. And for a moment, he thinks he hears her voice crack.
"Morrigan," her name escapes his lips. And he pleads to her with his hands pulling her closer once again.
She throws him a glance, her amber eyes flickering for a moment in the darkness. She removes her hands from his chest.
Acceptance.
Longing, still.
As his arms envelope her smaller form, she buries her head against his neck. Her breath is warm against his skin. He welcomes the feeling knowing he would probably never have such a chance to feel her close once again.
And then there's an intrusion – a lump on his throat- as thoughts flood his mind, as he imagines the future without her by his side. Sleep will not come easy, but he does not mind. He would rather hold her, watch her, and memorize the feel of her under his touch. And so sleep does not come at all.
Not with the visions playing inside his head of how she would smile at him in those private moments in camp. Not with the memory of how she'd unconsciously entwine her fingers with his when she slept. Not with the knowledge she does care for him deeply.
Not with the thought of her leaving.
No. Sleep does not come at all.
Before he knows it, sunlight slowly tiptoes into the room. Fear suddenly creeps into his heart… not of the battle ahead, but of the loss of her.
And she stirs beside him, her eyes slowly fluttering open. A heavy sigh escapes his lips when she draws away. She stares at him as if to measure something and opens her mouth to say a word or two. But she purses her lips the second after.
And there it is - the blade slowly piercing his heart.
When she turns from him, he feels like he is back in Highever, at the night of Howe's betrayal.
As she slips away, he's by the secret passage's door in the larder, and he's throwing one last glance at his parents. He could hear Duncan calling him as the door creaks to a close.
The next moment, she's already standing by the door. And she looks at him with a sense of finality.
When she turns away once again, he feels life leave him.
He is lost once again.
