041 Goodbye
Character: Shadow Blade
It was not often that Enre received messages from home, particularly not from Ahwu. He would sometimes get word of new children born, or notice of the death of kin but never a direct message from his wife. He was understandably thrilled to have even as much contact as a message with her provided after so long away. He went to a more private space, wanting to at least feel like it was just him and Ahwu.
He hit play on the message but it was not what he expected. Ahwu's features were sorrowful and she hesitated to speak. "My dear husband, I have bad tidings." She wouldn't look at the screen. "They found out what happened, I don't know how but they found out."
Enre felt a cold weight in his stomach. He knew right away what she was referring to. They'd tried so hard to hide it but somehow someone had found out. Enre took a step closer toward the screen, hand reaching up to touch the surface.
Ahwu finally looked up and Enre could see the sorrow in her eyes. "Our Kiadon already decided on a punishment. Luckily Hast was able to get me the time to record this." She took a deep breath before she continued. "Enre, I want you to know it has been an honor to be your wife. You are by far the most intelligent Sangheili there is, and I have been so happy to help pass on that intelligence to the next generation, or at least what is left of what I was able to give you." She reached out and placed her hand on the screen. Enre moved his over it but felt his heart fall as he didn't feel her warmth and was brought back to the reality that she was so far away. "By the time you get this message I will already be gone. I convinced them you had no idea what had happened so they have decided not to extend my sentence to our children or you."
As she spoke Enre could feel the strength in his body ebbing away with each word. He leaned against the terminal, finding it harder to stand on his own. Ahwu was not just a wife to him, she was his driving force. She was what pushed him forward but that was gone and he felt like all the air had left his lungs.
"I want you to know that I was happy as your wife, as happy as I could be without being able to fight. I did not choose to become your wife simply to bare superior children, but because you treated me as no other did, with respect. You made me feel happy to just be around you, to see you succeed. I am very proud of you, our children are strong, and you will carry on." Ahwu looked down for a moment and then back up. "Goodbye, Enre. Live on, find another sensible female, marry her, and give our people a better future." The video cut off and Enre was lest staring at nothing.
Enre's legs gave out under him and he fell to his knees. His hands went to the wall in some sort of effort to stay upright and not just collapse to the ground. He was having trouble grasping the reality of it all. Ahwu, his beloved wife was gone, and there was nothing he could do. As the weight began to settle his breathing became labored, like his lungs just couldn't take in enough air. He finally took in enough breath and as he let it out it came out as a scream, a roar of pain and sorrow for what was now gone. His fist slammed into the terminal, denting the metal and causing the controls to vanish.
This was all because of those fools in his Keep, the ones he had set out to replace. Their strict following of out dated tradition had cost him the love of his life. She had urged him to find another but the very idea seemed impossible. How could he take another after her? There was no female Sangheili as intelligent, sensible, or determined as her. How could any other ever compare?
Enre stood in the center of the room and looked around. He had toppled a chair, dented a desk, and left marks on the walls. His blood was smeared over surfaces and he realized that his hands were bleeding. He picked up the chair and sat down, taking some time to collect himself. He felt unsure of what to do next. He decided he'd spent too much time in the small room and left, heading to the barracks.