The Warrior stood, unmoving, as she had been for at least the past thirty minutes. She was located next to Cadeyrn's throne, at his left hand, her hand always on the hilt of her sword, ready to strike. While the assignment of her position as main guard had flattered her, Sariel had been happy about it for a lot of different reasons. She was glad Cadeyrn trusted her, firstly, since even she felt the tides changing in the Grove, and she was allowed to stand at the roots of the process, watching the revolution grow and unfold before her. Yet, to be in Cadeyrn's presence had another advantage altogether.

Her eyes darted from the crowd to Cadeyrn at her side, and then to the two Firstborn in front of him. Caithe stood with her back turned to her, speaking with Faolain in a hushed tone. She could see Faolain's long fingers caress Caithe's cheek, and stared at those sparkling eyes, so alive, blazing with such love. Love directed at Caithe. Even though every second a dagger was stabbed through her heart, Sariel could not look away. She kept watching, tormenting herself, wishing, forcing herself to believe Faolain was looking at her that way. Sometimes, if she focused intensely enough, she could even feel the touch of those hands on her face, feel the warmth of her breath on her lips, that body against her...

The crowd grew rowdy, and returned Sariel from her musings to the situation at hand. She looked around, not sure whether to act or to stay. And then she noticed Cadeyrn's waving hand, and she bent closer to hear him.

'Take the Firstborn. She will be the first sacrifice to the Nightmare.' He had whispered it, almost mockingly. His order confused her, and her heart raced. Her gaze fell once again on the two Firstborn. Suddenly, all her thoughts ran through her head in top speed, and the world seemed to slow down as she stepped forward. Before she had realized it, she had already made her choice. She knew Cadeyrn had meant Faolain. She knew he loved Caithe. She realized what he was trying to do.

But she was loyal to her love. And she would do anything to have it.

.

The atmosphere changed so quickly that Caithe felt it before she managed to comprehend what exactly had happened, and before even Faolain's expression had changed. She looked over her shoulder, time slowing down for her, to see Sariel's sword coming down towards her with massive force. Cadeyrn's panicked scream was in her ears, and then she felt a blow and tumbled over the edge of the stage to the side, into the dew-stained grass and murky earth. A whirl of purple magic dissolved in front of her, and slowly she realized she wasn't hurt. The crowd let out of screams of shock and terror, and a girl from the crowd ran towards Caithe to check if she was okay. Caithe paid her no heed, but scrambled back on her feet, a little wobbly still, to look back at the stage.

'Sariel,' Faolain's voice slashed through the clearing, and the crowd suddenly fell silent. It was as if the very air trembled with their collective shock, their fear, and slowly a feeling of a whole other order was taking over. Faolain took a step forward, her heel clicking on the stage, the sound unnatural and frightening to all of them.

Faolain breathed deeply, sparking her magic involuntarily in the palms of her hands. Caithe stood frozen, her eyes wide and fearful as Faolain soaked all of them in her disappointment, her anger, and her bloodlust. She had never, ever heard her lover make a sound like this, felt her like this. Suddenly Malomedies' description of a dark feeling seemed like a mild, childish version of this. Caithe was terrified.

'I would never have been able to imagine that you, Sariel, that you would be the one to turn on me, to try take her away from me..' Faolain trailed off, her voice low, with a tremble in it that had not been there before. She took another step forward, the magic cackling and chirping with static and sparks. Sariel's eyes were wide, her face completely pale, she dropped her sword out of her hands and took a shivering step back, and then another one, and then turned to run-

Caithe thought for a moment that Sariel would get away. She had almost sighed in relief, but then a hissed whisper filled the air.

'I will kill you for your insolence.'

Caithe gasped, and jolted forward, but was too late. Faolain suddenly let all her magic run rampant, a purple whip of magic pulling Sariel back by her foot with brute force, tripping her and dragging her face across the stage. Faolain's eyes were wide and dilated as she threw Sariel around like a ragdoll, static flying and sparks setting fire to the space around her. Sariel screeched and howled, her hands holding her head and tears streaming down her face. Then Faolain threw her down and continued to fire spells at her, which made Sariel scream and writhe in agony, her mind drowning in visions of madness, of pain, pain that was very much real at this moment.

