once upon a time we burned bright

the Rift

[OPEN] once upon a time we burned bright

Roland Posts: 230

Aurora Basin Phantom atk: 7.5 | def: 10 | dam: 2.5

Stallion :: Unicorn :: 16 hh :: 8 yrs HP: 60.0 | Buff: NOVICE

Glo

#13

01-20-2015, 05:28 PM

The Thief could still feel heat against his cheeks like a brand, a persistent, searing scar that lingered upon his skin, burned away at him even after the fire was long gone. It was a miracle that he had escaped with hardly a scratch on his hide, but he could not muster up the energy to feel relief when Lena lay motionless against his front. Had he been quicker, braver, had he thrown himself into the flames in her stead, this would not be happening.

Had she not asked him to accompany her? Bestowed her faith in Roland as another pair of watchful eyes, another shield against an army of flames? And he had agreed, he had followed her; he had bowed to her silent command to slip back to safety when she had asked it of him, when he should have stubbornly remained at her side until the end. There were not words enough to describe the grief clawing at his insides. He had failed her.

The Thief bowed his head, eyes falling shut against a wave of despair. He had once vowed to never form attachments, to drift from place to place without a care for those he met. He had done his best to craft himself in his father's image, a rogue, a charlatan, a shadowed knife and honeyed words. He had aspired to a life without anchor, without cause or reason, without affinity or devotion to any besides himself, and oh how he had failed. Mistake after mistake had sent him running from one makeshift shelter to the next, and he had no one to blame for those missteps except himself. The Thief whispered a mantra of apologies into the salty air, sick with guilt. As the sound of blood pounding in his ears faded, they were once more joined by the rhythmic anthem of the sea, dancing along the shoreline as if nothing had happened. Roland awaited salvation, held his breath, listened to the call of gulls and the jarring hiss of wind through dry grass. There was no change, nothing that hinted of a savior come to rescue the fallen healer. Where was the God that had thrust them into this situation in the first place? Would he leave Lena to perish beneath the brutality of his element?

Roland's eyes were closed against the sight of her burned body, his mind a whirlwind of sorrow and despair, frustration and hopelessness. Underneath the weight of it all, he was oblivious to the Mender's stirring, to the practice of magic as it soothed over the wounds burned into the Mender's flesh. It was many moments later when Roland opened his eyes to find her dark gaze meeting his, and the relief was strong enough to send his head spinning.

"Lena," he breathed out, eyes wide and ears perked to capture the broken, scratchy sound of her voice, clinging desperately to every word that fell from her lips. He gasped out a shaky laugh of disbelief, trembling with fear and happiness all at once. "Me?" He questioned, punctuated with an incredulous shake of his head. Before he could help himself he leaned forwards, reaching out to touch his nose to her cheek, as if he would not believe she was whole and healthy again unless he could feel the warmth of her skin. His answer was lost, forgotten for a moment as the panicked beat of his heart slowed, and with it went his anguish. "Yes. Are you?"

@[Lena]

Push your luck if it makes you a promise
that turns con men honest.

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