Fragments of Time I
Diera sighed, running her fingers over the words written on the paper. So, it is finished, she thought to herself, her heart full of relief, regret...and fear. The legends about twins had never been wrong in this before.
Fare thee well, little broken heart
Downcast eyes, lifetime loneliness
"I know you, Diera. That is not good news," a voice whispered hoarsely from behind her.
The faerie turned, facing the large, ornate bed in the center of the room, gazing down at the pale, aged man lying in the middle of it and began to read the announcement, her voice almost reverently quiet. "Hear ye, hear ye! Let it be known that early this morning the Lady Sugan Imshee'Cro, retired Knight of Storms and loyal servant of the Rainkeeper, passed on from this life to Karana's glory. She was seventy-two. She is survived by --"
"Stop..."
Diera looked up from the paper and sat down at the edge of the bed, placing her hand on Faileas' aging one. A feeling of shame washed over her as she gazed down at her beloved. Here she was, eternally young and strong, and the person she loved more than anything was fading away. A man who appeared to tower over everyone around him with his sheer presence now looked so small amid the expanse of dark velvet that covered him. As the weeks went by, he was spending more and more time confined to his bed. His pride would not let him give voice to what was bothering him, but she could see the pain in his eyes and the way he pressed his palm to his chest when he thought nobody was looking.
The Lord of Shadows was a mortal, and he was dying. And there was nothing she could do about it.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have read that to you. She was your sister, after all."
A coldness washed over his face, and he looked away to stare angrily at the candle flame that lit his room. "She was the murderer of my child, and the betrayer of her own flesh and blood."
The druidess handed the letter to one of the nearby servants who kept constant vigil over their Lord, and clasped Faileas' hand gently in hers. "She was your sister, Faileas. Sugan. Your twin. You can't tell me you feel nothing. After all these years, can you not forgive her?"
He frowned at her and tossed her hand away. "No. Not after what she did to Areanna." Deftly changing the subject, he asked, "And where is Envy these days? She avoids my chambers."
Diera frowned, lowering her eyes to avoid his gaze, "She rules in your stead," she said pensively, knowing how much of an insult it was to have someone not of Imshee'Cro blood sitting on the throne of Old Mythiot.
"So, she finally got what she wanted..." Faileas' voice faded out as he descended into a painful coughing fit, silvered hair falling into his eyes. The faerie held her breath, as she had been doing more often lately, just waiting and hoping that tonight was not the night where she'd have to say goodbye. Finally, the old man sank back against the pillows as his breath rattled in his chest, his eyes falling closed. "I'm tired," he whispered simply, looking ashamed to even admit such a thing.
Whatever walks in my heart will walk alone
"I should go." Diera moved to get up.
"No. Its alright. I'd..." He grabbed her hand before she could slip away and paused, phrasing himself carefully, as he always did, "I'd rather you stay."
Nodding, she settled onto the bed once more, her eyebrows knit together worriedly. He knows.The legends about twins were never wrong before. He knows this may be...the last chance to say goodbye. Gulping back the lump in her throat, Diera asked, "Do you need anything?"
"Just...stay..."
Constant longing for the perfect soul
Unwashed scenery forever gone
For an hour or so they just sat and spoke quietly, as they had for years. Now and then Faileas would fall silent to catch his breath, his pale hand sneaking up to his chest. As the time went on and the candle burned lower in its holder, the moments he had to pause grew longer and closer together. His grip on her hand was growing weaker. Time to say goodbye.
"Faileas..."
"I know, Diera." He looked up at her, recognition of his fate glimmering in his emerald eyes. One last time, the Lord of Shadows lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. The faerie nearly wept at the tenderness of his action, but Faileas just shook his head. "Blood...before tears."
Without a word, Diera pulled a dagger from her boot and slid the blade across the fleshy part of her hand, bringing forth a thick line of deep red blood that pooled in her palm. Tossing the dagger aside with a clatter, she grasped his hand again with her bloodied one, and sobbed, "There is your blood, damn you...now allow me my tears!"
Faileas nodded silently, too weak for words, and gazed at her tear-streaked face for a moment. Finally, the man broke composure, smiling sadly at Diera in a silent goodbye. And then...the venerable eyes of the Lord of Shadows drifted closed again, and his hand slid limp from the faerie's grasp.
Straightening herself with dignity that would honor his memory, Diera gathered Faileas' hands together on his chest and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. A tear slid down her cheek, splashing silently onto his. "Goodbye," she whispered, brushing the tear away, "And wherever you are...never forget that I loved you more than life itself."
No love left in me
No eyes to see the heaven beside me
My time is yet to come
So I'll be forever yours
(lyrics: Nightwish, Forever Yours)