The crowd stood mortified, turned to stone in their disbelief, the waves of emotion tearing at their very souls. They could not cry, they could not speak, they could not even avert their eyes. They drowned in it, soaked it up and kept this darkness in their hearts. Faolain's heavy breathing was slowly being replaced by a repeating chant, that she kept uttering louder and louder, until she was screaming too, tears streaming down her face, still beating down on her student with all the force she had in her.

Something in her voice urged Caithe to move. Purely on instincts, she teleported back up the stage, appearing from shadows, behind Faolain. She wrapped both arms around her lover's chest and pulled her back, ignoring the pain from all her attacks flying around her. Faolain struggled against her, giving no sign of recognition, and trying to pull loose.

'I will kill her! I will kill her!' She kept screaming, and Caithe fought harder with every tug she gave. She cried back at Faolain, begging for her to stop, to listen, to come to her senses-

A sound slashed through the clearing again, only this time, no Sylvari was sure if they had really heard it. Had any non-Sylvari been watching at this moment, it would have seemed as if everything suddenly just stopped. It was the sound of a bond being cut, like the blades of sharp scissors running past each other, or the sound of a sword whirring through thin air. All Sylvari heard it. All Sylvari felt it in their hearts. Caithe recognized it, and felt fear overtake her mind.

Faolain had frozen in place, and now slumped down to her knees. Caithe closed her eyes, tears slowly trailing down, and then relaxed her arms and let her love fall down from her embrace.

.

Life was returning to the clearing. The Sylvari sat on the ground, gathered in small groups, holding hands or crying on each other's shoulders. The soft, gentle humming of many voices consoling each other did not reach the smoking stage, where the fires slowly died down. Sariel lay on the middle of the stage, her head hanging over the edge. She had fallen silent, breathing shallowly, her eyes open but she was barely conscious, barely aware of her surroundings. Her limbs were tangled and bent in awkward directions, and she was bleeding and burned. Behind her, Cadeyrn was frozen in his throne, his face paler than grey, shaking all over his body. He just stared at what was left of Sariel, now and then whimpering softly.

Caithe swallowed thickly. She was not surprised the Sylvari were so affected. Yet, she had felt this before, and could somehow still think somewhat clearly. She looked down at the slumped form in front of her, and tried to keep herself from bursting into tears. She had felt this before, when Riannoc was torn from the Dream. Caithe could now only fear that she was wrong.

Slowly she kneeled down, and picked Faolain up, turning her over so that they faced each other, and held her in her arms. Faolain's eyes were half closed, but then she reached up and ran her hand over Caithe's cheek, and let it trail down her chest, and onto her arm. Caithe trembled slightly, silently praying that she was just afraid, and that she had made a false conclusion. Yet the words Faolain uttered to her made her confirm her dreadful fear.

'Caithe,' Faolain said softly, her voice familiar and deep, but also hollow and fearful now, 'where are you?'

'I am right here, by your side, my love,' Caithe cried, sobs threatening to take her words away, 'just as I promised I would be.'

'I don't, I-I can't-' Faolain tried, trembling harder with each second that forced her to realize. 'I can't sense you, my love, I cannot-'

Caithe bent down, buried her face in her lover's shoulder and sobbed. Her fingers shook as she dug them into her lover's shoulderblades, pressing her against her chest, trying to keep her even closer.

'I'm so sorry,' Caithe whimpered, 'I should have protected you from yourself, I should have seen this, I'm so sorry, my love,' she trailed off, still trying to console both herself and the one in her arms.

Faolain had been severed from the Dream.

.

Canach slipped up the stage from the back, careful to make as little noise as possible. He rounded around the throne and kneeled by Cadeyrn's side, gently nudging him out of his shock and embracing him softly.

'Come on, Cadeyrn,' he whispered, 'you can't stay here.' He had his hand on Cadeyrn's shoulder, and his friend slowly turned his head and nodded at him. He had never seen Cadeyrn smile at him like that, as if he had just pulled him out of a deep icy lake. Canach nodded and stood up, leaving his friend for a moment.

Then, without a sound, he walked forward and picked up Sariel's limp body. She whined softly as he moved her, and he hushed her.

