Breath held, she stayed still. Narav let Edalene bring her hand to his cheek, and his hand came up to cup it. A calloused finger stroked her smooth skin, and she smiled, hopefully, brokenly. But then he took her hand and dropped it. It hung there limply, as if she were unable to move the limb now that Narav had rejected her touch. Edalene swallowed, but her throat felt dry.
A warm hand on her shoulder, but it felt like an ending. She couldn't say anything, didn't say anything, as he moved past her, and away. She stood there, staring at the ground, and her mind was silent. Words were her only tool, and now, when she needed them more than ever, they failed her. She had spent so many words, painted a picture of harmony for him, and he could not see it. What more use could words have? What could she say to convince Narav that she had not already said?
Still, he stopped, and turned. Edalene turned to look at his eyes, gleaming strangely in the muted grey light, and found her lips were dry. The rain came down then, cold against her skin, and she shivered, both at his words and the chill. Again, she wished she could say something, but he turned and walked away before she could think of what she could say to convince him to stay. He disappeared into the mist, hood drawn up, like a dream figure disappearing in the daylight.
Edalene stood there for a moment, taking in the skiff. So small compared to Edward's long ago. He had been through much, and maybe, for him, the murder was the least of his worries. A shuddering sigh, and she began to walk back home. Aeodan had convinced her to do this, but perhaps it was the wrong decision. Perhaps she should have left Narav alone.
But no. The thought of life without Narav, now that she had seen him again, sent a flash of revulsion through her. He was too important. He was too loved. The graveyard... yes, she would meet him at the graveyard in Ashan. He had told her when he would be there, and she would go too. Together, they would rebury Godryn, and together, she resolved, they would always be.
A warm hand on her shoulder, but it felt like an ending. She couldn't say anything, didn't say anything, as he moved past her, and away. She stood there, staring at the ground, and her mind was silent. Words were her only tool, and now, when she needed them more than ever, they failed her. She had spent so many words, painted a picture of harmony for him, and he could not see it. What more use could words have? What could she say to convince Narav that she had not already said?
Still, he stopped, and turned. Edalene turned to look at his eyes, gleaming strangely in the muted grey light, and found her lips were dry. The rain came down then, cold against her skin, and she shivered, both at his words and the chill. Again, she wished she could say something, but he turned and walked away before she could think of what she could say to convince him to stay. He disappeared into the mist, hood drawn up, like a dream figure disappearing in the daylight.
Edalene stood there for a moment, taking in the skiff. So small compared to Edward's long ago. He had been through much, and maybe, for him, the murder was the least of his worries. A shuddering sigh, and she began to walk back home. Aeodan had convinced her to do this, but perhaps it was the wrong decision. Perhaps she should have left Narav alone.
But no. The thought of life without Narav, now that she had seen him again, sent a flash of revulsion through her. He was too important. He was too loved. The graveyard... yes, she would meet him at the graveyard in Ashan. He had told her when he would be there, and she would go too. Together, they would rebury Godryn, and together, she resolved, they would always be.
. Also, please feel free to pm me and talk through the devotion if you disagree - I was just so touched by Narav's need to protect Edalene that I felt it was warranted. However, very very happy to discuss.