Twisted Fate
Chapter 16

"Nari…" Sath'rovok repeated quietly, taking a step towards her.

"Stay back!" She said, her voice shaky.

"I just want to talk." Sath'rovok offered.

"Stay away from me…please." Nariel repeated, pleading rather than demanding. She had come so far, healed so much. She couldn't survive having it all undone.

Ignoring her plea, Sath'rovok took another step forward. Nariel took a step backwards but had nowhere to go – she was at the ledge. Sath'rovok took yet another step, his hand rising as he closed in.

"Nari please, I jus-" He started.

But before he could finish a loud growl sounded out and a large snarling white tiger materialized in front of Nariel, ears laid back fully and crouched down low. Sath'rovok gasped and took a quick step backwards, and then another as Frostbite began to stalk towards him, her snarl growing more fierce with each step. But just as the cat crouched again, ready to pounce, Nariel spoke.

"Wait." She said quietly.

The cat's ears perked up slightly at the rogue's voice and it paused, frozen a moment away from delivering retribution to the one that threatened her friend.

I am no longer yours. Nariel told herself.

Slowly she took a careful step away from the ledge, and then another.

I am no longer afraid of you. She thought taking another step towards Sath'rovok.

Each step forward she felt more in control. She fought the pain that had swelled up at his appearance, forcing it away; mentally beating it into submission.

You will not hurt me anymore. She commanded of her memories.

She stepped up to Frostbite, placing a calming hand on the cat's head and scratching her ear gently.

"Why are you here?" She asked, her voice firm. "How did you find me?"

"Just luck, I promise." He said, holding up his hands. "I saw you at the inn and followed you here."

"Please" he continued "if ever our friendship meant anything, give me a chance to speak to you." He said. "Just for one night, and then I promise I will never bother you again.

"Why?" Nariel asked, her anger rising. "Why should I listen to anything you have to say? Why should I believe anything you say?"

"Perhaps you shouldn't." Sath'rovok admitted sadly, pausing for a moment before adding "I can't pretend like I deserve to talk to you, much less see your face"

Nariel glared at him but gave no reply. She didn't know what to say. She had held on to so many questions for so long, and now that she finally had the chance to answer them her mind was clouded with hatred. She stood in silence, her eyes fixated on his, not searching but instead trying to bore through to his soul with pure anger. His expression changed from hopeful to uncomfortable, and then resigned to her denial. Just as he started to turn away she spoke.

"Why did you do it?" She asked quietly.

The words slipped from her lips before she could pull them back, her desperate desire for the answer to that agonizing question overwhelming her anger.

He stared at the ground for a long moment before looking up at her. "My answer may only bring you more pain." He said.

"I-" she started before pausing, unsure of herself "-…I have to know." She finished.

He turned slowly and stood lost in thought for a moment before answering her.

"Because I was a fool." He said simply. "I've turned that very question over a million times until I know in my heart that I am."

"You were – you are – an amazing person." Sath'rovok continued. "But I was being sent off to more and more exciting things with every assignment." He said, adding "I was off in the Ghostlands, and then the Plaguelands, and then even on to Silverpine Forest fighting the undead."

"You…" he whispered, hesitating.

"…were delivering letters in Silvermoon." Nariel said sadly, finishing the thought for him.

"For the first time ever we were…different." Sath'rovok said. "Since we first met we had always been the same. Always together." He said. "And then all of a sudden…we weren't."

"Suddenly it felt wrong." Sath'rovok said quietly, shaking his head. "You felt wrong."

"The fool in me convinced my better senses that you were not…worthy…of my attention." He finished, his voice whispering the last part, ashamed of its truthfulness.

He was right. His words did hurt. Partly because they reopened old wounds she had hoped were healed, but mostly because in the end she knew it was true. They had grown apart. She hadn't been worthy. She stroked Frostbite's neck, lost in thought before she continued.

"Why didn't you just tell me Sath?" She asked sadly.

He gave a sad sigh. "Ironically, because I had hoped not to hurt you." He said.

"I was confused. My feelings about you as a lover changed almost daily, but you were still my friend." He said, adding "I loved you but I wanted to be free of you. I thought I could have the best of both, but I only ended up destroying everything."

Nariel was shocked to hear him admit it.

He had felt nothing that day…I saw it. She thought, her mind racing. Had she misread his eyes? She shook her head, pushing the question from her head. His admission of guilt didn't change reality.

"It seems you were right." She said. "I wasn't worthy."

"You've moved on; excelled even. You've become Captain." She continued. "Im…" she paused, thinking over what she had so desperately wanted to be on that day so long ago "…just a rogue." She finished bitterly.

Sath'rovok shook his head, taking a few careful steps towards her. When Frostbite didn't object, he stepped forward, for the first time in years standing within reach of her.

"You've never been just a rogue." He said. "You're Nari." He whispered. "My Nari…" he added quietly.