'It's okay, Sariel, it's me, Canach,' he said gently, carrying her back to where Cadeyrn stood, joined by a worried-looking Serame. Both of them were shaking.

'Let's go,' he said. Cadeyrn nodded solemnly. 'We must make haste.' Canach let his gaze fall on the woman in his arms. He felt her breathing, and he felt relieved. For a moment, he had thought they had lost her. 'She needs proper care.'

'Will she recover?' Serame asked quietly.

'I don't know,' Canach sighed. 'I don't recon she'll remain as she was before.' He looked at Cadeyrn, a mournful expression on his face. 'None of us will be.'

'I'll go ahead to get help,' Serame answered, jolting off.

Cadeyrn swallowed thickly. He cast his eyes down and nodded, seeking for the words to express what he felt. He was gratious, for Canach still being by his side. He felt guilt for Sariel's fate. And part of him wanted to regret what he had done.

And yet, he felt that this was the beginning. And once they started walking, he decided that this was the beginning. As he embraced a darker future, Cadeyrn left the Dream.

Canach lost him, while standing next to him. He felt the stab go through his heart, his guts, but let it never show on his face. Sariel jerked at the feeling, too, but then relaxed again. Canach was alone, left in a Dream none of his friends shared.

.

A long night passed. The Sylvari had retreated to their homes, even those who had not attended the first Nightmare meeting. All Sylvari knew something had happened, even if they could not figure out what exactly. They all felt anxious, they felt sadness that was not theirs. They were afraid of a shadow looming over them, but they did not know whose shadow it was.

Caithe lay in her bed, a trembling Faolain at her side. She could not sleep. It was as if a stranger was pressed against her, cold hands clamping onto her. Even if Faolain's voice was familiar, her scent, the feel of her skin against her own, she could not shake the images of the past day from her mind. The way Faolain had screamed, her eyes dilated, that bloodlust that Malomedies had sensed long ago.. Caithe was filled with regret over so many things. Time and time again she went over the things she could have done, should have done, should have seen but did not see, and every time it hurt her more.

'My love?' Faolain's soft voice sounded in the dark. Caithe turned her head towards the other, even if she couldn't see her.

'Faolain?'

'What are you thinking about?' Faolain asked, almost sighing. Caithe cringed.

'You don't know?'

'No, my love.' Faolain admitted. 'I am here, but you are in a whole other world. It's as if I am holding your lifeless corpse in my arms, I am talking to you, but I miss,' she hesitated for a moment, 'so many things.'

'How do you feel?' Caithe asked her. She swallowed, trying desperately to keep her calm.

'Blind. Crippled. Caged. And yet,' Faolain said, overthinking each word, 'in a way, free.'

'Free?' Caithe asked, propping herself up. Faolain raised behind her, slowly massaging Caithe's shoulders. Caithe could not stop the shivers from running down her back.

'I have defeated the Dream that shackled me. No Ventari, no rule shall restrain me now. I lost the Dream, but not you.' Caithe could hear she was smiling. 'You are still by my side. And once you get rid of your Dream, we will be whole again-'

'I don't want to lose my Dream, Faolain,' Caithe said, quietly. Faolain's hands slowly retreated from her shoulders.

'What?'

'My Dream is my calling. I must defeat an Elder Dragon.' Caithe said, and Faolain scoffed.

'My love, you know that that is madness-'

'I will find a way, Faolain.' Caithe interrupted, a little louder, and a little more determined. 'I thought you would be by my side when I did.'

'I will not stand by idly to see you be torn from this world, your life is far too precious for that, my love.'

'Don't call me that,' Caithe said, defeated. Faolain gasped quietly. 'I don't even recognize you,' Caithe continued, 'Why couldn't you just accept that there are rules, which should be followed? Find security in them?'

'I found security in you, Caithe!' Faolain exclaimed, 'My Dream was corrupted by these so-called rules, that would have gotten me killed! That will get you killed at this rate!' She roughly turned Caithe around and placed both her hands on her cheeks, forcing them to look at each other in the darkness. Caithe's cheeks were stained with tears.

'I would, no, I have sacrificed everything for you.' Faolain whispered against Caithe's forehead, her breath warm on Caithe's skin. 'Everything I own, everything I am, I would give up to be with you.'

