Bittersweet

[deraj]

Deraj was about to rush into the fray after Vexxus when he was frozen in place by the magic of the monk. “Let go of me you fiend!”

“Now, now… this was never your fight and you know it.”

“I will not leave her!”

“You can’t do much of anything right now.”

Deraj struggled to free himself but the magic held tight. The mage spun Deraj around so that they faced one another. Deraj noticed then that everything appeared to be frozen in time save for the mage and himself.

“What is all this about?! You were so eager to help before. What has changed?”

“You have work to do.”

“Under what authority…”

The mage caused the forces that held Deraj in place to tighten their hold and he smirked. Deraj hated this mage even though he knew somehow that he was right. He knew that Vexxus would be fine and in fact better off than if she followed him into the desert. They don’t call it the land of the dead without reason.

“So what now?”

“Now I send you on your way and help her as much as I can.”

Deraj nodded in understanding. The mage released the binding magic and opened a portal. Deraj gave one last longing glance at Vexxus. “Goodbye my love.” He crossed through the portal, stepping out of life and into legend.

Still in the form of Sir Gareth, the mage rushed forward into the fray and time resumed.

[Vexxus]

After binding the knight, Vexxus glanced back as if to say, "Are you guys coming?" but stopped. Time itself seemed to stop, and Vexxus' eyes met Deraj's for the last time before he stepped into the portal. She immidiately knew she was in the wrong for engaging into battle, and ran towards the portal. It was already too late, for as soon as he was gone, it faded into thin air. She hit the bookcase behind it, knocking some of the literature down.

She slid slowly to the floor, and tears fell upon the already stained pages of one of the aged books. Suddenly, she had no more strength to fight. The mage and knights approached her cautiously at first, but then realized she was of no threat to them. So, they led her away. They kept her like an orphaned child from an enemy kingdom. Not sure whether it was a hoax, and she was merely gathering her strength, or whether she was truly broken. She was well cared for and befriended the wife of the lead knight; but she never was to leave the confines of their home.

After months of silence and weak emotion, it was determined that she may be happier if given some freedom. She was allowed to go on walks accompanied by the lead knight and his wife. After yet more months, she was allowed to go on walks alone. On the very first of these, she did not return.

[End of thread. Thanks for reading!]