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They would make dinner together, an alloy of eliksni and awoken provisions.
Dance to some ethereal, pre-golden age music beneath the soft glow of the little lights strewn across their room.
Talk, drink, though they wouldn’t make love. She hasn’t been intimate with Variks since Praksis. Maybe it was the shame, or the fact that he still didn’t know.
Yet Shadow understands she can’t continue to hide from him.
When the old scribe once again shows concern for her declining health, she finally relents.
***
Variks’s fingers trace the freshly healed wound, a stretch of rough scar tissue across Shadow’s abdomen. Her skin twitches as if expecting to be cut open again.
The eliksni is solemn as he strokes her body with gentle hands. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright,” she vainly attempts to reassure him. Of course she’s lying.
“No, it most certainly is not alright,” he objects, clicking, shaking his head in dismay.
Shadow has no idea what to say. No, it wasn’t. But neither her nor Variks can do anything about it.
“I had no idea Phylaks’s “training” had become this savage,” he growls, almost to himself. “But, I should not be surprised.”
“Count yourself lucky,” Shadow responds wryly.
“Will your ghost manage to heal the damage?” he asks, perhaps expecting a yes.
Shadow blinks in discomfort. “I… I don’t think so. Maybe. Is… that bad?” she rasps, her hand raising to cover the scar.
“No no no,” Variks replies quickly, taking her hand in his own. “Only for your own sake, not mine,” he soothes.
Though she nods, the gestures holds a note of disbelief. “Scars must be unpleasant for you to look at. I’m sorry. I can wrap a bandage around my waist if that will be easier on the eyes—“
He interjects softly, heartfelt. “That won’t be necessary.” His hands are warm, pressed to her face. He holds her like a precious gem, his fingers tracing her pale beauty.
Shadow averts her eyes self consciously. “It doesn’t ruin anything for you?”
“No,” he says, definitive. “You have loved me despite my own… And I will love you despite yours.”
***
She feels less-than, broken. She knows there is more to say, more he needs to be made aware of. But not how to say it.
This was not how Shadow imagined her life with Variks, if she ever considered attaining a normal one at all.
But regardless of all the pain and sorrow and shame, Variks remains her light in the dark.
She leans into his embrace.
And for this moment, she is whole again.
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4 RepliesOff topic. Please move
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1 ReplyIt’s been a while hasn’t it! Great as always Shadow! I’m looking forward to the next chapter!
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6 RepliesHey, didn't you kinda sorta get a sword named after you?
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1 Reply
RingLeader77Thus we came forth to rebehold the stars - old
Even just a brief moment of peace can greatly help the healing. Nice writing with how Variks assumes he has found the problem, and it is part of it, but really he is still ignorant of what is going on. Really cool seeing the support even when both of them aren't fully doing what they could, albeit for understandable reasons. -
xRealmtree apple pie food eat - old
[quote] Talk, drink, though they wouldn’t make love.[/quote] oof -
1 ReplyFoist response! I missed this series, glad to see a new installment