Divergence

[Nymare]

Selfish.

"If you knew that the path you were heading down was too dangerous for someone you love to follow, would you let them?" Nymare had asked Sabachthan what now seemed like a lifetime ago. She was closest to him. He had within him so many answers, so much wisdom. To this, the shadowy Ghant merely shook his head in response. It was all the answer she needed, and it should have been as simple as that. But she could not let him go so easily...

Selfish.

She wanted Skafloc with her. He said that he could come with her. Perhaps she was wrong about the dangers... the terrors... the obstacles. As long as they loved each other, there was nothing that they could not face. She would tell herself whatever she needed to.

Selfish and wrong.

He was suffering, she could see it in his eyes. His Sun had been eclipsed. Things were beginning to whither away in it's darkness, and she could not help but feel that he was among them. Live! she wanted to scream to the heavens, but it continued to fade away. The frustration was seeping through to anger. Resentment. Why could he not live within her? Why could he not follow? He promised! It was his fault. It had to be.

Underneath it all, it was possible that she knew better, but she had refused to see the truth as much as he had. He could no sooner follow her down this path than she could remain with him on his.

Something within the Sin'Dorei twisted tightly in sorrow as she looked down at the empty desk in the empty study, a dark, solemn reflection of herself. A cool, wet wind from grey skies beyond moved in through the window, slipping through brilliant golden strands of hair and pushing them back from her burning cheeks in a gentle caress, signaling that it was time for her to leave - there was nothing left to collect and send away now other than herself, the wagons having already carted off all that needed moving. He was here, though, she could sense him... so close that she was compelled to turn around. She did so with such a slow sadness that the world seemed to stop and hold them suspended between breaths, but it was looking into his eye that cut into the last of her heart, the last of it's life's blood spilling out inwardly.

There was nothing to say, even if she could form words brave enough to be heard.

She had wanted him with her. He said that he could come with her, but she was right about the dangers... the terrors... the obstacles. As long as they loved each other, the more time would tear his heart apart as she drifted away and he gave up everything she had ever loved about him to follow. She was doing this for him now. If this was the only way she could save him... save them... She would tell herself whatever she needed to.

But why does it still hurt?

It was too much for her to see what lay behind his eyes. Her mind was racing for a way to take it all back, to find something to cling to, to still take him with her. No...

Live! Please!

She had said and done horrible things to him.

Forgive me...

Thunder echoed softly in the distance and time began to move forward again, rushing through her veins so hard and fast that it seemed as though her world would turn on it's side and fling her into the Nether to fall forever alone with this last moment of pain ripping through her soul. She hated crying, but now, with eyes burning as the tears began to spill down her cheeks, she stepped up to him this final time and desperately pressed her lips to his, imparting all that she could not force herself to say.

I will love you. I will miss you. We will meet again.

They had sealed their vows with a kiss, and with a kiss, they were set free.

I release you...

[Skafloc]

Selfish.

"She worries that you will not, or cannot follow where she is headed.. Is this truth? Does she not realize the depth of your commitment?" Skafloc had been told those words by Rivendark what now seemed like a lifetime ago. At the time he was certain, confident that their paths would travel together, regardless of the obstacles, the challenges to each. He didn't understand at that time where the paths were leading, through what deserts and swamps and high mountains.

Selfish.

He wanted Nymare with him. He said that he could come with her, but that he now knew was a mistake. Could she not instead come with him? No, that was also not to be.

Selfish and wrong.

She was suffering, he could see it in her eyes. Her Sun was turning from the radiant glow of the morning to the dark shadow of the evening twilight. He watched and worried yet she relished the change, welcomed it. He knew it was what she desired. His Sun no longer. Yet she stayed and tried. That in itself was as a torment for him to behold, as it only led to pain.

Finally, with the searing cleansing pain of dragonfire he had seen the truth. She could no longer stay on his path any more than he could follow her down to her domain..

The words had all been said. The wagons departed with her possessions, her life in boxes. Her family would be taken care of. Of that Skafloc was adamant. Where she went they too could not follow, they would need a steady hand to support them in the days to come. The documents all signed and notarized. All that was needed was delivery to the Council for ratification. Formal, clinical.

There was nothing to say, even if he could find words that he felt would not bring her more pain, more heartache.

He had always wanted her with him, even when she revealed her ultimate goals. They shared each other, their hearts, their minds and their bodies.

And secrets. Yes they shared each other's secrets. Such a trust and devotion that they held each other's souls in their hands. Willingly. As he watched her turn to face him in the study, he knew that was it. That was the one part that they would always have of each other, no matter what. Each other's souls. They may part, leaving on their own paths in life, but that one thing would always follow them both.

But why does it still hurt?

She hesitated, standing there looking into his eyes. A glimmer of hope? Is that was just sparked inside him? No. As swiftly as it was there it vanished. Whisked away by the reality of the moment.

Live! Please!

He had said and done horrible things to her.

Forgive me...

Thunder echoed softly in the distance and time began to move forward again, She approached him, pressed her lips against his in a kiss that carried the weight of both their tears. Lingering a moment, then she was away.

He followed her to the front porch of the estate. Watched as she mounted up and slowly turned towards the lane.

I will love you. I will miss you. We will meet again.

They had sealed their vows with a kiss, and with a kiss, they were set free.

I release you...

The thunder rang overhead. Skafloc raised his face to the sky, just as the first drops of rain began to descend.

Gods! Not now...

He lowered his face to regard her, already a small figure at the far end of the lane.

Did he imagine it, or did she pause as the rain cascaded around her?

[Solenev]

((One of the most poetic stories I've ever read on here.))