'But we were together, Faolain, we were entwined!' Caithe sobbed back, grasping Faolain's wrists and moving the woman off of her. 'But you have sacrificed me to be something you are not!'

It was silent for a moment. The sheets rustled, Caithe felt Faolain shake her head in disbelief.

'Caithe, what are you saying?' Faolain whispered, trying desperately to hold Caithe's face again, to stroke her, but the other held her off.

'You have changed, Faolain. You are not the person I loved, more than anything. That I shared my world with.'

'Caithe, please see reason! This separation is temporary!' Faolain called out, frustration and hurt breaking her voice. 'You will turn to Nightmare, and we will be together! That is how it must go!'

'I will not abandon the Dream!' Caithe yelled back.

'Caithe!' Faolain begged, but Caithe moved away from the bed, turning her back to the other. She rubbed her arms and shivered, even though it wasn't cold. The realization that Faolain could not know how she felt right now made her feel even colder. That Faolain never would again, she dared not even think about.

'Please leave,' Caithe said. It was silent. She sighed and repeated her command, a little louder. 'Leave, Faolain.'

'We are far from through, my love.'

The sheets rustled, and soft footsteps betrayed that Faolain had gotten up. They moved towards Caithe, stopped, and then moved away. She disappeared in a flash of purple magic, shining on Caithe's red-rimmed eyes for a fraction of a second, in which they exchanged one last look. Those burning eyes looking at her, this last time, and then darkness took the room again.

Caithe cried, letting out all her pent-up sadness and fears. She was gone.

.

Canach bent over the bed where they had put Sariel. He cooled her forehead with some water, and carefully cleaned her wounds. She cringed and whimpered, obviously in a world of pain still. Cadeyrn paced at the other end of the room, wringing his hands, nervous and anxious. Normally he would have drawn off of Canach's calm, of his ability to remain collected, but now all he felt was Sariel's pain and suffering. He wanted to speak, to ask, but he couldn't.

Sariel suddenly jolted up, ignoring her pain, and clamping onto Canach.

'She's here! Canach! Canach!' she cried, digging her nails into her friend's arm. He was startled, trying to support her, but also trying to look over his shoulder to see what she was afraid of. Cadeyrn had turned pale again, a block of ice dumped in his stomach with the feeling that crashed into him like a wave.

Faolain did not bother to announce herself, she just appeared, ignoring Canach and Cadeyrn, walking straight past them. Cadeyrn made a soft squeaking sound, the feeling she emitted making his vision turn black, making his chest ache like nothing had ever done. Sariel cried out loud, wailing and trying to hold Canach closer, who, out of the three of them, was the only one still standing.

'Leave us,' Faolain hissed at him. Her eyes traveled over Cadeyrn as well. Canach slowly backed away, leaving Sariel trembling, and he picked up Cadeyrn and walked out.

'Sariel,' Faolain whispered, running her fingers over Sariel's wounded arm. She sighed, in relief or in sadness, it was unclear to Sariel. 'You are here.'

'I am at your side,' Sariel ground out, slowly reaching out to Faolain. She felt connected, so very close to her. Now that those eyes looked upon her again, she wanted to be afraid, but could not. She could only love her again, love her more, wanted to give all that she was to the Firstborn before her.

'You may kill me if you wish,' she said, slowly moving forward, resting her arms around Faolain's slender neck. When she felt no resistance, she rested her head on the other's shoulder, feeling her warmth, holding her close. Had she not been in pain, this would have been more than she had ever dreamed of.

'You are still at my side, my Sariel,' Faolain whispered, carefully holding her student. 'Promise me you will always be.'

'I will always be.'

'You will fight for me.'

'I will, my love!' Sariel cried, not caring about anything in this moment. Floating in the arms of one she'd thought she'd never touch, even if she overstepped her boundaries, death could not be more painful than this.

'You will die for me.' Faolain pressed on.

'I will!' the warrior vowed.

A silence fell over the two. Faolain nodded, solemnly. There were shards of the coldest ice in her heart, her soul torn to shreds. Sariel noted in the back of her mind how dull and dead her eyes looked. She even felt cold to the touch.

'Then we, at least, are not alone, Sariel.' Faolain said. The girl just rested against her.

Someday, Caithe will see reason, and she will be mine again.

Someday soon.