echoes of truth | ❝ tales of loss and fire and flame. ❞

[dragonssung]

song of hope

BOOK 3.5: EVER HEAVENSWARD

Tales of loss and fire and faith
Every word on our hearts engraved
In the dark you will not stray
Forge ahead, till the end, we prayCODE BY TESSISAMESS

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[shepherdtostars]

[ In reality, she knows that the one to end Aymeric's life would have been Estinien. He would rather sully his hands with his brother's blood to release him from enthrallment than allow him to suffer anymore. She also knows that Estinien would wish to do it from the sight of others, as Aymeric says he would take his own life. Neither options are ones she can quite rightfully stand or approve of.

Her gaze turns back to him, gaze immediately locking onto his. Her lips are pressed together to keep the lower lip from trembling. ]

I will be there when you pass, in however manner that will be. [ Alkaid shifts under him to turn more towards him once more. Her nose gently nudges his chin. ] ...you've spent far too much of your life alone... a-and if you are to pass without me... I would be there to see you off...

[ Although the notion itself causes her to tremble. She tilts her head down slightly, eyes closed, trying to keep the tears inside. She would have him pass along side her when the time comes. She does not wish for either to have to wait for the other in the aetheric sea, regardless of how unrealistic it truly is.

Her eyebrows knit together, knowing he had asked what was on her mind. Even though she had resolved not to say it? She cannot help the words that wish to spring from her now. ]

You wish for me to only be myself... and to not act in ways that are expected... b-but that I'm... [ too demanding, too needing of your affection, far too needing of intimacy. ] ... that I'm not proper enough of a woman you deserve at your side.

[thewayforpeace]

[ He can barely stand the thought of either of them being forced to commit such an act, whether or not they were willing. He knows that his brother Estinien would do so without much pause, simply because that is the nature of their friendship, but what sort of friend would he be if he let him go through with it? No, it would be better if he somehow found a way to do the deed himself, as distasteful a thought as it is. ]

I hope that we are fortunate enough to pass together when that time comes. [ Because he cannot imagine a life without her now that he has found her, and he would not wish her to live out her days alone either. Certainly, she would have her sister, and so she would not be entirely bereft.

But regardless of how their eventual end looks, he finds it does not wholly matter in this moment. What does matter is reassuring her and offering her what comfort he can; with that in mind, he pulls her into the warmest embrace he can manage. ]

You are everything I could have wished for, and still I consider myself entirely undeserving of you. [ His lips turn up into a slight smile. ] Out of everyone who walks this star, you are the one I love, and I can think of none other who should be with me than you.

[ He only hopes that his words are received and believed. ]

/how about this whambam to bring feels back

[shepherdtostars]

[ As she looks at him, a voice in the back of her mind gently points our how blessed she has been that he has returned to her. How many countless others have had to watch their loved ones be put to the sword? Had they faced something once in their lives before that was similar? Perhaps it is not her place to share her hurts, and instead thank the Twelve that he has returned to himself.

Alkaid melts into his hold. Should she not be comforting him? He is the one who has been tempered; the one with his will stolen away and his voice throttled. Her hands curl slightly more with her lower lip trembling as she fights back the hurt that wishes to burst from her. A part of her wishes for him to wrap his arms around her and mend the wounds her heart has taken from everything in Norvrandt and the resummoning of King Thordan. Yet, she feels she should not, as it might reopen wounds for him that she cannot heal.

Her shaking hands move to rest on either side of his face. His words have certainly reached her. She has no doubts that he feels what he does. ]

I ... I had hoped that an adventurer might sweep me away; that we might run away from everything. When none seemed to care for the idea of family and a simple life... I-I... I had started to believe that perhaps there was no one for me. [ She has shared similar sentiments before, even after her return from the First. Yet, now, what is the point if omitting details? Especially of the primal of Ishagrd's ancient king might steal him away again. ] And when I devoted myself to simply the betterment of our star? I met you, and fell in love in that moment... but even then...

I realized how important Ishgard was to you and your kin. How devoted you were to serving her and her people. It only served to aid me in loving you more... but... how could I make the impression to the Lord Commander? Me, as who I am, kot the Warrior of Light that all seemed so enthralled by. I surely couldn't... a-and so... I thought if I could mend Ishgard, and help build her again, it would show my love in a way... even if all it had done was bring more smiles to your face and make you laugh? It would be enough. I could be happy with that much. Content you were happy...e-even though I feared one day I might return to Ishgard to find you engaged with another...

[ Yet, quite obviously, things had not turned out in such ways. A painful sound leaves her and her eyes close. Her hands move to clutch onto the fabric of his new shirt. ]

...I-I finally found you and you asked me to be yours. My knight. It's why... no matter how unbecoming may be, or how much you may look down upon me for it, I... I can't lose you. I won't let King Thordan have you. [ Her hands clutch into his shirt further. ] I won't leave. Even if you've been changed or molded into someone else again, I won't leave your side. Even... even if you can't see me, only the Warrior of Light... I won't...

[ Her head tilts down to try and hide the tears sliding down her face. Perhaps that is what caused the most pain, aside from King Thordan taking away her beloved. He took away the person who saw her and her sister beyond the Warriors of Light. ]

H-he almost took you away from me... the first person to see us beyond the Warriors of Light... a-and I could do nothing for you but cause more hurt... I couldn't save you from it! All I managed to do was cause him to hurt you more and more... w-when any other would have let you rest... but I... I won't leave you and I can't let you go without me...

[ She bites hard on her lip--enough to cause the skin to break. So much shame and guilt is written plainly across her face. She should have allowed the logical choice to pull through. Yet, every fiber of her being and soul rebeled against the idea of losing him. Again.

Again? Had she lost him before? ]

I'm sorry, Aymeric. I'm sorry I caused you such pain and strife... causing you to motion between you and what he tried to make you... if I had just... but I couldn't...

that sure is a whambam of feels

[thewayforpeace]

[ As always, her words wash over him in a flood, bringing with them a swell of emotions and worries that things might not be the same between them again because of what Thordan has done. But a contradiction is quick to form because he has no intention of letting her go now, or of letting the love and regard he has for her change because of this ordeal.

He does not say a word while she is speaking, because it seems to him that all that she is saying is something she needs to say, to impress upon him, and so he remains silent so that he can listen and absorb the meaning of her words.

But as she goes on and what she says sinks in, he finds it increasingly difficult to remain silent. When she pauses and no more words come, he finds his voice again. ]

Lantaa, I would not have you doubt for a moment that should such a thing happen again- that is to say, should anyone attempt to see us parted once more, I intend to fight as hard as I am able to remain with you... to remain myself. I sincerely hope that such a thing does not occur once more, but I will not simply allow it to happen. [ He did his best to fight off Thordan's grasp the first time, but he is even more resolved to do so should the worst happen. Heaven forbid that it does, but he knows that if it does, he will summon all the resolve that he can. ]

Between your resolve and mine, I am certain the outcome will be a favorable one. And truthfully, had you not been at my side during that time, there is no doubt in my mind that I would not have maintained what little hold upon myself and my senses as much as I did.

[ If she had left him alone, or had been prevented from joining him, he is certain his will to fight would have lessened or dwindled entirely. ] It was you who saved me, Lantaa.

[ And in that very moment, as he speaks those words, he knows that they are entirely, completely the truth. And because of that, he knows he cannot stand to see her blame himself, when she is the reason he remains here with her at all.

Armed with that thought and that resolve, he leans in so that he might kiss her lightly on the mouth: not to cut off her speech, but to impress upon her the love he has for her and his gratitude as well. After a moment, the kiss deepens, and his arms move to pull her in even closer. ]