Nariel raised her head, looking at him with confused eyes. "What?" she asked.

"My blindness cost me everything that day." Sath'rovok said. "And what's more, I took everything from you as well." He added. "If I had just been honest…I might have had a chance to keep my friend, even if I lost my love forever." He said. "Perhaps later when I began to feel the regret that has plagued me…"

Sath'rovok shook his head, as if to dismiss an impossible thought, his voice suddenly determined. "You've always been my Nari." He repeated quietly. "My first and closest friend. The person with whom I most wanted to share my success, the person I wanted to run away with when the world seemed so…wrong."

Nariel stood silently, her mind blank as it absorbed his words.

"I'm sorry." He said again. "I would give anything to change what happened - to change what I did. I was blind at the time but it has become my biggest regret." Sath'rovok said sadly, before adding "I hope one day you can forgive me."

I'm sorry.

For years she had wanted to hear him say those words. She had fooled herself into thinking that with those two simple words her burden would be lifted and all the pain would disappear but now as she stood there, the moment she had so desperately awaited for so long having finally arrived…she felt nothing. Maybe she had finally healed. Maybe she was just numb. She didn't know, and she didn't care. His apology was something but it didn't let her move on. There was something else she had to do.

Nariel stared off into the distance, her eyes dry; she had no more tears to give. Everything had come to this. Solarius had started it all with the simple act of sitting next to her that day in Iron Summit. He was her armor, Frostbite her sword, protecting her when she needed it the most so long ago. She had healed, slowly at first. But day by day the pain grew less.

First there was one night without dreams of Sath'rovok. Then there were two. Then before long she could sleep well almost every night. Her friends had dragged her – against her will at first – out of despair day by day until finally she was able to revisit that horrible spot, to let go of that part, but now there was one final obstacle before she knew that the chapter of her life she had opened five years ago would truly come to merciful end. Slowly she looked up at him. She searched his eyes, and saw that his every word had been genuine. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

"I forgive you." She whispered.

"What?" Sath'rovok asked as he stood before her stunned, unsure he had heard her correctly.

"It's done." Nariel said quietly. "We can't change that. But…I forgive you."

Sath'rovok stared blankly at her for a moment, processing her words.

"Just like that?" he asked, preparing himself as if she were toying with him.

Nariel gave a slight laugh.

"Just like that." She answered.

There were no feelings of uncertainty. Perhaps she did it for herself more than him, but she never doubted it because she knew that forgiveness meant that finally she could move on.

"Thank you." He said gratefully, an uneven laugh escaping as he pulled her into a hug.

"I'm so sorry." He repeated again quietly.

Nariel stood there for a moment until she cautiously returned his embrace. It felt…right. She let out the deep breath she did not realize she had been holding.

It's over. She thought as their hug broke, a smile forming on her lips.

It's finally over.

She felt as if the gears of a massive vault began turning, slowly unraveling around her. Her heart, her trust, her feelings…it was all still there, and it was all free now, hers to give and take as she pleased with no concern for the dangers of truly living. Silently, as she had years ago she collected everything that had become her life, packing it away to make space for what the world would bring now. But this time there were no promises to hide from those who wished her well. There was no feeling of regret or loss for the page she was now turning. Just hope and excitement, and a great sense of freedom.

"What now?" she asked quietly, turning and walking to the edge of the roof.

Sath'rovok stepped up next to her, watching the streams travel across the city.

"I want things to go back to the way they were." He said cautiously, wondering if he could be so lucky in one night.

Nariel shook her head as she turned to look at him. "I can't just come back to you Sath." She said firmly. "Not after all of this."

"I know." He said quickly, trying to reassure her.

"Perhaps fate will lead us there again one day, but for now I only want to be friends again. I don't want you to hide your face from me." He continued, adding "I don't want Silvermoon to feel so…empty."

She thought silently about his offer for a moment.

Could it really work? Earlier that same day she had hated him. The very sight of him when he had appeared on the rooftop had frozen her in fear. Could all of that really be swept away like it was nothing? She turned to him, scanning him with her eyes. He smelled just like he used to. His heart beat sounded just the same as it used to, racing when he was nervous. He had even wrapped his arms around her in that same comforting way he always had back then. She thought over their embrace, over her whole twisted story and finally, free of the burden that had tormented her for five long years, she nodded to him.

"Ok." She said. "Let's start over. As friends."

Slowly, as if realizing he had won the greatest prize in the world, Sath'rovok returned her smile with the large childish grin she hadn't seen in years. She closed her eyes and let reality seep into her heart and soul. It all felt so right, for the first time she could remember. She was so glad to have come back with Solarius. One thought rang out through her mind, like a great bell tolling. With a comforting finality it gently sealed the rest of her pain, the hurtful memories, and the regret far away from her heart where they could no longer hurt her:

I'm finally home.